Inside Edgehill Village, Nashville’s Newest Artists' Enclave
Local Flavor: Touring Nashville's Edgehill Village
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Old Glory
Sisters Alexis and Britt Soler made a name for themselves on the local cocktail circuit with their East Nashville mainstay, Bar No. 308. They upped the ante last year with Old Glory, a swanky-cool cocktail lounge in an historic boiler room after months of renovations. The whole place exudes a Jazz Age, speakeasy vibe, from the lack of signage (you enter through an unmarked corridor) to the gilded staircase that plunges downward into the lofty, open space. The wraparound bar is built of concrete, keeping with the surrounding ‘hood’s industrial vibe, and the entire space is punctuated by a bank of hand-glazed tiles, from which the old boiler protrudes. The menu features crafty concoctions, like the Beet Happening, made with Mezcal, beets, Greek yogurt, dill, lime and agave, all which pair well with the handful of small sharable dishes on offer like the smoked baby potatoes and lox board. The Solers also have a passion for quality ice and use their Clinebell (think of it as the Mercedes of ice makers) out back to make custom ice molds for other high-concept bars around town. (615) 679-0509
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Barcelona Wine Bar
Barcelona is the latest in a trend of wine bars to debut in this traditionally whiskey-loving town. CEO Jeff Carcara likes that Edgehill Village is a pocket of cool in the city where “everything is within walking distance, with artisan retailers and eclectic restaurants that aren't mainstream.” The new eatery melds seamlessly into its hip surrounds with exposed brick, and beams from its days as Whiteway Cleaners in the 1920s. “The bones of the building and its history are dramatic,” he says. “The industrial look fit with what we wanted to create.” Food-wise, the bar focuses on charcuterie and cheese boards, as well as tapas-style plates, but the wine list is, of course, the star. The menu is hundreds of bottles deep—mostly, in keeping with the theme, from Spain and South America. barcelonawinebar.com
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Legato Gelato
When husband-and-wife team Berchaun and Terri-Ann Nicholls decided to open a gelato shop in 2012, their sole reason for choosing Edgehill Village was budget. “When we were ready to open Legato, areas with higher foot traffic such as Broadway or 12South were simply not an option,” Terri-Ann explains. “We knew we would have to focus on a transitioning area, and Edgehill fit the bill. It seemed like the right kind of place on which to take a chance.” Conveniently, it was also within walking distance from their home, and the uniqueness of the historic brick building with its “high ceilings, natural light and exposed brick all felt so dreamy,” Terri-Ann says. Today, Legato Gelato is the only tried-and-true gelateria in town and features a rotating cast of flavors that run the gamut, from traditional stracciatella to more adventurous, like sweet potato with bourbon brittle, all of which are made from scratch. The Nicholls’ small business has proven to be a slam dunk in the area. “One of the best parts of opening a dessert business is that you very rarely have unhappy customers. By and large, anyone stopping in for a few scoops is in a good mood. It makes running this kind of business that much more fulfilling and satisfying.” legatogelato.com
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Castilleja
Songwriter Liz Rose co-wrote hits like Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” and Taylor Swift’s “You Belong with Me,” and already had an established publishing company when she opted to open a boutique in Edgehill Village in 2014 with her daughter, Hayley. “When we started looking for a space for Castilleja, Edgehill made perfect sense,” Liz says. “The area has so much history and character, and it’s great to have my two businesses close together, so I can drop into the shop between writing during the day.” The pair aimed to bring a dose of Liz’s Texas roots to Nashville through Southwestern-inspired clothing and home goods—from fringed women's shirts and baby cowboy boots to hand-crafted turquoise jewelry and the shop’s signature Mexican-inspired blankets. And, of course, there are plenty of items that reflect Rose’s other career. “I have so many songwriter friends that visit, so we try to carry music-related goods,” Liz says. “For example, Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman signs her cookbooks for us, and we carry some photos from the 70's of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt that are exclusive to us. I feel like the store expresses another creative side of me. I want people to feel like they've walked in my home when they come here.” castillejanashville.com
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Edgehill Café
While Edgehill’s eponymous café has long been a fixture in the village, the owners ditched its old bohemian-style location in 2015 to move a few storefronts over. The reimagined space was designed by local, celebrated interior designer and fellow Edgehill inhabitant Chad James. Here, regulars will find the same favorite, expertly-made cappuccinos and lattes, but also an expanded menu and happy hour each weekday—try the Slow Burn for an evening pick-me-up, made with coffee, Four Roses bourbon and Frangelico. There’s communal seating for the coffee house crowd, while the back space has table service for sit-down service. There’s a limited breakfast menu available all day—fresh, homemade biscuits and jam, breakfast tacos and a BLT—in addition to a selection of salads, soups, sandwiches, and other entrees such as a lamb burger or cheddar grits bowl. Most recently, Edgehill Café added a weekend brunch menu with new items like the red velvet pancakes and bananas Foster waffles. edgehillcafe.com
