Eat Your Way Through Franklin (And Beyond) – Five Food Tours to Try this Fall

Photography by Provided

Originally published in Franklin Lifestyle

Franklin’s food scene has long been a draw, from its humble beginnings of mom and pops and meat and threes to its current status as a destination for culinary excellence. As the town has grown in both size and popularity, so too have its culinary offerings – which still include plenty of the tried and true favorites, but now also incorporate global cuisine and notable chefs that call Franklin home.

Whether you’re ready for an immersive look at Franklin’s own food and drink scene or you’d rather opt for a culinary adventure a few miles north, these food tours in Franklin and Nashville have you covered.

Franklin on Foot

One of Downtown Franklin’s resident tour groups, Franklin on Foot, occasionally offers a “Taste of Franklin” tour that stops not only at some of the strip’s most beloved restaurants but at local food stores as well. Plus they dish up plenty of history along the way. Check FranklinOnFoot.com/food-tours for availability.

Franklin Walking Tours

While Franklin Walking Tours specializes in tours centered around history and hauntings, they do offer a “boozy bar crawl” option for private groups. The experience is customizable based on length and group size. FranklinWalkingTours.com/#tours

Underground Donut Tour

Have a sweet tooth? Head to Nashville for a tour dedicated to donuts. With stops at spots like Parlor Donuts and Donut Distillery, the two-hour route spans a mile and a half to help you work up an appetite in between stops. UndergroundDonutTour.com

Walk Eat Nashville

As its name suggests, Walk Eat Nashville is dedicated entirely to culinary tours throughout Music City. Check out the Downtown Nashville food tour, which takes groups to five culinary hotspots across the city, while also learning about landmarks like the Ryman Auditorium and Country Music Hall of Fame. Or opt for a food tour through 12 South, one of Nashville’s most popular spots for excellent fare. WalkEatNashville.com 

Joyride Breweries and Distilleries

You can’t drive through Nashville without seeing at least 50 party buses, but Joyride Nashville ups the ante on the mobile party barges by offering a brewery and distillery tour by golf cart. The cart routes through the city, stopping at a number of local brands that craft their own brews and spirits. Joyrideus.com/nashville-tn

Ultimate Coffee + Cocktails Tour

If you’re wanting to take matters into your own hands, opt for a tour of my personal favorite coffee and cocktail spots along Main Street. Start your day at the adorable Coffee House at Second and Bridge, stop for a pastry at McGavock’s Coffee Bar, then settle in for a glass of wine (from a dispenser, which is extra fun) at JJ’s Wine Bar when the clock strikes five. For some of the best cocktails in town, stop by O’ Be Joyful, Gray’s on Main, or (and) the brand-new Stable Reserve.