Bar Luca

4.5
Pictures don’t do this spot justice. You have to come in and try it for yourself. Luckily, the weather has changed so that means the garage door can stay up and groups can fight over the prime couch seating in front. Bar Luca is here and East End is better for it. What a fantastic addition to that neighborhood!
First things: Bar Luca is ((drumroll)) a bar. Sure, it may be a bar that serves food but it’s first and foremost a bar. If you want dinner, go to a restaurant. The owners have a very god sense of self and a specific POV. You can see that from the (actual) bar build out to the seating to the flooring. It’s been thought out and it provides a welcome change, especially in this part of the neighborhood. But one can’t get drunk on décor alone, so you need to imbibe some potent potables. Bar Luca has you covered. I appreciate that from cocktails to beer to wine, tptb have thought about how to best enjoy time spent drinking with friends or on a date.
As I am want to do, I started my drink journey with a cocktail. The menu changes seasonally and it’s not huge — both of these things are done for a reason. 1.) Variety means you’ll come back to try what’s new. 2.) Keeping an edited menu means the drinks make sense, they’re made well and there’s a method to the madness. I was here in early spring and the drinks reflect that. I began with the Eastdown & Bound. The name is as fantastic as the drink. A variant of an Old Fashioned, this cocktail boasts bourbon, banana, bitters, and sugar. Oh, there’s also a very large ice ball. The presentation is appealing and the drink is very sippable. What initially looks like a drink you’ll finish in a few gulps becomes a strong and interesting cocktail you’ll take your time getting through. Warm from my first drink, I went in the opposite direction with my next. If The Eastdown was Ron Swanson, my Hearts Over Rome was all Leslie Knope. Again, the name lets you know exactly what to expect. This was a delightful (appropriate word) mix of vodka, chamomile, lemon, lavender, red wine, and ginger beer. I know: it sounds like there’s a lot going on – and there is. Rather than it being a mess, though, it’s a fanciful mélange of girl drink drunk awesomeness kicked up way past froth, cherries and drink umbrellas.
After two cocktails (better-​than-​average pricing), I needed to slow down. I also needed popcorn. Get the popcorn. It sounds simple. It’s delicious and it will keep the party going. Someone in your group will get the meat/​cheese board. Sit by him/​her. Engage in conversation. Eat all the meat/​cheese. This is how you do it. You’re welcome. Second wind at your back, you’re ready for your last drink. Make it a beer/​wine. These lists resemble the cocktail ones: seasonal and tightly curated. Since I’d had red wine in my Rome cocktail, I went all in for beer. This decision was made all the more easy considering they had Blackberry Farm Saison on draft. Local, seasonally appropriate and delicious? Done. And, I was done. I was in need of a meal so I left (remember, Bar Luca is a bar; don’t come for dinner) but I made a note to self to return many more times in the future. Without a doubt, BL gets it right.

Boring. Unfriendly. A tad overpriced. There’s simply nothing special or memorable about Bar Luca. I can’t see it being open for very long.

Great selection of wine, beers and cocktails! A fantastic addition to East Nashville.

So maybe I should have started my celebratory drinking here, but Rolf & Daughters set the bar pretty high and I just wasn’t feeling Bar Luca. It was CRAZY busy. We were honestly lucky to find a seat. It took a good minute for our drink orders to be taken, which was understandable. The menu looked promising, but the drink I ordered missed the target by a lot. It was so forgettable, I can’t even recall the name. I would like to add that they did offer a couple appetizing sounding non-​alcoholic drinks. They leaned more toward the fresh squeezed juice side of the beverage spectrum. The prices were average for this type of establishment and parking on the street wasn’t awful. I think we only had to walk for a couple minutes.
Nothing terrible happened during my experience, but nothing knocked my socks off either. I would only come here if I lived in the neighborhood.

Astonishing and fairly priced beverages. Have the basics with a couple exceptional drinks in the event you would like to be daring. The warm olives were so yummy as well as the beet hummus with heirloom carrots and crackers were superb yum!

We had the charcuterie and the tartines last night at Bar Luca with the most perfect wine. One of our new favorite spots. The food was delicious and beautifully presented and the service was excellent! A perfect evening.

Chill open vibe type wine bar/​lounge that’s got an amazing General Manager, interesting artwork showcased, and truly delish vino.

We have been to Bar Luca several times and are always impressed with the customer service and great atmosphere. The drinks and small plates are unique and well prepared! I highly recommend visiting Bar Luca.

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite Gal Pal hang spots. The place is gorgeous and the two times I’ve been here, it was buzzing with energy. It’s one of those spots that kinda takes me out of Nashville for a bit.
The vibe is classic, modern and intimate. When I say intimate, I mean that this place gets cozy around peak times so if you need a pretty big bubble around you, you’re not gonna be a fan. I’ve been here a couple of times with a group of my gal pals and we all enjoyed everything. Prices weren’t terrible. I was glad to see some $ 8 options when standard prices for cocktails in this bougie ass city are now $ 14-​$ 15.
We opted for the build your own charcuterie, which was pretty freaking delicious and surprisingly filling. It doesn’t look like much at first but everything included in it was on point. The second time I came here, a friend of mine got the same charcuterie plate and it was much smaller than the first time I saw it. Could be that they adjusted portions? Not sure but it just caught me off guard. Anyway. We also shared the crostini and loved the popcorn with nutritional yeast and chili oil. Basically, it’s a great chatty & snacky place. There wasn’t a set dinner menu when I went but I heard rumors about a burger that they have here? Gonna have to investigate that.
I’m definitely looking forward to the next time I can be back here! Can’t wait to see this place grow and settle in. Seems like it’s already pretty welcome in the neighborhood.

This place is amazing. So chill. Get the eat bound and down. They don’t skimp out on the bourbon. So chill. I give it two thumbs up.

I’ve gone back and forth between 3 and 4 stars, cause really this place is a 3.5 star restaurant in my opinion. However, our waiter, Levi, was great and really patient with our questions about the wines/​offerings, so I’m giving them benefit of the doubt.
Let me start by saying the vibe is really cool here. Not super hipstery considering the locale, but trendy and very upscale. I’m a fan of the tiny restaurant as a motif, and it’s pretty tiny, which I guess makes me feel more like I’m in Manhattan. A nice menu of pretty classic cocktails is somewhat appreciated, as so many restaurants have their own spin on cocktails but sometimes you just want a simple, no frills classic. I got the French 75 (my favorite) and it was pretty great, and served in some pretty sexy vintageish glassware.
The charcuterie and cheeses left a little to be desired, with the prosciutto being good but not great and the calabrese being again, decent. The blue cheese was far too approachable, barely registering as a blue besides its visual appearance. The sides were good, with the balsamic figs being pretty good and the mustard being flavorful, if a little over sour.
They were in the middle of transitioning some of their menu, so they were out of nearly every wine we attempted to order, but finally, we received a decent amount of free wine as the one we settled upon finished off the tap and they were unable to provide us with a full carafe. This was much appreciated. I definitely wouldn’t mind coming back. I appreciated the relaxed environment and the good service. I think this would be a great spot for a summer afternoon wine/​cocktail/​snack!

I came here in early December for my bday. It was a wonderfully warm night so the windows were up and the atmosphere was lovely.
We stalked a table for 7 of us and all had seats with 30 minutes. Two of my friends placed orders at the bar when we were waiting. Once we found seats they went to close out with the bar tender. They were told it could just be transferred and not to worry about it.
Our waiter was difficult to flag down. He appeared stressed and rushed. He was not very friendly. He acted aggravated that my friends didn’t close their tabs at the bar despite their instruction not to.
We all ordered several rounds of drinks. Sometimes we got something different and sometimes we repeated what we got. Each time the drinks looked and tasted different than before. They also came out in different glasses with different garnishes. Inconsistent bar tending.
My friends informed the waiter it was my birthday and they wanted to buy my drinks. He acted annoyed that he had to keep track of which of my drinks went on who’s tab. I only ordered 3. There were only 7 of us. It wasn’t too complicated.
I haven’t been back since because it was such a mess and there are plenty of options of places to get a drink in East. I wanted to love Bar Luca but it fell so flat for me.
I will come back this summer for a girls night and give it another shot.

The full cheese/​meat place with red wine was so delicious. Good size for two people, but not enough to be the full meal. Lighting is dim and food was amazing

I was pretty excited to try out this new place to the Nashville area. As a lover of wine, I was especially pleased to see a pretty good selection of wines and that some of their wines were on tap!
Food: ³⁄₅
Wine: ³⁄₅
Service ⁴⁄₅
First off, we were lucky enough to grab a parking spot right outside the restaurant and to grab a small table amidst a rather crowded and noisy interior. There aren’t that many seats or tables, so there were several parties who came after us who were forced to stand around and wait. Booths are pretty squished next to each other, so expect tight elbow room and the inability to hear each other across the table. My bf and I both ordered a glass of Sangiovese and also ordered some olives, and a chorizo and seven sisters cheese board with the fig and mustard accompaniments.
The cheese board was pretty average, albeit maybe a bit steep in price for the amount of food they give you. The olives were served warm but were really salty. And, the wine was average. While it had a decent finish, I suspect that being on tap made it lose some of the flavor and nose that you might appreciate in a good wine. Service was friendly and attentive.
There’s a lot of potential here! I hope they add a few more snack options to the menu because I can definitely see myself coming here again with some girlfriends. Also, if you’re hungry, don’t come here for dinner. After snacking and drinking, we left to eat dinner at the Pharmacy.

Had the pleasure of exploring Luca this past weekend.
My husband and I wanted to get out for a bit and grab a quick cocktail to end a busy week.
Upon walking in, we were told that it was open seating… We expected to belly up, but found an open table right away and sat down.
The atmosphere inside Luca is lovely… Minimalist with simple light fixtures and a focus on all things bar.
Our server kindly suggested a couple cocktails, but we went with our staples: an old fashion for him and a French 75 for myself. Delicious.
We also opted for a charcuterie plate and loved it. The onion relish that came with was the dark horse… Absolutely fabulous. Zingy, sweet and a touch spicy, it made the perfect accompaniment to all of the cheeses we chose! My husband also ordered the olives, a large selection, all served warm which he loves.
My only complaint, however small, about Luca was the noise. The place is quaint and I love that, but the noise level from many low-​talking patrons got too loud to even hear any music.
Overall, Luca was a treat and I can’t wait to explore it further!

Bar Luca is exactly the type of bar I’ve been looking for in my life. When you walk in you can seat yourself. It’s fairly small, which creates this intimate feeling. I almost feel like I’m at a small party every time I go there, but in a good and friendly way.
Their wine is so good. They have some wines on tap, which have an asterisk next to their name on the menu. I especially loved the rose. For cocktails, the sazerac is smooth and simple. For non-​drinkers, they have a couple teas on the menu and they give you a whole pot of it.
The food surprised me. The snacks are all very affordable, ranging from $ 3-​$ 8, and are fairly unique and really tasty. Lavender almonds? Yes please. Also the popcorn is a steal at $ 3, and I’m such a sucker for presentation, so it stole my heart when it came in this cute little white dutch oven. Kitchen closes at 10pm, though.
This place is a nice change of pace from the bar scene around 5 points. I’ve been about every other week since it opened and will happily continue this trend. Welcome to the neighborhood, Bar Luca. Love y’all.

So excited for this wine bar to finally open! It’s a beautiful and intimate space in the heart of East Nashville — it’s a seat yourself spot, so if it’s busy (and it was), be prepared to wait for a table. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The tables are packed pretty tight together, so be prepared to sit close to others. The menu features an impressive list of classic cocktails, wine and beer, all priced really well. It’s kind of refreshing to see a beautiful bar offering cocktails and wine between roughly $ 8-​$ 15. My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed the snack menu as well. It features a build-​your-​own charcuterie board menu (that we wish came with more bread!), the most incredible chili oil popcorn with nutritional yeast, don’t knock it ’til you try it! At a whopping 3 bucks, it was such a tasty snack that left us wanting more. The menu also featured toasts with amazing spreads like roasted grape and ricotta, eggplant caponata & carrot harissa with goat cheese. There’s also olives infused with rosemary, fennel and orange, warm almonds with smoked salt & lavender and rosemary best hummus. Not a large overwhelming menu, which I love! Just a few great snacks done really well. Can’t wait to come back soon! I have a feeling this is going to be a hot spot in Nashville. Welcome, Bar Luca!

Thank you Bar Luca! This is exactly what the neighborhood needed.
The vibe is almost European café (love). The prices are affordable and the drink list is fantastic! They have a wonderful selection of beers with a few being newer releases. The cocktails are mostly throwbacks. The wine list is on the larger side and they have a bunch on draft.
The space isn’t too big, but it feels larger with the white tiled floors and walls. They also have a couch at the end of the bar that faces out of a garage door to Stratton. It’s perfect for a larger group. We showed up on opening night after an extra traumatic day. We were able to grab a seat at the bar and the bartender helped us immediately. It picked up a lot while we were there, but they were still on top of it. There are just enough seats for it to feel bigger, but not too many where the bar staff can’t handle it. We tried to nutritional yeast and chili oil popcorn and I would highly recommend it if you are in need of a snack. The other food items looked great, but on this night, we weren’t there to snack.
If you want a chill night on the East Side, this is the place to go. Welcome to the neighborhood!

So happy to have this gem in the neighborhood! This bar is gorgeous in a chic but non-​pretentious way. Fabulous choices for wine, beer and cocktails. Seriously, they have the bottled blackberry farm Saison! I love that they had choices that you don’t see at every other restaurant in town, but without killing your wallet! Warm olives are a must. I can’t wait to go back and try more! Welcome to the hood, Bar Luca, we are so happy you’re here!

Amazing and reasonably priced drinks. Have the staples with a few unique beverages if you want to be adventurous. The warm olives were so yummy and the beet hummus with heirloom carrots and crackers were super yum!