While Nashville pushes the boundaries of its highways with meteoric growth, one of its most famous landmarks remains a good distance away from all the commotion. Several miles from the flurry and fuss of Broadway and the long lines of music fans at downtown concert venues, time seems to slow to a crawl as you venture down State 100. Just before you turn into the parking lot, you’ll see it: a house that’s been serving biscuits and fried chicken for over 70 years. The Loveless Cafe biscuits are some of the best biscuits in Nashville for good reason—they haven’t changed from the original recipe. See what makes these biscuits so good and where else you can find the Southern favorite.

The Best Biscuits In Nashville

In 1951, Loveless Cafe founders Annie and Lon Loveless took advantage of their home’s location on the east-west highway that connects the outskirts of Nashville and Memphis to feed hungry travelers. In the post-World War II era, their house was positioned perfectly on the busy road, just steps from the northern terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway. The couple turned their front porch and yard into a dining room for anyone who passed by, whether they were seeking a feast or just a snack.

Word spread of this delightful wayside stop, and the couple found themselves seating so many patrons that they needed to expand and built 14 rooms for overnight guests. (Motel operations ceased in the 1980s; today, the building holds a private event space.) They even added a smokehouse because most of the food that the restaurant serves is cooked from scratch, including the biscuits, of course.

Famous Biscuits

The petite breads rise tall and proud, tender and fluffy. They’re served by the basketful with small-batch preserves made right down the road. The restaurant’s kitchen churns out up to 10,000 biscuits a day, so they aren’t stingy with your requests for more. They even offer a biscuit sandwich sampler platter, so there’s no need to fear missing the just-right combination. (You can’t go wrong with the country ham. They’ve been making it for decades too.)

A Destination

You’ll probably have to wait for a table if you go during the busiest times, especially on weekends, but like any Southern home, the Loveless Cafe anticipates their guests’ needs. They’ve set up rocking chairs on the porch, which have a great view of their iconic neon sign, and in the back, you can stretch your legs and play corn hole.

Also on the property, you’ll find a barn that’s large enough for concerts and weddings plus several gift shops that carry all the take-home foods you could possibly want—spice rubs, preserves, baking mixes, and much more. While the cafe is generous with recipes for many of their dishes, the method for the biscuits remains a closely held secret, passed down from Annie herself. You don’t draw in half a million visitors each year for mediocre biscuits, after all.

lovelesscafe.com, 8400 TN-100, Nashville, TN 37221

More Delicious Biscuits In Nashville

Nashville Biscuit House

When in Nashville, it makes sense to determine for yourself who has the best biscuit. At Nashville Biscuit House, breakfast is served all day and there are plenty of biscuits on the menu. Order them with country or sausage gravy, on the side of eggs and bacon, or with country ham or chicken fried steak tucked between them.

nashvillebiscuithouse.com, 805 Gallatin Avenue, Nashville, TN 37206

Nashville Jam Co. Cafe

What began as a jam making operation undoubtedly began to churn out some of the best biscuits in Nashville. What better to spread all that delicious jam on? Head to Nashville Jam Co. Cafe for a biscuit basket that comes with any flavor jam you desire. You can also order a biscuit topped with bacon, sausage, egg, and cheese.

nashvillejamco.com, 2806 Columbine Place, Nashville, TN 37204

Big Al’s Deli And Catering

Big Al’s specializes in soulful comfort cooking, and the biscuits are worth the trip. Try the biscuit sandwiches with egg and sausage or bacon, or the sausage and gravy biscuits. Whether you go for breakfast or lunch, you can also add a biscuit to the side of your meal. Besides traditional biscuits, Big Al’s offers a Black Pepper Parmesan Biscuit that you can order in place of or in addition to the regular biscuits.

bigalsdeliandcatering.com, 1828 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN, 37208

Sky Blue Cafe

There’s no shortage of opportunities to get a biscuit at Sky Blue Cafe. Located in East Nashville, this quaint spot serves breakfast all day long. Order Em’s Bowl, a biscuit topped with scrambled eggs, homestyle potatoes, sausage gravy, and cheese. Or grab a biscuit sandwich to go.

skybluecoffee.com, 700 Fatherland Street, Nashville, TN 37206

Biscuit Love

With four Tennessee locations and one in Alabama, there’s plenty of opportunity to try these fluffy biscuits. Choose from their biscuit sandwiches, like the East Nasty that tops a biscuit with fried chicken, cheese, and sausage gravy. Order the mini biscuits and jam, or try the Bonuts, fried biscuit dough tossed in sugar and served with lemon mascarpone and blueberry compote. Try their B-Roll if you’re craving a cinnamon roll.

biscuitlove.com, 316 11th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203