Verna Café & Bar

Cannot say enough amazing things about this place! My new favorite spot in town for a breakfast date. If you're looking for TRUE Nashville vibes (where the locals hang) paired with an elevated cuisine and creative drinks.... you found the right spot. Feels like you're walking into a friends house as you walk through the door. SUPER tasty gluten free/dairy free options. Lots of parking available. Vibey tunes playing, super friendly staff... 12/10 would recommend. 🙌🏻 Can't wait for Connie's dive bar to open!

SUCH a vibe! A true taste of what Nashville used to feel like with elevated food and great coffee & drinks. Spacious with different nooks and cute places to sit. Great for a date, a coffee with a friend, or a business meeting. This place truly has it all. Prices are SO reasonable. DON’T MISS THIS GEM!!!

This is place is amazing. It's the best of both worlds... The front of the restaurant is a coffee/brunch spot, the rear ( Connie's) is your feel good dive bar. Beau is a master at pairing flavors and his cocktail lists is phenomenal. Highly recommend the Texas Rattlesnake at Verna. Best part about this place is the staff; super friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming. Whether it's your new coffee spot or new watering hole, they got you covered.

Verna Café is such a gem! The atmosphere is trendy yet relaxed, with soft background music that creates the perfect vibe—not too loud, so it’s easy to focus, work, or even take meetings without distraction. Their menu is fantastic—I especially loved the baby cakes (so fresh and delicious!) and the banana iced latte, which was unique and refreshing. It’s the ideal spot to enjoy great food and coffee while still being productive. Can’t wait to come back!

We had to go coffees both the Banana Puddin' Latte and Relationship George were very good. We also got I'm The Problem which is also good but there are alot of Matcha clumps which made it kinda weird to drink. Overall the restaurant has very nice interior and the staff are nice.

coolest new spot on the rock block! warm, inviting space with an intimate feel. friendly and attentive staff. unique and tasty new options for food that brings a refreshing and exciting feel to the nashville food scene. specialty lattes that appeal to many palates and simple espresso drinks for those who know what they like. bar seating, high and low top tables, patio with an overhang, they have exactly what you’re looking for, for any occasion. excited for their lunch/dinner menu and cocktails to drop and for the back bar to be open. this place should definitely be on your list of new places to try!

Character, quality and hardworking staff! Grits were incredible-creamy! Latte matcha was also crafted with pride and chemistry equipment.

I almost left a one star review because of the coffee and wait time. BUT the banana nut Sammy is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten! The crunch of the bread was absolutely impeccable. Every bite was extremely delightful! Do not recommend the coffee beverages though.

Cute new spot with a cozy atmosphere and some truly creative dishes. I came in on a weekday and tried a bunch of menu items but my favorite had to be miso baby cake with yuzu kosho butter. The yuzu was subtle, not overpowering and the texture of the baby cake is in-between a pancake and cornbread. I also tried the egg & grits bowl, the jam & cheese toasts, and a side of andouille sausage with crab salad. Everything was really good and prices are affordable. My only compliant is the service seemed a bit off, the food came out at odd times and they forgot our baby cake order. As for the drinks, they have a lot of unique espresso/matcha drinks, it was so hard to choose! I ended up trying the I'm the Problem with was matcha, homemade cornbread milk (cornbread soaked in oat milk) and strawberry. There is street parking available which is a plus. Overall, the food and drinks are definitely worth a stop in, the space is welcoming, and I'd give it another try to see how things shape up!

Visited Verna while on a quick trip to Nashville. It recently opened and my gf had gone once before and suggested I give it a shot as well. It's located in a very low-key area in a cute "repurposed" house. Our server was kind and attentive throughout the meal. We went for brunch and got some different dishes. The Miso Corn Baby Cake had a very nice texture. Soft and still maintained its structure. The flavor was alright and could've been amped-up a bit more. One of the main reasons we got this was because of the Miso/Yuzu, so I want those flavors to stand out! The chili pork and grits bowl was really good; I enjoyed the flavors. The soft-boiled egg was a bit of a letdown to the overall dish however. It didn't have any seasoning which was a bummer. It was nice and yolky but the lack of seasoning (plus it being cold which made it stand out even more) was really apparent. Possibly consider marinating the egg in soy-sauce (like jammy ramen eggs) or some other flavor would really help elevate the dish. A very small thing that is more of a pet peeve is that while I did think the flavors were nice for this dish, I can imagine it being better with their chili crisp (which they do sell as an add-on). When restaurants do this, I infer that this is a nice-to-have rather than a mandatory component of the dish. But for me, I'd rather just have them include it in the dish+price (which I think would add that extra boost of flavor) to avoid having an internal dilemma for the customer.

Humble Southern food with Japanese flourishes? Count me in! We got the breakfast cakes, kind of a cornbread/pancake hybrid, very good. I also got an in imported, peppery pilsner. Food was good, service was spotty, I think they had someone call in. The cocktail menu looked very impressive.

Come for the Banana Pudding latte, stay for the S.E.C. breakfast sandwich. Verna is a lovely new addition to the neighborhood, with a comfy atmosphere and friendly staff too! Alas, I never had a chance to visit Cafe Coco in its heyday, but I loved learning about the history of the building from Verna's owner, Beau. A friend and I stopped in for breakfast on a Thursday morning, and we grabbed a table by the window. It was early, so there wasn't much of a crowd yet, but seats were definitely filling up by the time we left. Right away, it truly feels like you're stepping into someone's home. You're surrounded by a familiar, welcoming feeling, and the decor is exquisitely curated. It literally looks like someone's cute, crafty grandma hung up her favorite knick-knacks and art. And may I say, grandma has excellent taste! The food and drink menu is short and sweet, and although I've only been once, I have a feeling there's not a bad order in sight. I started with the Banana Pudding latte, which was warm and full of a real banana flavor without being too sweet. The S.E.C. was everything I wanted it to be and more ... toasted bread, melty cheese, a jammy egg, and smoky sausage in every bite. This is a must-order for anyone who's looking for a unique take on a breakfast sandwich.

Verna is a 10/10 across the board! Beau, the owner, is so welcoming, and the service is quick. The café is in a chic, historic space (formerly Café Coco) with lots natural light and cute decor. I highly recommend the iced Banana Puddin' Latte and S.E.C sandwich. Spicy andouille, fried egg, American cheese, and chili mayo on toasted white bread. My new favorite Nashville breakfast sandwich. Can't wait for the full bar to open!

What a find! I came here twice while visiting Nashville and I ordered the same thing twice. The grits and egg bowl! Don't sleep on it. The miso yuzu butter throughout the grits is to die for! The egg on top is topped with chili crops and when it's all mixed in together it's amazing. I wish I had a Verna near me to eat this more often. The second time I did also get the miso corn cake. It was cornbread texture and not sweet which is what I was looking for. Great addition if you're pretty hungry. I ordered a minty bee the first time which was refreshing! The second time I had the I'm the Problem which has their cornbread milk (which is dairy free!) and I loved it! Savory from the milk and sweet from the strawberries. What's not to love? Everyone was so friendly and for being super new, they had it all on lock. Honestly, this was the highlight of my trip and if you're in Nashville it's a must visit.

Came at happy hour. Kitchen not fully operational at that time. The rice cakes and the lattes were delicious.

Had heard nothing but good things about Verna from friends who had gone recently! The owner and staff were extremely welcoming, just as I had been told. There is plenty of seating, indoor and outside and the overall vibe is super cute and cozy. This is not your average breakfast spot, the flavors are very unique! Definitely recommend the matcha and SEC. A friend also ordered the pork and grits which I can't wait to come back and try myself (The smells coming from the kitchen were incredible and I believe it may have been the pork)! The cafe is open until 3 currently but they are expanding to dinner / happy hour in a few weeks as well. I am looking forward to coming back!

This one's for the OG Nashville homies - the ones who miss Ken's Sushi, JJ's market, and, of course, stumbling late-night into the offbeat, magical hangout that Cafe Coco used to be. She's gotten a serious glow up: repainted and redecorated with a cozy, minimalist, Japanese-influenced aesthetic: light wood paneling, cute plants, and carefully curated art prints. She's just as dramatically leveled up her food & beverage game with a Cajun and asian-inspired menu by Daniel Gorman, the Midas-touch brain behind early menus at the Butter Milk Ranch and 5th and Taylor. But most importantly for those who loved (and lost) Cafe Coco, she's got that warm, welcoming charm of the original spot in spades. At the helm is Beau Gaultier, former owner of Bay 6, a bar that felt like Cheers, where everyone knew your name. His staff's friendly service and knack for creating community already makes Verna feel like the special sauce Nashville's dining scene has been missing. Named after Beau's grandmother, Verna has been open for two weeks of breakfast and lunch/brunch service and plans to open Connie's (its late-night dive bar in the back) this weekend, restoring the old house to its all-day-and-night hangout glory. I've visited a couple of times and tried a fair amount of the soft-opening menu and - my god - hide the bachelorettes, because this food is the double threat of highly instagrammable and ridiculously delicious. My absolute, MUST orders: the baby cakes and the banana pudding latte. In laymen's terms, baby cakes are what happens when a pancake and a cupcake fall in love: lightly griddled, served warm, with flavors that will sweep you off your feet: miso corn with yuzu butter (my fave), matcha ginger with raspberry sauce, and banana rum with brown butter caramel. They're ideal for sharing with a crew... or hoarding to yourself as I have done twice now. Unique, not-too-sweet flavors are Verna's calling card. The miso banana pudding latte is nostalgia, comfort, and caffeine wrapped in a ceramic hug. Other standouts: the Better on Mute (espresso papaya soda), the mango rice pudding (little hint of spice on the mango, yum), and the made-to order tropical fruit parfait (yogurt, crunchy, cinnamon-y granola, mint so thinly sliced it tastes like a tiny, refreshing surprise in each bite.) Having tried some of their pop-ups around town before the official opening, I know more greatness is coming: hopefully the crowd-pleaser crab rangoon dip and the elite craft cocktails Beau and Connor perfected at Bay 6, made with interesting local spirits, fresh house-made syrups and tinctures, and some fun & clever names. I'm also super excited about Connie's, remodeled (thankfully - let's be honest - that back room had seen things), cleaned up, but still dive-y with dark wood, low light, and plans to feature late-night-favorite-style bites. I don't even eat red meat, and I'm already counting down to that hot dog. Even better: Verna is living in circa 2007 Nashville prices. No food item on the menu tops $12 and no latte, even the specialty ones, is over $6. There is some free street parking if you're willing to walk around the rock block and more prevalent paid parking on the street, in the attached lot, and in the garage; I was able to pay $2 for an hour on the street. In a Nashville that keeps trading charm for metropolis parking lots and peddle taverns, Verna is a rare gem: part throwback to the cozy magic that made Cafe Coco an institution and part bold new chapter with food and drinks so good they deserve their own fan fiction. Verna is a legend in the making and this Nashville native couldn't be happier it's here.

Ok I'm so impressed! I overheard the owner that they decorated it all themselves and fixed up a lot of it themselves... and it shows and I love it! It's not picture perfect rich designer look... it's honey and unique!! Staff is amazing, food is phenomenal, vibes just right! Will def be back! All should go show some support

Cute place with friendly staff and unique eats! The drinks were great (nana pudding latte, and matcha cornbread milk) and the food was tasty... but the textures need work. The baby cakes were thin (compared to pics on insta) and dense/tough not fluffy as I would expect. The grits bowl was very soupy more like porridge but tasted good.

Vibe: Great. Food: Great. Staff: Also Great. Had a great time, will definitely be back! Verna is the best kind of new Nashville!

Rock Block really needed this. You can tell how passionate they are by attention to detail in everything from the design, ingredients and service. I went two days in a row to get the pork chile grits.

Delicious Japanese-inspired brunch. Friendly staff, great service. Probably my favorite new spot in Nashville.

The food and drinks were amazing at unusually low prices! We'll definitely come back here. Very friendly service as well.

Super cute and cozy astomsphere! Everyone is so kind and caring here! Food was absolutely amazing. Will be back!

Such a cute new spot. Cool bar set up in a beautiful old home. Weirdly insanely comfortable seating and such nice staff. We will certainly be back regularly. Oh and great prices compared to the other shops near!