When I started A Little Local Flavor back in 2018, my dream was simple: to create a Nashville food tour that supported the chefs, restaurants, and local legends that make this city special. I didn’t want to build just another tourist attraction, I wanted to create a business with real impact on my city.
Seven years later, I’m proud (and honestly blown away) to share this milestone:
Thanks to our food tour guests, we have directly contributed over $1,000,000 to locally owned restaurants and small businesses in downtown Nashville!
That number isn’t marketing fluff. It’s meals paid for. Tips left. Musicians supported. Drinks ordered. Desserts devoured.
It’s a million dollars that stayed in this city and supported real people that live in Nashville’s communities.
A Different Kind of Nashville Food Tour
Why Our Nashville Food Tours Stand Out
If you search "food tours Nashville", you’ll find a growing list of options. But here’s what makes ours different: we’ve never worked with chains. We don’t partner with corporations. Every stop on our tour is 100% locally owned.
When you take our Nashville walking food tour, you’re:
Eating dishes crafted by local chefs
Supporting bartenders, bakers, chefs, and line cooks who live here
Enjoying live music and supporting local musicians and artists
Learning stories about Nashville’s past, present, and future
““This is the only tour I’ve ever taken where I felt like I actually got to know the city.” - Harvey Williams”
Our Guests Made This Happen
A Million-Dollar Impact Through Word of Mouth
This milestone wasn’t reached because of paid ads or influencer gimmicks. It happened because guests, many just like you, chose a locally owned tour company and had an unforgettable experience.
And then they told their friends. And they came back. And they left more than 2,400+ five-star reviews!
And with every tour, more dollars stayed in the community.
It turns out, supporting local is contagious.
A Mission Rooted in Community
Built to Be the Best Food Tour in Nashville, and the Most Meaningful
From the beginning, we’ve had three core values:
Only Exceptional Experiences - Our tours are consistently ranked among the best food tours Nashville has to offer.
Keep It Local - All local restaurants, all the time. Every dish we serve is made from scratch.
Be the Best Part of Someone’s Trip - We want guests to leave saying, “Our Nashville trip wouldn’t have been the same without this.”
““I wasn’t loving Nashville… but after this tour, I wanted to stay. The food, the history, the people ... it made me feel connected.” - Jim Vukelich”
Why Supporting Local Still Matters
Nashville Is Changing - But We’re Still Here
Nashville has changed. World famous Broadway, once 80% locally owned, is now down to only about 20% locally owned establishments. Celebrity bars and corporate takeovers dominate Broadway. Rents have skyrocketed, and independent businesses are being pushed out.
Local guides (many of whom are musicians, actors, and creatives) work toward their dreams.
The A Little Local Flavor Team doing a goofy photo after a team outing.
Like Kyle Elliott, Brittany Moore, Sam Blasko, and Stephanie Joyce, who are all past tour guides that are now full time musicians.
Or past tour guide and PhD Historian Rachel Martin, who, after gaining huge traction on her 2nd book, A Most Tolerant Little Town, with a positive New York Times review, an interview on C-Span (and more), is now a full-time writer.
Mathew Dwyer recently stopped tour guiding to continue growing him and his
wife's real estate business.
What’s Next for A Little Local Flavor?
Building Toward the Next Million
We’re not done. We’re doubling down.
Our vision for the next $1 million includes:
Launching new neighborhood tours that support more corners of the city
Partnering with new (and more) family-owned restaurants
Creating behind-the-scenes add-ons that continue to make ours the best tours in Nashville, TN
We’re working on experiences that connect people to places and help our Nashville food tours stand for something deeper than sightseeing.
Want to Help Us Get to the Next $1 Million?
If you’ve taken our tour before - Thank you! You’re part of this story.
If you haven’t yet? We’d love to show you around. Come hungry. Leave inspired.
Book the best food tour in Nashville today, and help us keep Nashville local.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why should I support local businesses when I travel?
Supporting local businesses when you travel helps keep tourism dollars in the community. It creates jobs, sustains neighborhood character, and strengthens the local economy. Instead of funding national chains, you’re directly investing in chefs, artists, and small business owners who shape the identity of the place you’re visiting.
How does tourism impact local communities?
Tourism can either uplift or displace local communities. When done thoughtfully, it boosts local economies, preserves cultural heritage, and supports small businesses. But unchecked tourism often leads to rising rents and loss of independent businesses. Choosing locally owned tours and restaurants helps create positive, lasting impact.
What is the best food tour in Nashville?
A Little Local Flavor is the #1 rated food tour in Nashville with over 2,300 five-star reviews, and is consistently rated one of the best food tours in the country. It’s the only downtown Nashville food tour that works exclusively with locally owned restaurants and includes live music, drinks, and deep storytelling. Guests often say it’s the best part of their trip.
What are the best things to do in downtown Nashville?
Top things to do in downtown Nashville include taking a food tour, listening to live music on Broadway, exploring the Ryman Auditorium, visiting local distilleries, and walking the historic riverfront. A guided food tour like A Little Local Flavor is a great way to combine history, culture, and cuisine in just a few hours.
What are examples of ethical tourism in the U.S.?
Ethical tourism in the U.S. includes choosing locally owned food tours, staying in independent lodgings, supporting indigenous or minority-owned businesses, and seeking out experiences that preserve culture rather than commercialize it. A Little Local Flavor in Nashville is one example, a women owned business contributing over $1 million to local restaurants, businesses, and creatives.
How can I give back while visiting Nashville?
You can give back while visiting Nashville by choosing locally owned restaurants, booking experiences run by small businesses, and tipping musicians and hospitality staff generously. Take a food tour that supports neighborhood chefs and musicians, like A Little Local Flavor, and ask locals for recommendations that keep your spending in the community. Every decision makes a difference.