Downtown Akron’s vibrant arts district welcomes a new culinary gem, Circle of 5ths. Nestled above the renowned BLU Jazz+ at 45 E. Market St., once the home of BLU Plate, this intimate 50-seat establishment beckons with its delectable small plates and classic cocktails as well as modern twists such as Salted Kumquat Americano, and Pina Verde among others.

The brainchild of mixologist Ryan Austin, chef Ian Lotz, and Mike Troppe – son of esteemed downtown developer Tony Troppe – Circle of 5ths pays tribute to both music theory and the owners’ penchant for fifth-gallon spirits.

Open Thursday through Saturday evenings, Circle of 5ths has been delighting patrons with its soft opening since mid-September. Its grand opening, coinciding with the year’s most popular night for bar outings, was held on November 22, as announced by Ryan Austin. So far, it has achieved solid reviews.

The restaurant’s tantalizing menu features an array of small plates, including hummus with pickled vegetables and warm pita, a charcuterie board, seasoned fries with house-made French onion dip, and gluten-free corn and rice-coated chicken fritters served alongside fingerling-shaped hush puppies.

Circle of 5ths seamlessly integrates with BLU-Tique Hotel’s 120-seat private room, providing beverage service for the hotel’s events. Overall, it will be interesting to see how this performs in Akron, which historically isn’t known for its cocktail bar culture.