photo by Nathan Zucker
Bar Cala Cala opened Oct. 1 in East Nashville, introducing a new restaurant and listening-room concept centered on Italian island cuisine, natural wines, cocktails and music. More Eat & Drink News
Created and designed by Ryan Costanza and Joshua Walker, the approximately 1,500-square-foot space was designed to transition from an afternoon aperitivo and dinner destination into a livelier late-night listening experience.
“We wanted to create a place that feels more than a restaurant when walking through the door,” Walker said. “A place where you can have a cocktail, listen to great music and let the evening unfold from there.”
The main dining room features banquette seating, plaster walls, wood beams, quartz surfaces and a Zellige-tiled bar, along with antique mirror and steel accents. Four vintage Klipschorn speakers anchor the corners of the room, while a disco ball hangs overhead. Artwork from East Nashville’s Red Arrow Gallery is also featured throughout the space.
Music is a central part of the concept, with playlists expected to move across decades, genres and countries throughout the night. Guests may hear everything from Ethiopian jazz and Italian disco to city pop, house, 1990s rock and early 2000s pop.
Bar Cala Cala opens at 4 p.m., with dinner served from 5 to 9 p.m. As the evening progresses, lighting dims and the music becomes more prominent, shifting the space toward a late-night atmosphere.
The menu draws inspiration from Sicily and the Mediterranean, with dishes designed for sharing. Offerings include Sicilian Crudo with tuna, scallop and Ora King salmon; Spicy Tuna Carta de Musica with Bomba Calabrese; Cala Brioche with confit garlic and Parmesan; Arancini with lemon risotto, Wagyu beef and Fontina; and Spaghetti Vongole with clams, lemon, bottarga and breadcrumbs.
Other menu items include Swordfish Milanese with olive salsa verde and preserved lemon, Wagyu bavette Bar Steak with cipollini and pancetta agrodolce, and Patatine Fritte cooked in beef tallow and served with Dijonaisse. Dessert options include Sicilian Granita with brioche, blood orange granita and gelato, along with pistachio and vanilla bean soft-serve gelato.
The beverage program focuses on natural wines and Italian-inspired cocktails, including the Cala Spritz, Malfi Spritz and Huge Spritz. The Negroni menu includes traditional versions as well as variations such as a White Negroni and Cardinale. Non-alcoholic drinks are also available.
“Nashville’s culinary scene is continuing to evolve, and with Bar Cala Cala, we wanted to bring a little piece of the Italian islands to that spirit,” Costanza said in a release. “The cooking is rooted in simplicity, freshness and the soul of Sicily, while HiFi Discotecho brings the energy of the Mediterranean and allows guests to linger after dinner.”
The first floor can accommodate up to 70 guests and will also be available for private events and full buyouts, with options ranging from snacks and limited bar service to seated dinners and open-bar events.
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