Craft beer, specialty cocktails & comfort snacks in a retro room inspired by the Varga pinup girls.
Varga Bar in Philadelphia
Description
Privilege
Says it opens at noon. Get there at 3:40pm. It’s closed with waitstaff inside who sign it’s not open until 4pm.
MoreLove this place. Always been kind of low key and chill when I go. Nice menu, late kitchen hours, decent prices, and friendly bar staff.
MoreOrder a "trust the process" and trust the process. They know what theyre doing, you wont regret it
MoreThis corner bar on 10th and Spruce is pretty cool, its almost always packed. I think the only times Ive ever passed by and it wasnt packed was before it opens or after it closes. Good place to check out if youre in the area.
MoreGood place to chill after a long day at work!
Always a great spot for casual drinks and apps. The food is always good, atmosphere is relaxing and fun, and most importantly - Buffalo Cauliflower.
MoreRich is a fantastic bartender and makes great quality cocktails. I love the ambience of the spot and the other patrons that come through. Top notch local spot for cocktails and after work banter. Definitely going back!
MoreNice bartender; cool retro pin-ups, and nice atmosphere.
Fav retro bar with lovely service sweet seating spots all around and very tasty menu.
MoreThis has been my top place to imbibe in Philly since it opened. Great brews, excellent food, and top notch ownership. They care about what they do and the craft beer community. Outstanding.
MoreDelicious drinks and food. Also a very good vibe. The server we had was super sweet.
MoreFood was AMAZING! Our waiter was super friendly and provided great service. Awesome drink selection too, everything was delicious. Highly recommend this little gem on spruce.
MoreFantastic bar and food! Excellent beer selection and great cocktails! The service is also top notch! Stop by, you wont regret it!
MoreBest brussel sprouts Ive ever had! The drinks are good and not watered down. Service was fast and delightful. Asks for proof of vaccination at door.
MoreWonderful experience. Beer selection and cocktails are very good. The staff way personable and helpful. Everything was tasty. Ambiance is great for a semi formal night or upscale casual.
MoreI felt unsafe and discriminated against. The bartender was extremely rude and made our whole group feel uncomfortable.
MoreNice little bar! Extensive shot/drink list, good variety. Got a Cubano and it was well done.
MoreFreaking love their burger. Wish they still made their own ketchup, but it was just a casualty of the pandemic. Nevertheless, this is always my go-to local bar where I can get a good meal and chill environment.
MorePlace is solid. Atmosphere and service is always great. I really like how they change up the menu (both food and drinkoften. Its definitely more pricey than you would expect. I wish they had a few more cheap draft beer options. Great spot though.
MoreBanh Mi was the best sit-down restaurant banh mi sandwich Ive had in Philly. Fresh ingredients prepared with care. Wife got the fish n chips which were 3 cod medallions, very fresh.French fries came with both meals. Shoestring fries, crispy, hot and seasoned/salted to perfection.I got house pickles after my meal. Tiny pickles, pickles red onions (I think), pickles carrots, pickles celery, pickled cauliflower, and I believr mustard seed. Tasted very fresh. Nothing was soggy, as you often get with pickled veggies when its done poorly or the product isnt moving.Server was so nice, attentive and knowledgeable about the beer menu.Ill be back some day.
MoreThe food was super basic and not worth the price. Service was awful. So many other quality restaurants in the city where you’ll get better service & food. Save yourself the trouble and go elsewhere.
MoreNice neighborhood place. Came for happy hour and appetizers and stayed for hours enjoying the outdoor seating. Loved the beet salad, even though I dont typically like beets. The shrimp sliders were a novel take on these small bites. Great place to dine.
MoreTop 5 beer bars in the city MUST include Varga. Constantly rotating draft list featuring beers from al over the map. The whiskey list is really a strong addition to the options here as well. Food never goes wrong and the staff seem to be having a great day every day. I don’t know how they do it.
MoreGreat spot to grab dinner and drinks. The staff is very friendly. The Bloody Mary was great, kind of a smoky flavor to it and a bit of spice. The wings were good as well, and definitely try the crab fries. They are currently checking vaccination cards of guests that dine inside.
MoreSuperb whiskey/spirit selection and very comfortable outdoor seating. The menu is small, but did not disappoint.
MoreFast, casual, friendly staff, and imo the best Brussels in Philly! Came late on a Friday night (like 15 minutes before closingand they still sat us and were super nice. Having worked in a restaurant I know how annoying this can be. But because of this kind of service, we keep coming back! The burger is 🔥 too.
MoreStopped in at happy hours for drinks before dinner elsewhere. I had a beer, they did have a good beer list. The other three in the group had cocktails. They were all disappointing. The cocktails were small and weak and loaded with ice.
MoreDon’t fix what isn’t broken. Used to come here with some frequency specifically for the crab cheese fries, which were out of this world. Returned last week to find that they’ve gotten rid of their original recipe for a cheaper one that is not even slightly comparable. The new recipe is almost sour, with way too much lemon juice and so much Old Bay seasoning that my lips actually stung by the end. Not to mention, it is now half the size that it used to be. They don’t even offer the awesome mustard that used to come with the originals anymore. Not sure I’ll be returning unless the old recipe is brought back.
MoreCozy little spot with great beer & even better food. The service was wonderful & the prices are extremely fair for the portion sizes. Ill definitely be returning to this spot!
MoreIts a classic. You can expect the same greatness year after year. Used to be a go-to haunt if I got off work (waiting tables nearbyearly enough or for a little night-off treat! Some of the best brussel sprouts in town, great drink selection, always friendly service. Do recommend! Super cute little neighborhood strip, to boot, with record shops, local hardware, other watering holes, etc, etc!
MoreFun atmosphere! Great beer selection and tasty cocktails. Food looked scrumptious, but I wasnt there to eat.
MoreFood was good. Waiter was so-so had to get his attention a few times after having waiting longer than we should have, as it was not busy. Although he was pleasant enough.
MoreExcellent service. Bartender was great and the beer selection on tap was plentiful. Ordered the lump crab fries and holy Moses...... My taste buds were dancing! They are excellent!! This is a must stop.
MoreSecond time I have been here. Great experience overall. Both times the service was quick and pleasant. The beer selection also has some great but hard to find craft brews. The food is a touch pricy but this is definitely one of the places where you get what you pay for. My fiance ordered the veggie burger and said its the best she has ever had. I love their special sauce, and the homemade ketchup and mustard are a real gem! I dont make it down to this area often but when I do I make sure to stop by Varga!
MoreOutside table with killer view of Our Town area of Philly. Nice staff. Awesome historic tree lined streets and alleys with historic buildings. Most people walking/biking by are ages 20 to 40 of multiple races, ethnicities, and orientations. Multiple art businesses, other taverns and restaurants proximal. A great walkabout. Beware, their standard shot is only 1oz, not the usual 1.5 oz pour.
MoreI always have a good time at Varga Bar! Awesome beer selection and friendly service. Cool location too. The summertime is my favorite time to be here, when they open all the windows and you can sit outside. This place has a cool vibe, its welcoming to new people, but yet still maintains a good neighborhood energy. Havent had the food in a while, but remember it being delicious!
MoreNice place, gets pretty crowded and doesn’t feel particularly clean. Service was good though. I ate some appetizers and they were fine. Great beer selection.
MoreEnjoyed the cocktail list, lots of beers to try. Laid back atmosphere with good service. Feels more like a neighborhood bar than an over-produced philly restaurant. I enjoy stopping here when I am in Washington Square
MoreHere at noon. Outside table with killer view of Our Town area of Philly. Nice staff. Awesome historic tree lined streets and alleys with historic buildings. Most people walking/biking by are ages 20 to 40 of multiple races, ethnicities, and orientations. Multiple art businesses, other taverns and restaurants proximal. A great walkabout. Beware, their standard shot is only 1oz, not the usual 1.5 oz pour.
MoreWas excited to try it. Good menu. Amazing beer. Food is expensive. Our waitress seemed to hate her job and was kinda judgmental. We wanted to stay longer but it was a big turn off to feel like we were bothering her. Other staff members seemed alright with their customers. Ours had blue-ish hair. Too bad.
MoreIt’s a cool spot with friendly staff but the happy hour is a bit disappointing, their were 19 beer on draft and only 9 were on Happy Hour. I came in with the intentions that all draft were $4 during HH, I feel like they need to state that selective draft are $4 on their Website/Ads not all..
MoreWhat a beer list! Well cultivated beer selection organized by type and seasonally adjusted!? Sometimes its the little things that set places apart and Varga Bars attention to detail does just the trick. Theyve also got a solid happy hour.
MoreWhen I say this is one of the best customer service I have ever received, it was THE BEST, our bartender was so nice, friendly, funny & at 12:00 he gave me a birthday shoutout lol ! He was so nice ! And the food was AMAZINGGGGGG !!! Its the best
MoreThose brussels sprouts are enough of a reason to keep coming back - the staff is also super accommodating for dietary restrictions, they have a great drink selection, indoor/outdoor seating, just an all around nice spot. Been going for years and will continue to go back.
MoreI love this place. Great food/menu, friendly staff, affordable cocktails. Never had a bad meal here, and everything I order has been great. The only critique I have is that they could use a better quality bread to accompany their cheese plate.
MoreStill a favorite spot of mine to grab a burger. The interior has a pin-up girl theme that keeps the spirit of the Vargas girls alive while keeping it fun. The food is great, definitely better than the average (or above averagebar food. A great place to grab drinks with friends. Space is limited though, so if you have a group of 10 this might not be the spot for you.
MoreIf you enjoy wings, Varga Bar is worth the visit. Their duck fat variation of buffalo style wings is enjoyable, different and falls right of the bone. The cheese steak I ordered was okay, but I only ordered it because the menu is a bit pricey for a bar. Likewise, the draft list wasnt entirely inspiring.
MoreBartender was welcoming and friendly, balanced atmosphere in terms of light and sound... And of course, the food was delicious, each with a unique combination of ingredients for a flavorful product.
MoreGreat beer selection and the Softshell Crab sandwich was excellent! Sat outside and the service was really good. Apparently its Beer Week so if youre in Philly this week its worth dropping in.
MoreI really, really love Varga. The atmosphere is so vintage, with all of the cool pinup art and the simple black and white color palette.Drinks are imaginative (inspired by monthly pinup calendarand have a wide selection of draft beers to choose from. Beer drafts and glasses of wine are half off during happy hour (from 4-6PM).I love the fries here--no way around it. They are sliced very thin, and they always have just the right crispy:starchy ratio. Portions are smaller across the board, but prices generally range between $9-15 for apps/sandwiches. Worth your money, but its really hard to share.The service can be slow and inattentive, especially for the al fresco seating. Beware that the outdoor seating is a slower pace (but it wont ruin your night).
MoreWant to order over the phone?
Call +1 215-627-5200