Byblos

by jen w.

i like it sometimes.  not to dance.  or eat. but to sit and shout at the people youre with and smoke. drinks are pricey but strong.  i wouldnt go and not get a table.  theres no where to stand. one bathroom???

by Aditi J.

Hookah was good, food was bad, and speakers right next to our table were even worse. The vegetarian selection consists of two dishes--both of which were severely lacking since all I could taste was lemon and got sick of it after a few bites. Our group was not large enough and there was a larger reservation an hour later to get the comfy, swanky couch area so we were stuck in the back near the bathroom and a set of speakers. Boo for ambiance.Also, since we were under 21, the waitress initially tried to tell us that we would be kicked out by 9pm -- even though we had already ordered lots of food and hookah for the group. We demanded to speak with the manager and finally they agreed to let us stay till 10pm. Couldn't they have told us this BEFORE we ordered so much?We tried the combined flavor deal ($25) and chose mango mint. It was yummy--definitely going to try mint combos again in the future. The hookah is the main saving grace for this restaurant for me, but I think next time I'll try a different hookah bar.

by Chris K.

I just went here tonight on a Weds night, it wasn't too crowded but still enough people there for it to be lively.  20-25$ per hookah... is kinda expensive... maybe like 10-15$ would be more reasonable.  We had a 50% student discount for drinks which was awesome! The byblotini was pretty good. The music was good for like the first 30 minutes.. but got repetitive really fast, and it did not help that we were right next to the speakers.Other than that... i would def still come back to this place to hookah.

by Jim M.Tru L.Cienegas C.Winston C.pracheta t.

I went in here to fortify myself before the Franklin Mortgage Elite Event. The place has a nice swanky feel to it with a separate bar in the back. The fetching young server seated me and took my order promptly, which included some hot tea that came out fast. My tea warmed me up before the meal. The moussaka was decent, though it was a variation on the traditional dish that I'd had in Chidago and Detroit's Greektown. The price wasn't bad either, 12.99. The pita bread that came out was a tad dry but still tasty. I left feeling full and ready to do battle with the drinks of Franklin Mortgage. I'd go back and sample something else here sometime.Let me first say that I was very disappointed with this place. I thought that Byblos would be a great place to chill and hit up a hookah but I was wrong. I have two hookahs at my house but still enjoy going to hookah bars on certain occasions.The staff doesn't know how to set up hookahs appropriately, they don't put enough water in them and it's just a complete mess in my opinion. I've gone three times, and three times, disappointment arose.The prices are pretty ridonkulous too, $25 to light up a hookah? Yeah, no thanks... The staff isn't that friendly either, gg Byblos...Tool central.  Whether they're making up new rules in order to charge you more or glaring at your "I-don't-feel-the-need-to-try-that-hard" handbag, the staff here is neither friendly nor helpful in any way.  In fact, they seem to want to make it harder for you to spend money there.Though I have given up in recent months, each of the last three times I attempted to patronize Byblos my group was faced with some new ridiculous and awkward stipulation.  First, all of a sudden, parties of 5 or more had to purchase at least two hookahs, then tables were reserved for parties ordering food, and then it was a minimum charge per head at the table.  And all of it seemed so shadily implemented and relayed that I'm 90% sure those rules were (and probably are) instated on a case-by-case basis as people walk in the door.And to top it all off, the place is cold and hollow, lacking the kitschy charm of many other hookah bars, as well as too-often bombarded with the bumbling of an over-zealous wannabe-in-Ibiza DJ.  Overall, a no.On a recent trip to Philly, I happened to stumble into Byblos (my first hookah bar). The crowd was lively yet relaxed and I found the bar tender to be extremely friendly and on the spot with the drinks. The menu was very comprehensive and the food looked good (I did not eat). Although I still don't get the point of hookah, I would good back and try the food.I always swear I'm never going back, but I always end up going back. Good hookah spot (since there are few to choose from) and usually really good music. Any night of the week, people are always down to party and that's why I think i keep going back - it never fails me. But it always seems like the guys are there just to find someone to hook up with and that's annoying. The bartenders always seem to be extra extra busy, but that's okay, I don't mind waiting for a drink. The waitresses are really nice though. I've never had food there, but I've gone on pretty much every night of the week at least once and..yeah, I always swear I'm never going back and I always go back.

by Britt M.

Went here for lunch on a Friday and it was pretty decent.  Just two of us, but there was only one waitress so the service took a lonnng time.  Gyros were ok, needed more testiki (sp?) sauce!!  We loved the music and atmosphere though.  Sat in the window by the big stained glass, on comfy benches, and there was a fruity smell of hookah rolling throughout the place.

by Tru L.

Let me first say that I was very disappointed with this place. I thought that Byblos would be a great place to chill and hit up a hookah but I was wrong. I have two hookahs at my house but still enjoy going to hookah bars on certain occasions.The staff doesn't know how to set up hookahs appropriately, they don't put enough water in them and it's just a complete mess in my opinion. I've gone three times, and three times, disappointment arose.The prices are pretty ridonkulous too, $25 to light up a hookah? Yeah, no thanks... The staff isn't that friendly either, gg Byblos...

by Mike V.

One of the only places in Philly where people can still smoke.  However, it's a narrow catwalk to get to the back, so watch out if you're wearing anything flammable.They are opening up two more floors including a roof top in June.  Definitely an amazing place.  Saturday, Sunday, always packed, dancing on the tables, stiff drinks, hot middle-eastern women, no complaints.Definitely going back for the opening of the next two floors.

by Liza K.

Fun place! Went for drinks and a hookah. Service was laid back but friendly. We didn't eat dinner, but other people's stuff smelled good. Also, I totally peeked at the neighbor's tables, and it looked good, too. ;-)The atmosphere and decor were funky (although it could use a good cleaning / refreshing). Drinks were pretty basic, but hey! It's a hookah bar!

by Sonalee R.

I've been here a couple of times. If not for their great choices of hookah flavors, go for their cool chairs :P I highly recommend their hummus, but stay away from their baba ganoush. Take a party of at least four and make sure everyone is over 21 so you can order their lovely drinks :)

by Winston C.

On a recent trip to Philly, I happened to stumble into Byblos (my first hookah bar). The crowd was lively yet relaxed and I found the bar tender to be extremely friendly and on the spot with the drinks. The menu was very comprehensive and the food looked good (I did not eat). Although I still don't get the point of hookah, I would good back and try the food.