Arabica Bar & Kitchen

What a dinner! Arabica’s Sujuk pide is the best dish I’ve tried this year so far. Their meats are incredible, the wine list is ace and so is the staff. The restaurant is super cute and has the best atmosphere for a date — loved it! Definitely going back. Oh, and get that sticky toffee pudding!

I really like this place, because of the fun variety. There are so many options that are vegetarian and it actually could get a little overwhelming. We had an incredible waitress who helped us navigate the menu. We were three hungry girls, so we ordered a lot of different things and just shared.
Not gonna lie, it got pretty expensive and the portions are not big, but everything I ate was very delicious. The waitress was so helpful, and the menus are cool because you can write on them. Unfortunately, I am not well versed in Levant (Levantian? I don’t know) food, so the names are foreign to me and I cannot remember them well. I apologize.
However! We picked several vegetarian dips, some falafels, breads, and salads. There was even some meat in there and I did try the air dried beef… it was incredible.
Service was great, and location is amazing– right next to Borough Market. Just be aware that the dishes are intended for sharing, which means you’ll probably order quite a few, and they add up.

Great meal last evening at Arabica. Having lived in Turkey and being a discerning diner of Middle Eastern cuisine, I can absolutely say the food was truly superior to many other restaurants in the UK and in the US. Highly recommend! Service was efficient and effective as well as friendly. We will definitely be back soon!

We decided to let the waiter go crazy. We said we wanted meat and that’s what we got. We had a wide selection of tapas that were alll really good. For those of you visiting london, the borough market/​london bridge, bar scene is really cool and lively. Every body in south bank was out! We got in fast, our waiter was really good, and the food was excellent. If you don’t try here, which you should, go to one of the several other eateries near this location.

This has to be the best vegetarian food I have had in London and is contender for best I have ever had. First prepare yourself: it’s LOUD, it’s expensive and service can be iffy. But JFC the food, the glorious veg food.
First of all, the breadth of veg options is amazing. One time I had the flatbread with truffle ‘shrooms and halloumi. I could have died happy right there. I also had the almond dip with sliced grapes sprinkled atop and the grilled halloumi with peaches. Incredibly rich flavours all around.
The last time I went, I got the squash dip. Seriously, squash has never tasted so amazing. I have to say they are a bit stingy on pita bread compared to the amount of dip you receive. That being said, just ask for more like I did, free of charge!

Good food but shocking service with a very long wait. I’ve never come across such terrible service ever in London. In addition two glasses of white wine were £19. Not worth it!
I recommend the wine and grill bar across the road for a much better atmosphere and cheerful service.

Came back again and was not disappointed!!! Great food — has to be good to compete with the rest of Borough Market!

My boyfriend and I had dinner here with one of my friends before heading to a show at the Globe. It’s in Borough Market and it can be a bit tricky to find, just because of how winding the market is. But it’s very convenient to London Bridge and anything going on along the river.
We made reservations and managed to sneak in between the lunch and dinner crowds. I love Mediterranean food so I had high hopes, and they were generally met.
Every dish on the menu is really meant to be shared. We averaged about two plates each, plus dessert and hummus, and it was plenty. The hummus was great and came with unlimited warm pita bread for spreading/​dipping. My boyfriend ordered a beer and my friend had the hibiscus quencher, while I had a Lebanese lemonade that was very refreshing.
Our food order, combined was: one order of hummus; one order of halloumi cheese; the chicken and pistaschio shish; the fried calamari; kalamata olives; lamb and pine nut sausages; sujuk pide; and Lebanese doughnuts for dessert.
The food was all very good, with the only minor issue being a matter of pacing. We received most of the dishes in very quick succession before we got the final two. I realize this is just a fact of life with mezze-​style small plates, so it’s not a big deal. My favorite dish was definitely the chicken and pistachio shish, which came out on two skewers and had a terrific flavor. The calamari was also very good, with the breading being light enough to not feel too fatty. The halloumi cheese was good and went well with the pears it came with, but I think a glaze or seasoning might have helped it a little. The drinks were also tasty and it was nice to have an alternative to soft drinks or plain water.
There are a lot of places at Borough Market competing for your attention, food-​wise. But if you’re in the mood for a restaurant atmosphere and good food for sharing Arabica is a good bet.

Have tried this place twice now and been really disappointed both times. I’ve had a few of the dishes: Chicken Shish, mussels, fattoush, hummus and sea bass. Biggest gripe is the portion sizes. They are absolutely tiny and really poor value for money given the prices they are charging.
With Borough Market next door (these guys actually have a stall which is much better value), there are literally multiple reasons why you should never eat here.

Excellent food — the truffle flatbread was especially good.

Being a bit of a snob about Lebanese food (having grown up on it) we tried Arabica spontaneously with the expectation of disappointment. Reheated flat breads. Stale falafel etc etc. Pleased to say Arabica is the real deal. It was excellent. Za’aatar perfect. Epic pide with well balanced butternut squash, hazelnut and cheese. Fatoush a little too weighted towards Pita but that made me happy. Beetroot salad a fine dining experience in itself. Highlight was the grilled halloumi. No squeaky-​ness. Almost melt in mouth. Service great and overall good value. Recommend!

A lively vibe, fuss free service and great Middle Eastern flavors makes Arabica a fantastic spot to spend the evening.
To drink, I had the Hibiscus Quencher and it was zesty and very refreshing. The husband had the Ayran, a cooling yogurt drink that was perfect for a hot summer evening. They also have an extensive wine & spirits list.
The menu comprises of Spanish tapas style sharing small plates… all with a Mediterranean/​Arabic twist.
Here’s the lowdown:
– Muharrama, a creamy melt in your mouth red pepper dip, that was served with a roti style bread. Was a hit with us.
– Spinach kibbeh, this was a deep fried spinach appetizer shaped like a falafel but had a distinct flavor. Liked it, but not on my hit list.(each kibbeh is for £3).
– lamb kibbeh — this was devoured by the husband who liked it & said it had a very different & had a granular texture & was very fresh.
– Zaatar Manoush, a crispy sesame seed flat bread with a very herb-​y olive oil base. Nice.
– Haloumi, Arabic cottage cheese which I think was lightly grilled & was absolutely delish. High on the hit list.
If we weren’t stuffed already after this, it was a testimony to the relaxed ambience that we tried the Turkish coffee & some vanilla halwa ice cream. The ice cream was nothing special but it was nice & light. The coffee was sinfully good & came with choco-​dates! These guys do know how to spoil you… But we aren’t complaining!
The service was very relaxed and easy. We didn’t have a reservation, but got lucky. Suggest you try & get one before heading to the super busy Borough Market district.
Mezze plates are priced between £2.50 & £9. Non alcoholic drinks are £3−5 and ditto for coffee and dessert.
All in all, a good find. Hope Arabica maintains the good food + buzz.
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