Years ago, I moved to Nashville, Tennessee, with my family. On the day we moved, we spent hours and hours unloading the moving truck and were starving afterward. I asked my new next-door neighbors where we should eat dinner, and they recommended McNamara’s Irish Pub and Restaurant. We headed there, having no idea what to expect. We loved the Irish pub and returned countless times while we lived in Nashville. We’ve since moved back to our home state of Kentucky, but McNamara’s still serves delicious Irish food in a welcoming and lively atmosphere.
McNamara’s Irish Pub and Restaurant serves authentic Irish dishes. Starters include Caledonia Scotch Eggs, Irish Nachos, and Boxty and Spinach Dip, which are fried potato cakes served with spinach dip and are a personal favorite. Entrees include Fish & Chips, Galway Grilled Salmon, Bangers & Mash, and Irish Stew. McNamara’s also serves a variety of sandwiches, salads, and soups. Dessert is not to be missed and includes McNamara’s Bread Pudding and Bailey’s Irish Cream Cheesecake.
The pub has indoor and outdoor seating. The walls are decorated with Irish-themed pictures, Gaelic sports memorabilia, and pub signs that all add to the atmosphere and make you feel like you’ve jumped the pond. A large wooden bar is stocked with Irish whiskey and beer on tap, like Magners Irish Cider, Smithwick’s Premium Irish Ale, and Harp’s Premium Lager.
McNamara’s often hosts live musicians who specialize in Irish music. Sean McNamara and Nosey Flynn perform regularly. This band, comprised of musicians Sean McNamara, David Coe, and Josh Culley, has performed together for many years. Other performers, like The Sternwheelers and Josh O’Keefe, also entertain diners at the pub. In addition to music on the restaurant’s main stage downstairs, there is a more intimate listening room upstairs, Turk’s Lounge. Dinner with live music sounds like the perfect date night or outing with friends.
McNamara’s also hosts events throughout the year, including a Saint Patrick’s Day celebration on March 17 featuring live music starting at 10 a.m. The restaurant has also hosted an Irish New Year’s party on December 31. Don’t these events, with great music and delicious food, sound like the perfect way to celebrate?
Things to Do in Nashville
Nashville is a vibrant city with endless attractions. There are many things to do, from a Nashville Predators hockey game to a stroll around Centennial Park. The city has fantastic restaurants like Five Points Pizza and the Rosepepper Cantina. The Nashville area has incredible parks like Edgar Evins State Park and Long Hunter State Park. Of course, Nashville’s music scene speaks for itself! There are plenty of museums to enjoy, like the Country Music Hall of Fame, or just head down to the Honky Tonk Highway to listen to live music from some of the best in the biz.
Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip to Nashville using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner…