10 New Venues in Nashville for Summer 2022 Meetings and Events

Le Loup, a swanky cocktail lounge of nearly 2,600 square feet, opened on January 28 above The Optimist in the Germantown neighborhood, both helmed by acclaimed restaurateur and author Ford Fry. The dimly lit lounge’s name means “the wolf” in French, providing a timeless, luxurious space for guests to indulge in unique original, classic, and forgotten cocktails with more than 50 to choose from. Don’t miss the sea-inspired bites, including their scallop crudo, the crab cake, and (of course) oysters, prawns, and clams, which can be broiled or chilled. Highlights of the lounge include a custom mural illustration by Rebecca Green featuring an underwater scene, a vintage stone mantel, and comfortable fireside seating. Le Loup can host up to 75 guests for receptions, and buyouts are available.

Brugada Kitchen & Bar has been a mainstay in downtown Nashville for more than a decade, but it re-opened in April with a complete overhaul, transforming the space into an upscale dining and event venue. The completely new concept also features a new menu by Chef Kevin Vonnacher, featuring tacos, homemade brisket, salads, and signature cocktails. The 7,000-square-foot location has three VIP rooms: the Main VIP Room, the Skull's Nook, and the Singer's Lounge. Each private room can accommodate 10-30 guests for corporate events, private parties, and receptions. The entire venue can hold around 500 attendees for lively, private large-scale events.

The 1910 architectural gem The Hermitage Hotel had its iconic Beaux Art lobby lovingly restored as of May 2022, including the preservation of the original painted glass ceiling, intricate plaster details, and marble throughout (initially designed by architect James E.R. Carpenter). Other transformations by interior design firm Forrest Perkins include a lightened-up color palette in muted tones of tans, blues, and silver; new furniture; and lighting. This timeless Grand Lobby is the ideal room for pre-function events or cocktail parties for around 300 guests. Additionally, the nearly 2,500-square-foot Grand Ballroom features Circassian walnut paneling and is located adjacent to the lobby, which also saw a refresh of new carpet, new lighting, and artwork. For social events, the beautifully restored space can accommodate between 30 and 200 for a seated dinner, 100 with classroom-style seating, and up to 300 for lively receptions. Guests can also experience two new additions to the hotel, including the restaurant Drusie & Darr, helmed by Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and The Pink Hermit, serving coffee daily and cocktails at night.

The 6,800-square-foot tapas restaurant and bar Boqueria Fifth + Broadway opened in Nashville on February 21, joining its other popular locations in cities like New York City, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. The Nashville outpost resides in the popular 200,000-square-foot Fifth + Broadway development and features an open concept with communal tables serving delicious Barcelona-style tapas and curated cocktails. The restaurant can accommodate 158 seated guests and up to 200 for receptions with a full buyout, and there are five spaces for gatherings of all sizes, including four semiprivate areas in the main dining room. The enclosed private dining room can hold 36 guests for sit-down dinners or up to 50 for receptions with beautiful views of Ryman Auditorium. Planners can tour the space virtually.

Blue Sushi Sake Grill opened on March 22 at Fifth + Broadway. It joins other lively locations across the United States, including restaurants in Chicago, Omaha, Dallas, and Denver, by Omaha-based Flagship Restaurant Group. The Nashville restaurant features standout sushi like the San Marcos Maki, Itchy Salmon, and the fan-favorite Tuna Tower. It has a large selection of vegan options, with favorites including the Cowgirl (that tastes like a burger) and the famous Vegan Black Dragon. The restaurant's Conscious Earth effort prioritizes sustainable practices by partnering with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. Colorful decor is seen throughout the space, like the Godzilla collage that overlooks Broadway, the oversized geisha murals, and the main dining room features eye-catching vintage Japanese newspaper prints. Guests can expect comfortable booths, high-top tables, and a large uncovered patio. For events, the main dining room can hold 75 guests, and the bar area can accommodate up to 52. The front patio can host 60 revelers for outdoor parties, while the covered side patio can host up to 24 people. Full and partial buyouts are available.

This dual-branded development features two hotels and sits on 1.3 acres adjacent to attractions such as the $625 million Music City Center, boasting 2.1 million square feet, and the Bridgestone Arena. 1 Hotel Nashville is an 18-story hotel with an eco-conscious design, 215 guest rooms, 37 suites, and a state-of-the-art spa. The 30-story, 506-room Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown is ideal for convention travelers. The entire property has more than 32,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, upgraded technology for business conferences, event planning services, and custom menus for gatherings. The 9,251-square-foot Meadow Ballroom (pictured) has 21-foot ceilings and can host 640 guests for banquets or up to 800 attendees for receptions. For midsize events, consider the nearly 5,000-square-foot Riverbed Ballroom, which can hold up to 327 guests. Mossy Ridge is ideal for intimate gatherings, holding up to 90 in a classroom configuration or 100 standing guests. It begins accepting reservations for stays July 8.

The 32-seat, 2,000-square-foot Acqua by RJ Cooper opened on March 18 by James Beard Award-winning Chef RJ Cooper in the Germantown neighborhood. The restaurant boasts high ceilings, bright teal booths, and slick, modern white chairs. The menu focuses on seafood and cuisine from the Italian coastlines, such as Sicily and Sardinia, allowing guests to indulge in up to 16 tasting courses of wild-caught seafood with flavors such as citrus, olive oil, olives, and Calabrian chiles. The drink menu features all Italian wines, martinis, and negronis. There is a private dining room for events, and the restaurant offers full buyouts.

James Beard Award-winning Chef Andrew Carmellini opened Carne Mare, along with Luke Ostrom and Josh Pickard of NoHo Hospitality Group, in the W Hotel on Nov. 12. The contemporary Italian chophouse’s menu focuses on fine cuts of steak with prime American beef prepared with traditional and new-age techniques, seafood, and Italian specialties. Menu favorites include a 16-oz., 12-hour porchetta-spiced roast prime rib; a 40-oz., 30-day dry-aged Tomahawk; as well as a 45-oz., 45-day dry-aged porterhouse. The NYC-based Rockwell Group, an architecture and design firm, created the beautiful space inspired by Old World Italian trattoria with a modern-day design. For events, the main dining room can accommodate up to 84 guests, and a connecting patio can hold up to 40 people. A private dining room features a walnut table that can hold up to 22 guests.

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Franklin Cool Springs opened in February in Williamson County, close to downtown Nashville. The hotel is minutes from area attractions such as The Factory, a former 1929 stove manufacturing plant turned destination for artisan shops, restaurants, and event space. The historic Lotz House, the iconic Franklin Theater, Vanderbilt Legends Club, and Carter House are also nearby. The hotel has flexible space for meetings and intimate events, with two meeting rooms spanning 1,077 square feet. There’s a 333-square-foot space that can accommodate 14 guests for banquets and conferences and up to 22 for receptions. Another 744-square-foot room can hold up to 32 for banquets and up to 49 for receptions, and has access to a rooftop patio, ideal for open-air gatherings.

East Nashville welcomed The Wash with a grand opening celebration on April 30. This innovative business has five microrestaurants just minutes from downtown Nashville, including Two Peruvian Chefs, Soy Cubano, The Poki, Tootsie Lou's Tacos, and East Side Pho. Each restaurant operates out of former converted car wash bays, roughly 380 square feet. Tucked away in bay six is an intimate cocktail lounge that serves classic cocktails, local beers, and a curated assortment of sustainable wine. For events, there's an expansive outdoor patio that can accommodate 100 guests, with an additional space that can seat around 20 guests for private gatherings. Buyouts are available, and interested parties need to purchase catering packages from the restaurants.