A 118-year-old blacksmith shop—Nashville’s oldest family-owned business until 2006—will soon celebrate its second life as Geist, a sophisticated Germantown neighborhood bar and restaurant opening March 14. The property is a stunning renovation of one of the city’s oldest buildings and features a chic bar and dining room furnished with handcrafted pieces commissioned from local artisans, as well as The Champagne Garden, a full garden and courtyard with an outdoor cooking stove.
“With Geist, we’re taking things back to the basics: classic cocktails and great food without the pomp,” says owner Doug Martin. “We have this amazing space with which we hope people will feel immediately familiar and comfortable, like dinner at an old friend’s house.”
IT’S MORE FUN TO EAT AT A BAR THAN DRINK AT A RESTAURANT
Less is more at Geist, where the bar program—designed through a collaboration with Freddy Schwenk and Matt Buttel of Nashville Ice Lab—features classic, affordable cocktails that highlight timeless recipes, as well as a few Geist specialties for the more adventurous imbiber. The cocktail menu also offers innovative and refreshing mocktails and craft beer, wine and prosecco will be available on tap.
When you get hungry, dinner and Sunday brunch offer elegantly composed dishes full of creativity and flavor created by Blackberry Farms alum chef Josh Stockton. A social affair from happy hour ‘til dinner, starters and sides are meant to be shared and paired, while the mains are standalone plates that highlight the best ingredients found regionally. For the cherry on top—so to speak—the dessert menu offers an elegant selection of cakes, puddings, ice creams and tarts that draws inspiration from old-school recipes and seasonal ingredients.
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK
Originally opened in 1886 by German immigrant John Geist Sr., the property at 311 Jefferson was once home to Nashville’s oldest family-owned business until 2006. Three generations of Geists have worked in the forge which expanded its services with the rise of automobiles from blacksmithing to include lawnmower repair and ornamental ironwork over the years. The building was restructured with the current brick in 1900 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
ABOUT GEIST
Set in a ca. 1900 blacksmith shop in Nashville’s historic Germantown neighborhood, Geist is a charming bar and restaurant opened in early 2018. Sophisticated yet unfussy, an evening at Geist is akin to dinner at a fond friend’s home; a welcoming and familiar experience with a timeless approach to internationally-influenced cuisine and classic cocktails highlighting the best ingredients found regionally. The property is a stunning renovation of one of the city’s oldest buildings and features a chic bar and dining room furnished with handcrafted pieces commissioned from local artisans, as well as The Champagne Garden, a full garden and courtyard with an outdoor cooking stove.
311 Jefferson Street Nashville, TN 37208
Wednesday – Saturday, 5:30 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.
geistnashville.co@geistnashville ∙ facebook.com/geistnashville
