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    The Library

    3.9 (914 reviews)
    ModerateCoffee & Tea
    Open 6:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Order The Library Takeout or Delivery

    The Library Photos

    THE LIBRARY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Library

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    The inside
    Zoe C.

    Never knew that this beautiful charming Coffee place existed in this area. From the outside, it looked like they weren't busy, once we walked inside it was a different world, it was comfortable, with many double chairs per table.it was two sides and I could not believe every table was taken, One table had a board game, another had, school work papers, and even a card game was being played. The Library is well decorated, inviting comfy tanles with nice chairs. All the televisions had a running theme of fireplaces with wood burning which added to the nostalgia. We will be back as this is one of the best coffee shops we have been to. Thank you

    Interior
    Olive M.

    Very cozy atmosphere, great environment to study or work remotely! Plenty of outlets and tables. I'm not sure if you're supposed to ring yourself up here or wait to have someone take your order, as they have an iPad and payment terminal facing the customer with no staff at the counter.

    Anna R.

    This coffee shop gives me Central Perk Friends vibes! The decor really makes you feel like it's a library. It is definitely a popular spot to study, hang out, do work etc. There's a good amount of seating, but most of the time they're all taken especially if you don't come early. I like to stop by on my morning walk to the beach. They have a large variety of drinks and pastries. If you want a strong coffee try their Turkish coffee! If you want something sweet, try one of their bars like the peanut butter blondie.

    Sandra L.

    If you love coffee, books, and a vintage, cozy, vibe, then The Library is just for you. It was love at first sight the first time I walked in here. I have been here so many times since it's walking distance from home. I would never study or do work here because I'm old school and I need near complete silence to focus. I don't know what time people arrive to grab a spot to work or do school work, but tables can be completely full by 10 or 11. There are two rooms, they're both equally charming. There are large TV screens playing cozy music. The service is good, I don't know if it's the owner I've encountered a few times but this gentleman is extremely kind and accommodating. The second room is my favorite, it's like a cafe within a library. You walk in and everyone is working at a table. Tons of vintage books line the bookshelves. The tapestry on the benches looks vintage. I'm in love with their Vanilla Goddess iced latte. They have a variety of breakfast sandwiches and baked goods. I'm honestly so happy that a place like The Library exists in my neighborhood.

    Ginger I.

    Tried The Library this past Friday morning. I've seen it a few times while driving around LB and I've been curious about it. I don't know if it's just a morning or if it's an all day thing, but they were really full inside. I ended up sitting outside since the inside was so full, but luckily outside has a nice little view. I ordered a small cappuccino with a little bit of cherry syrup. It was decent, not the best espresso out there but I would come here again and get a latte instead and maybe try one of their other flavors (though the cherry was good). Customer service wasn't bad, you could just tell they were pretty busy. I didn't try a pastry this time but I'd love to come back later in the day sometime. I love that this place is open both early and late. Sometimes it's nice to have your coffee at the crack of dawn before everybody's awake, and other times I get a hankering later at night for some coffee. Important to note this seems be a hot spot for remote working/studying.

    Lots of food and drink choices!
    Janine D.

    I love what the newish owners have done with this local, beloved coffee shop! Every time I stop in, the shop looks better organized and beautifully decorated. I have been coming here since it first opened....i think over 30 years ago now. The coffee is great! There are lots of tasty food options. The staff is friendly and diligent. Highly recommend!!!

    NOT BLACK WOMAN FRIENDLY! Now while the staff themselves are nice people, the owner is very rude and prejudice! I have frequented here often, and watch how he will say hi to every guest except the black ones? I've tried to not let one bad apple ruin the bunch, however today was the last straw. I often get anxiety attacks, I step for air and prop the door open so I could return to my stuff. He watched me open the door step out and take a deep breath... what did he do instantly slam the door shut! When I explained my stuff is right there wait, he brushed me off with his hand and said "you use the other door". Very rude. So I took my stuff and walked down the street to Steelhead Coffee, where it is WAYYY cleaner and the vibe is so much welcoming.

    Inside
    Sepideh S.

    I loooove this cafe for working and or studying. I am originally Persian and we have a huge cafe culture in Tehran. People go to cafes to hangout and or work. This place reminded me of a few places I used to be a regular at in Tehran. It is a nice and clean place with a lot of character. I ordered their panini and coffee and well as salad in my few visits and would recommend it. Although a note would be that the romaine leaves in the Chicken salad didn't look thoroughly washed and the staff need to pay more attention to this matter.

    Senia O.

    "Upon entering, I was greeted with warm smiles from Lauren. I chose to do a photo shoot at the amazing coffee shop and eatery. I discovered this gem while browsing Yelp for nearby spots, and since it was only four miles away, here I am! The place is very clean and quiet, with decor and lighting that are just perfect. I decided to try the shamrock --definitely a must! I was craving avocado toast, but since they didn't offer it due to my aversion to bacon, I opted for a croissant sandwich and a lemon tart instead. Now, the lemon tart? Definitely a winner--4/5! The sandwich was satisfactory at 3/5 (after all, it's just a sandwich), and I'd give the Leprechaun a solid 4/5. I can't wait to come back!"

    Medium vanilla mocha and egg and cheese toast. My picture doesn't do it justice :']
    Kayla C.

    I'm here in Long Beach for college and I decided to check this place out for café figure drawing and also 'cause I like the occassional coffee treat. I was initially thinking of getting the Mexican mocha but it was unavailable, however I had plenty of other options from the expansive menu. I got a vanilla mocha and an egg and cheese toast. I'm nowhere near the level of a coffee connoisseur or anything like that, but the mocha was nice and rich. The egg and cheese toast was simple and delicious. I'm quite picky 'bout eggs and their texture, but the way they cooked the egg was so light and fluffy, I REALLY liked it! Atmosphere was lovely, it does feel like a cozy library inside. Lots of seating available, I was easily able to find a table to sit and draw. I think there was a large book club meeting when I went, and they were a bit loud but I actually liked the lively vibe they were adding. Wi-Fi was also easy to access! There was also Animal Crossing on the tvs, I liked that heheh. Probably enough yapping from me here, I definitely would go here again. I'd like to bring friends and family if our schedules ever overlapped :']

    Sabrina P.

    Great local coffee shop. Friendly team, hot strong coffee, and very relaxing and well done. Setup allows you to read or work with outlets conveniently placed near tables and calm instrumental music. Also decorates for the holidays.

    Jessica B.

    Coffee and cakes are nice, I like the Vanilla Goddess Mocha! Service is quick and attentive. Ambiance is really nice since everyone is studying is usually quiet! 10/10 recommended!

    Welcome to The Library.
    Carl N.

    "In thy youth wast as true a lover, As ever sighed upon a midnight pillow." You have arrived at the LIBRARY. ;D The Library is a cool hippy coffee shop on the corner of East Broadway and Redondo Avenue in Long Beach. They offer a breadth of coffee, tea and drinks as well as breakfast items. Its interior as the name denotes is full of bookshelf with variety of books. Similarly, their vintage light fixtures and furnitures adds to the coffee shop's personality. Furthermore, it's spacious albeit lacks natural light. It was my first time here and it seems it's the most popular cafe in the area. I was warmly and ebulliently greeted by a female staff; I perused their menu and decided to get a Hazelnut Hipster and Egg Croissant sandwich for a late breakfast. Both were bloody fantastic! Prices were fair and highly competitive. Free wifi. Plenty of street parking available. Fellow visitors were cordial. Atmosphere was very relaxing. Overall, I enjoyed my dine-in experience and food/coffee. I recommend you visit if you're in the area.

    A warm night at The Library

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    2 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Such an amazing atmosphere and the workers were very accommodating of my grandfathers diet restrictions :))), do recommend

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    5 months ago

    This used to be my favorite spot but sadly the drinks have been tasting like milk mixed with water and no other flavor.

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    9 months ago

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    Page 2 of 23

    The Library Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Library

    Do you allow people to bring in outside food?

    We don’t allow outside food inside the coffee shop, as it can create strong smells and affect the environment for other guests. Thank you for your understanding

    I see it says Pets welcome, just want to confirm dogs are allowed?

    Hi Brandy, thank you for asking! At this time we only allow service dogs inside. We love pets, but for the comfort of all our guests, non-service animals aren’t permitted.

    Is there FREE PARKING?

    There is street parking and parking in the back

    Are there free wifi and outlets for customer to use for their laptop?

    Yes and yes.

    Does this place have live music performances?

    We don't have any more live music unfortunately

    Does this place have a printer?

    We don't have

    Do you guys do refills if we finish our drink while still in shop?

    Yes 1$ for ice coffee or hot coffee or tea

    Is there parking available?

    Right now yes or mostly yes. If it is not taken

    When will the library begin to stay open later the way it did before covid?

    Maybe we ll start expanding the hours only Friday Saturday and Sunday until 8 pm soon in a few weeks. Then we ll see how it goes

    What are the updated hours? And is there indoor seating?

    We are open every day between 7 am to 6 pm and There is also indoor seating

    Is there outlets for outdoor seating?

    Yes at the each side of entrances available

    Is this a good place for a book club meet up?

    Yes, they have a front room and a side room. The side room would work, but definitely go at off-peak hours like in the mornings on the weekends. The evenings can get quite full.

    Is there still a psychic reader there on certain nights? Which day? Rime?

    Not that we know of.

    Is there a kid friendly open mic night?

    There is no open mic night due to oandemic

    How is parking on weekdays?

    Plenty of parking at the street and at the back of the building

    Does it have vegan options?

    Yes. They have a vegan sandwich and several vegan desserts to choose from.

    Is it a good place to sit with a study group?

    Yes it is. There is plenty of space.

    Do they have ac?

    Hi Fellow Library Coffee House Customers! I just wanted to update the answer to the question about whether The Library Coffee House has AC. As of Summer 2019 AC has been installed and it is CHILL! Remember the AC on hot days and come enjoy. They are… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    I've been on the lookout for the best coffee in Long Beach and I think Colossus might just be it…read more Colossus is an adorable storefront on 2ND Street. I'm absolutely obsessed with their coffee menu, baked items, sandwiches, and their selection of grocery-like goods. I ordered the Midsommar caramel latte, ceasar salad sandwich on their fresh baked bread, and the strawberry rhubarb and pistachio danish (!!). I'd easily sign up for this lineup to be my last meal on earth. I even ordered a sourdough bread loaf with olives so I could ride this high for several more days. The Midsommar latte is crafted with housemade caramel, espresso, milk, and topped with sprinkles of fennel and bee pollen - the perfect finale to an already incredible drink. To hear that they also offer an extensive pizza menu? You won't be seeing the last of me, Colossus.

    Honestly, Colossus is a solid cafe and I bet they'll be booming once they finishing expanding…read more Still, I'm more a fan of their food than coffee. I got a honey lavender latte, as I've only tried their drip in the past. The honey lavender notes were definitely there, but the latte is much more on the milky side than coffee side, which is what I didn't like. However, their sandwich was soo good. The turkey and brie has a nice fluffy bread, a healthy portion of turkey, a mix of herbs, and this super sweet and fragrant fig mostarda, which is like a fig mustard spread. Definitely would come back for the sandwich, maybe not the coffee though.

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    Hands down, best coffee ever. I'd like to say we have been…read moreto a lot of other coffee shops, and of all of them, this one is the best. I taste just enough sweetness but not too much, and then I taste coffee. My go to is the instigator drink

    I really wanted to like this place and perhaps it was an off day.. but between the extremely rude…read moreperson at the front taking my order, the lack of customization on the lattes, and the actual taste - I just feel there's much better spots to visit for coffee in Long Beach. Let's start with service: the woman at the front was very dry, quiet, and uninterested. We tried asking her if we could add cold foam or sweet cream to our drinks to make them sweeter, and she said it was only available on seasonal drinks. As an avid matcha latte consumer, this made zero sense to me. While I don't blame her bc she likely had nothing to do with that decision, she wasn't kind in relaying that information or trying to help me find something on the menu I may like. Her demeanor remained the same when my friend ordered his drink, and we both felt a very negative energy coming from this woman, simply put it didn't seem like she wanted to be there taking our order. This was around 1pm last Saturday (the 21st of March), so they had a decent amount of customers, but it wasn't some crazy morning rush. Forward to the drink : we grabbed our drinks which came out promptly. I tasted my matcha and just as I suspected due to the lack of sweetness, it just tasted like grassy chalk. I assumed that my friends latte would be better, as matcha can tend to have an earthy taste to it to begin with. Then I tried his... chalky and sour. Due to the lack of customization and the barista's attitude, we just took a couple sips and tossed our drinks. It was a super negative experience for a place I really really wanted to like. I think allowing people to use sweetener and cold foam on more than just seasonal lattes would be a great first start, and perhaps training the staff on appropriate customer interaction would also help. Loved the branding on this spot, but it seems like the people who work there don't want to be there and it really put a damper on the experience, and for a place so cute, the drinks and vibes should be top notch.

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    Philz Coffee

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    There are a few coffee choices on 2nd street, but please consider this place as opposed to the more…read moreknown big franchise one (which I'm always SO surprised has way more customers than it should). Seeing the pride flag and a "Black Lives Matter" banner already comforts me since I love to support businesses that align with my values. Solid coffee, seasonal offerings and good pastries. I will never not try an Almond Croissant offering. There is seating on the outside and inside. Support them.

    A Philz Coffee employee told me "f*ck you" during a curbside pickup at the Belmont Shore location…read more I placed a mobile order and chose curbside pickup for convenience. When the employee finally came out with my order, I said "hello" and got no response. I then said "thank you" while grabbing the drinks and was met with an extremely rude, dirty look. His attitude was immediately hostile for no reason. When I calmly told him he was being rude, he responded sarcastically and then escalated the situation by yelling at us and saying "f*ck you" before walking away. I was honestly in complete disbelief. That is unacceptable behavior from anyone, especially someone working in customer service. If you're in the area, you're better off going to Stereoscope Coffee down the street. The staff there are friendly, welcoming, and they don't curse at their customers. Philz seriously needs to address how this location treats people, because no one should be spoken to like that just for picking up coffee.

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    The Library - coffee - Updated May 2026

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