From supper club to speakeasy: What to know about Nashville's newest bars and restaurants
Extravagant Halloween pop-up bars aren't the only thing new in Nashville this fall. October brought a collection of new restaurants, bars, coffee shops and even a speakeasy to the scene.
Here's everything you need to know about the newest restaurants in Nashville.
Southern Turf Club: The crown jewel of Southern Turf Building
The elevator at the 19th century Southern Turf Building in Nashville's Printers Alley works like a time machine — or some kind of portal moving between floors and eras.
In the basement is Skull's Rainbow Room, originally opened in 1948. On the ground floor, a bar and restaurant completely devoted to Frank Sinatra. Then, there are the modern, luxurious short-term rentals at The Southern Turf Lofts on floors 2 and 3.
And on the fourth floor is the crown jewel, the Southern Turf Club. Soft glimmering candlelight illuminates cocktail tables and lounge space in the cozy bar. On one side of the room is a hand-carved wooden wall imported from a bar in Scotland.
The bar's distinctive decor was a passion project for Bill Miller, owner of Icon Entertainment & Hospitality, which owns and operates the Southern Turf Building. He said some of the excess antiques and decor he purchased for the bar are in storage because he couldn't stop buying.
Schulman's unveiled in East Nashville
Another opening came from the team at Icon Entertainment & Hospitality this month — this one in East Nashville. Schulman's is a laid-back neighborhood bar named for the original owner of Skull's Rainbow Room, David "Skull" Schulman, who was murdered on the property in 1998.
The bar is jam-packed with vintage bar signs and moody lighting. Black-and-white checkered floor pairs perfectly with luxe red leather booths and barstools. Classic bar food like cheeseburgers and french fries is available alongside creative items like the rumaki (chicken liver and water chestnut wrapped in bacon and served with teriyaki sauce).
Retrograde Coffee makes a mark
Retrograde Coffee opened a new location in October on Clifton Avenue near Swett's barbecue restaurant. The coffee company's first location is over in East Nashville, and they're planning two more cafes, in Germantown and Inglewood, according to their website.
The coffee shop serves cocktails alongside the specialty coffee drinks and a small food menu focused on local and seasonal ingredients. Try the coffee shop 6 a.m.-5 p.m. daily and check out the bar 5-10 p.m. on Thursdays and 5-11 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Bad Idea is a good idea for East Nashvillians
Bad Idea, a wine bar from celebrated sommelier Alex Burch, opened Oct. 10.
Burch previously led popular wine programs at Nashville restaurants Bastion and Henrietta Red. He decided to take a leap of faith in opening a wine-forward restaurant of his own.
More new bars: No kids, dress code, extra-long happy hour
The wine bar and restaurant is set in a huge, open and airy former church building in the Five Points area of East Nashville. It's open daily at 5 p.m. at 1021 Russell St.
Blind Barber is a new type of speakeasy
A new speakeasy is open in the Gulch, boasting a barber shop during the day and bar by night. The Blind Barber brand is also present in cities like New York and Chicago.
Founded in 2010 by Jeff Laub, Josh Boyd, Adam Kirschenbaum, and Matt Breen, the business has fully thrown itself into both of its identities. Blind Barber hair products are sold at Ulta and Target, while the East Village location of the bar in New York is a key part of the neighborhood's nightlife scene.
Supper Club at Belcourt opens in Hillsboro Village
A new Supper Club location opened in Hillsboro Village, offering an elevated dining experience. The owners of Make a Play Hospitality also operate Supper Club in Memphis.
The restaurant is open for dinner during the week and also offers brunch on the weekends.
Slice of Italy now open in former Nicoletto's space
Slice of Italy, serving pizza, pasta, sub sandwiches, and more, opened in the former Nicoletto's space in Hillsboro Village. The pasta restaurant moved out in June but still operates locations in Donelson and East Nashville.
Slice of Italy is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
51st Deli opens second location
The beloved neighborhood deli and market on 51st Avenue in the Nations neighborhood now has a sibling store on West End Avenue. The deli is known for its huge menu of sandwiches, smoothies, fresh juices, tacos and daily specials.
The West End Avenue location of the deli serves all the same products and menu items. It opened on Oct. 21 and currently operates limited hours from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. A grand opening is in the works, according to an Instagram post from the business.
Restaurants open at Tanger Outlets
Tanger Outlets opened in Antioch during the last weekend of October. Customers flocked to the shopping center all weekend, starting with the ribbon cutting and grand opening Friday morning.
Along with the dozens of retail stores, several restaurants opened at the shopping center, including national brands and locally owned options.
Prince's Hot Chicken and Red Bicycle Coffee both opened new locations. Crumbl cookies is also available at the mall, along with pizza and craft beer at TailGate Brewery.
The Shake Shack location at the mall is set to open in a few months, store representatives said.
More restaurant news
According to an announcement, M.L.Rose will soon be opening another location, this time in Franklin. The new restaurant is set to open sometime in 2024, along with another new location in the Inglewood neighborhood of East Nashville.
Thanksgiving is approaching quickly. Luckily, there's a handful of restaurants still accepting dinner reservations in Nashville. Options include everything from a traditional southern Thanksgiving meal to Italian- or Mediterranean-inspired fare. A few others are also offering catering and takeaway meals for the holiday, including Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint and Gumbo Bros.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: October brings new restaurants and bars to Nashville
