My first day in Nashville was the day before I moved into the Commons housing. My mom and I were looking for a place to eat, and we landed at the Hopsmith Tavern in Midtown. They had delicious food, a unique interior, kind staff and hard-to-beat prices. After that day, I took everyone I knew there: my roommate and her hometown friends, my best friend and eventually her whole family. Almost every time I went, I had the same server. He recognized my friend and I, and we always took the time to chat with him.
The day I found out they were closing was a sad day. The tavern housed so many memories with friends and good food — and then they were closing doors, just like that. That day, I went to eat dinner there and chatted with my server friend. He informed me that their building was bought out. Sometimes, good business is not enough to keep a location open. The next day was their last, and I was there again.
I mourn their crispy fries, mozzarella sticks, homemade ranch, boneless wings and pork and egg grilled cheese. After construction slowly consumed the building for almost a year, a sign finally went up: “Heartbreaker’s Hideaway.” Seeing this sign has made me think about all the changes Midtown has undergone, like which buildings were bought out and rebranded, have recently gone up or are going strong.
Closed classics
Hopsmith Tavern
Hopsmith Tavern opened in 2017 and sadly closed in Jan. 2025. I miss its low prices, crispy fries and all-around yummy food. The space was bought out by Good Time Design, which owns now three bars on the Midtown strip. Heartbreaker’s Hideaway, which opened late March 2026, now occupies the space. Heartbreaker’s is a pizza bar, open from 11:00am to 3:00am every day. Their vibe is black and red, and the inside looks welcoming every time I walk past. I would love to go try their food, although I know nothing will ever compare to my beloved Hopsmith.
The Dogwood
Dogwood restaurant opened in Oct. 2019 and closed in May 2024. Although a short run for the location, I always liked the building because of the cute light up bulb sign and sleek black building. I wish I had the chance to check it out before it closed. Now, John Daly’s bar occupies the building. They have white truck tailgates as outside booth seating and bottle girls in the evenings.
Chuy’s
The chain restaurant and Midtown staple Chuy’s opened in Oct. 2011 and this location shut its doors just a few months ago at the end of Mar. 2026 following an abrupt announcement they would be closing. This is not an uncommon way for businesses in Nashville to shut down. Chuy’s was a nostalgic place to get a great enchilada or jalapeño ranch and look at hundreds of small, framed photos of dogs. The pink exterior had giant frogs, which made it stand out from surrounding buildings. There does not seem to be any operations moving in on the building at the time and no further updates have been made.
Kung Fu Saloon
Kung Fu Saloon, which opened in Dec. 2016 and closed in May 2025, was known for its assortment of retro arcade games, karaoke rooms and outdoor pavilion. The space is now occupied by Happy Does, a Good Time Design company. Happy Does has the same vibe, with an outdoor pavilion featuring classic backyard games like cup pong and corn hole. They also have table games such as foosball and pool. Although they still feature karaoke, it seems to be more of a social or sports bar.
New construction
Riley Green’s Duck Blind
After the demolition of Winners, a joint establishment with Losers Bar & Grill, construction for Riley Green’s Duck Blind began around Aug. 2024 and was set up quickly, opening in Sept. 2024. The building is connected to Losers, and the owners of the two bars have a partnership. With a scrolling screen spanning across the facade and a triangular shaped roof on part of the building, it is hard to miss. Green’s Duck Blind is advertised as a sports bar and is one of the few venues in Midtown that features live music.
Odie’s Bar
After the closure of a bar called Rebar in 2018 and later demolition Odie’s began construction in the summer of 2024 and officially opened doors late Apr. 2025. Owned by Old Dominion and a Good Time Design company concept, Odie’s is a live music venue with an outdoor back patio.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
Almost a year after the opening of a Raising Cane’s in Lower Broadway, the construction of a new location in Midtown next to the former building of Chuy’s in the parking lot located behind the Red Door Saloon began, breaking ground in May 2025. The location is still under construction, with an anticipated opening in late 2026. Raising Cane’s is a popular chain chicken spot, with juicy tenders, crinkle cut fries, Texas toast and their signature Cane’s dipping sauce. This location will be two stories tall and feature both indoor and outdoor seating.
The untouchables
Red Door Saloon
Opening in 2002, Red Door Saloon is the oldest bar located in Midtown. With the least number of bells and whistles, most go to the Red Door Saloon to have a good time. Inside, the most noteworthy thing is a jukebox. Referred to by most as a dive bar, Red Door Saloon is a staple in Midtown. They have another location in East Nashville.
Losers Bar & Grill
Losers has been a classic Midtown location since 2005 that you cannot miss. It is owned by Cold Beer Entertainment Group and partnered with Riley Green’s Duck Blind bar. They offer live music and plenty of pours. Also considered a dive bar, it seems Midtown has a type that sticks around. Losers has another location on 4th Street right off of Broadway.
Closings, construction and classics, oh my! Midtown is an always-evolving area in Nashville that has become more popular over the past few years — I have seen so many changes myself! With something always going on, you won’t want to miss this area. A short walk from Vanderbilt’s campus with many bars popular amongst students, Midtown is a great place to visit (once you turn 21).
Even if you’re not 21 yet, many places have delicious food and hours where they are open to all. If you have not yet made your way over to Midtown, I suggest you do. Maybe in a few years’ time, it will look completely different than it does today, but that is the beauty of this ever-changing, ever-growing city.
