What a classy joint. The ambiance is along the lines of Seven Grand and Wellsbourne. A wide selection of liquor and speciality drinks are available. Their house fries are seasoned to perfection. My friends and I stopped by at 4 pm today because it was one of the few bars that was open at that time. I'm so glad it was. Because of the time, it was quite empty. The bartenderess was very friendly. read more

Great place for after work happy hour. I was a little suspicious when they started serving food - especially since they got rid of the cushy back room when they did - but it's really good. Contrary to the sound of the name the Pork Belly Skewers are out of this world. The grilled artichoke is also very tasty. I have also become a fan of the Tangerine Wheat beer on tap. read more

A dark quiet bar. What else do I need to say. (books do not pull out of the wall) What? You say they do? Oh sorry you must've picked up a script left by a Hollywood writer. (he/she left it there on purpose tho so you'd read it and diiscover their soul) (Pssst...Standard rooftop bar is across the street, why are you here) read more

Didn't get to spend too much time in light of having to make Les Mis at The Ahmanson but 2 drinks in, plus the pork belly appetizer and pork fat fried fries later, I was pretty impressed. Much smaller than I had expected but it was kinda cozy because of it. Can't imagine the crowds you have to dig through when it's packed though. Good drinks, good bar food, what's not to like? read more

Its a good place to drop by and have a quick burger and beer. draft selection was really limited. wine selection was better (but i don't drink wine so i could care less). Its a good place to begin your night. I liked the decor - comfy couches with the persian rug and coffee table with two large bookcases with old looking books. just on a side note i went on a Friday night to celebrate two friends birthdays. For a Friday night in a downtown LA bar there were A LOT of dudes up in there. read more

This bar is pretty tiny and has very limited amounts of seating. I definitely liked the decor here and am curious to see what their Mad Men Sunday's are about. In any case, I came here on a Friday for happy hour and it was not super busy but we had to wait a bit to be able to grab some seats. Grapefruitini - not bad, and not too strong (which is good for me) Garlic Fries - could be a little bit more garlicy but these were good read more

Count me a fan of the burgeoning downtown bar scene. There are so many cool options, so many great places to chill out in and grab a drink. It's one of the few places in the spread out confines of Los Angeles where you can actually crawl bar to bar within walking distance of each other (though it's a long walk between some of the groupings). They generally all have good happy hours, decent prices during regular hours and unique atmospheres. Library Bar is charming. It's compact, but well laid out with a small but comfortable lounging area adjacent to the equally small bar. Early on it's pleasantly empty, but probably insanely cramped later in the evenings. Mixed drinks fall in the $12 range like most downtown spots. The drinks we partook of escape me now, but they were good. Did the trick. Warm and fuzzies all over. Drinks - A- Ambience - A- Service - B+ Value - A- read more

My friend, wife and I all hit up the Library bar before going to a dinner downtown on New Year's eve. (12/31/12). It was early, so we missed the big crows. However, the service form the bartender was excellent! The drinks were perfectly concocted and tasted delicious! A perfect start to the evening! I can only attest to the bar, as we did not eat anythign there. But it's a cool and fun bar! read more

I went here for the first time the other day. This place is pretty awesome, and let me tell you why. We will start off with their drink list, which is amazing. From their bottled beer selection, to the draft selection, all the brews are definitely on point. Their cocktails are also really good too. I would suggest trying as many as you can, responsibly of course. Now, for the reasons I'm writing this review. First, their chorizo sliders are probably the best thing I've ever tasted in my entire life, and I've tasted some pretty good food. So juicy, succulent and with a hint of bell pepper, the sliders are amazing. Be sure you get them. (There's no waiter, so be sure to order at the bar, and they will bring you the food). Secondly, they have actual books here, hence being named the "Library Bar". If you really wanted to, you could grab a book and bring it to the table you're sitting at. However that would be a little strange, GIVEN THE FACT YOU'RE READING A BOOK IN A FREAKING BAR and it's pretty dark inside. Lastly, they have a jukebox you put money into. They have a varied playlist to choose from and it's always interesting/funny to play a song you like and see how the other people in the place react to it. Good times. It's a very trendy crowd, so be sure to look your best. Also, finding parking is rather hard so you might have to pay a few dollars to park in a lot. Be sure to check this place out though! read more

Brought my gf here before for our date night. It's super dark in there and waiters don't come serve you I guess you have to go to the bar every time you need a drink even if you're seated. Not the greatest bar. Music is super low. Ok bar if you like to drink in the dark and go to the bar every time you need a new drink. read more

I was bummed I couldn't make it to Dave S. event since I've been wanting to check out this place in downtown for awhile. So I was excited when the girls wanted to go here after dinner at Roy's. Being such a nerd, I love anything having to do with books. And since it's called Library Bar...yes there are books here. We got there a little after 8pm which is when happy hour ended. Too bad since the happy hour drinks seemed like a great deal with $5 martinis. I tried one of their other specials...a porter beer for $5 as well. The bartender was dressed like a librarian...fulfilling some guy's fantasy i'm sure. It's a little on the small side but there are enough seats for a few groups. I actually picked a book on English philosophers and was reading so if you get tired of watching the other patrons you have something else to occupy your attention. Overall, this is a great unpretentious place to grab some drinks and hang out with friends. read more

I came here on a Friday night, and it was pretty packed. It was a pretty mellow and laid back vibe, which is great if you're just looking to chill on a friday night. Drink prices were moderate, but they made them pretty delicious. The music had a old 90's rock vibe, which fit the overall mood of the place pretty well. I'd definitely come here again just to grab a few drinks and hang out with some friends. read more

This is a very laid back place. I would def. recommend it for a place to grab a drink after work. It's not very lively, but has a very nice atmosphere. Feels like a library that would be in a nice home. There is a nice private area for small to medium sized groups. Wolfgang Puck Cafe is next door (YUM) read more

So I wanted to check this place out because I thought the theme was really interesting and unique. Parked at the underground lot across the street for about $10 dollars. Went into the library bar and some random guy walks up to me to check ID which i assume was the bouncer. He was kinda rude but whatever we went in. The place was playing sports on the big screen and like everyone said, THIS PLACE IS TINY!!! It's almost the size of a living room to be honest. This place is dimly lit and there weren't that many people and it seemed really mellow. I didn't end up ordering anything and ended up going somewhere else because it was so dead. I'll give this an udpated review if i ever try this place again. read more

Fun little hipster hole in the wall type place. Library Bar caters to a cool crowd of hip Downtown loft dwellers and peeps checking out the other surrounding bars/clubs/restaurants. They have a fun selection of bar food and bottled and on-tap beers. On a Wednesday night it was pretty low key with mostly couples canoodling in each of the little nooks and crannies around the bar. I liked the library decor, although upon closer inspection it appeared that the books were purchased in bulk. Lots of totally random crap books just for effect. It would have been cooler if it was actually someones collection. Overall, great place to hit up on a low key evening in Downtown. Wouldnt choose it for a Friday or a Saturday, too mellow for the weekend and pretty small. read more

As you would expect from its name, the library bar is pretty much a bar decorated with bookshelves full of books. It was kind of sad coming here after law school finals (for those of you who don't know that means living in the law library for at least a month) but all that flew out the door after a couple of drinks. I didn't stay long at this place but from what I remember it was a pretty small and cozy bar. The menu was quite extensive, both in beer and in food (for a bar anyways). I found it to be a nice place to sip on some beer and just chit chat with friends. The night we went wasn't too crowded so we were able to find seats, but really the place seems like it can get really packed during the weekends. Probably got to come back here and check it out again before I can give a better review of the place, but all in all it wasn't a bad experience. read more

Let's level-set. This is a bar near the W hotel in downtown LA. Kind, modest people are going to few and far between. If you can accept that, then I can tell you that I actually liked the Library Bar. When you walk in, you realize that yes, it does feel like some wealthy person's private library. Dark wood, fireplace, books, carpeting, and strong drinks. Makes you want to lounge around in a plush robe and get comfortable. Unfortunately, we're in LA (again), so people don't get the hit and are entirely way too loud in here. I wish they had an informal speakeasy rule. Still, the vibe is comfy, the music was actually a really awesome eclectic mix of 90's rock (think Smashing Pumpkins) and current hipster-emo tunes. The drinks were strong, the beer selection was pretty decent and it's a much better bar to spend your dollars at if you're not up for the frenetic pace of the W's rooftop. It's a great alternative watering hole. read more

I heard about this place from a friend and from the pictures on Yelp it looked pretty cool. So when I go one night to downtown la with my girls we see it and have to check it out. We're all avid readers after all. We got here around 9-9:30ish which was the perfect time. Not too crowded, not too dead. There were two beautiful bartenders manning the bar and we got served very quickly. I asked what fruity beers they had and the bartender let me try one of the citrus ones. Too strong for me so I just stuck with a hefeweizen. $6 One of my friends just got a Red Bull $5 and my other friend got a martini $9 since they forgot to make her drink so they took $2 off. Cool! This place is pretty tiny. Couches around, one bar, and a big table near the door. Got pretty packed the night before Labor Day. Love the music. Very bar like. I'd love to try their food! read more

FOOD: 4.5 STARS If you're planning on eating here you should make sure it's your cheat day. That being said, the food was surprisingly delicious! I took a bite of all my friend's appetizers and they were all delicious. The grilled cheese was the best i've ever had. DRINKS: 3.5 STARS A little steep in $$ but generously poured.. Now if they could make them taste good with the same amount of alcohol, they'd be set. AMBIANCE: 4.5 STARS As someone who's a bookworm I LOVED the idea of library bar and wasn't disappointed when we walked in. It's pretty small, and could've used a little more room without detracting from the coziness. SERVICE: 4 STARS The bartender was nice. Not over-the-top friendly, but she was polite and did her job. The busser was very nice and accomodating. He came frequently to clear the little tables (more like lampstands), and brought us out another one when he saw that 2 of us had to hold the trays on our laps. PRICE: 4 STARS Yes a little pricey, but the drinks are hard and the food is tasty. (*at one point i got pretty tipsy from my drink and promised that in my yelp review i would say that 1 star was for the napkins. Because apparently i really loved the napkins.) read more

I wish there were more bars like this in San Jose. Hipster but not pretentious. With that having said, this was one of the first bars I've been to in LA and I was pretty impressed. There's a good selection of food that I wouldn't have expected. They all sounded really appetizing. As for drinks, there are more beers than mixed drinks listed on the wall menu but no worries! Just ask the bartender for a cocktail menu. I got a Hemingway. The bartenders here don't skimp on the alcohol for sure. When a friend first mentioned Library Bar, I imagined it to be a really big space with tonsss of books. In reality, there's only one wall dedicated to books but hey, at least they're all actual books and not cardboard boxes made to look like books. Hahah. The conversation flowed. Seating is somewhat limited buttt that allows you to meet new people pretty easily. A little dark at times, but at least you can see where you're going. Parking is a block down. There's a sign that points to the underground garage. It's $5 but you must get validation from Library Bar! read more

Ketchup is overrated. Just salt your french fries. And here, I got to experience the great joy of initially reaching for the salt, while munching on my first fry and........it's already salted perfectly! That's a good feeling. And for all of lushes out there that enjoy the subtleties of whiskey, the bar staff here is very knowledgeable. The interior reminds me of Cheers for some reason. read more

Great beverages and tasty appetizers for happy hour, a nice downtown bar. While here, I got the grilled artichoke and a glass of wine. They have nice leather couches where you can chill, or you can sit at the bar. Really nice ambiance, and they have real books on the shelves, not just fake decoys. One drawback: this place is small. Clearly they didn't anticipate how popular they would be, or they would've looked for a lease at a bigger establishment. read more

I've wanted to check out Library Bar for a while. After dinner last week at nearby Le Ka, I stumbled into Library Bar with my friend for a session of post-dinner drinks. Because we had just come from dinner, my friend and I skipped on food and went straight to drinks. We were still in time to make some drink specials (I think they last until 8 p.m.). The place - even on a weekday evening - was packed. In fact, it was a little bit loud for my tastes. It doesn't help that the space is small, so sound tends to get trapped. To be honest, I don't remember the drinks we ordered, but I do remember that they were pretty watered down. I guess that's what you get for drink specials? Because the ambiance was a bit loud, we ended up sitting in the limited but comfortable seating area outside overlooking a busy downtown intersection. Service: Although there was a constant churn of people, it didn't take too long for us to order at the bar and get our drinks. Overall: the drinks were fine, the food looked decent, and the space is okay. Parking is a hassle, but it is for basically everyone else in DTLA. read more

Such a cool little spot. Ambiance was really cool. Food was surprisingly really good as well. Definitely will return.

The ambiance is spectacular. The drinks have cool literary names and there are ACTUAL Books HERE THAT YOU CAN READ. the lighting is low and romantic. And the service is great. I loved coming here. Its been two times so far. Its walking distance from the train so easy to get to and from. read more

It is a cool bar and the drinks are great(!) but we went for the burger. I felt that the "Fancy burger" was trying a little too hard to be fancy. It's good, the goat cheese didn't quite fit the flavor palette and meat was juicy but lacking in terms of seasoning. Not to mention the plate which is a six inch wide slab that the burger barely fits on. All in all, it was OK, but not worth the $24 price tag. read more

Tagging along for my fiancé's work trip we were looking for a late night bar to mosey our way into. We stumbled onto this bar and we came on a Thursday night and loved it! Definitely the vibe we wanted. We were able to find seats and order drinks at the bar. It's a very intimate setting so it may be hard to find seats. We definitely loved our experience. We weren't able to order food but there's always next time. Cheers. read more

Nice lounge if you're looking for a casual drink after work. Fantastic happy hour! The cocktails are very cleverly named, wait staff is friendly and professional and the atmosphere is perfect if you're looking to relax. read more

Nice spot. Not too big more of an intimate setting but the music was good and so were the drinks. Not a lot of seats so if you want to have a seat and drink get there early. I would recommend this place to a more mature crowd! read more

Has become one of my favorite bars in DTLA. Aesthetically clever. Great drinks. Great bar food. I def recommend the Charcoal Cocktail. Nice atmosphere. read more

Came here on a Sunday night and it was quiet, chill vibe. Drinks were average price but strong. Cute decor, hip hop music in the background. Overall, I'll keep it mind for my next visit to DTLA. read more

I love the very intimate feel to this place. It's a good substitute for a day I don't feel like the whole large swagger of The Edison but still want a lively bar scene on a smaller more intimate scale. They have good specials of the day...and if you're as indecisive as I am, I usually just pick one from their blackboard list written in chalk...yes, it's endearing. Like all my other reviews on after hour spots...the crowd is usually good peeps. read more

Average, nothing special, but a good place to grab a drink if the standard is too crowded. This place is strictly a bar. No kitchen, No tvs, just sit and drink. I like that its a small cozy place, a couple sofas and lounging areas, I dont like they dont even serve any kind of bar food, and service can be patchy, I sit at the bar for a reason! Ill come back here when the standard gets too crowded again. read more

Being that I've worked for a library for 5 years thus far, I thought it would interesting to go to a library bar. Being that it's right across from the Standard which is a rooftop bar, it might be a bit difficult persuading friends to check it out. Being that the Standard closes at 1 a.m., and that most of my friends are up for anything, I've been lucky enough to visit this place three times so far. I'm definitely going back...it's a low-key place, with books lining the shelves, a chill crowd (typically trendy USC grads and grad students, young urban professionals, and other randoms), good to great drinks, decent bartenders, and good location, all within an intimate area. Being that I go to UCLA, this place reminds me of a grown-up and much more classy and much more mature O'Haras (formerly Maloney's). But probably just because the size and inside decor is a lot similar. So yeah...anyone wanna go? P.S.: Bouncer is chill. read more

Nice, cozy, $5 parking on a Saturday night (w/ validation). It wasn't packed when we got here around 10pm on a Saturday night, but most people were probably headed to the more trendier places a la Standard, so we got to chill on the couch. I love places that you can just "chill". I got to do that here, get my drink on, and so I liked it. I hope more people just line up at the Standard and Elevate, then this small but cozy bar is all mine to stretch my legs. read more

I'd give the library bar 4 stars if drinks were cheaper (4 bucks for just a coke sans alki... and don't you dare judge me for ordering just a soda!) and you didn't have to wait in a line to get it (whoa... am I in line for The Standard?). Literally, once it's at capacity, they have to wait for people to leave before they let anyone else in... that's just the way it works, so be prepared if you have a big party (which we did). That said, once you do finally make it in (past the nice doormen, by the way), the set-up's super cute. I thought we'd be packed like sardines, elbow to elbow and all, but it was pretty roomy. They have lots of seating around... booths, benches, high chairs. Stick around and stare and you're bound to find an empty seat somewhere. And the library part of it all: One wall is all shelves with books... and not the shoddy paperback harlequin types of books, but like, the serious hardbacks with *gasp* no pictures on the covers. Kudos to whoever said it was like the library from Beauty and the Beast (on a smaller scale obvi... that Beast was a rich muthatrucka). read more

After being in class all day the last place I want to go to is a bar called the library. However, this library turned out to be way better than the one at school. In fact, they've pretty much incorporated alcohol into everything else in society, i guess it was only a matter of time books and alcohol got together. Had to wait in line though which I'm not really a big fan of, especially when it comes to bars. If there was a cover, I would of definitely left. Inside, the decor was dark and cool. A little area with shelves actually had books which I thought was different! The bar menu looked appetizing so I might have to come back to try some burgers. Kinda small. Kinda dark. And kind of cliquey. Good place to bring someone for a drink but not a good place if you want to grab a few beers with your homeboys and meet some people. Probably would come back only if I was with a group. One of the bartenders did have the naughty librarian look which was hot. A flatscreen would of been nice. A pool table or dart board would of been cool too. Now that I think about it, we should of just went a sports bar instead. Sheesh read more

I've heard good things about this place so decided to get a group of friends to come here on a Saturday night. We arrived at around 10, and it wasn't too busy. We found seats at the back corner - very cozy, music volume was very decent - which meant we didn't have to shout in each others' faces in order to be heard. We stayed there for a couple of hours, and the place became progressively packed as time went on, by the time we left there was a line outside. We ordered some fries to munch on, which were very good - not too greasy, crispy and well seasoned. Simple yet memorable. The beer and wine selection was decent. Very chilled hang out place! read more

Very cute! But also very small. The actual "library" theme only extends to one wall of bookshelves with comfy armchairs. The rest of the bar looks like, well, a bar. Dimly lit, crowded (you won't find a seat after 10pm on weekends!). Crowd is mostly casual, though some are dressed for the Standard/other nearby bars. Drinks are fairly priced. read more

Came here to meet a friend for some food & drinks before heading over to the Standard. We decided to split 3 items: (1)Steak Fries with pork fat. Crispy in a pork fat crackle-y kind of way. For my taste, I would probably tell them to go easy on the salt. If you like your food well-seasoned, these fries are for you. It is a bit small, but hearty and good to share between 2 people. (2)Chorizo sliders. You get 3 sliders. They are pretty juicy and make for a tasty little bite. (3)Pork Belly Sandwich. You get some sweet with your savory because I think they glaze and caramelize the fat cap on the pork but with the dim lighting its hard to closely examine your food. It is served on a ciabatta style roll with some argula and I could see what else. If you want to come with a group, I would definitely reserve on of the tables. I am looking forward to coming here again after work. read more