More to do if you're going to Roo: Eats & Drinks

Is a Trip to Manchester Complete Without a Bonnaroo Burger?

If there is one thing besides Bonnaroo that Manchester, Tennessee is known for, it’s the food. Sure, the music festival put the city on the international map, but long before campers started rolling into The Farm each June, Manchester had already built a reputation as one of Tennessee’s great roadside food towns.

Manchester sits right along Interstate 24, and with that comes traffic, travelers, and hungry people looking for a good meal. But the local food culture here goes back even further than the interstate itself. Before I-24 carved its way across Tennessee, Manchester was a popular stop along old Route 41, the historic highway connecting Chicago and Miami. Travelers have been pulling into Manchester looking for burgers, barbecue, pizza, and Southern comfort food for generations.

Today, that legacy is still alive and thriving. Whether you’re heading to Bonnaroo, leaving the festival grounds, or just passing through town, Manchester’s food and drink scene is worth exploring all on its own.

The Legacy of the Official Bonnaroo Burger

You can’t talk about Manchester food without talking about Jiffy Burger, home of the legendary Bonnaroo Burger.

The original Bonnaroo Burger, served at the historic Jiffy Burger in Manchester, is exactly what you would expect from a festival town favorite: massive, messy, and unforgettable. The burger stacks together a thick beef patty, cheese, bacon, a fried egg, a giant onion ring, lettuce, tomato, and mayo into one glorious creation that has become a rite of passage for many Bonnaroo attendees.

But Jiffy Burger’s story goes back much further than the festival itself.

The building originally opened in 1957 as a Frosty Top Root Beer stand before becoming Jiffy Burger after the current ownership family purchased the restaurant in 1965. Decades later, it remains one of the most iconic local restaurants in Middle Tennessee, serving somewhere between 4,500 and 5,000 hamburgers every single week.

The Bonnaroo Burger itself was actually inspired by former Bonnaroo Festival Director Jeff Cuellar, who came up with the recipe concept. Jiffy Burger embraced the idea wholeheartedly and continues serving the burger year-round.

For many visitors, grabbing a Bonnaroo Burger before heading onto The Farm has become just as much a tradition as setting up camp.

Common John Brewing Company Embraces Everything Right About Manchester and Music

Another must-visit stop in Manchester is Common John Brewing Company, a place where great beer and live music naturally come together.

Even the brewery’s name has roots tied directly to Bonnaroo culture. During Bonnaroo 2017, Manchester native band Creature Comfort performed on the Miller Lite stage. While standing in the crowd supporting the local group, the brewery’s owner heard the phrase “Common John” in the lyrics of one of the songs, at the exact same time, he happened to be searching for a name for his soon-to-open brewery.

The name stuck, and Common John Brewing Company was born.

Since then, the brewery has become one of the anchors of Manchester’s local culture. Common John has maintained a consistent presence on the Bonnaroo grounds over the years, meaning festival-goers may already recognize their craft beer even before visiting the brewery itself.

If you do stop by the taproom, be sure to look for their annual Bonnaroo-themed commemorative cans, released each festival season. You’ll also find beers inspired by music itself, including names pulled straight from Tyler Childers lyrics like Universal Sound and Straight and Narrow.

The atmosphere feels exactly how a Bonnaroo-adjacent brewery should feel — laid back, welcoming, creative, and full of good energy. The food is excellent, the beer is outstanding, and the live music vibes are always present.

Bonnaroo Red and Bonnaroo White Wines

Then there’s Beans Creek Winery, which many Bonnaroo travelers practically consider the unofficial front gate to the festival.

Located right at the corner of Ragsdale Road and Bushy Branch Road, Beans Creek sits directly along one of the primary routes festival-goers take into Bonnaroo. For more than 15 years, the winery has produced two festival staples: Bonnaroo Red and Bonnaroo White wines.

Recognizing the needs of campers and festival travelers, the winery even developed plastic containers specifically designed for Bonnaroo attendees looking to stock up before heading into Centeroo.

In the days leading up to the festival, Beans Creek transforms into a destination all its own. While traffic slowly crawls toward Bonnaroo, the winery becomes a relaxing oasis featuring food trucks, entertainment, wine specials, and a chance to unwind before the long weekend officially begins.

For many people, stopping at Beans Creek has become part of the Bonnaroo experience itself.

More Manchester Favorites Worth Exploring

The truth is, Manchester’s food scene goes far beyond just Bonnaroo traditions. If you have extra time before or after the festival, there are plenty of local favorites worth checking out.

A few additional must-try spots include the following:

• Binninger-Schwartz Steakhouse

• J&G Pizza and Steakhouse

• Medleys Diner at The Oaks

• Boskey’s Grille

• Paco’s Pizza

• Ramsey Grille

• Porky’s Pit BBQ

• Layne’s Reunion

• Kami Sushi & Asian Kitchen

• Heaven in Your Mouth Bakery

• Emma’s Family Restaurant

• El Molcajete

• Stone Fort Restaurant

• Freddie's

• The Mercantile Café

Whether you’re craving Southern comfort food, barbecue, pizza, sushi, steak, or something sweet after a long day at Bonnaroo, Manchester delivers far more than most people expect from a small Tennessee town.

So honestly, is a trip to Bonnaroo complete without a Bonnaroo Burger? Probably not. But if you really want to experience Manchester, don’t stop there. The music may bring people to town, but the food is one of the reasons they keep coming back.