Six Exclusive Culinary Experiences to Book This Spring

With Nashville’s robust dining scene comes an array of truly unique food and beverage experiences that are sure to reawaken your sense of culinary adventure. Whether you’re looking for a great drink, a small treat or a full dining experience, we’ve collected some of the most intriguing and exclusive offerings in the city that can be reserved as part of a broader restaurant visit or as a fun standalone excursion.

The Rabbit Hole at Henley

In a hidden room, tucked away behind a not-so-ordinary bookcase in Midtown, lies one of the most exclusive dinner experiences in Nashville. Beyond the secret entrance, a single table with four chairs is all the seating that’s available in Henley’s The Rabbit Hole, a nod to the classic novel by Lewis Carroll. If you’re lucky enough to secure a seat at the table on one of its three nights of service per week (Thursday through Saturday), you’ll experience a wholly unique multicourse menu created specifically for your table by executive chef — and Food Network’s Chopped champion — Kristin Beringson, who will even sign your menu at the end of your meal. The only way to reserve your seat at the table is by finding the rabbit on Henley’s website. Reservations aren’t for the whole table, though, so unless you reserve all four seats, there’s a chance you’ll be at the table with potential new friends. Dinner in The Rabbit Hole is $165 per person, plus an additional $85 for a drink pairing option that could include a variety of cocktails, wines, sherries and digestifs. From beginning to end, your whole experience will be exciting and full of whimsy. JONATHAN SIMS

The Vesper Club at The Continental

If you’re looking for a sophisticated culinary adventure that is sure to delight the senses, book a reservation to visit The Vesper Club at The Continental. Bar manager Jon Howard, who oversees the bar programs at all of Sean Brock’s restaurants, is the mastermind behind this truly unique experience, where guests are guided through a tasting of five martinis and caviars. Using a variety of spirits and methods, the five tasting martinis are each about 1  unces and served in vintage-inspired cut glassware. Jon shakes, stirs and throws the martinis in front of guests as they are seated at the bar, but he never shares what’s in each drink until the very end. Guests are encouraged to leave their preconceived notions at the door and just savor the flavors of each cocktail and enjoy how it pairs with its caviar counterpart. At the end of the hour-long experiences, the menu is revealed so patrons can discover — and possibly be surprised by — which drinks and bites were their favorites. The Vesper Club is offered from 5-9 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, and costs $100 per person. Reservations can be made on Resy. NANCY FLOYD

Spillin’ Tea With Draper James at The Hermitage Hotel

The Hermitage Hotel has so much to offer locals and visitors alike with its new dining venues and top-to-bottom refresh. One thing not to be missed is the afternoon tea service hosted by the historic venue. Its current iteration, Spillin’ Tea With Draper James, is a collaboration between the hotel and Nashville’s own Reese Witherspoon. It is a delightful way to spend an afternoon — for a special occasion or just for fun — and dine on classic Southern bites inspired by recipes from Reese’s cookbook, Whiskey in a Teacup, and accompanied by traditional scones and pastries. In addition to Champagne, both a tea punch cocktail and “Whiskey in a Teacup” — a nod to the hotel’s infamous Prohibition-era “secret” — are on the menu. There is luxurious loose-leaf tea by In Pursuit of Tea and Shirley Temples for the under-21 set. For those who can’t resist the signature “Hermitage Ditsy Floral” that adorns the menu, napkins and even staff wardrobes, items carrying the charming print can be purchased at the hotel and at the Draper James store in 12South. For the next few months, Spillin’ Tea With Draper James is offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m., and reservations are a must for this increasingly popular experience. HOLLY HOFFMAN

Bourbon Experience at Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery

It seems you can find bourbon tastings just about everywhere in Nashville these days, but the Bourbon Experience at the newly renamed Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery stands above the rest, especially if you have a penchant for history. After a short stroll across the grounds to the reconstruction of the 1820s ice house, you’ll find your place in one of the plush leather armchairs lining the stone walls of the round building. The hour-long experience is led by bourbon expert Becky Yannayon, who explains the science of bourbon and distilling with ease and without pretense. You also get a history lesson, as she weaves the stories of the property, the horses, the barrels and the bourbon into one fascinating tale mixed with samples of the flagship Belle Meade Bourbon, the Belle Meade Reserve (served with a small sample of pecan pie from the on-site restaurant) and a small old fashioned. Toward the end of the hour, you’ll be invited to the table in the center of the room to try your hand at muddling some mint and making your own refreshing mint julep. The Ice House Experience is $60 per person, but you can also reserve the space for a private tasting or a pairing with small bites from executive chef Stephen Kruger. JONATHAN SIMS

Dinner Tasting Menu at Sinema

It’s hard to believe that popular dining fixture Sinema opened in only June 2014, when it quickly became a go-to spot for discerning Nashvillians. Housed in the former Melrose Theatre, the restaurant’s sumptuous décor plays on its 1940s roots with plush banquettes, oversized photos of Hollywood stars and dramatic lighting, which are more than equaled by the extraordinary meals and service that diners experience. In addition to the regular menu, executive chef Kyle Patterson has created the Dinner Tasting Menu that will make you fall in love all over again with some of Sinema’s greatest hits. The five-course meal, which runs through spring, includes arugula and chicory salad, house-made agnolotti, pan-seared scallops with spinach orzo, and short ribs with horseradish and buttermilk Yukon gold potato purée. It comes to a decadent end with a chocolate lover’s dream of salted caramel mousse, chocolate cake and hazelnut chocolate ganache. Reservations can be made for parties of eight or fewer, and impressive wine pairings, either house or premium, are offered. Whether you're looking to have a delicious midweek dinner, celebrate a special occasion with friends or just haven’t been in a while, Sinema’s Dinner Tasting Menu should have a top spot on your list. HOLLY HOFFMAN

Whiskey or Wine and Chocolate Pairings at Tempered Fine Chocolates

Tempered Fine Chocolates has made quite a name for itself when it comes to the small-batch, handmade chocolates crafted and sold in the Germantown store. The confectionery shop is also known for serving a full menu of espresso drinks, breakfast and lunch plates, homemade hot chocolate, and drinking chocolate. But did you know that the European-inspired café also has a full bar with cocktails, wine and whiskey? Tempered's spirits and sweets come together beautifully with their one-of-a-kind whiskey and chocolate or wine and chocolate tastings. The chocolatiers have carefully determined the best combinations, and they just released the spring menu. It contains some traditional combinations — rosé with cherry cordial — as well as some surprising flavor blends — grüner veltliner with strawberry cheesecake. The whiskey and bourbon selection varies, but there are always local and Kentucky choices, as well as scotch and rye. The offerings are delicious suggestions, and their chocolatiers are happy to take time to learn about your preferences and choose the best array for you. Guests choose between three -ounce pours of whiskey or three 2-ounce pours of wines, and the knowledgeable staff takes care of the rest. HOLLY HOFFMAN