Took some friends here who were visiting and wanted a Speakeasy experience. It was maybe 9:30/10pm on a Friday and it wasn't super busy. We were able to get a seat on the coach and order drinks from the bar relatively quickly. Prices were pretty typical of LA ($18-25 a cocktail) but I would say I probably won't come back this late as it's in a shadier part of town. They have a bouncer and it was fine inside, but it's not a place where you can bar hop if that's what you're looking for as the area is seedy. Would be interested to try the food next time, but again, the safety and comfort of the light of day. read more

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. read more

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Great drinks and nice layout, but the music so loud, I thought I was at a club. So my party stayed outside. read more

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

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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! read more

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Review is for the drinks, service, and atmosphere. All great. Cocktails were cleverly created and well balanced. They have a nice selection of spirits here and the mix of tables, Seating at the bar, and couch with the books were a nice touch. It's the speakeasy vibe but it's not a speakeasy. Come here for some good conversations and drinks! read more

The Library Bar is a nice little bar which was clean, lively, and beautifully designed. I stopped by on a Saturday night and it was busy, which is normal for a weekend but the bartenders were nice and the music being played was enjoyable. I didn't try the food this time. I ordered the Library Old Fashioned which was okay. I wouldn't order it again. My expectation of an Old Fashioned is much different in presentation and flavor. They do have beer on tap and their selection is nice. So, I can certainly see myself returning to enjoy a crisp beer in the nice setting. read more

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. read more

Library Bar - Books! (And a half drank gin gimlet) - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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! read more

Library Bar - Creative theme! - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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! read more

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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. read more

Library Bar - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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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 read more

Library Bar - Best wings I've ever had - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Servers just ok; no interaction with customers. Watched the bartender bottle juices and not rotate stock old to new. Lazy way to do business. New bottles in front. Talk to your customers. Not that hard. read more

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... read more

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I came here with some coworkers for drinks before dinner nearby. The bar is a nice spot for after works drinks. Ample comfortable seating and good quality cocktails. read more

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. read more

Library Bar - Mango beer, garlic fries - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Fantastic cocktails. Cozy and local. Baseball was on and the crowd was engaged but not loud. Perfect balance. Service was a bit slow but I wasn't in a rush so it wasn't a problem but fair to tell others in case they are headed out to a show or concert. read more

Went in on a weekday for some drinks and finger food. We weren't disappointed. Great food, service and ambience. I tried their tequila mockingbird and French fries. My friend ordered their wings and the ready player rum. read more

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Great selection of spirits, small selection of food, great relaxing vice ambiance, bartender with glasses is friendly the young one , spiring actor is a diva read more

Library Bar - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Cool vibe. Drinks pricey. Was there for a friend's birthday celebration. Parking was what parking is downtown. There is a parking garage next door which I used. read more

The cutest little cocktail bar in Downtown LA! I love the dark, cozy vibes surrounded by books. The happy hour is a must, great drinks for great prices. The bartenders have amazing energy and great service. Highly recommend! read more

Library Bar - House White Wine - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Cute date place. Drinks are delicious. Bartenders and friendly. Everything was great until I started to feel fluids dripping from the roof onto my clothes and drinks. I advised the staff but they said it was "just water" I was a bit disgusted since it landed inside my drinks and stained my dress. read more

The Library - Bar Review The Library has a cool, laid-back atmosphere with fun music and some of the best wings in town--seriously worth a visit just for those. While it's not overly crowded, oddly enough it's still tough to find a seat, which can be frustrating. Once you do settle in, though, the vibe is great. It strikes a nice balance between energetic and chill for an hour before heading to the next spot. Pros: Great wings, fun music, cool vibe Cons: Seating is surprisingly limited read more

Library Bar - View from the back - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My friend and I were looking for a place in DTLA with a decent happy hour and decided to check out Library Bar. I'm so glad we did, because we had an amazing time! The vibe is so cozy and welcoming, with the lights dim enough to be comfortable, the music loud enough to bop your head to but still be able to hear each other, and lots of super cozy seating. The little library with the couches in the bar made me feel so at home! We were there for a solid three (almost four?) hours and got to enjoy quite a bit of their happy hour menu. The cherry on top was the amazing bartender, Daniel! He was so sweet and a blast to talk to, but also made fantastic drinks. We were a bit disappointed to only see three options for food (might've forgotten to eat beforehand), but decided to try the buffalo cauliflower and the chicken tenders. They were both incredible, like James Beard-worthy. And honestly, I'd rather have three great options to choose from than fifteen mediocre options. I'll definitely be back-- it's a great spot to hide out and wait for traffic to die down! read more

Library Bar - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My friends and I decided to check the place out after dinner on a Friday night. This bar makes for a great photo op and although I was expecting the atmosphere to be classy and demure it was definitely not. They have DJs on I believe Saturdays and Friday nights playing some club music which didn't match the ambiance of the place but it was still fun since the crowd was fun! I would say the drinks are definitely on the pricier side for $18 dollars a cocktail. My friend got the ADVENTURES OF BLACKBERRY FINN which includes blackberry infused vodka, lemon, and blackberry smush and I got the TOKI EVERLASTING which includes toki whiskey, lemon, pamplemousse, and grapefruit twist. Both very simple and classic cocktails which I loved since they were both fruity. A great place to have a conversation and take some cute pictures with friends. Unfortunately finding parking around this area is almost impossible and prices to park are insane($20)! I would definitely come back if I was looking for a weekday bar vibe to just sit, talk, and grab a drink! read more

Library Bar - Got the toki whiskey cocktail and blackberry one - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Great staff. Cool bar and it gets pretty busy. Good bar food and drinks. Only suggestion is that they should clean tables that are not occupied to make room for new customers. Since the tables were not occupied, but had plates and empty glass on them, it was hard to distinguish if they were open or not. read more

Library Bar - Sliders. Fries. Drink. - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Such a great location. I really enjoyed my time here. The drinks are amazing and they have everything you need! Great vibe inside and the bar snacks are delicious. read more

**September 2024: Wednesday Night Visit** I'd been on my feet all day for a super informative conference and was faminished at the end of the day. I honestly wanted to crash when I returned to my hotel, but knew that I needed some sustenance to appease my grumbling tummy. I had walked by the Library Bar earlier that day and thought it could be a good option especially since they opened late. They had some reasonably priced bar food that seemed pretty tasty, so I headed towards the restaurant. Considering my visit was during mid-week it had a good number of patrons enjoying each others company. The corridor environment and books had a very studious feel to it and while I was not able to secure a coach seat, I found a spot at the bar. I picked a hummus starter and a Fancy burger which included fries. The food was filling and I was a happy camper. It is loud in this space, but I think the ambiance is fun if you're looking to hang out with some friends. read more

I was so glad to see that my favorite place downtown after work if I have time is still around! They have drink and food specials for happy hour, and most of the food is great. Daniel also makes really good drinks. read more

Library Bar - Burger - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We were looking for a cocktail bar open at 3 PM. on a Sunday, and we found it two blocks from the Biltmore hotel where we were staying. There were only a few locals, so the service was great. I love being surrounded by books, so my husband and I enjoyed the decor, and we loved the literary cocktail names, especially the blackberry Finn. They were showing LA Confiential on the TV, no sports, and some low-key music. The grilled cheese sandwich was tasty, as were the garlic fries and cauliflower bites. All the cocktails were professionally mixed while we watched. There were no other servers, so you have to return to the bar to pick up your drink, so may as well enjoy the mixologist show. There is a doorman which is nice, since after business hours the area is a little dicey. read more

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I really like this bar. I had a birthday party there, which was awesome. I had a docent led tour of the library and then my guests headed to this bar where half the bar was for my guests. I just had to hit a food and beverage minimum. They even made me a specialty drink. Besides birthdays, they also have a good happy hour. I love their coupe glasses, makes me feel very 20s. Their fries are amazing, and their burgers are good too off the happy hour menu. read more

Library Bar - HH sparkling rose - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Loved this library bar great ambiance with a nice attentive bartender Would definitely recommend for a relaxing intimate night read more

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3.5 stars Went Saturday night early. Wasn't too crowded and we sat at the bar. Drinks were good. I got the ready player rum. It was very tropical. We also got the Korean fried wings and that was great. Tad spicy. Service was good. Our bartender was good about making recommendations from the menu. Funny story. We were sitting at the bar and all of a sudden, water started dripping from the roof. It was dripping into my drink and splattering all over our food. The bartender told us to move somewhere else, gave us a new drink and chicken wings. So that was ice of him. read more

This was a great lounge where they were playing conscious and uplifting music. As I walked in heard conscious rap music playing on the system. I think it was either Mos Def or Com Sense. I ordered the drink in the picture, cotton wood gin. My guests ordered the old fashioned. I ordered a burger just 30 minutes before last call for food. There is ample seating. The books on the shelf provided a nice ambiance. On my way out, they even played one of my top 20 favorite rap songs, Liquid Swords, by GZA from WuTang. As a result, we all decided to stay for an additional 15-minutes. read more

Library Bar - Cotton wood gin and Classic burger. - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I visited Library Bar on a Friday night. I've been trying to do some more solo dates and Library bar had been on my list for a while. I went right when they opened and grabbed a seat at the bar. The vibe definitely is intimate, but they have bigger tables for groups. Service was super friendly. I had an espresso martini and another drink I can't remember, but both were good. They had a dj playing music and the vibe was set for the evening. Again, I went here solo..needed some me time. While there, this gentleman started talking to me and wanted to buy me a drink. He wasn't pushy, but he had definitely had a few drinks in him. It was easier to agree to the drink instead of continue to deny it. After the bartender served me, he continued to check in on me and even let me know that I didn't need to continue to talk to the guy because he bought me a drink. Sold me on coming back again. read more

Library Bar - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Fantastic setting. Loved the atmosphere and drinks. Such fun drinks. Very intimate setting. I love the names of the drinks. read more

Library Bar - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Good basic whisky selection. When I was younger it opened my eyes up to a good old fashioned. Great vibe to take a woman out to meet her.

I had the pleasure of going to library bar to order a few drinks. I enjoyed the ambiance of the establishment they have quite a few nice old books and one of the comfiest couches. The bartender Alex gave great drink recommendations read more

Library Bar - New American Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Good service, great drinks, amazing food. Love the ambiance and bartender. Definitely will be coming back read more

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I usually enjoy coming to The Library Bar because of the atmosphere, but unfortunately, the service has been consistently disappointing when certain bartenders are working. On multiple occasions, I've been treated with poor customer service -- including being greeted rudely, ignored, or spoken to in a disrespectful manner. On my most recent visit, I was even denied service after simply voicing that I didn't appreciate the way I was being treated. That kind of behavior is unprofessional and reflects poorly on the establishment. Because of this, I decided to leave and take my business elsewhere. It's a shame because The Library Bar could be a great spot, but customer service matters, and bartenders who don't respect patrons ultimately cost the bar business. read more