New Nashville Restaurants Open, Athens Family Restaurant and Sean Brock’s Bar Continental Close
Nashville’s food scene never stops. Like clockwork, every month old restaurants are renovated, new ones open, and a handful close their doors.
Last May, several new venues welcomed diners for the first time — from two country-branded bars to an upscale Mexican spot taking over what was once Josephine’s in 12 South. Meanwhile, at least three Nashville restaurants have announced their closures, although one hopes to reopen in the future.
Here’s everything you need to know about the changes at local restaurants and bars last month:
Openings in May
Café Yolan moves to Joseph
Last March, popular Italian restaurant Yolan at Joseph’s announced it would open a second space in the hotel. As promised, the hotel launched Café Yolan with fresh pastries, a full espresso bar and an exciting brunch lineup in late May.
The café also offers a lunch menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays and an aperitif menu daily from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. with snacks like focaccia bread accompanied by appetizers.
Rux Rooftop Officially Opens at Cambria Hotel Midtown
While Cambria Midtown’s rooftop bar and restaurant had a soft launch in late 2023, The Rux held its grand opening in late May.
Brothers Dan and Paul Patel own Rux and designed it as a tribute to their grandmother, from the menu to the name. Offerings include a strawberry spritz, bumblebee mule, spicy truffle pasta and steak fries. It is open every day from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Lainey Wilson opens Bell Bottoms Up restaurant and bar on Lower Broadway
In short order, Grammy-winning country singer Lainey Wilson announced her new bar in Nashville and opened it during the month of May. The grand opening took place just 24 days after Wilson launched the name: Bell Bottoms Up.
Located in the space that previously housed Florida Georgia Line’s FGL House, Bell Bottoms Up serves menu items that nod to Wilson’s Louisiana roots, including Cajun corn ribs, shrimp po’ boy and catfish blackened.
Morgan Wallen’s This Bar had a high-profile debut weekend
Originally scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend, country star Morgan Wallen’s Lower Broadway bar opened a week later to lines around the block and more than an hour wait to get into the restaurant.
Covered in memorabilia like signed guitars and his outfit of the “One Thing at a Time” album cover framed on the wall, it’s worth remembering who owns the bar. Menu items at This Bar & Tennessee Kitchen include Biscuits and Gravy, Steak Salad and Southern Nacho Fries, plus an extensive whiskey list for “Whiskey Glasses” fans.
Blueprint Underground Cocktail Club brings clubbing from Chicago to Nashville
Historic Printer’s Alley welcomed a new resident this month. Longtime Chicago nightclub owner Billy Dec got his start in Nashville nightlife with The Blueprint Underground Cocktail Club, a Tennessee version of his popular Chicago club. He also owns Sunda New Asian.
With art deco design, $100 shared cocktails, raised surfaces for dancing, and the only patio on Printer’s Alley, The Blueprint offers something unique from its neighbors.
NYC Favorite Fonda Opens Fonda 12 South Location
New York chef Roberto Santibañez serves refined, family-style Mexican cuisine in the space that once housed one of the South’s 12 culinary pillars, Josephine’s.
Fonda 12 South is the fourth location for Santibañez’s restaurant concept and the first outside of New York. Customers can order anything from a cheese quesadilla to a full rack of achiote-marinated Yucatan-style ribs.
East Nashville gets a coastal-themed Coral Club
Four friends sharing decades of restaurant and bar experience came together to open a new bar in East Nashville in May. With an oceanic color palette, light drinks like a paloma rosé, and an open-air patio, Coral Club aims to make guests feel like they’re on vacation.
Coral Club is open daily from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. at 604 Gallatin Street, unit 217.
Recent Closures
The Dogwood closes its doors after more than four years
Midtown bar Dogwood closed its doors on May 1 after more than four years in business.
Before closing, the bar hosted a farewell party on April 25 to “celebrate a new chapter,” according to a social media post.
The Continental Bar at the Grand Hyatt closes its doors
On May 30, Nashville chef Sean Brock announced on Instagram the closure of his Bar Continental concept. It opened in fall 2023 as a record listening lounge.
“Bar Continental brought together two of my greatest passions: music and food,” Brock said in a statement. “While I’m disappointed to end his run, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this with Nashville.”
Athens Family Restaurant Closes Near Belmont
The Greek and American restaurant on Belmont Boulevard announced its closure on May 26. However, according to an online statement from the owners, Athens will continue to offer dine-in and food services for takeout and delivery.
“We sincerely thank you for your continued support over the years,” the statement said. “Your patronage matters to us, and we look forward to continuing to serve you in this new capacity. »
Hadley Hitson covers business, restaurant and health care trends for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support his work, subscribe to The Tennessean.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: New Nashville Restaurants: Upscale Clubs and Cafes Enter the Restaurant Scene
