SideBar

Just got into town and decides to have brunch here. The main door was closed and we literally walked past it. Finally found our way in from the back. Service was prompt but unenthusiastic. Our croissant with Virginia ham and the sweet potato fries and side salad was delicious. Plenty of sittings inside and outside. A nice place for lunch.

Great food, cozy vibes, and lovely staff! Sidebar is one of my favorite spots — I’ve been there several times, and every visit has been a great experience. The appetizers and main dishes are always delicious, and the cozy, beautifully designed atmosphere makes it a great place to enjoy a meal. The staff are friendly, polite, and all professional, which adds to the overall positive experience. One thing to keep in mind: make sure to ask for the appetizer to be served before the main course. In my experience, they sometimes bring everything out at once — even though it’s called an appetizer for a reason! Highly recommend this place — definitely worth visiting.

If you haven’t been to SideBar yet—what are you even doing? This place is an absolute gem in downtown Leesburg and delivers on every level: brunch, lunch, happy hour, dinner, private events—you name it. On the weekends, brunch is powered by their own in-house coffee shop, so you’re getting incredible espresso drinks alongside thoughtfully crafted breakfast and lunch dishes that hit every time. Let’s talk cocktails: 🍹 They have two specialty cocktail bars, each with its own vibe. The Docket (out back) is indoor/outdoor with Copacabana flair—perfect for sunny days and chill hangs. Night Shift (upstairs) brings moody, intimate energy, ideal for late-night drinks, date nights, or small private gatherings. The food is consistently amazing, the staff is knowledgeable and welcoming, and the atmosphere is unmatched. Whether you're here for a quick drink, a long lunch, or a full-blown celebration, you’ll walk out wondering why you don’t come more often. Private events? They crush it. From weddings to afterparties to corporate mixers—SideBar knows how to throw an event and make it feel effortless. Seriously—if you’re not going to SideBar, you’re missing out.

This a great downtown Leesburg bar/restaurant. It has seating everywhere. Great happy hour starting 2pm. The happy hour bites are pretty good. A very causal place to relax and enjoy drinks and food with friends.

Arrived in Leesburg without any plan and ducked in here at 7. Now we like live music, but we rejected the table right next to the stage. We were then escorted outside through a courtyard and into another room where there were just two other couples dining quietly. Aaron took great care of us. Food and drinks arrived quickly. The cheeseboard was tasty and generous. We were still nibbling on it when our dinner arrived. My grilled chicken pesto pasta was fantastic. The wife enjoyed her fish and chips. After learning that their happy hour begins every day at 2pm, we vowed to return with friends.

First time here and it is so quaint! It is an older house converted into a bar/restaurant. The Happy Hour is great! Would recommend when in historic Leesburg!

Sidebar is the best! Their eggs Benedict with Virginia ham is so delicious and I order it every time. Everything we ordered was great :)

Best wings around. Get them well done. Excellent but sometimes slow service because they’re small and busy. Worth the wait though.

We checked out this bar on a Friday night and it was packed. We ended up going upstairs to NightShift and it was a little easier to find a spot to sit, so we ended up getting drinks up there. The bartenders were incredibly nice and helped us all pick drinks to try. The establishment overall was very particular about the space and what drinks were consumed where. We mainly wanted to just grab a drink and find a place to sit or stand, but were told drinks from upstairs and downstairs had to be consumed in their respective areas. The cocktails were solid and we would definitely be back.

Great food, cozy vibes, and lovely staff! Sidebar is one of my favorite spots -- I've been there several times, and every visit has been a great experience. The appetizers and main dishes are always delicious, and the cozy, beautifully designed atmosphere makes it a great place to enjoy a meal. The staff are friendly, polite, and all professional, which adds to the overall positive experience. One thing to keep in mind: make sure to ask for the appetizer to be served before the main course. In my experience, they sometimes bring everything out at once -- even though it's called an appetizer for a reason! Highly recommend this place -- definitely worth visiting.

This a great downtown Leesburg bar/restaurant. It has seating everywhere. Great happy hour starting 2pm. The happy hour bites are pretty good. A very causal place to relax and enjoy drinks and food with friends.

I hate writing this review because I don't want you here. Night Shift is the coolest little speakeasy bar ever. Hard to find but well worth it. Tell them what you want and they will build it, and it will be great. Quiet place with nooks and crannies to hang out in. Music is fine, atmosphere is ultra cool. Can this be my private place?!

They get a four because of their cinnamon rolls which are flaky and very layered like a croissant with cinnamon sugar, sticky, sweet goodness. It is thick and doughy in the middle and this location is very well known for their cinnamon rolls. I can definitely see my boyfriend coming in here just for that. Their brunch is OK but nothing necessarily to write home about. It makes for a very good brunch place after a night out of drinking, but the Hangover is very heavy and oily and greasy. The biscuits and gravy were also good, but not necessarily outstanding. Pretty good mimosas though!

Came here tonight with a party of 8. Despite no reservation we were able to be seated quickly. We opted to sit inside due to the summer heat. However, I do not believe there was AC on inside and there was a decent amount of bugs (wasps and flies) Our sever Shea was great and attentive. She also did not rush us. The food and drinks were excellent. Love sidebar !

Love this place! Their brunch, bar and cocktail bar is always consistent and a go to casual place.

Went for Sunday brunch. Everything was delicious! It's located in downtown Leesburg close to the parking garage which is free on the weekends. It's a fairly small restaurant but we had no problem getting a table for 6 people around noon on a Sunday. The brunch cocktails were great and the bloody Mary's are really good! We ordered a cinnamon roll for the table - everyone really liked it. Would definitely go back!

This has been our go to place in Downtown Leesburg over the years. They now have several restaurants tied to the establishment. The food is the main reason we keep coming back, value and quality. However, I am rating this a 4/5 since over the past year, it does seem like the quality is going down. For example, we ordered their famous Sidebar fries and they came out greasy and limp. We noticed the oil even was soaked up by the garlic and topping. Normally, these would come out crisp and the topping wasn't oil soaked. We will still give it a try since I suspect the multiple restaurants may be putting a strain on things. If you are looking for a restaurant with friendly staff and in Downtown Leesburg, I'd give this one a try!

Still a great place to grab a great afternoon lunch, the Cali chicken sandwich was flavorful and not dry! The bread was also a great option, not too soft and not too hard and held the sandwich together! The service was speedy which I enjoyed a bit

I stopped by just for coffee on a rainy afternoon and it was a nice little pick me up. The space is tiny especially compared to the restaurant next door, so it's more conducive to grab and go rather than to sit inside. Service was very fast and friendly, and the barista was kind enough to hold my order while I used the restroom. I got the cold brew and it was strong and flavorful. They offered a variety of flavors, alternative milks, and sweeteners to customize your drinks. I would stop by here again and maybe try a pastry next time.

We enjoyed brunch at Sidebar! Cool vibe inside and a cute outdoor space that's dog friendly. Friendly staff as well. We ordered the Hangover skillet and crabcake Benedict and both were tasty. Solid spot overall!

We started with the guacamole and Spinach & artichoke dip and both were great. The chips were super salty, which I loved. Service was not the best. Took about 20 mins for someone to come take our order but the food was fantastic. The shrimp tacos were some of the better I've had. Great bar area and cute patio.

I stumbled across SideBar Coffee this morning - - it's a tiny little coffee shop on South King Street in Old Town Leesburg, VA. I ordered a cold brew with a splash of Half n' Half. A lot of places will make a cold brew that is strong but does not taste great - or they'll make one that tastes great - but is not very strong. SideBar nails it on both counts - their cold brew is strong - gets the ole neurons firing; and it tastes great! It's a small place - a very limited amount of seating inside (no seating outside). The building is very old - lots of old, exposed brick gives the place a nice ambiance. Service was good. They do not currently accept Apple Pay. When I inquired as to why they do not support it - I was told their POS is to old. It's time for an upgrade! #SideBarCoffee

Brunch on a gorgeous day and we got to sit outside. We got a good table, but most people were overlooking a dirt parking lot. I think my favorite part was the high-school and college-aged servers. Service was not perfect, but they were hard working and polite. We received our drinks after our food arrived. Water and Bloody Mary and iced tea were not cold and needed ice. My omelette arrived without the pickled onions I ordered. One salad showed up drowning in sweet dressing and dried cranberries. The burger was fine. Everything was overpriced. In all, it's pretty standard, mostly fried food. Three stars. I wouldn't rush out of my way to go here - very mediocre and overpriced.

$2 wine and $5 apps for happy hour you can't beat that! The ambiance is so nice and cute!

Good food in the historic downtown Leesburg! Quaint settings nice outside dining area. Will be back'

Great Happy Hour! Terrific service! Shea is the BEST! Charming, historic building with nice, fresh menu.

Holy moley. This might be the best latte I've ever had in my life. I actually couldn't believe it. I kept saying to my friend, "is it just me, or is this amazing?" He agreed! I got the oat milk latte with caramel. I couldn't place whether the caramel syrup was what impressed me so much (I believe all the syrups are housemade) or if it was just really really good coffee. My friend, who I was with, knows coffee pretty well and mentioned that their coffee machine is super fancy and nice. Maybe it was a combination of everything - the beans, the brewing, and the syrup. Either way, holy cow. I couldn't believe how amazing it was. I would definitely return next time I'm in the area. The back patio area looks cozy and the food didn't look half bad either.

We love the Docket (in the back - when it's open, but apparently the hours on Google are wrong), and Nightshift (upstairs) is cool. But Sidebar leaves much to be desired. Drinks are pretty good, although I sent back my first one. We went in the middle of the day on a Sunday, so it wasn't busy at all (and we only ordered drinks). My biggest issue here is that my credit card was charged twice what the bill was - not two separate times (which would indicate an accident), but just double the bill. So that's a fun thing to have to raise with my credit card issuer. Fortunately, I keep my receipts, so I was able to go back and verify and raise an issue with my CC issuer

Great outdoor seating and cinnamon rolls are delicious a shame there only on weekends. Service is great,

Sidebar is a cute little bar with a cute outdoor area. The service is great and I love their drinks and Brie cheese fries.

Came by for a nightcap, had 3 and made friends. Great craft cocktail bar upstairs , tell the bartender what you like and they make you something you wouldn't expect but will love ! Had a different old fashion and a spicy, thick, clarified mezcal drink. I could've slammed both but drank them slow to enjoy. Bartender Danny was social and made fuego cocktails, thanks for the conversation! You know your stuff

Honestly, this restaurant has definitely gotten better compared to the last time I was here. The service was average, the food took about 15-20 mins on a not so busy day, and there were plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. My bf and I both agreed they don't season their food lmao. I got the omelet with onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers. The omelet came with potatoes. The cinnamon roll is really delicious and is literally his top 3. My bf got the brunch burger and we both agreed he could've made it better. They didn't even season the beef. Overall, I'll be back. Although they don't season their food well lol! They do have salt and pepper.

Stopped in SideBar on the 4th of July. We were in the area and I was looking for something to eat. The moment I saw the French toast in my search I knew this is where I wanted to go. My wife and I stopped by and I was told they only have the French Toast on the weekend. What a bummer. It was fairly empty so we were seated quickly. My wife ordered the crab cake and I ordered the chicken sandwhich. The food came quickly which was a plus. The crab cake sandwich comes with a slight kick to it. I thought it was good however my wife thought it was a little spicy. The chicken sandwhich was DELICIOUS! I wish it were bigger. 4/5 bites and it's gone. The fries were good as well. My only complaint would be the large number of flies that kept touching my legs. Super annoying as it is an inside establishment but overall my meal was good. The waitress was prompt and attentive. We were in an out probably under 40 minutes.

Not great. Food was just ok. Service was just ok. Cockroach in the bathroom totally grossed me out. The kitchen is across from the bathroom. I would imagine this to be a health violation. This was a miss for me.

I had a great time at SideBar coffee shop. It was morning time and I wanted a coffee to start the day right. This place was perfect! It has an edgy vibe inside, staff is extremely friendly, and there was plenty of seating. I decided to enjoy my Oat Milk Latte with Caramel there since it was so relaxing and cozy inside. They had really yummy looking scones that I will definitely try next time! I was there real early in the morning, so I found a convenient parking spot on the side of the building. I recommend this place for the awesome coffee latte options and relaxing ambiance. Loved it!

AWESOME happy hour! I came here with friends, and we sat in the bar area which they gave tables to sit at as well. Multiple $5 appetizer choices, including General Tso's Cauliflower. There's $2 off a selection of cocktails as well. I tried the panel which I imagine is seasonal since it had gingerbread syrup; additionally it had egg whites, rum, & a few other add ins. It was different & delightfully sweet!

Stopped by for brunch with my boyfriend and enjoyed it. It's a cute little place with good food, friendly staff and pretty quick service - nothing crazy going on inside but it's a good lunch/breakfast spot when you're in the area

Great neighborly bar/restaurant w/cozy atmosphere plus great selection of food & drinks. Bartenders and servers are attentive and provide good customer experience. My experience at the bar has always been pleasant; other patrons are cool there as well. I highly recommend ordering the 'cheese board' with salami aka charcuterie. Good place to unwind and/or catch up with friends. It's not loud and there's always a seat.

So delicious for breakfast! We had fast service with our wonderful waitress who was so kind! The inside of the restaurant is really clean and cute spot. The outside is absolutely lovely and I can't wait for it to be warm enough to enjoy! Highly recommend coming here for a meal, coffee, or quick drink

Best happy hour in Leesburg. Great food and staff. Highly recommend the happy hour menu - everything is great.

Got in quickly for Saturday brunch. The Reuben was excellent as were the fries. My companions ordered breakfast sandwiches and were disappointed. One was served on the wrong bagel type and was missing the avocado. Service was spotty and slow. Overall three stars.

This is a fun and quaint little place to eat at. They have plenty of gluten-free options, a vast wine menu, gorgeous, outdoor seating, and pretty good service. You will spend probably at least two hours here to keep that in mind. It's a little weird to get in at first but worth the weight and worth the experience. I would recommend more adult centered versus kids. I have seen kids there, but I don't take mine because it just seems more adult friendly.

Sidebar is super cute and we had a great experience when we were there. They have an excellent happy hour from 2-6 pm: $5 apps and drink specials that go with the time ($2 beer/wine at 2 pm, $3 beer/wine at 3 pm, etc). We arrived before 2, unaware of the happy hour, and they definitely started getting crowded at 2. I tried the gavel cocktail which was so refreshing and my boyfriend ordered the litigation. His was perfect for the cold weather outside. The food was also delicious. We started with cheese and crackers which was a cheddar ball with bread on the side. I got the fish sandwich to eat which fell apart on me, but the taste was great. The others in my group ordered the Reuben and salad and enjoyed theirs too. Overall Sidebar is a great spot and I'd love to come back. It looks like next door they have a coffee shop and from their Instagram the outdoor area looks cute as well for when the weather gets nice. Lots of reasons to return!

The food and service are always really good, the only down side is the atmosphere needs revamping. Sitting outside is always very nice

Food and Drinks (4/5): The Cali Chicken Sandwich was very good and extremely filling. It had the perfect amount of guac to not feel overwhelming and had more than a single bacon strip! I'd definitely get it again. The SB Tacos were a bit normal, but still very good. I got the Jury drink ($13). It was good, just a bit heavy on the Hennessy and toasted almond. Ambiance (4/5): The place felt like it was taken to with a sledgehammer and them spackled back together. It seemed pretty run down, especially the room to the right of the bar where we were. It was old yet trying to be modern. It was an odd combo, but it worked for the place. Service (3/5): Great host and ok waiter. Our waiter seemed to keep forgetting about us. We never got water refills and we tried ordering drink refills, but he kept disappearing, so we just finished our food and went elsewhere for drinks. He was extremely nice when we did get him at the table. Overall, I'd come back since the food was amazing!

I hosted a birthday party for my husband at The Docket and it was absolutely fabulous. The events team is truly on top of everything; Stephanie coordinated and communicated everything we talked about with the staff working night of and it was a completely seamless evening. Anthony and Ethan ran the event so graciously and Ryan and Hunter behind the bar were wonderful!! Hunter even spent over an hour weeks prior crafting cocktails per my specifications. The setting was perfect, food was amazing, drink service superb. All details were covered! Can't say enough good things!! Thank you!!!!

I previously ate here last year and was looking forward to coming back. Disappointed this time. We ordered an appetizer, a burger medium and the fish sandwich. Our meals came out with no appetizer. The person bringing our food checked and said our app went to another table. Honestly I think they totally forgot to place the order. The burger was dry and well done. The best part of the meal was the fries. Our server never checked on us or refilled our water or drinks. She gave us our check and we waited 10 minutes but never saw our server again. Another server saw us waiting and picked the check up and brought it back. Service was horrible and food was Disappointing. I may give them another try hopefully it was just an off day.

Ava was our bartender and she was an absolute doll! The food was AMAZING!!! This is definitely a new favorite

I love their happy hour specials. $2 wine for 2pm and $3 for 3pm! Also all foods are good. I like the cheese board, the presentation is great. It is crowded for dinner and a little slow service but I will go back for another Happy Hour specials!

This ... is a hidden Gem. The location contains a certain Duality that makes it precious. You can either sit outside on the patio, or inside in the small, intimate seating space. Inside is not for large groups so if you're heading there with a lot of friends, make it a nice day .. you will sit outside have plenty of space. The bartender is knowledgeable and can make you something NOT on the menu.... And the location makes it perfect for people to laugh a loud. Enjoy, be respectful, and you will experience one of the hidden gems that recently opened in the area.

I went there with my sister after work. We sat outside on the patio. Sadly the food was very bland. My deviled egg had no seasoning or salt. Just felt like eating hard boiled egg with paprika on. My salad was ok. The fries was so soggy with oil. The waitress forgot about us. She was very short with us. And came to check once didn't even refill our water. I don't think she even fully stopped while she asked if everything was ok. We where the only people on the patio. We waited for long time ended up going inside and talked to someone to get our waitress so we can settle our check. Only thing we liked was the margarita.

While my visit was rather quick, the service was great, the ambiance was quiet and welcoming, with only one person inside working on their computer aside from the worker on staff, and the drink was nice and balanced without the bitterness I sometimes get when ordering coffees at other shops. The coffee shops hours are 8am-4pm (mon-tues) 8am - 5pm (wed-sun)

I downloaded the app and made an account just to let ya'll know! I fear this might be the worst coffee I've ever had. It tasted like I was back as a fetus and breastfeeding from my mother. If there are a total of 3 ice cubes and the coffee is as white as my skin, maybe you're adding too much milk. The ambiance was great tho, slay.

Not bad but not great. Place seems dirty and not taken care of. The staff is super friendly tho. Makes a big difference and it helps. Food was ok. Cauliflower tsos appetizer was delicious. We also had the cheese and meat platter which was good. Parking is a pain on a Friday evening. But it is for all the restaurants in that area in Leesburg.

The side bar is my favorite restaurant in Leesburg. The food is amazing, from their crab cakes to their freshly made pastas and awesome happy hour! We had the best experience thanks to Anthony who was very knowledgeable about the menu and his warm and friendly attitude just made the experience even greater! This place is a gem because the food is delicious and the customer service is exceptional followed by a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Really great happy hour (even on a Sunday) in a cozy spot. Good sports coverage on 2 TVs over the bar. Wait staff were attentive without being overbearing.

Sidebar has the exact opposite problem that Goosecup down the street has. It's highly priced, but worth it. It also attracts a good amount of day trippers so it's likely packed on the weekend and well-attended on the weekdays. It's an old school first come first serve with a waitlist. Three tips - I know Nightshift is not "officially" Sidebar, but have two drinks there. It's expensive, but they'll make a drink really based off your likes. Literally. They'll ask you what flavors you like and in 10 minutes you'll have something the resembles those flavors. Keep an eye out for their holiday meal kits if they do them. We've done Easter twice - stuff is awesome. Instead of spending that $300 at Wegmans for food, we just order mains/sides/dessert from them! Prioritize Brunch over other meals. Excellent breakfast menu items and a full bar for mimosas.