I love first draft! The baristas are super nice and coming here is one of my favorite ways to spend a Sunday morning. A nice coffee or matcha while reading is the perfect start to my day read more

My WiFi at home stopped working and the library was just not the vibe today so we checked out this spot that had some raving good reviews for a place to work and sip good drinks! Right as you walk in, it's so clean and the space is very chill unlike most cafes that glare music, the music they had was subtle and perfect for remote work. They serve different types of coffee and tea and some baked goods. The space to work was large and didn't have to speed walk to save a spot. The bookstore was well stocked with good books so during a work break, I got some stickers, a new book and a fun little trinket for my purse! Definitely recommend this spot for a nice place to work remotely, sip drinks and eat baked goods. Oh and they also serve mimosas! I didn't order one this time but I will next time! read more

See all

Located inside changing hands bookstore. Large bar area and dining area. The ambiance is so nice and calm, relaxing music at a low volume. Perfect place to study or get work done. Got an iced matcha latte with their vanilla bean syrup. Matcha was not too sweet. My sister got one of their holiday cold brews and she loved it as well. read more

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

Went here on a Saturday afternoon and it was packed! I love that there is parking across the street. The inside is big and there's plenty of new and used books to choose from. I sat at the bar and for a girl with the dragoon tattoo mimosa and pretzel. I paid for a side of cheese. The pretzel and drink were great. The cheese and mustard that came with the pretzel were not the best. There is plenty of seating just past the bar. Staff is nice. The vibes are great. You can browse with drink in hand. This is like my dream place. Might be a once per week stop for me. read more

See all

The spooky drink menu was still up so I ordered the Franken Matcha, iced. It tastes pretty good. Service was quick and efficient. read more

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

I came across this place on accident the other day when I was trying find a different coffee shop, and I'm so glad I did! It is located in the Newton plaza, which also has some other restaurants around. Parking is available, but it's not a huge lot. This book store had a wide variety of books as well as gifts, and other unique items. They also have a bar that serves coffee drinks and alcoholic drinks. There was a cooler with seltzers and beer for purchase too! I tried the Bluberry Matcha for Sal and it was delicious! They make their own syrups and the blueberry one was very tasty. Definitely on the sweeter side, I would probably ask for less syrup next time, but so delicious! Mia was very helpful, and also let me sample the White Mocha Latte Ale they had on draft. It was very unique and flavorful. I also talked to Peter at the Changing Hands area of the store and learned about their book buy back program. I'm thrilled to have learned about this spot and can't wait to come back soon! Highly highly recommend! read more

See all

First Draft Book Bar inside Changing Hands in Central Phoenix is honestly one of my favorite spots. It's the best of both worlds for us book nerds --you can sip on a glass of wine or a cold beer while browsing through an amazing selection of books and cool gifts. Whether you're there for a book event or just stopping in to look around, it's the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the atmosphere. read more

See all

Part of an awesome bookstore and good vibes. Great selection of light food fare and of course...tasty brews. Totally recommend this place for a fun stop in of books and brews! read more

This was my first time visiting this place. The prickly pear hot tea with lemon caught my attention and I went for it. You probably think that I'm crazy to say this, but I'm so glad that the tea wasn't burning hot! This was when I only gave it a 5-minute steep time. I finally didn't burn my tongue! I was there for about 2 hours. While there were many groups there mingling and playing card games, I found a high top with solo seating and I didn't feel disturbed at all while reading. I had a great time reading there. I saw the other menus with food and alcohol, and I can't wait to go back already! read more

Amazing cute little book store with wine and beer!!! Cute stickers and amazing friendly employees!! Amazing books and drinks in the same place! A dream for graduate students and undergrad! read more

I had the London fog latte which was pretty good. I do wish it was cozier inside to enjoy it though, the seating was limited. read more

First Draft Book Bar - Event board for trivia - Every first and third Sunday 5pm-7pm - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Anytime I head into Changing Hands, I KNOW I'm going to stop for a little treat. Their coffee is so good and consistent. They also have great pastries. I recommend the muffins and scones the most! The baristas are always very warm and friendly. Just who doesn't love coffee and books together?! Heaven! read more

Almost went with 3 stars but... I LOVE the concept of the place and depending on what you're looking for, this may be an amazing spot. Ok, the good first: -The food is bomb. Had the tuna melt on Noble bread and it was delicious! -Love the space. Lots of seating and a great environment for reading or getting work done or catching up with a friend. -Also love that they have some game options back by the bathrooms -LGBTQ+ and BIPOC friendly / safe space! -paestries are from Dark Hall, so you know they're bomb! -The bookstore is awesome The not so good -"full serivice bar" is debatable. I was almost NEVER checked on and each time I needed something, I ha to flag someone down. 2 main people behind the bar and they both were lively and fun talking with each other, but one of them legit looked annoyed the 2 times I had to wave them down. I'm an overly unerstanding person and would apologize with zero acknowledgement/response. I would say maybe they were having a bad day, but they were totally fine with their friends they were working with. -Got the seasonal flavored matcha and it was meh. This is more on whoever designed the menu and put that as a special - I legit thought someone had accidentally just mae a plain matcha. Had them add extra flavor (dont normally o because I dont like sweet drinks) and still nada. And I'm pretty good with picking up flavors, so that was weird. Looking around it looks like most are doing coffee or beer which I do believe they are more known for/focus on, so...fair. Overall, 100% worth checking out and I already texted my partner that we should do a book + coffee day date here. Just dont have high expectations around the service or any specialty drinks :) read more

Great spot to get work done. A very warm and inviting group of staff and other customers. I had the pretzel, which is from Noble Bread I believe and it was great! Would definitely recommend the house made cheese sauce. Great beer selection. I hope in the future there is a slightly larger sandwich/entree selection. The tables also don't have the most comfortable chairs (think ballroom work conference chairs), but minor details! read more

Drinks and food were all solid. The highlight was the pretzel though, it was really delicious. read more

See all

Been here twice visiting friends in the area ('m from another state) and feel in love with this place immediately. Great concept and will implemented. Affixed to the Changing Hands book store, this has a bar and other drinks and treats. A pleasure to enjoy a chat or a read while getting a beverage in this room seating area or at the bar. I'll be back every time I am in town! read more

See all

Really fun bookstore with a bar inside. Enjoyed perusing the stacks and enjoying a cold one! Friendly staff and really great vibe. read more

First Draft Book Bar - College Street Beauregarde - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Such a great environment to work and enjoy great food/snack and drinks. The staff is pretty friendly as well. The best part it's also connected to a bookstore so if you need a well needed break it's a great spot to look around and find trinkets. read more

See all

Super convenient and lovely meeting/work spot. They have yummy coffee and you can beat the attached bookstore. The only real draw back is that if you are planing to be there for a while, spots with outlets are few and far between. read more

This place is amazing and perfect for every mood or occasion. Happy? Extend that feeling with shopping around like minded bookworms. Sad? Wear the hoodie, grab a drink, and shop for books that will life your spirits? First date? Trade off on ordering your favorite drinks then recommend books to each other. Every time I go to Phoenix I make it a point to come here for books, gifts, and food and wine and am so happy this place exists. The prices are fair, the workers are friendly, the selections are well curated and organized, local artists sell their wares for decent prices, and the food and drink selections are on point. I cannot say enough about this spot, go try it out and make today a good day! read more

I'm very disappointed for my visit in this place!I ordered 2 eggs over medium and I got overheard eggs.and I ordered 2 pancakes very dry and very toasted the bottom of my pancakes.it makes my pancakes dry because the bottom is burned.i dont recommend this place for a good breakfast! read more

Such a cool establishment with coffee shop, bookstore, restaurant, and cafe. White mocha latte was delicious. The Commons is a great study spot, but unfortunately we had to clear the space a little early on a Sunday so they could use the space for trivia. read more

Such a great place. It's an automatic like for me when a coffee shop exists within a bookstore, but especially one as awesome as Changing Hands. I cannot personally speak to their cocktails and beers, but their coffee and tea are phenomenal and their pastries are legit. I highly recommend the iced orange mocha and also their orange poppyseed muffin. read more

Who doesn't love an independent bookstore? This place smells like books which I love! Wide variety, clearly organized, delightful staff! Also terrific gift selection with trinkets, stickers etc. Who could ask for anything more? Add to all that, they have a punch card so you can get free money to spend on...you guessed it- more books! read more

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

See all

When I was studying for the bar exam, this was my absolute favorite place to work outside of the house. They have a great ambiance, with relaxing music and the perfect amount of low key background noise. I still love ordering a chai latte or a kombucha and sitting for a while with a good book. Other highlights include: the staff, the brown butter chocolate chip cookie, and the selection of table top games you can play. My only issue is that walking through the bookstore is fraught with temptation to purchase more books. read more

See all

All the staff were super nice and helpful. They asked me questions and suggested great ciders. The mischief managed mimosa was amazing!

Have wanted to try this place forever but it never worked out until today! Stopped in and got a tea latte to sip on as I looked through the store! I got a Smaug I think it was called. It was a lavendar earl grey tea latte, I got it iced with oat milk. My drink was ready pretty quickly and tastes amazing! They did let me know it wasn't caffeinated which was fine with me! I could really taste the lavender too but not to the point where it was the only thing I could taste which was good. Will definitely come back for a drink another time! read more

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

Delightful location to meet a client for a casual conversation. Not fancy, but charming. Great non alcoholic and alcoholic beverage choices. Bookstore is attractive and interesting. There are other attractive venues in the location. Parking is a bit tight. read more

This combination bookstore and bar/coffee shop was so fun. Their selection of books was amazing and I especially appreciated the emphasis on queer authors and authors of color in their stock. After shopping I had a pretzel and iced london fog, both were fantastic. Amazing place to stop in! read more

The coffees great, the service is excellent and the ambience is perfect to read or work on your laptop. You can find a great book, buy it and read it right in the same spot. Been coming here a couple times and will always come back to hang out with a coffee and read my books. read more

Cool concept! It is even better for ordering take out. When we stayed at the hotel next door, we placed an order online and walked here to pick them up. Cheese plate (box) is yummy and packed with lots of yummy stuff. I had attended the event in the space adjacent to the bar. It is a nice space and of course the food is great. read more

First Draft Book Bar - Roadside picnic (share) - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

My mom and I set at the bar for several hours during happy hour. The service was friendly and there was a nice ambiance. The menu had vegan items clearly identified. There were several options to choose from. I got the Horton Hears a Hummus. It was fresh and delicious. They also had several vegan pastry options so we got a few of the cookies. The lavender lemon shortbread cookies are LIFE CHANGING!!!!! I wish I would have gotten more to take home but they probably would have been eaten in the car LOL. Great place for vegans and omnivores! read more

First Draft Book Bar - Horton Hears a Hummus - Bookstores Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

Honestly, to say that I was/still am obsessed with First Draft would be an understatement! What a clever name for a bar/coffee shop within a bookstore. Wow, overwhelming! Ahh! We popped in to enjoy a beverage after browsing the bookstore. This place is dope. They offer a variety of drinks, so there is something for everyone. I would spend way too much time and money if I lived in the area- but is that a bad thing? No. First Draft is nice for getting work done or just reading a book and sipping a beverage. Great customer service too! read more

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

See all

Very cool concept, a combo book store/bar. It seems like a very cool place to read, and buy books, and just chill on your laptop, but while also sipping on some great craft beers. They had a great selection available, both cans and on draft. They also have a full coffee bar available as well. I also saw posters for several events they host there, like trivia. I was visiting in from out of town, and me and my friends just happened to stop in looking to kill some time, but I'm very glad we did, definitely one of the coolest places I saw in Phoenix. If I lived in the area I would definitely hang out at this place a lot. read more

Checked this place out today and loved it. I ordered a drink with espresso and tumeric, I can't remember what it was called now but similar to golem milk. It was delicious. The bartender was very helpful and friendly and was a quick barista. I sat near the fireplace at a table which had the best ambiance for the fall. They placed mini pumpkins on every table and it was such a nice place to work a few hours. I will definitely go back! read more

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

I love this place! It's a great place to drink coffee and work or read during the day. And it's also a great place to have a glass of wine or beer for a date. The bookstore it's in is super cool and has a really great selection and a trade desk which is rare. Highly recommend read more

First Draft Coffee Bar is located in the Changing Hands Bookstore. I'm not reviewing that although I would give it 5 stars. It's great. What a clever name for a coffee bar inside a bookstore: First Draft! Right away 5 stars for creativity. The iced Americano was up there with the best. Not too strong, not too weak. Just perfect. My date and I sat in the large sitting area, next to the fireplace, drinking a great coffee and reading good books. My idea of a lovely afternoon. Oh, the coffee bar also serves wine, beer cheese boards, pastries, etc. read more

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

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

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

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