Tennessee’s Oldest Restaurant Keeps Bringing Fans Back to the Heart of Music City

Tourists from all over the world flood Nashville 365 days a year, and we all know why. But for those of us who live close by, the music is no longer the only thing that brings us to Music City.

One of those things, for me, is the food. It is no longer a crazy notion to plan a trip around a great place to eat. Just think of one or two joints you want to hit, then fill out the trip around it. And Nashville suffers from no shortage of great options in this department. The problem is that there are only three meals in a day, so choose wisely.

When it does come time to choose, how about you mix in a little history with your breakfast, lunch, or dinner? You can do that by visiting the oldest restaurant in Tennessee, which just so happens to be in the heart of downtown Nashville.

See that sign in the window? "Since 1907."

Yessiree, Varallo's Restaurant has been bringing fans back to the heart of Music City for 117 years--long before it even WAS Music City.

And yes, chili is their trademark. What started as a small cart in the corner of a saloon has evolved into one of Nashville's most popular restaurants. While chili is the big draw, Varallo's also gets high marks for their "meat-and-three," a staple in any southern diner. A documentary series called Tennessee Crossroads featured Varallo's eight years ago. But nothing ever changes at Varallo's--by design--so this episode could've been produced yesterday.

Varallo's Restaurant is only open Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 1 PM, so plan accordingly for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. Then, do what everyone else does...walk out with a full belly and a smile on your face.