Eat your way through Nashville with this credit card
For anyone looking for a fun weekend getaway, Nashville almost always makes the short list of options. And for good reason, it's a city packed with character, history, live music and excellent food.
I was lucky enough to grow up in the Nashville area, so the world of the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry and even excellent airport musicians will always feel like home. I recently went back for a short trip, and while I was there, I made sure to hit some of my favorite food spots — and check out some new ones while I was at it.
If you have Nashville on your list, don't miss these favorite eateries. And for any food-focused trip, a card that earns on dining is worth having, like the Navy Federal Flagship Premier Visa Signature®. It earns 3 points per dollar on dining purchases and 4 points per dollar on travel purchases, a strong combination for a trip like this, and all for just a $95 annual fee.
If you need a great travel and dining card, now is the perfect time to add the Flagship Premier card to your wallet. For a limited time, new cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 90 days from account opening. Offer ends Jan. 3, 2027.
Here's how to use the card to make your food-focused weekend trip to Nashville even better.
Travel to Nashville
I live on the West Coast now, so my go-to flight is usually a nonstop on Alaska Airlines, but I sometimes opt for another airline. With the Flagship Premier card earning on a wide range of travel purchases, I can compare prices and book whichever flight makes the most sense — no loyalty to one airline or travel portal required.
The Flagship Premier card can also help you save on your flight to Nashville with its $100 annual airline credit, which offsets the cost and gives you more flexibility when booking.
And when you're at the airport, you'll be thankful for Flagship Premier's statement credit of up to $120 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® to help you zip through security.
When it was time to choose my hotel, I knew I wanted to stay at The Thompson Nashville. It's in the Gulch, making it within walking distance of many of my favorite dining and shopping spots.
Regardless of which hotel you choose, you'll earn 4 points per dollar when you book on your Flagship Premier card. That means you're free to pick whichever hotel you want, without worrying about staying within a single brand or portal to earn bonus points.
Flagship Premier tip: Earn 4 points per dollar on a wide range of travel spending — not just hotels and airfare. Ground transportation counts too, whether you're in a rental car, on public transport or using rideshare services.
Nashville food crawl
Nashville has quite the dining scene, and the list of standout spots seems to grow every day. To make sure I fit in as much as possible, I turned one day into my own food crawl, with a combination of old favorites and a few newer ones.
For a food-focused trip like this, the Flagship Premier card earns where it matters most. It earns 3 points per dollar on dining purchases, so you'll earn bonus points wherever your taste buds take you.
Breakfast at Biscuit Love
Since moving away from Nashville, I've come to realize that few places make a better chicken biscuit than Biscuit Love. Biscuit Love is an iconic Nashville staple, but it was new to me, so I knew it would make the list when I saw it around the corner from my hotel.
It absolutely lived up to the hype. From the fun southern and country-music themed decor to the food worth writing home about, Biscuit Love has landed a permanent spot on my list of favorite Nashville eateries.
The menu spans southern staples like biscuits and gravy and shrimp and grits, as well as lighter options like oatmeal and omelets. I knew I wanted to try their Princess biscuit, a buttermilk biscuit topped with fried Nashville "Hot Chicken" and homemade pickles. I also added the summer special Sunshine latte to my order — an iced latte with tangerine, cinnamon and vanilla and topped with housemade salted honey cold foam. And, of course, a side of bacon.
The entire meal was excellent. The chicken was perfectly fried, the biscuit light and fluffy and the pickles delightfully tangy. And the sunshine latte, I discovered, is a favorite for a reason. It was the perfect morning treat to start the day.
Lunch at Ladybird Taco
After such a big breakfast, I had to wait a while before I could even think about lunch. But when the time finally came, I knew I was headed to Ladybird Taco for my favorite tacos in Nashville.
A location a few blocks from my hotel made it an easy walk. Wanting to pace myself a bit this time, I opted for just one brisket taco and a side of chips and queso.
While I haven't been to all the taco joints Nashville has to offer, the Austin-inspired menu at Ladybird has been my favorite for years, and I was thrilled to be back for a taste. If you happen to be there for breakfast, be sure to check out their breakfast tacos and Crema coffee — I'm always surprised at how well their coffee and queso go together.
Coffee at Barista Parlor
After lunch, I was ready for an afternoon pick-me-up. Living on the West Coast has raised my coffee standards pretty high, but Barista Parlor never disappoints.
I popped in for an iced whiskey-caramel latte as a post-lunch treat to keep me going through the rest of my day in Nashville.
Ice cream at Jeni's
While Jeni's isn't Nashville-exclusive, it's only available in select cities and is a spot I make sure to visit every time I'm in town for its creative, seasonal flavors. I originally went in for my favorite — Brambleberry Crisp — but was tempted by the new fall lineup on the menu, which included Pumpkin with Brown Sugar Blondies.
I took a risk and ordered a half scoop of each and was delighted to discover that they pair beautifully. (Just learn from my mistakes and be sure to eat your ice cream quickly if you happen to be there during a heat wave.)
Dinner at The Optimist
To close out my food crawl day, I headed to The Optimist, a seafood restaurant from chef and restaurateur Ford Fry that was new to me. I love every restaurant of his I've been to, and so many of my friends had raved about this one that I wanted to see if it lived up to the hype.
One of my good friends joined me, and we set out to try some of the hottest dishes.
While we surveyed the menu, our server brought rolls for us to enjoy. They were soft and fluffy — and the perfect thing to snack on while deciding.
Per our server's recommendations, we landed on the Alabama Blue Crab dip and a half dozen oysters, which were both an excellent start to the meal (and complement to our Champagne).
We then moved to the spicy kale salad, which was aptly named. While delicious, it was too spicy for either of us to enjoy more than a few bites.
For our main dish, we ordered the Crumbed Halibut (with brown butter, parsley and charred lemon) and a side of "Proper 'Chips'" (with malt vinegar aioli). The Halibut was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the brown butter made it sing. The fries were equally well-executed, and the aioli took them to the next level.
The verdict: The Optimist lives up to the hype. I'll definitely prioritize going back the next time I'm in town.
Flagship Premier Tip: Earn 3 points per dollar on all dining, making this a great card to have handy when exploring local cuisines — from a nearby coffee stop to the splashiest seafood dinner in town.
Why the Flagship Premier card is the perfect plus-one
A card that earns on both travel and dining makes a trip like this Nashville weekend a breeze, and that's exactly what the Flagship Premier card does.
With the card, you'll earn 4 points per dollar on your travel purchases — from hotels and flights to transportation while you're there, without having to deal with booking through a travel portal.
The $100 annual airline credit and up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit (once every four years) take the edge off both the cost of flying and the airport experience.
No one likes to juggle multiple cards while traveling, and the Flagship Premier card keeps things simple. With 4 points per dollar on travel and 3 points per dollar on dining purchases, one card covers the two categories that matter most on a trip like this.
Plus, there are no limits on the rewards you can earn (other than your stomach at the end of your food crawl).
Bottom line
If you haven't been to Nashville lately, be sure to add it to your list — along with these excellent food spots while you're there.
And wherever your next trip takes you, the Navy Federal Flagship Premier card is worth bringing along, especially for trips centered on food and travel. Between the travel credits and elevated earning rates, it's the perfect card for any trip.
Learn more about the Navy Federal Flagship Premier card.