Photo: Kaldari, Public domainCity guide · Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville Barbecue, Explained
Where critics and locals agree, by style and neighborhood, plus a one-day route, food trucks and sell-out tips.
From Papa Turney's own website and social media. Photo: Papa Turney's Old Fashioned BBQ
Hickory-smoked barbecue · Percy Priest Lake
Papa Turney's Old Fashioned BBQ
Hickory-smoked plates and live blues at the marina on Percy Priest Lake.
Plan your visit
Trail notes · from our teamWorked out from the facts on this page. Not a review.
Only four days a week
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On a weekend, Saturday is your only shot.1
Pair it with a second stop
Curry Boys BBQ is 7.5 miles away in Nashville. Both open Wed to Sat.
Why go
Mike Turney's Papa Turney's sits at Nashville Shores Marina on Percy Priest Lake and doubles as a live blues venue.13 "We smoke our meat slow and purposeful, with real hickory wood."2 Everything is dry rubbed, and nothing is mopped or cooked in sauce. The smoked catfish is the spot's own signature recipe.3
What to order
Good to know
What people are saying
Posts and videos from people who’ve eaten here, pulled from 2 platforms and linked to the original.
By the numbersHow we counted
We use AI-assisted search to find public posts and press about each spot, then check them by hand. We can’t see every post, so these numbers count what we found, not everything out there. Last updated Oct 27, 2026.
- Press mentions: articles and lists in the press list on this page, all free to read.
- Creator posts: TikTok, Instagram, X, YouTube and Facebook posts on this page dated in the last 12 months. YouTube videos without a stored date are not counted. Reddit threads are not counted as creator posts.
- Latest mention: the newest dated creator post or press piece on this page. Shown only when it is under 60 days old.
- Creators: distinct accounts behind the creator posts on this page.
- Price: our own cost guide, not a ranking. We take the typical meal range from the spot's current menu and use its midpoint: $ under $12, $$ $12 to $20, $$$ $20 to $35, $$$$ over $35.
- Tennessee CrossroadsYouTubeView on YouTube ↗
- NewsChannel 5YouTubeView on YouTube ↗
- @WKRNX · Jul 2026View on X ↗
- @NashvilleSceneX · May 2024View on X ↗
- @joyannparkerX · Feb 2024View on X ↗
Tap a post to play it here. We never edit posts or pay for them.
In the press
- Oct 14, 2026The Infatuation · The best BBQ spots in Nashville
What we don’t know yet
We only publish what we can source. Here’s what’s missing.
- Cash or card
- The pitmaster
Near Percy Priest Lake
Constant Smoke BBQ
Hermitage · about 3 mi
3414 Lebanon Pike
Famous Dave's
Old Hickory Blvd · about 3 mi
5000 Old Hickory Blvd
8 Hour BBQ
Open dailyDonelson Pike · about 4 mi
517 Donelson Pike
Distances are straight-line miles from Papa Turney's, not driving distance.
Nearest trail: Nashville in a Weekend, about 8.8 miles away.
Related guides
Photo: Kaldari, Public domainBest-of lists · Tennessee
Tennessee Barbecue on the Best-of Lists
Spots named by The Infatuation, Eater, the Nashville Scene, Tennessee Tourism, Visit Franklin and Southern Living, each list credited and linked.
Own Papa Turney's Old Fashioned BBQ? Get a Featured partner listing (paid)
Researched by Erik Peterson, sources linked below.
Sources (3) · every fact on this page links to one
- Our story · Papa Turney's · Checked Oct 28, 2026
- Our story (hickory quote) · Papa Turney's · Checked Oct 28, 2026
- Tennessee Crossroads 3816 · PBS Tennessee Crossroads · Checked Oct 28, 2026
We don’t publish our own scores. Partner listings are always labeled and never change what we recommend. Hours change, so check before you drive.