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 kapil n.

the best hookah bar i have been to in all my life.  this beats out all nyc competition in my book.  the food is excellent.  the service is stellar.  i had a really good visit.

by Eric B.

Overly expensive drinks ($10 4 oz Glenlivet!), a terrible record player sound system and inattentive service knock down the rating scale for me. The up side was the cheap Hummous and Grape Leaves. Overall, they charge high prices because they are close to Rittenhouse Square. I'd keep looking if you're searching for something new and different.

by Ashley M.

while in philly for business, checked out the food - very good mediterranean - had some wonderful grilled octopus salad.  while there for late night dinner the bar filled up and the place turned into this adorable hookah lounge - young working crowd midtwenties to midthirties. wish we had someplace like this in boston!

by Ricky K.

Absolutely dreadful.  From the hordes of arrogant-smelling villagers wearing cheaper fakes of cheap fake designer clothing to the Pan-Eastern students puking on the street while trying to catch a cab back to campus, this place is the pits.  The tile work makes the bar look like it should be a Chinatown Bus Terminal.  Many of the drinks are pre-made and watered down.  The air is thick and heavy with sweat, exhaled air and smoke like you're making italian Hoagies in a greenhouse using chain-smokers as sandwich makers.  I've sat in nicer furniture on the Broad Street Subway.  Watch your nice clothes, you'll get burned for sure.

by Lauren H.

Byblos is one of the best hookah bars in Philly. The decor is stylish, but if you're going on a weekend night, prepare for an enormous crowd that manages to cram its way into every space of the joint - stay hydrated, because even in the dead of winter, it feels like a sweatshop. If you're going for food, definitely make a reservation - seating is limited.

by Elizabeth C.

Byblos! Presumably named for the following (from Wikipedia):"Greek name of the Phoenician city Gebal (earlier Gubla). It is a Mediterranean city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of present-day Lebanon under the current Arabic name of Jbeil. According to fragments attributed to the semi-legendary pre-Trojan war Phoenician historian Sanchuniathon, it was the first city ever built, and even today is believed by many to be the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the world."Not knowing this, I thought it had something to do with biblio. Now let me explain why I made this mistake. Byblos was where I went to every weekend until some time around 4am to drink, dance, and be merry. One of my profile photos was taken while dancing atop a space partitioning architectural feature. Notice the ceiling is not quite far from my head. I could post other photos where people are dancing on window sills, banquet tables, etc. So, when I thought of the name of this establishment where I danced for five hours straight with a diverse crew of belly dancers after work, Arabs from various countries, Eastern Europeans, and whomever, I was often very intoxicated on red bull and vodka, glistening with sweat, wrapped in a faint fragrance of flavored hookah tobacco/herbs, and euphoric. Hence, I misread it as sharing the root, biblio, and noted for the longest time the irony of an establishment whose name contains the root for words associated with the quiet, studious types would be pulsing with life and rhythm.Wait, oh, in reading the wikipedia entry further, Byblos DOES have something to do with biblio:"The Greeks apparently called it Byblos because it was through Gebal that bublos ( ["Egyptian papyrus"]) was imported into Greece."Apparently, even when inebriated, I remain a geek at heart!Byblos is, mind you, a proper restaurant although I've only eaten there a couple times. Both times were solid. Their "cheesesteak" was lovely. But, first and foremost, it is for its unabashed celebration of the dance and libations that I put down these words about Byblos.If you frequent Byblos, please say hello to the owner for me.

by Seve' M.

Definitely have to give it up to Byblos as something different in this city. Had a friend come in from out of town and was told Byblos was the spot I should go to for a relaxing outing. Because of all of the reviews for a weekend night I decided to call ahead and it was definitely worth it(Though they don't take reservations past 10:30 so if its later than that don't hold your breath). It became packed a little after 11 with some of the best looking mixed crowd I have seen in Philly. I didn't get a chance to see the Guido's, thugs, or valley chicks mentioned below, so that night might be on Saturdays. :)I was most shocked by how inexpensive the place was, because the entire set up and presentation was pretty good(drinks were a little below Philly average and they had pretty good pricing on appetizers). This point leads me to one of the most personal reviews I have ever written. Now I'm no punk but I have to give a disclaimer out...If you didn't eat since lunch and try to hookah and drink it up you will be sorry. I had to put myself on time out in the woman's bathroom for a good 5-10 minutes, take a couple of deep breaths...and dry the beads of sweat off my face. Not the best site surrounding by gorgeous females but being the MAN that I am.. I pulled myself together, took a quick shot of H20 and continued on one of the best nights I've had in Philly since moving. 5 star rating well deserved and If anyone else wants to go I am always up for it.P.S. I know you guys on Yelp are sarcastic assholes so I am expecting the jokes and already have a two word response for all of ya.

by Dave H.

Byblos sure is one popular, cramped, and crowded party! No wonder, since there's no cover, at least when I was there. It was hot, so a few of us took advantage of coat check - you can always hang coats on a seat, but what if you don't have a seat? Fellow partygoers (lots of ethnic folks, guys and girls alike) were drinking and dancing in a frenzy all over. Standing by the bar, I saw many smoking hookahs through the dim, smoky room. Didn't get a chance to indulge, or even eat their food, but my friends (many who are regulars) and I still had a good time. Stop in!

by Alex M.

The food is ok. try the chicken kebob sandwich. the greek salad that i figured I'd try, ya know Byblos being a greek spot and all, was gross. week-old eel ruined the entire bowl.the scene at night is a bit ethnic (middle eastern / east indian) and fun. very attractive people. just be ready to be squeezed in there. they pack it tight and it gets hot.

by Brenda D.

Sketch-O-Rama. For some reason, everyone looks shady in Byblos.  Maybe its the ton of shisha smoke in the air.  Or that stepping into Byblos is like stepping into Dodge City in the 1800's = total disregard for laws.  Which of course makes it SO fun.I love that the owners just nod at you and open the big door leading into Shadeville.  The drinks/bartenders are so-so, but no one really is here for the drinks.  The music is an awesome mix of World Hits with occasional hip-hop thrown in.  There are plenty of cool nooks on the walls to sit in (and you will want to once this place gets packed.)  I've seen more than one couple come out of the bathroom here.  People smoke openly, with little regard for the bar smoking ban.   The bar rarely regards the 2am closing law; I've exited this place at 4am on more than 1 occasion.   Crazy fun!   If none of this sketchiness appeals to you, don't go to Byblos.  The only reason I won't give it 5 stars is because I often spot people smoking hooka and acting all heroin-chic stoned.   B*tches please, its freaking tobacco, not opium.  Stop playing.

by Valerie T.

I love the ambiance of this place.  Peach flavored tobacco, middle eastern snacks and hip-hop thumping in the background.  I've only ever visited on a thursday...with good results.  I generally take a group of people with me, so we've had at least a 15 minute wait each time.  I'm not a fan of waiting, however, they give us free hookah to start out, so my complaints are nullified.  Ohhhh....the bill adds up QUICKLY!!  It's easy to blow over $100 in an hour, so watch it!

by Barbara P.

On Friday and Saturday nights, this place is packed, and if you want an actual table to eat at or smoke at, you need to call and make reservations ahead of time.That being said, Friday and Saturday nights, the place turns into something like a dance club.  Exotic music and exotic men are all over the place - especially Arab guys, and there's a lot of drunkenness and dancing on tables.Definitely a great location for the occassional change of pace, although I know plenty of people who frequent the place several times a week.  It just depends on your tastes.The decor is dark greens and purples - everything you'd expect to create an Arabian-like setting.  The front area has great comfy chairs surrounding tables for larger groups (and those are generally the tables people dance on) and beautiful stained glass windows.

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 Katie L.

So I recently turned 21, and my friends know how much I love hookah, and when they decided that we should have a night out ih Philly they wanted to take me to this place. Well, when I arrived at Byblos, there were absolutely no seats for me to sit on because the people at the table next to us had taken all the extra seats, so I was sitting with one cheek off on the bench. When I finally got our waitresses attention (which was a test in of itself) I asked her if there were any extra stools to sit on and if there weren't it wasn't a problem. She had the nerve to blantly sigh and just walked away! I ordered one of their special martini's which was $11 dollars and had hardly any alcohol in it. You would think an 11 dollar martini would get you the least bit tipsy. Also, my other friend ordered a diet Coke... $5.50... ridiculous. My friend had a coupon for a hookah which made our waitress gives us another sigh, and when we got out hookah it was very harsh and the shisha seemed like it was getting old. My good friend owns his own hookah lounge and I have gotten to be kind of a hookah snob. My advice... don't go here. Buy your own hookah. Enough said.

by Paige W.

I was taken to dinner here for my birthday by two wonderful friends, so I hate to not give a rave review. But I would have had a great time with them even if we went to McDonalds. We arrived before 7 p.m. and there was already house music blaring. Or at least we thought it was House until we realized the record had been skipping for hours and no one had noticed. The food was OK - spanakopita, hummus, dolmades - fair, I've had better and worse. The waitress told us we really had to try this cheese dip. It was like the leftover American Cheese stuck to my toaster, but flambed with a flair. We did not partake in the hookahs. I just dont see the appeal behind smoking tobacco out of these things. In fact, I dont think the contraption's creators had this in mind. As quoted from an interview in a college newspaper article I wrote many years back, "Bongs don't make potheads - potheads make bongs." But I digress...For better varieties of Middle Eastern food I prefer South Street Souvlaki, Kanella, Effie's - even the Israeli falafal joints. I do think this place has potential - maybe they just need a kick in the dolmades.

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 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 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 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 Lauren B.

Clubbing music combined with low-lit tables and hookahs?  It's like someone got super stoned and came up with what they thought was a briliant idea!  Byblos is fun but don't bring someone here if you're trying to impress.My friend and I sat at the bar and had a hookah and a couple drinks. The drink I had, a pomegranate cocktail of sorts was bangin'.  And the combo of drinking a yummy drink while smoking an apple flavored hookah was fun! I liked the music but it was so contradictory to the hookah experience/concept.  Kinda wierd.   If you are sloppy drunk and go there in the wee hours, you'll probably have a good time.  Don't go there to have an intimate hookah experience.I probably won't go back there, but it wasn't awful.  Just sort of wierd place.

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 jenny f.

Byblos has the monopoly on the Center City hookah.  Unless you head over to Old City or Queen Village, this is your place to share a hookah and some mediterranean plates with your friends.  Although I've enjoyed my numerous visits here, it's not a place I think to frequent often since the drinks and hookah are sorta pricey and it is often really really loud inside (which, in its very nature seems contradictory, if you're going to be sitting for a while with a hookah and can barely hear your friends).  I'm usually fairly intoxicated by the time we've ordered food, but no complaints there (mmmm drunk falafel/hummus).  Overall lesson:  Reap the benefits of Byblos without stepping inside of Byblos.  Get an outdoor table (or come earlier, but that's no fun).

by Andy S.

I had a good time at Byblos, although I didn't have the best experience.The good:  They have a fairly wide menu.  Most people liked their food.  The drinks were good, fairly strong, and priced according to the Rittenhouse location.  The hookah was good, although the strawberry flavor was weak.  They re-lit our hookah for no charge.  The bad: The music is way too loud for a hookah place, with a mix of 80's music, gay club music, and yes, the Sex and the City theme.  Many tables are right next to speakers, so it's difficult to avoid.  The front tables by the window are to be avoided.The place gets crowded early.  They didn't accept our reservation.  We called, they even had it in our book, but they had no table for us.  When half our party didn't show up at the time of our reservation (not our fault), they begged us to split our large table, not leaving room for the rest of our party.The server was rude the entire time.  She was rarely around at first, and then stood at the end of our table staring at us after we ordered food.  (Shouldn't it be the other way around, although with less stalker behavior?)  She took away drinks before they were done and did not ask other people for refills depending on how they were dressed (if you were a butch girl, you didn't get asked).  She even talked about us to other servers in an obviously negative manner in plain view of us.They even charged more for drinks than were on the menu.  Appletinis for $8 became $9 and $10 on the bill.  But the service was so bad, it wasn't worth complaining about it.So hookah is fun.  I had a good time, but not because of Byblos.  I prefer Shouk (more low-key, cheaper, and slightly better service).

by Asia D.

If you're tired of the same ol' bar/club scene want to feel like you made a mini-vacay somewhere where there's a touch of mystery sensuality in the air (... literally), I'd recommend Byblos!  ;  )    My boyfriend I went mid-week after coming to Byblos on a Saturday night (yesterday) I would recommend a midweek visit.  As my fellow Yelpers mentioned it gets craaaaaaaaazy crowded in this quaint, funky spot located on 18th St.  On Saturday I brought one of my best gals from college to check it out as she never smoked a hookah before she wanted to give it a go, especially after I raved about how much fun I had the first time I went.Well, despite the insane crowd, we indulged in the yummy (yes yummy) smoke of the Peach flavored Hookah we both gave it a thumbs up!  It's a fun way to bond with folks, switching out your plastic tip, but then passing sharing the hose/pipe piece... you get a rhythm going find yourself passing the hose every eight (well... okay, every sixteen) count of the eclectic, thumping beats!  ;  )Midweek with Mr. Boyfriend was extra dope because due to the smaller crowd we had our own stools had room to try their shrimp tempura sushi which was muy delicioso!  (And I'm a tough sushi critic these days after being trained ( fed) by one Madame Saito who was my trainer that led me to earn 1st place in the annual sushi competition during The Subaru Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival... wheeeew, did you get all of that?!?!)  ;  )  I think we had the Mango hookah that night, but I loved the Peach this guy that came talked to my friend I let us try his Melon hookah that seemed very tasty smooth as well.  (Gotta love those plastic tips so you can make friends try other flavors, hint hint!...   It pays to be nice not stuck up!  Take notes people!) My boyfriend I were sitting next to a super sweet gentleman who instantly became a pal just so happened to be a brain surgeon (Hey Dr. B. if you're reading this)!  Raaaandom, I know, but it made the night all the more interesting.  I also met these two couples at the end of the bar who were really friendly as well.  One of the gals was from Detroit just moved to the city was getting accustomed to the city we ended up exchanging numbers to hang out there again!  (Yeeeah, too bad my new phone had a hiccup I lost all my numbers the next day, womp.)  ; (  Tammy, if you're reading this I didn't forget you, I just couldn't reach you mama!  ; )It's safe to say... if you are a person that with the right music, the right people, an overall chill vibe you can have a great time, you're good as gold at Byblos!  The only drawbacks I would say might affect you on any night would be the fact that it can get really crowded so if you're the hermit crab type like your 3 ft. of personal space to "Diva Out", then DEFINITELY go midweek.  It's also a tip to use the facilities before you leave home.  You don't have to worry about waiting in line for the one restroom per gender you don't have to worry about leaving your drink unattended or losing your spot at the bar/table/on the floor!  ;  )  This is a place where if you have an open mind to something you weren't exposed to in your day-to-day life growing up you can feel comfortable to bathe in it here.  I was with my boyfriend the 1st time here at one point I was standing behind him while he took his turn sitting on "our" stool.  So it was a surprise to have a gentleman, who I hadn't even spoken to (yet) that night, swoop me up into his circle of friends to show me a wonderful dance.  He reached out grabbed my hand everyone stood side by side then he showed me some of the steps with such great enthusiasm, it was awesome!  (Apparently that track was his jam!  Haha!  Everyone got amped started clapping cheering when it came on!)  My wonderful boyfriend just turned around watched the magic happen.  (Any other guy probably would've had a fit!)  ;  )   He knows I love all types of dance learning about new cultures so we were both laughing it up, hey, I got a free dance class... score!  Hahahaha! And as for the fellas, I must say, there was the most gorgeous, exotic (for lack of a less cliche word right now) trim, sassy young woman there who swooped up all of the spunky ladies when HER songs came on.  She was hypnotizing to watch as she shimmied snaked in circles brought out our inner frisky side.  Meeee-ow!  I can't place her exact ethnicity (sorry!), but it was great to bond with other women in the spirit of fun!  Everyone is so busy trying to be the aloof Paris Hilton clones these days, but here even my blondies were getting down chatting with everyone!  ;  )  We really lucked out by meeting some cool people both visits I'm sure to return again again!  I haven't been on a night where there are belly dancers, but I'm excited to read here from a fellow Yelper that they're expanding!  P.S. I went bought a hookah for my house today too! ; )

by Maren M.

A couple of friends and I went here on a thursday cause we were craving hookah, and I will never go back. We had a coupon for a free hookah, which apparently the waitress resented. (If we're going to get an attitude for a coupon from your site, then why give out the coupon?). I don't want to spend a lot of time on the review because they don't deserve it. The hookah was ok, the drinks were horrible, my diet coke was flat and cost $5. And our waitress was a spiteful whore. If she smiled once I must've not noticed it. She was demanding, inconsistent, and an idiot. The hookah is also over $20. Ridiculous.The only positive was that my friend Amanda D. walked in with a beer in her bag by accident, got it confiscated, then when we left, she swipped it off the stoop outside. She's gangsta.Don't go here. Buy your own hookah.

by Alexandra N.

Douchebags galore! Totally overrated! I've been to this bar twice, once for mojito happy hour, and another time to try the hookah. The happy hour was a total joke-- watered down drinks not even worth imbibing, bartenders that don't give you the time of day, and hordes of rude post-fratboys and sorostitutes. Fake tits are a plus if you want to get served, so obviously I was totally ignored in trying to get the bartender's attention. Isn't my money just as green?It gets so crowded you have to shove your way through silicone and cellulite to get to the bathroom. Byblos hookah rentals are very expensive, and atmosphere at this dump is non-existent. When I came to smoke the one time, one of my girlfriends spent the entire time commenting on how ugly and confused the decor is. It's hideous, who designed this place? Skip this bar and go to Bitar's to get your own hookah for home use if you like to smoke. It's not at all worth dealing with the assholes at Byblos. I can't speak for the other reviewers here who rated this place so positively, but there must have been crack in their water pipes.

by Michelle C.

My friend and I were out on Friday night watching March Madness hoops at a Rittenhouse-area bar when we made a couple new friends.  When the games ended, the guys insisted on a late night trip to nearby Byblos.  I will be the first to admit that I never would have walked into Byblos on my own accord, but since I wasn't buying and we were having a pretty good time, I went along for the ride.  The place was packed and a table was out of the question.  As luck would have it, a group at the bar got up and left just as we made our way over.  Other yelpers have stated that the crowd is an interesting mix of attractive people and I have to agree.  Our ringleader ordered a round of beers and a hookah.  The smoke was peach flavored, and the effects were much stronger than I had anticipated.  For a place I had always turned up my nose at, I was really digging it.  While this was probably a one-time-only visit for me, I enjoyed the experience a lot and would recommend an evening at Byblos to anyone looking for something totally different from the regular scene.

by Brian L.

So much hatred for this place, and I know why!  Sure, it's always crowded (it's a bad thing if you want a seat, but don't you want something people like going to?), but I had a good time.Me and my friend originally tried to go to Shouk first, but that place was closed down.  So we just decided to go to Byblos.  We go in, ask the waitress for the last table outside.  She seemed like it was bothersome, but who cares?  We get menus, and decide on the mixed fruit hookah and a makers on the rocks and a dewars on the rocks (8.50 each, 20 for hookah).  We get them in about 5 minutes, and just enjoyed people watching (there were a ton of people going in/out of Vango and walking the streets).  The waitress didn't come back really for a bit, the people next to us were mid 40s but acting like they were 22, the drinks on the rocks tasted watered down, and we were sitting in a corner, but you know what?  It wasn't hot/humid, we were feelin good from the hookah, and it was just fun to hang out/people watch.  I couldn't really complain too much from the night, it was just so relaxing after a long work week.  Just go there without an agenda, chill out, and let the hookah do its job.  People watch, talk with good company, and enjoy Philadelphia.Paid 70 for 4 bourbons on the rocks and a hookah including tip.  People complaining about $8.50 for a drink should realize they're in a niche market (not many hookah bars in Rittenhouse in such a populated area) and that they're in Rittenhouse.  If you want cheap drinks, go to Drinkers.  I'm not happy about paying $8.50, but I realize the spot I'm in.

by Laura D.

I love me some hookah. Not somewhere I'd go every week, but definitely a fun deviation from the normal bar scene. Wednesday night was the perfect time to check it out - not crowded and good low-key music. Dim lighting, tables with cushioned seats, and swanky people puffing on hookahs made for a relaxing and sensual experience. We snagged a table right away, and ordered drinks, light food and a hookah. My hummus appetizer was a tasty and filling snack - about 10 pita triangles and a size-able dish of hummus for $5. The drinks were a little pricey, but I didn't expect them to be cheap. It was great to smoke a hookah... brought me back to college. It's a great relaxing social activity. The DJ was spinning smooth hip hop and light house which provided great background music, easy to talk over. This would be a great place for a date (when it's not super busy). Our waitress was slooooow to bring the check even after asking, but other than that service was good.I previously had mixed feeling about Byblos... with the prevailing feeling being that I didn't want to go there... but I was pleasantly surprised and would definitely return or suggest it to a friend.

by Kathy D.

Not much hookah variety in this city, but Byblo's stands out because it's nicer, offers good music with a Rittenhouse cool crowd. My friend had her birthday here and was able to have a nice dinner and drinks while those who wanted, tried the hookah.I challenged someone to a smoke off in here, and met some great people here. We were sent glasses of champagne to celebrate my friends' birthday.

by pracheta t.

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 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.

by Cienegas C.

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.

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 Jim M.

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.

by Jim M.Tru L.Cienegas C.

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.

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.