Happy Place

Ophelia’s Pizza + Bar sets the stage for fun and some delicious Italian fare

Written by Melissa Mahanes / Photos by Sam Weinick

Ophelia’s Pizza + Bar is an exciting new addition to downtown dining, offering an intimate, old-school Italian experience with contemporary touches throughout the restaurant’s menu and design. Ophelia’s is 5th Street Group’s second spot in Nashville alongside sister property Church and Union.

The new pizza restaurant and bar at the foot of the iconic L&C Tower boasts an inviting open-air patio with seating for over 50 guests. The patio, embellished with classic white umbrellas, lush greenery, and bustling views of downtown, provides a private outdoor dining experience that is a first-of-its-kind on 4th Avenue.

The 3,383 square foot restaurant seats 60 guests inside and a 10-seat bar highlighting a robust old-world wine list and classic cocktails. The eclectic interior features a festive gallery wall with over 600 hand-selected art pieces, many from the collection of co-owner Patrick Whalen’s first bar, The Basement. Photos of team members’ European travels hang alongside antique photos taken by Whalen’s grandfather. Tiffany-style ceiling pendants and cognac-colored leather banquettes create a sense of sophisticated relaxation, while a sprawling map of Rome lines the back wall.

“When we started working on the concept behind Ophelia’s Pizza + Bar, we were really inspired by the classic Shakespearean tragedy, Hamlet,” says Whalen. “We wanted to reimagine European dining traditions and bring it to downtown Nashville’s dynamic atmosphere.”

“Ophelia’s Pizza + Bar is a celebration of Italian cuisine. We have created a menu that caters to locals and visitors who are seeking a dining experience that combines the city’s character with

playful and classic flavors,” said Chef Partner Jamie Lynch, a two-time Top Chef Alumni. “Our dishes are fresh takes on traditional favorites, and we’re thrilled to bring another really great dining option to 4th Avenue in downtown Nashville.”

Guests can expect an American-Italian-inspired dinner menu from 5th Street Group Chef Partners Lynch and Executive Chef Adam Hodgson. The menu features hearty antipasti including an imported salumi e formaggi selection, whipped goat cheese with house-made focaccia, crispy and tender-crusted Neapolitan-style pizzas with delectable options such as freshly shaved truffle and “Nashville hot,”—ghost pepper salt and hot honey. The classic American-Italian entrées include a lasagne bolognese large enough to share chock full of meatball pieces, cheese and creamy bechamel, pastas, and decadent dessert selections such as tiramisu and a cannoli sundae from the in-house pastry team. Chefs Lynch and Hodgson import many of their ingredients straight from Italy and incorporate locally sourced products such as local favorite Gifford’s Bacon and Strange Honey Farm out of Del Rio, TN.

Following dinner service each Friday and Saturday, both the indoor and outdoor spaces will transform into a true downtown hotspot. The After Dinner Party will kick off at 10:30 pm and last until 3:00 am, and will offer VIP cocktail service and leave with two late-night-to-go pizzas from 1:00-3:00 am. Now that’s a happy ending!