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The recent deluge of restaurant openings, while exciting, can feel overwhelming. It has prompted us to change our coverage to help you better navigate our ever-evolving culinary landscape. Following, you'll find a lineup of new places we've visited, along with our first impressions and tastes.
BACCO
100 Demonbreun St. 37201
Offering a Tuscan-inspired vision of fine dining on the ground floor of Four Seasons, Bacco exudes elegance and warmth, appealing to locals. In addition to the dry-aged beef program (wagyu strip with Chianti jus!), you'll relish the delectable salumi, crispy artichokes and citrus-coriander aioli, bucatini folded with jumbo lump crabmeat, Calabrian chiles, and lemon; whipped polenta, foraged mushrooms, and Amalfi lemon tart. Plus, enjoy three-hour free valet.
BAR MAR
300 12th Ave. S. 37203
The fabulous octopus-styled door handles at Bar Mar's entry allude to José Andrés' seafood-focused cuisine, which highlights both his creativity and Spanish heritage. Not-to-be-missed: Ora King salmon and avocado in yuzu ponzu, petite smoked hamachi cones, and butter-poached lobster roll with pickled celery. On the turf side: spectacular ribeye with cipollini onions, morels, and onion jus, plus carvings of Iberico jamon. Cocktails of note include the Salt Air Margarita and the celebratory Floral Cloud, a presentation that lives up to its name.
BAR ROZA
211 Arcade Alley, 37219
Long-awaited, Bar Roza joins chef Julia Jaksic's sister restaurants, Cafe Roze and Roze Pony, mindfully created with the idea that Nashvillians have a chill, contemporary (and yes, rose-colored) downtown place to savor impeccable drinks, small plates (the Focaccia Norma!), and time together. Located in Arcade Alley behind the Peanut Shop, this dedicated cocktail bar offers the masterful quaffs created by her partner, Owen Gibler.
CULTURE CLUB
1212 Martin St., 37203
Culture Club is bringing Nashville's first frozen Greek yogurt café to Wedgewood-Houston. Founded by brothers Bear and PJ Kaminer, the concept pairs premium frozen Greek yogurt with chef-driven toppings and rotating seasonal flavors made in-house with all-natural ingredients. James Beard Award semifinalist pastry chef Noelle Marchetti oversees the toppings bar, with local collaborations planned, including Perenn, a neighboring bakery and restaurant.
EARL'S KITCHEN + BAR
26 Platform Way South, 37203
Founded in Vancouver, Canada, by a father-son duo in 1982, Earl's Kitchen + Bar has grown to 70 restaurants nationwide while remaining family-owned and operated. Since its late April opening, Earl's at Nashville Yards has been wowing guests with globally inspired fare, a creative cocktail program, and polished service. Don't pass up the Crispy Tofu with sweet chili sauce, Spaghettini in Basil Almond Pesto with seared scallops and shrimp, or the Tomahawk Pork Chop embellished with date chutney. Desserts are special, too: it's hard to choose between the Crème Brûlée Cheesecake and Chocolate Banana Cream Pie.
FOUNDRY FIELDHOUSE SPORTS BAR AND TAPROOM
2800 Opryland Dr., 37214
At Gaylord Opryland, Foundry Fieldhouse is massive, boasting two indoor levels and one event space, four bars, a tasting room, a beer garden, 14 large flatscreens, a 38-foot super LED screen, and seating for 700. Executive Chef Michael Coyle's menu features Bear Creek Ranch beef for the burger; hand-cut fries cooked to a crisp in beef tallow; regionally sourced blue cheese on the steak salad; and mushrooms grown in the onsite greenhouse for the roasted mushroom dip. Plus, they offer their own beer, brewed in partnership with Tennessee Brew Works.
LOST & FOUND
3106 Gallatin Pike, 37216
Situated in Inglewood, Lost & Found is an endearing community gathering place. In an open-air, family- and pet-friendly setting, it features an array of retail shops and eateries. Enjoy superb wines and tastings at Birdie's Bottle Shop, refreshing cocktails at Fortunate Sun, and coffee from Retrograde's mobile truck. Hungry? Grab a Neapolitan-style pie at Pizza Lolo's brick-and-mortar location or check out the food truck village, featuring Colombian empanadas from Chivanada, Korean BBQ from QBOP, Afro-Caribbean fare at The Pepper Pott, and L.A.-style tacos from Katrin. Don't forget Sarabha Creamery for scoops of Indian coffee, saffron, or pistachio ice cream.
FONDA FINA
3101 Clarksville Pike Ste. 10, 37218
James Beard Best Chef South nominee and Maiz de la Vida founder Julio Hernandez has turned his attention back to his Bordeaux taco shop and commissary, launching Fonda Fina, a 12-seat dining table at the front. It's a marvelous way to enjoy his food in an intimate, homey setting, serving fresh-as-it-gets salsas, chips, flautas, empanadas, and quesabirria straight from the giant pot where he simmers beef to tenderness in rich consommé.
HATTORI NORI
3820 Charlotte Ave., 37209
Those who have relished chef Arthur Stacks' sophisticated sushi through Ricey & Co. catering, area pop-ups, or his residency at Skye Lounge have been eagerly awaiting Hattori Nori's debut inside L&L Market. Here, Stacks presides over Nashville's first hand roll bar, providing the immediate and satisfying experience of perfectly cooked rice and pristine fish tucked into nori with the right snap, presented directly from the chef's hand to yours.
OLALA CAFE
818 Palmer Place, 37203
On May 2, Arnaud Combaluzier and his son Mathis, a certified pastry chef trained at the École Nationale Supérieure de Pâtisserie Alain Ducasse, opened their charming French café near Cummins Station and the Cannery. This is the place to come for breakfast or lunch, or a latte and pastry. The croissants, made with French Isigny Ste-Mère cultured butter, are not to be missed. Whether sweet or savory, the crêpes are expertly prepared, thin and delicate yet sturdy enough to hold ham and cheese or strawberries and cream. French antiques and an outdoor terrace complete the experience.
SOY CUBANO NATIONS
4500 Charlotte Ave., 37209
Miami-born, first-generation Cuban-American Javier Salado brings his authentic cuisine into its fullest expression at this West Nashville all-day café. There's a coffee bar with fresh pastries, a full cocktail bar, and a pleasant dining room and patio. Savor a café con leche with a guava-and-cream-cheese pastry, black bean chilaquiles for breakfast, or succulent mojo pork, based on his father's recipe, fragrant with orange and garlic, served with congri, yuca, and plantains. The décor channels Miami through oceanside colors, a deco-style mural, family photos, and retro artifacts.
SYLVAN PARK BOARDING HOUSE
4511 Elkins Ave., 37209
You'll be stunned by the gorgeous transformation of this 1904 home into a luxury "boarding house" bed-and-breakfast. The property features eight chic suites that meld modernity with historic integrity. Offering king beds, private baths, and extensive amenities, each suite honors a notable Sylvan Park historic figure. Gracious living and dining spaces, outdoor gardens, and a partnership with Tantísimo, the independently owned and operated Latin restaurant that provides breakfast, complete the experience.