It feels nearly impossible to keep up with Nashville’s constant wave of new restaurants, bars, hotels and retailers — and that’s a shame, considering how elevated the designs have become. This year, we’re resolving to pay closer attention. Here are a few at the top of our list.
Photo above: Love’s Alibi, by Sam Calderon.
Love’s Alibi | 901 Gleaves St.
The newest addition to the Gulch’s nightlife boom in Nashville, Love’s Alibi is a cocktail-forward neighborhood bar as part of LeBlanc + Smith, the award-winning team behind Barrel Proof and The Chloe. Helmed by locally based partner Jason Sorbet alongside Robert LeBlanc and Liam Deegan, Love’s Alibi was designed in partnership with Nashville’s Frank Atelier. The essence of the bar and its interiors draw inspiration from the empowered women icons of the rock ‘n roll era with soft neon pastels, backlit glass blocks, polished woods, and abundant greenery bring a soft aesthetic to a space that feels lived-in and loved, stylish but unpretentious.
Photos: Sam Calderon.
Loeffler Randall | 2510 12th Ave. S
Loeffler Randall, the New York–based luxury women’s lifestyle brand, has opened a 2,300-square-foot store in 12 South, the boutique brand’s largest to date, filled with footwear, ready-to-wear, and accessories, specially curated for the Nashville audience. In collaboration with Loeffler Randall, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer Jessie Randall and her team worked with Poonam Khanna, founder and principal of UNIONWORKS, to design the new store. Khanna, who previously collaborated with Loeffler Randall on their New York and Charleston locations, infused the brand’s signature aesthetic into the space. Highlights include curved curtain walls meant to mimic the brand’s iconic pleat, as well as Zellige tiles and Murano light fixtures — nods to Jessie’s travels.
Photo: Victoria Quirk
Herman Miller | 2212 12th Ave. S., #102
Globally recognized leader in design, Herman Miller, recently opened a new retail store on 12th Avenue South, bringing the brand’s pioneering approach to a modern way of living — and its award-winning product portfolio — to Nashville. On-site, visitors can test and compare the different features of their seating products, including the iconic Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Charles and Ray Eames. The expertly designed space includes specialists to provide design services and personalized help finding the right solutions for home or work.
Photo: Courtesy Herman Miller
Elm Nashville | 614 Rep John Lewis Way S.
Originally built in 1860 as Elm Street Methodist Church, where Ryman Auditorium founder Thomas Ryman was among early congregants, ELM Nashville is opening in March as an event venue. Architecture and design firm Pfeffer Torode led the redesign of the iconic property, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and to this day remains the only Italianate architectural-style church in Nashville. Venue highlights include an expansive main sanctuary with an adjoining bar, 80-seat dining room, catering kitchen, private bridal suite, dedicated green room and a private parking lot.
Rendering: Courtesy Elm Nashville
Verna Café & Connie’s Bar | 210 Louise Ave.
One of the newest additions to Nashville’s historic Rock Block, Verna Café & Connie’s Bar, comes from local industry regulars Beau Gaultier and Connor Bloem. Designed to create an all-day experience across the two locales, the concept pays tribute to one of Nashville’s oldest streets—long celebrated as the epicenter of the city’s early counterculture movement in the 1970s. The front of the building retains the charm of the original Cafe Coco space while embracing a subtle modern refresh. The interior is light and airy, with a vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere. Drawing inspiration from Japanese aesthetics, the design incorporates light woods and bright, understated colors, with a pine hutch and pink walls accented with touches of antique burgundy. The bar side evokes the sentimentality of a classic dive bar with soft lighting and a classic retro aesthetic.
Photo: Beau Gaultier
