One Small Bar for Man, One Giant Bar for Mankind

The newest addition to University Heights, Small Bar, is a Bohemian-style bar and restaurant that gives off a Big City vibe while maintaining Man’s Man insight.

The straight-up Small Bar serves classic cocktails, offers 45+ craft beers on tap, and points in the direction of “anywhere but here” when customers order anything remotely like ‘drops, ‘politans, or ‘tinis ... with no remorse.

The décor is a seriously quirky reincarnation of an old-school bachelor pad. Preserved relics from the former Bistro d’Asia, like ornate elephants, now make up Small Bar’s refurbished logo. In contrast, walls are lined with a scattered mix of contemporary commercial beer memorabilia and vintage rock n’ roll posters. Add in a jukebox full of rock music in the corner, and we’re convinced Small Bar certainly lacks no character.

Small Bar demonstrates that serving only classic cocktails doesn’t infer a lack of inventiveness. Rather, the simplicity itself demands higher quality components, a deep and devoted understanding of flavor, and an expert’s personal touch to create subtle modifications while maintaining the sanctity of these timeless spirits. Noteworthy additions to classic concoctions are cherry-vanilla bitters to the LA born Makers Mule, while combining raspberry ginger beer and vanilla bitters revamps the classic Moscow Mule, to become Small Bar’s Elephant Mule.

Too timid for these dark libations? The French 75 is a sophisticated, champagne cocktail with brandied cherries that gives you a little more kick than your average mimosa.

To help slow the effects of their refreshing potencies, their lunch and dinner menu offers your typical bar food but with an upscale twist. With a background of fine dining, Small Bar’s chefs have turned in their wine and white-tablecloth ways in favor of experimenting with rich and flavorful brews in their dishes. Their Spicy Hop Sausage Sandwich is made with whole hops and topped with familiar yet high quality accompaniments, such as stone ground mustard and sweet peppers. The Beer Mac n’ Cheese brings together perfectly-cooked al dente shell pasta, absolutely smothered in a decadent three cheese Guinness béchamel sauce – undoubtedly, one of their most popular dishes.

Join Small Bar for Sunday Brunch from 10am – 2pm and enjoy a giant, multifaceted Bloody Mary: A splash of Guinness, skewers of chilled shrimp, blue-cheese stuffed olives, pepperoncinis, and delightful strip of candied bacon on the side. It even comes with a bag of pork rinds. Holy heartburn! This isn’t for the faint of heart.

The Chilequiles o’Morda is one of the most flavorful variations I’ve ever had! Far from dry, slightly crisp tortilla strips are topped with an Arbol sauce, a two-egg omelet, a delightful drizzle of queso blanco and pico de gallo, making for a surprisingly flavorful dish paired well with the grandiose Bloody Mary. Straight from Russia, Small Bar serves a poached egg atop caviar with crème fraiche, chives, and red onion, and served with a house-made gravlox for the ultimate in Ruski decadence.

Insider Tip: Each menu item includes a cocktail of your choice – so go ahead and blame the bar for your early morning alcoholism!

Discover Small Bar in University Heights (next to Lei Lounge).