Whenever I travel, I love to suss out the fun and unique places to eat. I don’t want chains or something I can get at home, and this trip didn’t disappoint because there are so many great places to eat in Clarksville, Tennessee.
I had never visited Clarksville before, but this fifth most populous city in Tennesse at over 180,000 people and just behind the better-known Knoxville at 198,000 and Chattanooga at 187,000. This fun town has a fantastic, walkable downtown and so much to do and eat.
This visit to Clarksville was sponsored by Visit Clarksville, but all opinions remain my own. This focuses on the food, but I also rounded up suggestions of what to do with 48 hours in Clarksville, as well.
Some links in this article are affiliate links that may earn me a commission if you purchase through them.
Why Clarksville?
I have to say that we had more interesting food than I had expected we would find. In fact, there were several restaurants we walked by that we really wanted to try, but there is only so much food you can eat in a specific timeframe.
It may be because Clarksville is a college town – yes, the home of Austin Peay State University – that there are so many fun and funky options, but I suspect it’s simply the atmosphere. Clarksville felt incredibly welcoming, and I cannot tell you how incredibly kind and sweet so many people were in every encounter we had.
Many of the restaurants my friend and I tried while in Clarksville were in the downtown and walkable from the DoubleTree Hotel where we stayed. Others were a bit of a drive, but all were within a very reasonable distance.
Breakfast and Brunch Options
Do not skip breakfast when in Clarksville. There are simply too many options, At some restaurants, we enjoyed breakfast or brunch, but they’re also open for other meals, and I’ll note that because there’s just not time enough in the day to enjoy all the good food.
The Amsterdam Local Cafe
Start your day at The Amsterdam Local Cafe, which is an easy drive from the hotel though still technically in the downtown area. The coffee is next-level good, and we really enjoyed the food and vibes from the seating to the decor.
In fact, come back every day to get your coffee here because my friend and I both agreed that this is some of the best coffee we’ve had anywhere, ever. The food was also absolutely delicious, though the menu wasn’t huge for breakfast.
In fact, we wish the breakfast menu included the burrata toast because both my friend and I really wanted that, but it is not available then. Thankfully, we both chose well and did absolutely enjoy our food.
I chose a breakfast burrito that came with the perfect fruit, and my friend enjoyed her avocado toast. In fact, she said the eggs on top were the most perfectly jammy soft-boiled eggs she’s ever had.
One note that they do not own the parking lot where they rent the building, so do not park there or you will be towed. They are very clear and open about this, and we didn’t have any difficulty finding nearby street parking.
Open for:
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- 7am to 7pm Tuesday to Saturday
- 518 Madison St, Clarksville TN
The Mad Herbalist
The Mad Herbalist, was another absolute favorite not just for the food but for the entire experience. This tucked-away café has funky architecture and a great quirky menu.
They serve fun and funky brunch items and flights of herbal teas. Yes, flights of teas, and you start out with vials of the dried tea leaves so you can smell each on to decide exactly what you want.
You select which tea flavors you want, as well as if you want each one hot, cold, or sparkling. I love tea, and this was such a creative way to enjoy it.
I ordered the smoked brisket egg drop sandwich, while my friend ordered the egg salad English muffin on the recommendation of our server. Neither item was what we expected they would be, and I mean that in the best possible way.
The restaurant itself is just as funky as you would expect, with lots of seating in cozy niches and upstairs. They do have outdoor seating, as well, when the weather cooperates.
They also sell their fantastic tea blends, and you can make your own “potions” while there, which we absolutely adored. I shared more about this experience in my article about what to do in Clarksville.
Open for:
- Brunch and lunch
- 11am to 3pm Thursday to Sunday
- 1601 Madison St, Clarksville TN
Yada on Franklin
We had options with Yada on Franklin, as they’re open all day long, but we looked at their brunch menu and couldn’t resist. Definitely consider making a reservation, as it gets busy.
The menu leans Mediterranean with flatbreads, small plates, and generous entrees. My friend and I both selected the burrata and strawberry toast after not getting burrata at The Amsterdam Local, and this was absolutely delicious without being too heavy.
If you want something more hearty, go for a steak benedict or quiche or their chicken and waffles. Our server had fab things to say about all of those, too.
And if you aren’t hungry yet, come back to Yada on Franklin for dinner instead, where they have an outstanding-looking menu that runs from pizzas and pastas to wings and yes, more burrata in their caprese salad.
This has a much more elegant and upscale feel to it, and I can see at night where this would be a great date spot. It definitely has a wow-factor bar, and I wish we had time to come back here at night.
Open for:
- Brunch, lunch, and dinner
- 4 -9pm Tuesday and Wednesday
- 4-10pm Thursday and Friday
- 10:30am to 10pm Saturday
- 10:30am to 3pm Sunday
- 111 Franklin St, Clarksville TN
Pinky’s Up Afternoon Tea
We absolutely loved Pinky’s Up Afternoon Tea. Every employee we met at every place we stopped was southern charm encapsulated, but Pinky’s Up may have taken the cake – pun intended.
This was actually the first place we ate in Clarksville, an early afternoon light lunch, though they’re open from brunch through dinner. You can eat something small and light or find much heartier fare, depending on your plans.
First of all, the entire place is designed to be Instagrammable. The bright pink theme runs from outside to all the quirky tables and seating areas, the wall decor, and more, which just makes it a fun and happy place to be.
But the food is also delicious and ranges far beyond finger sandwiches and scones. I love places that offer high tea, and Pinky’s Up does a fantastic job with that, too.
My friend and I split the afternoon tea and tier, and that was plenty of food to share for a light meal. They also offer five other tea tiers, as well as more traditional breakfast and sandwich items.
Their tea choices are above and beyond, so be prepared to ask for suggestions, but I love butterfly pea tea, and this is one of the few places I’ve found it. They offer everything from a traditional English breakfast or green tea to apricot or honey lavender in addition to offering blooming and dessert teas.
Open for:
- Brunch, lunch, and dinner
- 11am to 9pm Wednesday to Friday
- 9am to 9pm Saturday
- 11:30am to 6pm Sunday
- 120 Strawberry Alley, Clarksville TN
Lunch and Dinner Options
We found that most places where we had lunch were also open for dinner, and vice versa. Some are definitely more aimed at dinner, and I note that, but with so many options, just trying to fit in all the deliciousness is a challenge.
Calle Taco
Do not skip Calle Taco. If you love Mexican food, this is the place you want to go. (Side note: they also have a location in Nashville.)
It’s a somewhat minimalist decor, though I love the murals on the walls, and the seating isn’t the most comfortable, but this is was hands down one of our favorite meals in Clarksville.
Their birria is the star of the show, but they sold out of birria before we arrived on a Friday at about 5:30. Be prepared for possible disappointment because they are truly that popular – and for good reason.
We went back the next day just for a quesabirria taco, and it was worth it. Their birria was close to my all-time favorite little place in Fort Lauderdale, which is saying a lot.
Instead of birria that night, I chose to do a funky calle loaded fries with carnitas, cheese, avocado sauce, pico, and sour cream. That was enough for me to share and still end up full.
My friend chose al pastor tacos, which I almost regret not getting because they were absolutely perfect with the pineapple. Honestly, you can’t go wrong here no matter what you order, and that includes the drinks.
They do a lot of takeout in addition to sit down meals, so you could get something to go and take it to one of the parks or even to the Beachaven Winery to enjoy as a picnic. This has the feel of a college restaurant, but it’s so much more than that.
Open for:
- Lunch and dinner
- 11am to 10pm Monday to Thursday
- 11am to 11pm Friday and Saturday
- 11am to 9:08pm Sunday – and no, that’s not a typo
- 125 Franklin St, Clarksville TN
Strawberry Ale Works
Strawberry Ale Works is one of a number of breweries and restaurants in Clarksville, but it sets itself apart with its made-from-scratch food and a huge variety of craft beers. They also have a great happy hour Monday to Friday, so catch that between 4pm and 6:30pm if you can.
I chose the dipping tacos that have pulled pork but otherwise are reminiscent of a quesabirria taco (yes, I have a problem), and they were great. My friend opted for a lighter Cobb salad, and it was exactly what you would expect.
They have a large and surprisingly diverse menu from creole pasta to roasted veggies with farro to the variety of burgers you would expect. It was a hard choice, and the good news is that it’s an enticement to go back again.
Pro tip: From their balcony, you can see into the F&M Arena, which has a 15 minute light show called Always the River. Definitely spend some time here after the sun goes down to experience it.
Open for:
- Brunch, lunch, and dinner
- 11am to 10pm Monday to Thursday
- 11am to 11pm Friday
- 10am to 11pm Saturday
- 10am to 10pm Sunday
- 103 Strawberry Alley, Clarksville TN
Old Glory Distilling Co.
About 20 minutes from downtown, the trip to enjoy Old Glory Distilling Co. is worth it. You can also do a distillery tour and tasting for $15 per person, and I recommend doing this before you eat for obvious reasons.
We ate in their huge dining room, but they also have an outdoor seating area called Silo Park that has a bar, fire pits, and more. This was a flat out fun place to go.
This was another place where both my friend and I struggled to choose what to eat because so many things looked and sounded so good. We vascillated amongst the grilled smoked salmon, pulled pork sandwich, au poivre burger (which I finally chose), and avocado shrimp tacos.
Needless to say, their menu has pretty much something for everyone, and in my case, too many good choices. We both enjoyed our food, though I wish I had tried either the broccoli casserole or charro beans with smoked meat for my side over the mac and cheese.
This was also the one place where we couldn’t turn down dessert, even though we were incredibly full. My friend chose the house-made carrot cake, while I ended up with the giant cinnamon roll (though I told the server to honestly surprise me because I could not choose between that and the stuffed chocolate bread and would have been equally happy with both).
That actually ended up being our breakfast the next day because even after heading back to the hotel, we couldn’t finish the huge portions. Definitely get dessert, but share it.
Open for:
- Brunch, lunch, and dinner
- 11am to 10pm Monday to Thursday
- 11am to 11:30pm Friday
- 10am to 11:30pm Saturday
- 10am to 10pm Sunday
- 451 Alfred Thun Rd, Clarksville TN
Edward’s Steakhouse
Edward’s Steakhouse has a retro vibe that’s almost like a supper club with the darker wood decor. We enjoyed this as our meal before the show at the Roxy Regional Theater, which is an option to do a dinner and a show package.
Because we had this setup with dinner at 5pm, we didn’t have to worry too much about what to order, as the package comes with a house salad, a six ounce steak, a baked potato, bread, cheesecake, and a non-alcoholic beverage. The package even includes tax and tip, and I highly recommend it if the Roxy has a show while you’re in Clarksville.
The food was just what you would expect from a steakhouse, although the potato was massive. In fact, there was enough potato that I could have had just that alone for my dinner – but of course I didn’t.
Outside of steaks, Edward’s also offers a variety of fish and other meats, as well as pastas, salads, and sandwiches. Of course they have every side you traditionally see in a steakhouse except for the very Chicago creamed spinach, so you have plenty of choices.
Open for:
- Breakfast, lunch, and early dinner
- 9am to 3:30pm Tuesday
- 9am to 6pm Wednesday and Thursday
- 9am to 7pm Friday and Saturday
- 9am to 5pm Sunday
- 107 Franklin Street, Clarksville TN
Deciding Where to Eat in Clarksville Is Hard
These were the restaurants where we ate that we recommend you try, as well. There is another place we visited that closed within a couple weeks of our visit, but we also walked past so many places and had locals recommend other places that we didn’t have a chance to visit – yet.
On our recommended list:
- Blackhorse Pub & Brewery is one that multiple locals mentioned to us and we just didn’t have time to sneak in
- Another friend told me about Miss Lucille’s Cafe after we came back that she absolutely adores
- The Mailroom was absolutely on our list but again, we just didn’t have time to make it there
- Shelby’s Trio that has three different restaurants under one roof: Joe’s Garage, Trattori di Cat, and Skyline 500 Bar
- Arapaap that looks just really fun and cool with more unique Asian options
If you’re visiting Clarksville for an Austin Peay event or visiting friends or family or making it a girls’ weekend, there is plenty to do and so much to eat in Clarksville. Follow these recommendations, and you won’t be disappointed.
