Photo credit Nathan Zucker
On October 1st, Bar Cala Cala will open in East Nashville, introducing a new kind of dining and listening experience in Music City. Created and designed by Ryan Costanza and Joshua Walker, Bar Cala Cala will pair Italian island cooking with natural wines and cocktails, set against an eclectic, ever-evolving soundtrack played through a dedicated hi-fi sound system.
ATMOSPHERE + DESIGN
At approximately 1,500 square feet, the main room is designed to feel intimate, warm and transportive. Upon entering, guests encounter the bar directly ahead, flanked by banquette seating and an open central space. Four vintage Klipschorn speakers anchor the room’s corners, while a disco ball hangs at the center of the ceiling, establishing the playful tension between a relaxed dining setting and a space built for music.
“We wanted to create a place that feels more than a restaurant when walking through the door,” says Joshua Walker. “A place where you can have a cocktail, listen to great music and let the evening unfold from there.”
The design reflects a sense of escape. Plaster walls, wooden beans, quartz surfaces and a Zellige-tiled bar are paired with antique mirror and steel details to create a unique contrast that makes a new space feel storied. Italian wallpaper and yellow tiled bathrooms add color and personality throughout the space, while artwork sourced from East Nashville’s Red Arrow Gallery further connects the room to its neighborhood. Outside, a sculptural clamshell adds another unexpected element to the property, perfect for a photo moment.
THE SOUNDTRACK
But sound is as integral to Bar Cala Cala as its physical design. Created as a listening room, the restaurant’s music program will move fluidly across decades, continents and genres as the evening progresses. Ethiopian jazz, Italian disco, city pop, house, summer rock hits of the 90s, and early 2000’s female pop hits are among the sounds that may find their way into the room, with each hour of the night carrying its own soundtrack.
Service will flow from afternoon aperitivo moments to dinner service and after dinner drinks. While the restaurant will be open from 4pm to late night, dinner will be served from 5-9pm, accompanied by soft, ambient lighting and a warm golden glow. When the lights dim later in the evening, the music will rise and the room will shift toward a more energetic listening and nightlife experience.
ITALIAN ISLAND COOKING, NATURAL WINES AND COCKTAILS
At Bar Cala Cala, dinner is served from 5-9pm and features a menu that celebrates the bright, coastal flavors and convivial spirit of Italian island cooking, with a focus on Sicily and the Mediterranean. Designed for sharing and lingering, the food menu moves from fresh seafood and vibrant crudo to handmade pasta, Italian meats and playful snacks.
Highlights include Sicilian Crudo of tuna, scallop and Ora King salmon; Spicy Tuna Carta de Musica with Bomba Calabrese; and the restaurant’s Cala Brioche, confit with garlic and Parmesan. Guests can also indulge in a Meat + Cheese Plate featuring an Italian selection, and Arancini made with fried lemon risotto, Wagyu beef and Fontina. For heartier fare, Spaghetti Vongole pairs clams, lemon, bottarga and breadcrumbs, while Swordfish Milanese is served with olive salsa verde and preserved lemon. A Bar Steak of Wagyu bavette comes with cippolini and pancetta agrodolce, while the signature Patatine Fritte are crisped in beef tallow and served with Dijonaisse. To finish, lean into Sicilian sweetness with Sicilian Granita, made with brioche and blood orange granita with gelato, alongside soft-serve gelato options like pistachio or vanilla bean.
Be sure to stop by before dinner or linger into late night to partake in an incredible beverage program. The natural wine selections and cocktail creations carry the same Italian sensibility, centering on classic aperitivo culture with a playful Cala Cala point of view. Cala Spritz, Malfi Spritz and Huge Spritz are the perfect pairing to start the evening, while Familia Negroni selections feature classics alongside variations like White Negroni and Cardinale. Non-alcoholic offerings include the Waymo, made with Maraschino Dream, and an Early Morning with orange and jasmine tea, as well as a Phony Espresso Negroni.
“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. 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. It’s about great food, music and a feeling of escape coming together in one place.” Ryan Costanza, Co-owner and Chef
WHAT’S NEXT?
Designed entirely by Costanza and Walker, the first floor accommodates up to 70 guests and will also be available for private events and full buyouts, with options ranging from snacks and limited bar menus to full-seat dinners and open-bar experiences.
Stay tuned for more from Bar Cala Cala: Walker and Costanza plan to open an upstairs space by the end of the year.
Hours of Operation
Weds, Thurs, Sunday 4pm-12am
Friday, Sat 4pm – 2am
