The amount of times I've heard my favorite Yelp elite talk about this place has been probably a dozen. I finally experienced it myself and it's definitely such a cool place to visit. Whether you're looking to get a coffee, order a beer at the bar, read a book next to the fireplace or just browse their book selection, I guarantee you'll likely enjoy your time here. They have a good selection of pastries which I would love to try when I visit some time soon. I ordered the salted caramel latte which was really good, not overly sweet like other coffee shops. read more

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I traveled a bit to get to this place but was disappointed. First Draft shares the space with a huge grand bookstore, Changing Hands. We were planning on going to get a drink and app. Walked around the seating area and it seemed empty, not with people, but of atmosphere. It has the potential to be cool but lacks some feeling. Felt like a college dorm lounge. We didn't end up ordering anything. Not a fan of the woke vibe. The bar has a sign instructing customers on words they shouldn't use to address the employees. It was off putting and seemed very condescending to guests. read more

First Draft Book Bar - Front entrance into Changing Hands. Bar is in the back. - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This is a super cool place. A literal bar & a coffee shop in a bookstore? Hell yes. Also, there is a fireplace. Very cozy. They have a variety of alcoholic flights. I also like that they have a section with book recommendations from the staff. It feels very personal. And they have many gluten free options! read more

First Draft Book Bar - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I love this place, I'm a regular, actually, but the 2 stars is for the attitude I got from the plus-size supervisor there. The problem was that I had decided to bring a chair to an area at the bar that didn't have one, there was a visible empty space for a seat there; I did notice a book and a can on the counter, but I also saw some other items further to the right, so I thought the person using the other seat had placed these items over the whole counter, and again there was no chair right in front of the 2 items I moved to make space for my stuff. Afterwards, I realized the person occupying most of the area was her, but she wasn't around when I arrived. The other seats around the bar were empty but I wanted to sit somewhere else for a change. Well, the manager approaches me and basically scolds me that someone was there and would be coming back and that's why they had left their stuff, I just replied to her "Oh, they were standing here", implying that I was surprised someone was there because there was no chair directly in front of the items. She then told me in an unfriendly tone "There are other seats all around the bar you could sit at". This wasn't necessary, as she had already told me there was someone else there that would go back shortly and I was already grabbing my stuff to leave. The way she spoke to me showed me she had concluded I had purposely kicked someone out of their space, instead of giving me the benefit of the doubt. Later, I noticed the person that was using the space without a seat is a friend of hers. I'd like the store owner/business manager to know this isn't the first time I get a snarky treatment from this person, she should get a lesson on humbleness from her superiors and treat the patrons with more respect. Please, it is of utmost importance to have someone in charge that knows how to manage their emotions and bias. read more

Seating is the big issue here because you never know when they are going to close for a special event. At random times when you want to chat with friends or get some work done, and enjoy one of their unique latte recipes or delicious pastries, they close the entire café area for a private party, leaving only a handful of high chairs in the bar area. read more

Cool spot. Unique bar. Awesome to have a beer or wine and walk around a cool book store library. Nice chill spot if you are a beer or wine enthusiast. Drinks: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Vibe: 4/5 Overall: 4 read more

I'd recommend sitting AT the bar, rather than in the side room--that room doesn't feel super welcoming or comfortable, but the rest of First Draft and Changing Hands is great! I got the Smaug (like a London dog, but with lavender as well). It was delicious and perfectly balanced, and I really enjoyed it. We also got the pretzel (should have sprung the extra $2 for the cheese), and the hummus plate. I was surprised that both were $9/each, which seems pretty high to me. I'm not sure they were worth it, but it took the edge off hunger after studying for a few hours. Definitely go if you need a place to study/work and you don't want to do it alone! read more

First Draft Book Bar - Smaug latte - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I wish this place was where I live! Part bookstore, part coffee shop/bar fusion. Amazing! I got there right after they opened, and it was fun to watch the place fill up as it got into more popular hours. They have free Wi-Fi with a password, so it was the perfect place to get some work done. The tables by the wall had ample outlets, and the chairs were nice and comfy. My favorite part was that they had a very reasonably priced, re-fillable coffee. The coffee itself was a pretty balanced roast, and I enjoyed several cups until the caffeine was a bit much. When I got hungry for lunch, I had a lot of fun looking over their literary-inspired menu! Even though I wanted to order the Great Gatsby sandwich because it's named after my favorite book, I settled on the Moby Dick, which was a tuna melt. You can choose a side of chips, fruit, or veggies, and it was a really good-sized helping of veggies. Once I was done with work for the afternoon, I had their beer flight. It was four pours from their taps. I liked the IPA best (as per usual). They have an eclectic mix of books, gifts, and collectibles at the bookstore. I like that they organize it well, so you could be sure to find something you'd like. If you find yourself needing to stop and stay a while somewhere in Phoenix, this is the place to go! read more

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Best chai latte i've ever had in my entire life. I'm very picky about my coffee and the coffee here was amazing.

Loved it so much. Amazing crowd. LGBTQ. Was visiting and it felt just like home. NYC!

This place has been a favorite of mine for years now. You've got to love the possibility of having a beverage in the same space as you find your reading material. I've ordered up and down the menu at the Book Bar and found everything excellent. They are also hosting special dishes/pastries during the Covid shutdown. I'm buying my Thanksgiving Pie from this delightful place. read more

Omg... coffee, wine, beer and books and a fabulous selection of quirky gifts. Highly recommend!

This was the cutest little spot to relax, read, and have a beer or coffee. I loved sitting next to the roaring fireplace and losing myself in my book. The shop has the cutest home decor, little trinkets, etc. I'm so sad to be leaving Arizona solely bc of this store read more

First Draft Book Bar - Fireplace with a beer and a book - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I've come to this place consistently for the past 7 months and it's provided the space for me to make reading more of a habit. The vibe in here is very unique and it's a great place to get some work done or chill with a friend. Their craft beer, coffee, tea, and food have always been exceptional when ordered. The staff here is what truly makes this my favorite place though, so kudos to them! Definitely come check this place out if you're in Phoenix. read more

Great place to hang out and read a book. Servers are super friendly in the book selection was great too

3.5 stars, based on my first and only visit on June 12, 2019. Friend and I tried a flight of meads. We chose Safeword, Lagrimas de Oro, Amante, and Tahitian Honeymoon. For munchies, we ordered a pretzel with Pub cheese and Artichoke dip for sides. My favorites out of the four meads were Lagrimas de Oro (fruity and not too sweet like the others) and the Amante (coffee and spice!). All but the Amante were served cold, while the Amante was at room temperature. The coffee-brewed mead grew on me with every sip, and I would definitely order this again on future visits. I found Safeword to be too bitter, and the Tahitian Honeymoon too reminiscent of cough syrup. The pretzel and dip sides went well with the Lagrimas and Amante, and we enjoyed speaking to the bartender about Seattle (a city I love!) and his interest in pursuing library science. I've always wanted to visit this Phoenix location, as I was told about the possibility of its future by a former Tempe Changing Hands employee six years ago. Sorry it took me five years to finally experience this location. Am very sorry I missed out on the fifth year anniversary celebrations, which were held on the weekend just before our visit... I like the layout of the shop- walk through the front doors and you're surrounded by books. To your right and back are more bookshelves, and to the left and back you'll find the bar. It's quiet and intimate, and there are tables and chairs beyond the bar if you've brought your laptop and have work to do. I spied a lot of power jacks... Hope to visit again and try more food options, and perhaps buy that cute VW beetle van mug to add to my collection! read more

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It's 2021 and things are starting to open up and get back to normal. I no longer live near First Draft/Changing Hands but found myself driving close by last week. The Pandemic changed everything. It's been over a year and a half since I visited First Draft. I went in...ordered pie and a mocha. It was so good! Triple Berry pie! Maybe the best pie ever! I almost started to cry. First Draft was as great as always and made it through the pandemic...whereas a lot of places haven't. 5 stars for normalcy! read more

First Draft Book Bar - Triple berry pie and iced mocha. - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Came here to shop for gifts for Christmas and found lots of stocking stuffers for the family. We got tired from all the shopping and noticed the book bar served snacks and drinks. We saw many folks sitting and drinking beers and wine. We chose coffee. Our coffee tasted really good. I wished they'd ask me what size coffee I wanted because the size they gave me was quite small. I was finished with the mug in few sips. Next time, I'll go for the larger size. Come shop and relax. read more

First Draft Book Bar - Cinnamon almond latte - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I've been looking for the perfect spot to work and hang out, enjoy happy hour, and read a book. This is it. The book bar is attached to Changing Hands (CH), which has a magnificent selection of curated books plus a cute gift shop. You don't even have to wait until you get home to enjoy your new book--just head over to the book bar, grab some food, and chill by the fireplace with mead or wine. CH/First Draft is my new favorite spot in the Valley! read more

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This is my new favorite spot in Phoenix! I bought a few books and decided to get a chai and some pumpkin bread because it's October and I'm basic. The pumpkin bread was perfectly spiced and not too sweet, the perfect pair with the spicy chai that I couldn't help but chug. read more

I LOVE first draft book bar! I'm a student at GCU who loves a good book store/study spot/ and delishious coffee! I have been going downtown to study... it was great at first but it started getting louder and louder. With that being said, i was on a mission to find a new study spot. Stumbled upon first draft book bar and fell in LOVE! I walked in to the smell of fresh books, coffee, and most importantly, for me, it was quiet. I ordered a delishious tea infused with espresso and lavender! The music was great, the people were nice! I also bought a notebook for me to jot down notes. Safe to say, i found my new study spot. I'll be back... probably weekly. read more

First Draft Book Bar - A cute little beer cup for me coffee! - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Simply the best. Better than all the rest. Nice place to do work and grab a small bite, too.

This place is so cool. Nothing beats chatting with friends, drinking refreshing drinks, and being surrounded by books. The staff is super nice too. read more

The service is a bit bipolar. Some of the staff are nice while others snap at folks and blatantly ignore some. One server seems hold some serious prejudices. I won't be coming back anymore, sick of feeling like I'm bullied when I go there. read more

I've been coming to First Draft ever since I moved to downtown Phoenix a few years ago. Over time, it's become a place I hold close to my heart--and, if we're being honest, a major reason why I want to stay in the central Phoenix area when I eventually purchase a home! First Draft's baristas and bartenders are exceptionally sweet and helpful, and their treats (from spinach artichoke dip to warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie) are to die for. I can't wait until I can settle back in at their bar to write, but in the meantime, I'll settle for their super-streamlined to-go service. read more

We adore this bookstore/coffee and spirits bar. John our first draft bartender is the sweetest. Very friendly conversation and delicious cappuccinos. What a unique place, a coffe/ alcohol bar inside a cool bookstore. Which is connected to the restaurant called Southern Rail. Which is also yummy. read more

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I will never get bored of coming to this place. I had a friend visiting from out of town. We'd just finished having brunch and she needed (yes needed) some coffee. I'd already had mine for the day, but thought of this place. She could have coffee and I could have wine (it was after noon), so what better place. I'd never been on a Sunday. It was a little crowded, but we found a couple of spots at the bar thanks to a kind gentlemen who was leaving and beckoned us over. Great atmosphere, kind people, tasty drinks and savory bites. And of course, the people watching is always a plus. My out of town guest loved my little peace of heaven and was inspired to know that Phoenix had such gems. read more

First Draft Book Bar - Apple strudel and banana nut loaf. And a cool glass of water. - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Definitely a unique bar being in a bookstore. A very quiet atmosphere with a friendly staff. Good choice of drinks on draft as well as bottle and can. A nice place to relax and have a quiet drink read more

First Draft Book Bar - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

First draft book bar is a really cool spot. Did some light reading and chilled at the bar while drinking an oatmeal stout. I like the fact that you could order coffee or a beer. Definitely a place I will be back to. read more

First Draft Book Bar - Light reading with an oatmeal stout - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Good place to study. You walk into the building and the first section is the Changing Hands Book Store. Then, there's a bar area in the center that mediates between the two sections: the bookstore and the seating area. You can't bring any unpaid merchandise into the seating area. There are a couple outlets on the walls near some tables. So, I grabbed one of those. I went around 3PM and it was very quiet. I walked in, and people looked up at me. I got a hot latte and a blueberry scone and it came out to [~$7]. The scone was pretty good actually. They have their own parking lot with lots of parking. read more

This place belongs in Portland! The vibe it gives off and funkiness remind me of Oregon. This shop definitely keeps things weird, much like Portland's motto. The reason for the 3 stars is because for a bar concept, they should have more of an extensive cocktail and draft beers menu available. I got the draft nitro beer, and it was overwhelming in alcohol flavor. I grudgingly drank it anyway. My husband got a sour, and it was so so. I would have to say it was fun walking around looking at the books and odds and ends, but a lot of the genre of both books and random things for sale were not my taste. I did get a pack of incense that smells wonderful, but other than that, it isn't a place I'd come back to or recommend. Cool concept but needs a better execution. read more

I came here recently and now that I think about it, I can't remember if the coffee I drank was any good. I think it might have been, it probably was. This place is very hipster, the selection of beer is not that good...although they do have 'good' beers on draught, whoever is in charge of the beer menu has very poor taste in beers, does that even make sense?... Think of it like the cheerleader effect of beer menus. I digress. The service is mostly okay, although it's mildly infuriating to see the employees ignore customers to have hipster conversations, and the retail prices in the store are always 100% of msrp, the menu is lacking and the coffee is literally forgettable... This place is entirely great, and I'll keep coming back again and again. Thank you, First Draught, for being you, just the way you are. read more

I had been looking for a place to study among drinks and books, and finally struck gold here. A good range of beers, wine and mead (I had been looking for a chance to sample Superstition Meadery). Comfortable and spread out seating, but parking is somewhat limited. It's so refreshing to go somewhere and see people with physical books open on front of them. read more

Awesome ambiance and so unique - good books, many with great little reviews from the staff, all surrounding a bar with craft brews and top shelf staff. Meanwhile good music quietly plays at perfect volume in the background. read more

This place is pure bliss for me. I had known for a long time that Changing Hands Bookstore had opened this location that included a beer bar, so I put it on my list of must-visits. After a particularly long week at work, I was able to leave earlier than usual, so I treated myself to a visit here. I ended up browsing this tranquil, spacious well-lit place for books. I ended up buying two used books (one on cooking bread from scratch and the other a biography of Birdseye), and a new one (by Siddartha Mukherjee). Of course, I had to belly up to the bar with my new purchases and enjoy a beer. They had a respectable selection of craft beers on tap and in bottles. The bar was actually a peaceful place to read or work on one's laptop, as many of the other patrons were doing. I struck up a conversation with a nearby barstool occupant. What a great place to meet other well-read book lovers... There was also a yoga class going on in the back room. I understand that with the fee for the yoga class, you get a free drink at the bar. I've seen this before at the Huss Brewery where they called it Detox/Retox. I have to say that evrything about this store brings me to my happy place... tons of interesting books, thoughtful patrons and staff, beer, and plenty of whimsy. If you like Changing Hands bookstore, or bookstores in general, you will love this place. read more

This is one of my favorite places in the city. It's my kind of happy hour. They have a lovely selection of wine, beers, coffee drinks and other choices. That combined with a nice snacks menu makes this a great place to stop in to unwind or grab a glass of wine and browse the bookstore. My favorite snack is probably the pretzel with pub cheese with The Stinky Cheese Man as a close second. You can always find someone to engage in conversation or just read a book in peace, whatever your feeling that day! read more

There is a bar; in a book store. I could stop right there. During normal circumstances, you can grab and beer or glass of wine a wander around Changing Hands bookstore near Central and Camelback. During Covid, you order your libation and have to stay in the open room behind the bar area. The tables are super far apart and it's a pretty quiet place to socialize in a small group or work. The options were fairly limited in terms of wine when I was there recently but still very tasty. I look forward to the days when we can take our beverage around the store while we shop but they are doing a really nice job accommodating for Covid. read more

I love this place. Anyone who is a regular at Cartel, Lux or Copper Star should come here. What I love about this place is that it's built around the idea that you're there to read or write, so the ambient noise is quiet and the music they play is never a distraction. The tables also give you plenty of space to work, whether you're alone or with a small group. Don't need a table? Leather armchair! Definitely put this place into your Phoenix cafe rotation! read more

First Draft Book Bar - A spot with a good selection of beers, wines, coffee and tea drinks and a small food menu with a huge common room for readibg :) - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Love this place! Fairly priced books, wide selection of books and Knick knacks! The bar is also amazing! Great teas and cookies!

Such a cute concept. The bookstore has a mixture of new and used books available- it is on the pricier side considering how cheap some of the other used bookstores are nearby but you can't beat the ambiance! read more