If you’re searching for a new cafe or brunch spot near campus, Verna Café & Bar might just be your next go-to. Located off Elliston Place, just a seven-minute walk from campus, the cafe-bar hybrid takes over the former home of Cafe Coco — a longtime student favorite — while bringing something entirely new to the neighborhood. With a menu inspired by both Japanese and Cajun influences, Verna delivers a dining experience as unique as its concept. Sharing the same building is Connie’s, a newly opened sister bar, offering a strikingly different but complementary vibe.
From the moment we walked up, Verna’s character shone through. Located in a house-like structure with a wraparound porch, the exterior pops with a playful palette of salmon pink and light blue. Inside, the decor leans into a modern diner feel, with retro-style framed prints and subtle nods to its feline motif — cats appear across the menu and decor. The atmosphere only added to the charm.
We were immediately greeted by the staff’s warm smiles and easy conversations filling the room. The darker tones of the bar area contrasted the main space yet matched the alt-rock and indie soundtrack humming in the background — a surprising yet fitting detail that tied the space together. The mix of aesthetics felt unconventional, but it worked, making Verna unlike any other place we’ve been before.
During our visit, we sat down with Dan Gorman — partner and culinary director, alongside Beau Gaultier and Connor Bloem — who shared the cafe’s origin story and future plans.
As Gorman explained, the origin story of Verna is about as unique as its overall aesthetic and menu.
“Me, Beau and Connor started this idea last winter after meeting at Bay 6, a bar on the east side of Nashville that eventually closed,” Gorman said. “Verna is named after Beau’s grandmother. Beau is originally from a Cajun Bayou area, and that’s in his heart. As culinary people, bar people and coffee people, we’ve always loved Asian cuisine, so it naturally became part of our inspiration.”
Gorman emphasized that the blend of cuisines at Verna is driven by inspiration, aiming to create something vibrant without whitewashing or appropriating other cultures. The goal of Verna is to provide a space for everyone to feel welcome and to find something meaningful to them. Thus, they have a bunch of upcoming events and projects sure to ensure that everyone has a place.
“Connie’s, the bar in the back, just opened. We’re planning fun events like trivia, adult coloring nights and Sunday suppers,” Gorman said. “One big thing coming up is a dueling hot dog event where several chefs compete to create the best hot dog with the same bun and base.”
The Verna team is not only focused on fun events and delicious food but also on genuinely welcoming anyone who steps through their door.
“Come knowing you’ll be greeted with real hospitality and that this is a place to relax and be yourself,” said Gorman. Here are our reviews and some of Gorman’s recommendations:
Drinks
Banana Puddin’ Latte: $6
Michael: Making anything banana-flavored, especially a delicate drink like a latte, can be daunting, requiring a careful balance to avoid an artificial taste, keep the banana from overpowering and ensure it complements the coffee. Verna, however, pulls it off with style. This latte is smooth, with a balanced blend of flavors that elevates it beyond a simple banana latte and makes it a perfect drink for the transition into fall.
Rating: 9/10
I’m the Problem (matcha tea): $6
Alex: I’m personally not the biggest fan of matcha tea and haven’t been for a while, but this was a surprisingly good experience. The combination of the matcha and strawberry flavors was an incredibly unique one, especially because I did not think I would enjoy it as much as I did. Something that stood out to me was how the aesthetically pleasing look of the drink matched the taste, which is rare in my view. As a specialty drink with a price of $6, I found this to be a very good deal.
Rating: 7.5/10
Iced Gita Anjali Chai latte with oat milk: $6.50
Daniela: I’m not much of a coffee drinker, so chai is my go-to order at any cafe. With this in mind, I consider myself a bit of a harsh chai critic. Verna’s take was pretty standard — nothing particularly stood out, but it was enjoyable overall. It wasn’t overly sweet, and the cinnamon sprinkled on top gave it a stronger flavor. At $6.50, the price felt fair and comparable to other cafes.
Rating: 6.5/10
Note: While we weren’t necessarily in the mood for a drink, Verna also offers a playful selection of breakfast cocktails.
Appetizer
Baby cakes: 3 for $12 (1 for $5)
Alex: We were very impressed with all the baby cakes but loved the matcha ginger cake the most. Dan said that these were fan favorites, and we can definitely understand why. While the miso corn and the banana rum cakes were not our favorites, they weren’t bad and reminded us of cornbread and banana bread, respectively. Each cake came with a sauce that also improved the experience and added an additional burst of flavor.
Rating: 7/10
Entrees
Miso-maple overnight oats: $9
Michael: These overnight oats were an exciting twist on a healthy breakfast classic. With a crunchy, salty-sweet topping paired with a rich banana-filled base, Verna turned them into something far more decadent than meets the eye. This dish was definitely on the smaller side, but very filling and worth every bite.
Rating: 8/10
Mango rice pudding: $9
Alex: This was my favorite dish from the entire visit! Even though it was not mango-flavored, but a pudding with mango chunks in it, I was not disappointed at all. It was also a great combination of both sweet and spicy flavors thanks to the inclusion of cayenne pepper on top of the pudding. While the dish seemed a bit small for the price, the pudding itself made up for the total cost in the end.
Rating: 8/10
Jam & cheese toasts: $12
Daniela: My first thought when the plate arrived was its visual appeal. The bold red jalapeño-strawberry jam smeared against the whipped cream cheese created not only a beautiful contrast but also a bold clash of flavors. Served atop green-and-white checkered paper, the presentation leaned into Verna’s retro-diner aesthetic, with a light dusting of powdered sugar tying it all together. My favorite flavor combination is sweet and spicy, so this was right up my alley.
Rating: 8/10
When it comes to your next journey off-campus with friends or finding a place to eat when your parents visit Nashville, Verna serves as the perfect spot for any Vanderbilt student to visit, especially as they will be offering a 10% discount to any Vanderbilt student who provides proof of attendance via a student ID starting this school year. From the kindness shown by all staff members to the comfortable atmosphere provided in both the interior and exterior of the café, Verna provides a great opportunity to spend an hour or two with friends over coffee, cocktails or a meal.
