Restaurants in the Upper Cumberland

The Brass Rail is the oldest bar and restaurant in Cookeville, operating continuously since 1950 on the downtown square. This no-frills neighborhood bar is a true Upper Cumberland institution, cold beer, great burgers, and a worn-in atmosphere that no modern restaurant can fake. If you want to understand Cookeville, you need to sit at the Brass Rail.

Calfkiller Brewing Company in Sparta is one of Tennessee's most acclaimed craft breweries, producing award-winning ales and lagers from a rural White County location since 2012. The taproom is the kind of place that draws beer enthusiasts from Nashville and Knoxville specifically to make the drive.

A downtown Cookeville steakhouse and bar on S Washington Avenue with over 1,100 reviews - one of the city's anchor dining destinations for steak and American food.

Chapahali is a family-owned Ethiopian restaurant on S Jefferson Ave, serving authentic East African cuisine to Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland. It's one of the most genuinely unique dining experiences in the region, dishes are served on injera (a tangy fermented flatbread), meant to be eaten communally by hand. Whether you're new to Ethiopian food or a longtime fan, Chapahali is a special place.