Arbol Café

The outdoor area on a beautiful day is like being on vacation.
I got a sandwich (delicious) and sat out there for hours working. I certainly did not feel like i was in philadelphia. I can’t wait to go on a summer night when they have the fire going.

This update deals with my last visit to Arbor Café. I still think the food is good but the quirky service just seems to get more and more quirky.
We were on an outing with the dog in tow and decided to grab something. An empanada sounded good so we headed to Arbol Café to grab a hot one and sit outside with the pup. Before ordering I asked the proprietor (ess) whether we could sit with the dog in their adjacent patio area. We were told it was fine. There were only a few other people and figured we could sit with the dog without disturbing other patrons,. so we ordered.
Once the food came to us out on the patio, she began to hover like a bee. Every time I looked up she seemed to be hovering in the corner of my eye. It was like she was waiting for something, but never approached. It was when my better-​half slipped a nibble to the pooch that she pounced. This was evidently what she’s been waiting for. She told us that her husband, the cook, didn’t like it when people feed their dogs from their plate, so we shouldn’t do it. The pooch only got a treat because we were trying to keep him from fussing and disturbing the few people seated outside.
You can tell me you don’t allow dogs on the patio. Fine. But don’t say you allow dogs and then scold me like a child when I give the dog a harmless nibble «because your husband doesn’t like it.»
Arbor needs to treat their customers a tad better.

The coffee isnt the greatest, but the food… oh the food.
The sandwiches have amazing ingredients and are just the right serving. It is a laid back atmosphere, where the owners are really friendly and perfectly content to let you occupy a table with friends to chat or sit and read for a few hours.

I’m surprised that no one has written about the espresso here…
My husband and I stumbled across Arbol after having some delicious pizza at Rustica (across the street). We thought the outdoor space looked cozy and automatically assumed that it would be a nice place to go for some coffee.
After a friendly conversation with the amicable owner, I asked for an Americano and my husband ordered a Red Eye.
From there, I watched with complete horror as the owner proceeded to open up little packages of filtered espresso bags and placed them into what looked like a home-​grade espresso machine. A coffee shop that doesn’t have a professional espresso machine? No grinding of fresh coffee beans?
My Americano was fine for what it was. I’d be happy to make an espresso that tasted that way if I was making it at home, not buying it at a coffeeshop where it costs $ 3. It wasn’t fresh and it had a filtered taste from the package that it had just come from. Bleck.
My husband’s Red Eye was a little better. The coffee hid the filtered taste of the espresso package, but it wasn’t super strong like a traditional Red Eye.
Oh, and to top that off… after he «pulled the shots», I had to add my own hot water to make it an Americano and my husband had to add his own coffee to make it a Red Eye…
We weren’t disgusted by our drinks… we still had a nice evening… but they definitely weren’t worth the price. And it’s a little disappointing to see a coffeeshop that serves the public home-​grade espresso and isn’t attempting to perfect the art of espresso drinks.
If I lived in the neighborhood, I’d probably go back again to try out the food menu. But I don’t venture up into the Northern Liberties often enough and will probably want to try a different place next time.

I want to love Arbol Café. I’ve eaten here once and, yes, the Landlocked bagel was delicious. However, I didn’t pay for it that day.
On a beautiful Saturday a few weekends ago, I decided to take the trolley down to 2^nd street to see what was poppin’ in Northern Liberties and, perhaps, to enjoy a magazine under the arbols at Arbol Café.
I went in and picked up the menu. Holy flippin’ prices! The food here is grossly overpriced. $ 12.00 for what is, essentially, a bagel with lox, cream cheese, honey, and veggies? Two-​egg omlettes for more than $ 10? I stuffed the menu in my bag and walked out. Having sampled their goods, I’d say that the cost to value ratio here is inappropriate.
Perhaps you’re paying for the ambiance, the quaintness, or the vaguely international menu. Either way, meh.

This is the cutest most homey coffee shop in the city. I came in for a small cup of tea with a friend, and we had a nice relaxing time. MAKE SURE YOU TRY THE HOME MADE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. The owner was really friendly, and encouraged us to sit and relax as long as we liked.
I didn’t try their food menu, but the tea selection was very extensive.
Definitely will be going back.

I have to agree with Sanjay here. I like Arbol but have always considered it grossly overpriced for what it is. This past weekend I was literally shocked when I heard of the price increases. I doubt I’ll go back. $ 14 for basically a breakfast sandwich! Are you kidding? $ 10 was ehhh, ok these things are good, but $ 14 no freaking way. I’ll get a sandwich and beer from the foodery and then head over to the park instead.
Minus 2 big stars Arbol. You have good food but you’re not irreplaceable.

After hearing about this place for quite a while now I finally made it here this past Saturday.
Being 70 and sunny we were looking for somewhere to sit outside. You definitely do not feel like you are in the middle of the city when you sit outside here — you are surrounding by a wooden fence separating you from the street and a huge tree providing shade over the tables.
I had the grilled chicken sandwhich and it was cooked perfectly. the chicken was a juicy golden brown and the brioche bun was amazing. The iced coffee is like straight up crack. I had about 203 refills.
High quality/​fresh ingredients, cheap prices and great staff = many return visits for me this spring and summer.

I stumbled upon this place when I was walking out for some morning coffee. The owners were really really amiable and offered to make me a drink of anything «not on the menu.» I had the lomito sandwich which obviously gets great reviews here. And I also had coffee with steamed coconut milk in it– TO DIE FOR. Practically burned my throat chugging it down. The outdoor seating is long rather than wide, but shaded and fenced in so it feels private. Definitely a cute space to rent for a small get together (like 25 people or so). I smell a birthday idea!!! Much love to this place.

Great little Northern Liberties café. The lomito especial is one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. You can find the description in one of the many reviews below. The salmon sandwiches are also delicious!
They have great strong coffee and you can also order a gourd of mate tea. This is a cosy small café with limited seating, but a wonderful place nonetheless. What really makes this place special are the owners. Beth and Oscar are so nice and inviting. I made plans to attend Valentine’s Day brunch with the boyfriend here.
Their outdoor space is one of the best outside spaces in the city. Where else can you sit below huge shady trees and people watch or enjoy a book while eating or enjoying a nice beverage?
The only thing I wish about this place would be that they allowed dogs in the outdoor space. I understand why they aren’t — it would just be nice to sit at this wonderful café with my pooch and enjoy the warmer months.
Things to note: they are cash only — but they have an ATM on hand. BYOB!

As a newcomer to the Fishtown/​Northern Liberties area I thought this place was adorable. It seems as though it would be great in the spring or summer because I saw a bunch of outdoor seating and I felt a bit cold every time someone opened and closed the door.
I ordered the lomito after reading everyone’s reviews on Unilocal,and that is definitely the way to go. I’m not running back but I would go back because I’m interested in trying the Paraguayan tortilla.

Arbolito, my little sapling, you make me so happy. This quaint little tree-​house of a coffee shop serves up more than just café con leche and yerba maté. Their food is quick, their service comes with smiles, and their mini-​lomito sandwiches gleam with goodness.
Perfectly piled between the fresh and squishable buns you have: not just turkey, not just ham, but turkey-​ham, a broken egg, a thin steak, and cheese.
They accept only dollar dollar bills, but don’t scoff, they accommodate to all walks of life and non-​life. We probably would’ve stayed longer, but the zombies scared us off.

I would love to say that I stumbled upon this place by myself but truly it was all thanks to Unilocal that I found myself enjoying a lomito here on a Saturday afternoon.
What you may ask is a lomito? I was just as clueless, but apparently its a paraguayan sandwich involving steak, ham, cheese, and a broken egg on a delicious brioche like bread (oh I think a piece of lettuce and some tomatoes were thrown into the meat-​o-​rama). And let me tell you throw a bunch of meat, eggs and some cheese between bread and you’ve got one happy customer. It was delic and a nice change from the typical brunch/​lunch fare! My stomach was beyond pleased, although my heart is probably more than pissed (low fat this ain’t).
To wash down the heart attack inducing sandwich I enjoyed an amazing iced coffee. Yep it was 50 something degrees outside, but too many Unilocalers had sang the praises of the iced coffee and I had to try it myself. Once again you will not be disappointed. Definitely give this place a try!

To reiterate: order a lomito, try the coffee or one of the mate options, and enjoy talking with Beth or Oscar.
Important things that should be mentioned:
They have a veggie menu and it’s rather extensive. Of course, my sandwich had 2 kinds of meat, an egg, and cheese, so I haven’t tried any of the vegan options. But rest assured, they’re on the menu.
It’s cash-​only. They have an ATM, but it helps to come prepared.
It’s tiny (in a cute way) inside, so you feel like you’re invading the kitchen when you go to use the bathroom. But they managed to pack a bunch of 2-​tops in there, plus there’s a ton of seating outside.
Conclusions: Go on a nice day if possible, bringing cash and your appetite.

Arbol is a tough place to describe. My best suggestion is to go and try this out for yourself without hesitation. It’s quite the unique gem nestled between the alleyways main streets of Northern Liberties. It totally feels more like having breakfast at someone’s house than at a restaurant.
What I like about the place is the counter service with the relaxing patio in the back. Arbol allows you to walk up, order your food and eat as quickly as you’d like if you’re in a rush or to sit back and chill out for a while while you read or enjoy the exquisite patio they have on the corner of 2^nd and Poplar.
Restaurant quality staff, food and coffee without having to wait for a waiter to get around to you.

I’ve been trying to make it to the Arbol Café for a while. It’s not open for dinner, and it seems that each time I want to eat here, they’re about to close or already are. Despite that, I finally made it out yesterday for lunch.
First, let’s set the scene. I was first introduced to Arbol Café walking by their courtyard as they projected movies on the wall of the building next door. It seemed like a nice thing to do, and as I stepped into the courtyard yesterday, I was impressed at such a nice little oasis situated right in the middle of Northern Liberties. Refreshing shade from trees and umbrellas, nice wooden tables and chair, and an overall clean and cheery atmosphere dare you not to love this place. Even if the food was terrible I’d still recommend grabbing coffee and just hanging out here. So if you’re looking for a new coffee shop in this area, try out this spot.
And if you’re looking for amazing sandwiches, try this spot. As a caveat, I must mention that this place doesn’t seem good for vegitarians. While there are options, every sandwhich I looked at has steak on it, and it seems like Arbol’s specialty are their sandwiches. Check out the menu for yourself. I ordered the Lomito Especial, which had thin sliced steak, a over-​hard egg, peppered ham, letteuce, mushrooms, peppers, and onion on a buttery roll. Are you drooling? Because I am just thinking about it again. This sandwich was awesome. I was dining with my good friend Holly, and she ordered the «Warrior» sandwich, which was similar to mine. In addition to being delicious and awesome, these sandwiches are large. We ordered a side of seared potatoes, and they were fine, not totally my thing. We both ordered iced coffee, and seemingly like everything at Arbol, it was great.
Arbol is run in a self serve manner. You order at the counter and are given a table number, and after a short wait one of the workers will bring out your food. I think the owner was working while we were there and she was really pleasant. Arbol Café only has a small indoor area, so it’s best to hit this spot when you want to be outside.
Bottom Line: The Arbol Café seems to have everything I want. They have an extensive menu, but also a sandwich good enough I’d be happy eating it every time. Throw friendly staff, delicious coffee, and a cute little courtyard into the mix, and there’s not much else you need for a perfect lunch spot. Really, the only downside to this place is that they’re just not open more. The menu is a mix of American and Paraguayan cuisine, and my first encounter with Paraguay receives top marks.

Wow. This place has it all!
First, the food. Straight up delicious authentic Paraguan cuisine. I had the Lomito for brunch and it was top quality. The menu has a wide variety and the food is great. Some of the best in the neighborhood, if not the best straight up, too.
Additionally, the outdoor café is the perfect place to just sit and chat the afternoon away with some friends. My buddy and I sat outside and chatted for about an hour with no worries. Much more relaxing than being shuffled out of a busy brunch spot.
Definitely a place I would go back to.

Don’t get me wrong — the outdoor café is divine, but I am not sure I’d go back for the food, and the service was friendly, but weird.
First of all, I didn’t think the food was worth the price. The sandwiches were fine, but nothing to write home about. Lunch for four people was $ 85 (plus a 20% tip, because I always tip!) at a place where you have to order at a counter and carry your own drinks outside.
The owner, Beth, I guess, from the other reviews, was friendly, but I found her service had some quirks to it. First, we ordered the «terere,» which is basically cold mate served in a gourd, we found out. I guess she had been instructed not to tell people that it was just cold mate — so she kept contradicting us about it., saying, «No, it’s not. It’s terere.»
Then we asked her about the outdoor grill, and she told us, «It’s a surprise.» The surprise is that she’s not allowed to talk about the grill, or «parrilla» outside — you have to talk to her husband so he can sell you a pre-​ordered meal at $ 75 per person. Now, I am certain his parrillada is excellent, but for $ 50 per person I can go to Fogo de Chao and be waited on hand and foot.
Anyway, maybe if I lived in the neighborhood, I would go back to have coffee in the outside patio, but I wouldn’t venture back just to eat the food.

1. Best coffee in Northern Liberties
2. Freshest sandwiches in Philly, open for dinner, and comfy byob
3. The owners, Beth and Oscar, are the nicest, most courteous people in the business, and are always happy to see you
4. Most calm, cozy and relaxing environment of any café in the city, including an amazing outdoor patio
Visit and see for yourself.

This place is even a winner on the days that it’s «closed»! I was feeling the need for some coffee before the Elite Event so I made my way over to try here with eager anticipation, only to find out that the café was closed on Thursdays. I was about to walk away in pure sadness when an incredibly friendly woman opened the door and let me in. She explained that on Thursday’s they only keep the outside area open for a movie night, and they kept the café area closed. So they could only really provide the basics like coffee, which was fine by me since I was only craving some iced goodness. On top of being friendly every step of the way she made sure I had a copy of the menu and invited me to relax in their incredible outdoor café. she definitely has my vote for one of the best servers ever.
Since I was there on the closed day I didn’t get to try anything beyond coffee. but there all day breakfast sandwiches sound like pure addiction. So I’m definitely coming back to give it a try. and their outdoor area is pretty huge and relaxing (plus it overlooks the Standard Tap smokers for some grand people watching!). And if it wasn’t for the Epic Elite Event that I had to go to I would have surely stuck around for their movie night. Maybe next time!