Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! Stirs Up A Spanish-Style Celebration For Its 40th Anniversary
Chicago’s Original Tapas Restaurant Marks Four Decades in Lincoln Park with a Ba-Ba-Birthday Bash, ‘Time Capsule Tapas,’ New Branded Merchandise, & ‘Love Stories’ This January
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!, Chicago’s iconic original tapas restaurant, is celebrating 40 years of bringing authentic Spanish cuisine and culture to Lincoln Park. To mark four decades, the beloved neighborhood institution is hosting a grand birthday bash, bringing back fan-favorite menu specials, rolling out a collection of 40th anniversary Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! branded merchandise, and more. Open since December 1985 at 2024 North Halsted Street in Lincoln Park, the restaurant, co-founded by Chef and Partner Gabino Sotelino and now overseen by his son, Partner Mark Sotelino, introduced the Windy City to traditional Spanish cuisine, including tapas, pintxos, paella, and sangria.
“On behalf of Lettuce Entertain You and the Sotelino family, we’re honored to have shared our Spanish heritage with the community for 40 years,” said Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! Partner Mark Sotelino. “I also want to thank our incredible team for making this restaurant a home and an institution. It gives me a tremendous sense of pride to have worked side-by-side with multiple generations of invaluable people. Together, we’ve hosted countless date nights, happy hours, dinners, brunches, and celebrations of all kinds, and we look forward to toasting this milestone with our guests, who have also become like family.”
Over its first 40 years, Cafe Ba-Ba Reeba! has become a neighborhood go-to, perfect for first dates, special occasions and everyday occasions, and along with its daily happy hour–among the most popular in the city–the pioneering restaurant is known for its lively atmosphere and events, such as pig roasts, live flamenco shows, and paella cooking demos, and a familial spirit that in 2024 earned it the distinction of the Chicago Tribune Readers’ Choice for Family-Friendly Restaurant of the Year.
Following are highlights of Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!’s 40th Anniversary festivities:
Ba-Ba Birthday Bash: Thursday, January 15 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (SOLD OUT)
This unforgettable 40th birthday fiesta will transport guests to an evening in Spain with an array of immersive experiences, including:
- Live-fired paella by Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! Senior Executive Chef Eric Jorgensen
- Basque-style pintxo bar
- Authentic porrón pours and instruction
- Flamenco dance performance with live guitarist and percussionist followed by informal flamenco dance instruction
- Bottomless signature cocktails and sangria
- Featured wines from renowned winemaker Jose Ordoñez
- Grazing stations by Lettuce Entertain You sister restaurants, including Sushi-san, Summer House Santa Monica, and Mon Ami Gabi serving Ba-Ba-Reeba-inspired collaboration specials
Click here to purchase tickets to Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!’s Ba-Ba Birthday Bash
Time Capsule Tapas
Available through January, travel back in time one menu special at a time, with Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!’s 40th Anniversary Time Capsule Tapas–a rotating selection of throwback menu items and fan-favorite dishes from the restaurant’s four-decade history. Current specials include Rioja Short Rib nestled in whipped potatoes and Lobster Paella, featuring four half lobster tails and bay scallops.
40th Anniversary Merchandise Collection
In honor of its anniversary, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! has unveiled a commemorative line of merchandise, including graphic and branded t-shirts, sweatshirts, and a tote bag emblazoned with some of Ba-Ba-Reeba!’s most iconic imagery, including Sangria, Gin & Tonic and its signature Bull and tapas, as well as a special Galician Breeze-scented Tinfish candle inspired by the iconic coastal Spanish dish, Pulpo a la Gallega (Galician octopus), and an all-in-one Paella Kit that allows you to recreate an authentic paella at home, including a paella pan, Bomba Valencia rice, La Mancha saffron, Spanish extra virgin olive oil, smoked sweet smoked sweet pimentón, and a digital cookbook with tips and easy-to-follow recipes from Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!’s chefs.
All merchandise is available at cafebabareeba.com/merch.
Ba-Ba Love Stories
Over the last 40 years, Café Ba-Ba-Reeba! became the backdrop for hundreds of unforgettable nights, from first dates and anniversaries, to girls’ nights and family traditions. As part of the celebration, the Ba-Ba-Reeba! team is asking fans to take a moment to submit “Love Stories” from their own histories at the restaurant for a chance to be featured on Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!’s Instagram.
Sign up for Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!’s SMS to be the first to hear about more 2026 events.