Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Library Bar

    3.9 (1.9k reviews)
    Closed 3:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Library Bar Photos

    LIBRARY BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Library Bar

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos - Library Bar

    Shaneel R.

    This place is just so cute . Great drinks , nice small menu and good staff . I definitely recommend and will be back.

    French 75
    Navpreet K.

    We came here for their happy hour and all ended up just getting French 75's, which were very tasty! The bartender was nice and got us our drinks right away. This is a small bar that is attached to an actual library building, which was cool. It's very dark inside but it adds to the dark ambiance and gives a speakeasy vibe. I am looking forward to try their food items next time!

    Creative theme!
    Mark M.

    What a spot! We really liked the setting and theme of the whole place. The music was wonderful and the drinks were a hit! We even got to lounge deeper in the library and got a few sentences in with some of the books. The food menu looked great, but we just finished dinner at another spot, so this will be something to look forward to when coming back! I parked at a structure nearby, so everything, including this cozy speakeasy was walking distance. We are glad we came by here and loved the concept of it all!

    Cosmo for her, Old Fashioned for me!
    Greg T.

    The Library Bar offers a quality cocktail experience in downtown Los Angeles. It's address is on 6th, but the door actually faces Hope. The bartenders occasionally channel Tom Cruise in Cocktail- fun show when they do! The QR menu offers a range of literary minded specialty cocktails (Tequila Mockingbird anyone?), but the are happy to mix up anything you desire. Nice wine list an impressive list of draft and bottled beers, seltzers and ciders pretty muc covers every taste. Happy Hour 3p-7p weekdays, no cover DJ 10p to close Friday and Saturday. Way past my bedtime!

    Books! (And a half drank gin gimlet)
    Denise H.

    This cute little bar was a perfect way to end a long day. It's tucked inside a weird shopping area, so I thought it was closed, but it wasn't! The bar staff are so kind and willing to make a drink based on our indecisiveness. The prices are a little steep, but worth it for a good indoor library vibe and super tasty cocktails.

    The Black Manhattan ~ the classic with the addition of Averna... delicious.
    Kevin A.

    NOVEMBER 26.2025 I've been through many iterations of The Library Bar over the years... from small and cozy secret bar for those that work in the looming skyscrapers of Downtown LA to being some noisy urban hip hop affair that served godawful drinks (see my past review!), and on back to being a calm and casual neighborhood bar again. The interior never changes... dark... illuminated by candlelight... the bust of Shakespeare over the fireplace, the shelves of old books-- all of it remains intact. But this latest Library Bar seems to have finally dialed in what was always sorely missing in that it showcases a conscientious staff that all seem to know how to mix drinks while treating the customer well by leaving them be. On one night my date and I share a "Black Manhattan," basically a Manhattan with the generous addition of Averna, and it's terrific. On another night, I go for Happy Hour and a few pints of Guinness on draft that are surprisingly proper and go well with their excellent and, I'm told, homemade Hummus & Veggies Plate. The music at this current Library Bar is pretty much on point and is never so loud as to interfere with the conversations that patrons seem to come here for... something you should come here for too, and maybe at Happy Hour specifically if you're looking for a nice bump in your day and to spend an hour, well, happily.

    Of Ice and Mezcal
    Cody P.

    I love a bar with a concept and was obsessed over the library theme. Though not exactly hidden, the walls of books and intimate, cozy seating felt akin to a speakeasy. The contrast of the classic study aesthetic against the neon, almost cyberpunk-esque bar was surprisingly harmonious. Best of all, on a Thursday night at 7pm, this place was barely populated - which was wonderful because I got prime choice of seat next to the bookcase on the sofa and could take as many pictures as I wanted. The bartender was so nice and helpful in navigating my "reading list" for the night. My first "novel" was the "Adventure of Blackberry Finn," a blackberry infused vodka with lemon and blackberry smush. On said adventure with Finn, I fell off the raft and was doggy paddling in the vodka. Some cocktails coyly hide their spirits as they lure you into a sense of false security. Library Bar cocktails are not like that. They don't hide their spirits - they're leading the pep rally. They are upfront and honest about what they contain. Take a sip and it's undeniably VODKA. Despite that, I still thought it tasted good. Sweet, fresh, and bang for your buck with how strong it was. The burger was quite yummy for something served at a bar. Maybe (definitely) I was already quite tipsy at this point, but I liked the burger. My friend thought it was kinda dry, but I didn't. The fries were also nice and fluffy. I do wish they didn't run out of the poutine... that sounded good. It probably would've helped soak up the alcohol too. To be honest, I thought the literary drink names were so cute I couldn't resist ordering a second drink. Of Ice and Mezcal was, as the bartender described it, almost a straight up spirit. Sipping on it was actually quite pleasant - the smoky taste of the Mezcal paired well with the brightness from the grapefruit bitters. But it was definitely too much for my second drink of the night (I really should have listened oops). I would definitely come back! I see myself stopping by after work to bask in the ambiance and enjoy a nice drink - especially on weeknights on their off hours. What should I "read" next hehe...

    Mango beer, garlic fries
    Lupita M.

    At first I thought it was closed but it turned out it's a very cozy bar! The ambiance was great, I went early so it wasn't crowded. I would recommend and I can't wait to go again. So glad I found this bar! The drinks are a bit pricey but for DTLA is average price. They were good though so it's worth the money. I tried the garlic fries and they were pretty tasty! The bartender was really nice, very good service.

    Best wings I've ever had
    Taylor N.

    The food here is so good. The wings are the best I've ever had. Every drink in our group was good. Reasonably priced bar with great food and service

    Bar food but better... chicken so fresh and crisp with delicious dressing for dipping. Crispy cheesy garlic parm fries, big burger... the lack of selection of food choices was forgiven in light of the quality of what was served. My margarita was strong enough to drown all sorrows. Excellent choice for sure.

    Ambiance

    See all

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Waneka C.
    22
    117
    119

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Omar B.

    Omar B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Omar B.

    Omar B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Omar B.

    Omar B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Omar B.

    Omar B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mark M.
    799
    385
    1065

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Greg T.
    174
    775
    3237

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Omar B.

    Omar B.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 2

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Omar B.

    Omar B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Omar B.

    Omar B.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Hyun K.
    0
    41
    32

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Omar B.

    Omar B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cody P.
    491
    386
    1771

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Omar B.

    Omar B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Omar B.

    Omar B.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vicky M.
    129
    53
    51

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Omar B.

    Omar B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nica L.
    0
    102
    41

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Tress S.
    57
    34
    27

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Omar B.

    Omar B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Erik M.
    21
    13
    3

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Omar B.

    Omar B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Omar B.

    Omar B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Irene Y.
    1940
    1762
    4099

    2 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Debra R.
    714
    1085
    7280

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kacey S.

    Kacey S.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 49

    Ask the Community - Library Bar

    Do you serve food all night?

    According to their website, Last Call for food is at 8pm

    Is there parking for the place? If not how hard is it to find parking?

    No dedicated parking, typical DTLA street parking headache or expensive lots

    How can one get a reservation for the library?

    Is the Library bar open for dining in?

    They are requiring everyone to be fully vaccinated before entering.

    Is there a cover?

    Nope

    What about music?? What kind of music and which nights?

    Great music. Live DJ on certain nights.

    Is this a good place to study?

    Not at all. Very loud.

    How's parking around?

    It's DTLA, so parking isn't the best. Some parking structures nearby. But if you can Uber so you don't have to worry about the hassle, I would!

    Do you think if a group of 20 went on a weekday at 7 PM we'd all find space to hang together?

    On a weekday YUP!

    Is it quiet and chill enough to read and drink wine solo or more for friends/small crowds?

    I have never been in there when it is quiet enough to read. I agree with Tommaso if you went early you might be able to.

    Happy Hour offered? What is on the HH menu?

    We offer Happy Hour from 3pm-7pm every Monday through Friday! FOOD:… 

    Is this place good for dancing or more just chill?

    Def no room to dance in here, just a kick back chillax kinda spot

    I've been calling and emailing about reserving space with bottle service, but no response? Is it possible to do so?

    I do not believe they take reservations

    Is it okay for party of 10 or more?

    There are a couple sectionals that could seat 10, but get there early. Groups of 2 and 4 will take those seats instantly.

    Can you wear hats inside?

    Not sure, First week of June they told me to remove the hat. They were ok with it the following week. Maybe a different bouncer!

    View All 25 Questions

    You might also consider

    The Lucky Tiki

    The Lucky Tiki

    4.4
    (55 reviews)
    5.5 mi

    The Lucky Tiki in Highland Park is the sister location of the original Lucky Tiki in West…read moreHollywood. This spot opened about a year ago, and has a cool speakeasy style entrance at the Highland Park Bowl bowling alley. It is a small space, and I would highly recommend making a reservation on Resy. You have 90 minutes to drink and dine. I parked behind the bowling alley where there is a medium sized pay parking lot. Park in a space, remember your space number painted on the ground, and go to the pay station at the end of the lot. I found the parking machine to be extremely finicky as did other people. After ten minutes of failure, I ended up moving my car to another space, and then it worked. This has nothing to do with the Lucky Tiki, but FYI if you park there. We walked around to the front of the bowling alley, and checked in. Seating options include at the bar, tiki hut booths, and high top tables. The décor inside is a tiki lovers paradise. The room has a high ceiling with many tiki lamps, floats, puffer fish, tiki huts, thatch, ropes, barrels, netting, carvings, a hanging canoe, and a large tiki right in the middle of the space. In addition to the great décor, when you order certain drinks, special effects are triggered. There was also great tiki music playing all evening. We sat at the bar since we always enjoy talking to the bartenders. We actually ran into Skipper Christian in the parking lot on the way in, and he ended up being our main bartender, with Nick and Jo also working behind the bar. We put in a food order right away. The chicken potstickers ($12) came with five tasty bites, and the garlic teriyaki dipping sauce was good. We also had the giant pretzel ($16) which comes with mustard, beer cheese, and ranch sauces. This was excellent, and the perfect filling snack before a bunch of drinks. My first drink was the Siren's Song (Flor de Cana Eco rum, lemon juice, cassis, Oloroso sherry, apricot foam topper, $19). This drink is served in a great mermaid with skull mug and triggers special sound effects and bubbles fill the air. Those bubbles on top of the drink had a great light citrusy apricot flavor, probably the best flavored bubbles I've ever had. The drink itself was very good and balanced with some complexity. She wasn't sure what to order at first, and Christian asked her what flavors she liked. He ended up making a spin on a Tradewinds with some mango and pineapple to go along with the apricot and coconut. It was nicely balanced and not too sweet, even with all that fruit in there. My second drink was the Sun of Suns (Tierra de Acre mezcal, coconut cream, Giffard mango liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice, $17). This was coconut and pineapple forward with some good smokiness in the background. Her second drink was the Whatever Floats Your Boat (Ford's gin, lemon juice, velvet falernum, orgeat, passion fruit syrup, guava soda, topped with hazelnut passion fruit foam, $19). It is served in a cool boat mug, and triggers thunder sound effects and lighted mechanical Polynesian tiki characters paddling a canoe over the bar. This was another good balanced drink. It was a little gin forward and the passion fruit popped out, maybe from being both in the drink and the foam top. That creamy hazelnut passion fruit form on top is delicious. I'd happily have a glass of that on its own. We were still a little hungry so we ordered the Hawaiian pizza (marinara, diced pepperoni, red onion, pineapple chunks, hot capicola ham, $16). It was another good tasting, perfectly sized snack, and the crust was light and airy. We were already fifteen minutes over our time limit, but we got the green light to stay longer to order a third drink to share. We ordered the Tiki Diablo (Flor de Cana Eco rum, Worthy Park 109 rum, Alma Tepecha chile liqueur, orange juice, lime juice, mango syrup, guava soda, $24). This drink serves two people, is served in a cool volcano bowl with glowing red lava around it, and comes with a fire show. Unfortunately, right after it was served, the host came over and said we were over our time and had to leave shortly. Christian made up for it by giving us two tall pours to go enjoy in the bowling alley bar area which was fine. We were happy we got some extra time inside. The drink was also very good, balanced with a little complexity. We had a great time. There is so much great décor to look at. The drinks and food were very good, and some of the the drink presentations and special effects were the icing on the cake. All of the bartenders were very friendly and a lot of fun. We purchased up a few zombie glasses to take home as a souvenir. I'd definitely recommend visiting the Lucky Tiki in Highland Park!

    Adorable speakeasy with a fortune teller as a doorbell…read more Drinks 3/5 Painkiller $18 - This drink comes out with a show as they light a part of it on fire. I didn't fancy the flavor and this is a very popular drink so it stinks up the place every time it gets served to someone. Dark Magic $18 - Objectively not a bad drink but too tart for my partner and I didn't prefer the flavor. Service 5/5 Standard service. Our waitress got us some free shots, very kind. :) Ambiance 4/5 I love the vibes, the darkness, the decor. It's just too stinky and smokey whenever they serve the Painkiller.

    Photos
    Tiki hut booth
    Tiki hut booth
    Sailor at the Bar Entrance
    Sailor at the Bar Entrance
    Hard carved and painted Giant Tiki at Lucky Tiki

    See all

    Hard carved and painted Giant Tiki at Lucky Tiki
    The Mulberry

    The Mulberry

    4.0
    (130 reviews)
    10.9 mi

    The moment I stepped into this restaurant, I immediately fell in love with the decor. We went…read morearound sunset, and the golden-hour lighting made the space even more beautiful. I was instantly so glad we chose this spot to celebrate our anniversary because it was the perfect setting for a romantic date night. Now, let's talk about the food! Everything we ordered was delicious, with the exception of the Korean aguachiles, which we probably could've skipped. We also tried the bluefin bibimbap, oysters, and the oh-so-tender short rib that practically melted in our mouths. But the most unforgettable dish was also the simplest: the Korean fried chicken. It wasn't necessarily something out of the ordinary, but it sure tasted like it. The perfect crisp, flavor, and seasoning had us eating every last piece right down to the bone. Our server also made the experience even better. She gave us some of the best recommendations and were incredibly attentive and friendly throughout the entire meal. We absolutely loved this restaurant and are already planning our next visit!

    My favorite dishes were the steak tartare with crispy rice and the hen mushrooms (salty but good…read moreflavor). I'd pass on the kimchi pancake. It's small and very thick and salty. Hottoek (fried pancake with brown sugar and sunflower filling) was not the best but it's worth trying especially if you haven't had it before. The ice cream and caramel sauce it comes with are very good. We went for our anniversary. They put a candle on our dessert plate but we did pay for the dessert. Parking options are 1) valet, 2) pay $10 to park at a nearby garage or lot, or 3) park on the street and walk a few blocks. Great service. Automatic 20% "fee" is added to your bill.

    Photos
    The Mulberry
    Salad, had too much white lettuce which was very bitter 7/10
    Salad, had too much white lettuce which was very bitter 7/10
    Acorn noodles

    See all

    Acorn noodles
    Thunderbolt

    Thunderbolt

    4.4
    (267 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Matt B. and I are living with my parents these days, and one of the benefits of this arrangement is…read morethat we can leave the house quite easily after the kids go to bed. We decided to get a drink to celebrate Father's Day, only to strike out at the first two bars we tried--I guess a lot of places are closed at 9:30 on a Sunday. This is how we ended up at Thunderbolt, a buzzy bar in Echo Park, just far enough away that we'd never made our way over. I loved it immediately. Thunderbolt has the friendly, comfortable atmosphere of a neighborhood bar and the hip aesthetic and high-level cocktails of a millennial boozer destination. (Not that young people can't or shouldn't hang out here, but it seems especially geared toward people like us, who drank at Walker Inn a decade ago.) We ended up sitting next to a guy who regularly drives up from Palos Verdes. I guess the place gets pretty busy, but it was ideal on a Sunday night. Happening but not crowded, with just enough space at the bar for us to grab two seats together. The bartender was great, super helpful and welcoming. He also made excellent drinks. Thunderbolt is one of those bars with an encyclopedic illustrated book for a menu. Not a long menu, just a detailed one, with a lot of information available about each drink. We got a Liquid Picnic and a Barcelonnette--just one round to close out the weekend. Both were delicious. The Liquid Picnic was a smooth, savory gin martini made with London dry gin, tomato, citron, vermouth, rosemary, and black pepper. I learned from the book that it used clarified tomato water. (There was also further reading about the clarification process.) The Barcelonnette was a mezcal sour with Suze, passionfruit, and lime, the foam made without egg white through some geeky mixologist process. Thunderbolt is not our neighborhood bar, but we plan to go back when we can to check out the rest of the menu. It's a wonderful place, well worth a jaunt on the freeway.

    Was charged three times, totaling hundreds of dollars, and waiting for the pending transactions to…read moredrop (or stay :/) in 3-5 business days is no fun. We can't all be made of money, but this shouldn't have happened.

    Photos
    P- Town boxing
    P- Town boxing
    Thunderbolt
    Thunderbolt

    See all

    Library Bar - newamerican - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...