Eat, Drink, and Travel Smarter in Nashville This Winter to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions

Traveling this time of year while attempting to still be mindful of your wellness? Understood. On the one hand, you want to have a great time on your winter excursion to the ever-festive Nashville; but on the other, you just set some goals for yourself for 2026 that you really want to uphold.

Here’s the good news: As Music City’s food and nightlife scene continues to boom, more and more hot spots are embracing flexibility and adding balance to their offerings, making it more manageable than ever to have fun that’s also good for you! 

The key isn’t restriction, it’s awareness of what you’re partaking in. We’ve rounded up a list of some of the city’s hippest bars and standout dining spots, where quality ingredients and healthier options coexist with sheer deliciousness and indulgence. You can live it up in Nashville while still living well! 

Mocktails (or Cocktails!), Anyone?

Let’s start with some of the coolest bars in town that are well aware of Dry January (and beyond for those trying to cut back this year), but still delighted and excited to offer visitors and locals alike an array of truly inventive mocktails to accompany their menu of top-notch cocktails.

Old Glory: Intentional Alcohol-Free Cocktails in an Intentional Atmosphere

Located in a historic Edgehill building’s thoughtfully restored boiler room, Old Glory offers an immersive setting where every detail is intentionally considered. From its inventive menu to its striking design and warm, transportive atmosphere, the space is crafted to elevate a night out into a memorable experience. Its nonalcoholic offerings reflect the same level of care and creativity, ensuring every guest feels just as thoughtfully served.

Rather than treating mocktails as an afterthought, they receive the same attention to detail as the signature cocktails. In an inspired collection of zero-proof drinks, including the Blank Slate, Villa Place, and the N/A Michelle-ada, you’ll find such ingredients as basil, dill seed, guava, and Thai chiles—nothing to derail your wellness goals.

So if you’re abstaining or pacing yourself right now, swing by for a bougie experience without the booze amid the low lighting, moody ambience, and unmatched social energy that doesn’t require a hangover the next morning. 

ELEVEN11: Design-Forward Dining with Thoughtful Non-Alcoholic Pairings

If you’re looking to prioritize quality over excess, ELEVEN11 on Dickerson Pike offers a refined approach to food and drink rooted in fresh, earthy ingredients rather than heavy sweetness or unnecessary indulgence. The beverage program leans into herbs, botanicals, and bright acidity, creating clean, balanced mocktails like the Good Fortune, Cold Harbor, and No. 1 that enhance a meal instead of overpowering it.

The menu mirrors that same intentionality, highlighting high-quality proteins such as steak, scallops, and whole fish — ideal for travelers seeking a satisfying, protein-forward meal without heavy sauces or excess oils. It’s a thoughtful way to dine well and feel energized, before the evening shifts into ELEVEN11’s signature late-night energy.

cafe babu: Neighborhood Energy, Global Eats, and Balanced Nights

This place was practically made for wellness-seekers! Located in Wedgewood-Houston, cafe babu has earned a reputation as one of Nashville’s most-loved neighborhood hangouts: a laid-back cafe by day and a chill gathering spot by night. And when it’s time for the drinks to flow among friends, the mocktails here are as vibrant and appetizing as everything else on the menu. 

Savor the Hibiscus Raspberry, Gins & Roses, or the Spritz in a decidedly welcoming atmosphere that invites conversation and connection. Your body will thank you for the wholesome “Night Bites” offered, the distinctive coffees and teas will fuel you for the whole evening ahead, and while your companions sip the housemade sangria or herb-infused cocktails, you’ll be staying on track with your health goals. babu hits the sweet spot for anyone. 

Liquor Lab: Keep Your January Dry While Learning, Laughing, and Socializing

A different take on stereotypical Nashville nightlife, Liquor Lab offers a fun, hands-on educational experience that’s perfect for those who like to socialize and sip. In this interactive bar setting, every single cocktail-making class available in the lineup comes with nonalcoholic options, so you can shake and stir with the best of them even when you don’t want to imbibe in booze. 

You don’t just sit at the bar here. Instead, you’re called to craft your own concoctions with expert mixologists leading the way, telling stories about the drinks’ histories and sharing insider tips and techniques along the way. Specialty bites from local suppliers are included to create a well-rounded experience that will keep you laughing all night and headache-free in the morning. Perfect for groups, couples, or solo adventurers.

Resolution-Friendly Dining Options: Merging Taste with Temperance

Not just thirsty for something on the healthier side, but hungry for it too? You’re covered! Sure, Nashville most often conjures up thoughts of hot chicken and BBQ, but just because you’re trying to stick to your resolutions doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself of the amazing food scene here. It simply means choosing places where high-quality ingredients, manageable portions, and varied menu items make room for balance.

Beloved restaurants like The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden, Peg Leg Porker, and Dog Haus allow visitors to enjoy classic comfort food while making smarter choices. They make it easy to order shared plates instead of full individual entrées, pick from a selection of lighter sides, and be more mindful of portion size and meal timing so you can both satisfy your cravings and align with your nutrition goals.

The Pharmacy Burger, for example, uses only fresh, house-made ingredients and offers both larger and smaller menu items, while Peg Leg Porker’s award-winning smoked barbecue encourages relishing each bite rather than rushing through a whole rack of ribs—you only need a little here to get a BIG taste of Nashville! Or you know what? Have a light breakfast instead and just dive in at some of these joints to see what all the foodie fuss is about!

More Recs for Staying on Track in Nashville

Wellness-minded travel isn’t about being perfect. It’s about little choices that can go a long way toward keeping you feeling at your best when you’re exploring a tempting city like Nashville. Consider working some of these tips into your itinerary:

• Hydrate intentionally: Travel, movement, and late nights increase dehydration. Carry a refillable bottle everywhere you go and rotate each drink, alcoholic or not, with water.

• Explore Music City on foot: Nashville’s neighborhoods are prime walking territory. Refuse to resist those biscuits and gravy or fried catfish? Go ahead and indulge—you can walk it off later … or dance it off in Broadway’s famous honky-tonks! 

• Check out menus ahead of time: Knowing what options are available in advance reduces impulsive decisions and lets you plan for intentional choices.

• Embrace balance, not restriction: Enjoy a cocktail, dessert, or barbecue. But maybe not all at once! Wellness sticks when it’s flexible.

• Don’t neglect sleep: Did you know that just one good night’s rest can reset energy levels midtrip? Make sure you add sufficient pillow time to party time!

For additional resources and neighborhood guides, Visit Music City offers helpful planning tools and walking maps for visitors. And for general travel wellness, the CDC provides guidance by specific destination.