Walking through the doors of Nashville’s newest honky-tonk is like stepping into a Miranda Lambert exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum – with the addition of tacos, tequila, and a lot of pink! When Casa Rosa opened in May 2021, it became the first honky-tonk on the famed Lower Broadway section of Music City to be associated with a female artist and brand. With its “girly vibe,” Lambert’s cantina and restaurant distinguish itself from her male country artist neighbors (Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Alan Jackson, and more) whose bars share the same street in downtown Nashville.
The Tex-Mex-themed Casa Rosa (translation: “Pink House”) is a four-level treasure trove of memorabilia, costumes, boots, photos, and props from music videos that showcase the award-winning country singer’s stellar career. The process of developing the concept, creating the atmosphere and menu, and gathering the artifacts was a collaboration between Lambert and the TC Restaurant Group, who owned the Broadway property when it was known as Crazy Town. In early 2020, Crazy Town closed its doors.
Architects, construction workers, and designers began the work of transforming the old-school honky-tonk into Lambert’s vision for the “pink house.” Lambert was personally involved in curating some of the décor. While in Marfa, Texas to record her acoustic album with Jon Randall and Jack Ingram (the trio previously collaborated on 2018’s ACM song of the year, Tin Man), Lambert went out “picking” and brought back some antiques for the bar. A vintage “Texas Honky Tonk” sign was one of her finds; it hangs on the brick and stucco wall near the main-floor stage.
In-house artist “Tiny” Tim Parker created a disco-ball-style version of a saddle modeled after one Lambert had seen at Billy Bob’s in her home state of Texas. That rhinestone saddle hangs as a centerpiece in the restaurant on the second floor. Parker also hand-painted numerous murals at Casa Rosa. A colorful postcard-like scene depicts Miranda with images that portray snapshots of her life, including her first truck, the Star of Texas, and a road sign with the names of her albums. Authentic Mexican tile was imported for the staircase and other areas. Executive Chef Ashley Grim found plates with a blue and white design and a whimsical bluebird that complement the brand and food presentation.
Lambert was also involved with developing the Tex-Mex menu alongside TC Restaurant Group VP of Culinary Development, Tomasz Woziak. Some of the most popular dishes are the taco salad and Miranda’s hot chicken and waffles (my personal favorites are the honey-chipotle glazed shrimp tacos and the roasted corn on the cob with Spanish mayo, chili, fresh lime, and cilantro).
Many of the drinks were taste-tested by Lambert, who named them after some of her hit songs. The drink menu includes “Heart Like Mine,” “Hell on Wheels,” “Automatic,” and her personal favorite – “Locomotive” – which is made with blanco tequila, simple syrup, lime juice, muddled pineapple, and jalapeno, and a spicy rim with a pineapple garnish. The cantina offers more than 50 brands of tequila and numerous flavors of margaritas, including frozen blueberry, strawberry, and watermelon. Their exclusive wine is Red 55, a brand that is operated by Lambert’s parents and named in honor of her first truck – a 1955 Chevy candy-apple red stepside.
The venue has two stages with live music, and regularly features an all-girl band that incorporates choreography in their act. After about 10 PM, the place turns into a dance party with fog, lights, laser beams, and a DJ. Adjacent to the third-floor stage is a rooftop bar with pink umbrellas, pink string lights, and views of downtown. During the renovation and construction phase, a blue-themed mezzanine level was added to include a bar along with a private area for VIPs. Another piece of memorabilia – the birdcage from the #1 song and CMA Music Video of the Year, Bluebird – hangs in the corner of the mezzanine. The opposite wall showcases the actual dresses worn by Lambert and her Pistol Annie band members Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley when they performed at the 2018 CMT Artist of the Year Special.
Now that the taste-tests and walk-throughs are over and Casa Rosa has officially opened its doors to the public, Lambert still drops by occasionally to surprise her guests with a personal appearance – sometimes even bringing along a famous friend like Jon Pardi or Kid Rock!
308 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37201
Open at 11 AM daily
Lauren Moore – Contributing Writer