A new Mediterranean restaurant with live entertainment and an expansive patio is on track to replace the former Bar Ivy in Clarendon.
Láylí is slated to open at 3033 Wilson Blvd within the next few months, offering an “immersive mezze and cocktail garden experience,” applicant Walid Zeytoun told ARLnow.
“Our menu will showcase modern Lebanese cuisine as its foundation while weaving in traditional Greek and Turkish flavors,” Zeytoun said. “Featuring a wide selection of meats and seafood alongside signature vegan and vegetarian options, we aim to offer delights for every palate.”
The restaurant plans to keep Bar Ivy’s eye-catching layout, including the outdoor café and kiosk, according to a statement of justification filed last week.
“Layli seeks identical use permits for the exact same use,” the statement says. “The layout and configuration of the space is remaining exactly the same.”
The restaurant is also seeking to offer indoor live entertainment seven days a week, from 11 a.m.-12 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Its interior would seat up to 71 guests, while the patio could accommodate up to 125.
Láylí’s beverages will “complement the cuisine,” Zeytoun said, with cocktails and mocktails “celebrating the region’s signature ingredients.”
The restaurant applied for a liquor license earlier this month.
“As we prepare to welcome you this coming Spring, we’re excited to bring a fresh and captivating dining experience to Clarendon,” he said. “Join us for a truly unforgettable experience at Láylí.”
A full statement from Zeytoun is below.
Inspired by the rich history and spiritual beauty of the Middle East, we proudly present the concept for Láylí – an immersive mezze and cocktail garden experience that seamlessly blends inviting dining and patio spaces.
Our menu will showcase modern Lebanese cuisine as its foundation while weaving in traditional Greek and Turkish flavors. Featuring a wide selection of meats and seafood alongside signature vegan and vegetarian options, we aim to offer delights for every palate.
Our beverage selection will complement the cuisine by celebrating the region’s signature ingredients in cocktails ranging from spirit-forward to zero-proof.
As we prepare to welcome you this coming Spring, we’re excited to bring a fresh and captivating dining experience to Clarendon. Join us for a truly unforgettable experience at Láylí.
Zeytoun was also involved in the revamp of Clarendon’s Wilson Hardware in 2022. He noted that the new restaurant is not associated with Wilson Hardware, which is located one block away.
Bar Ivy quietly closed in late 2023 after opening in the summer of 2022. Numerous chairs and tables still occupy its patio and much of the interior decor appears to still be in place.
The “West Coast-inspired” restaurant was one of several notable closures in Clarendon over the past year. Established destinations such as Pamplona, Cava Mezze and The Pinemoor also departed, while the new Chicken + Whiskey listed itself as “temporarily closed” in January following lackluster sales.
Other forthcoming arrivals in the neighborhood, meanwhile, could include a resurrected Mister Days.