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    Riffraff Bookstore and Bar

    4.6 (102 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Riffraff Bookstore and Bar Photos

    Business Info

    RIFFRAFF BOOKSTORE AND BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Classy
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Riffraff Bookstore and Bar

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    Eric M.

    What's not to love about riff raff? Community feel, a quiet yet inviting space. Wide selection of books, places to sit and chat and read. Love the inclusion of the bar as well, great selection of wines and cocktails. If you are a book lover in the Providence area this is a must go to spot

    Toni T.

    Riffraff continues on as a marvelous independent bookstore/bar despite the loss of both of the original founders. In fact, the new owners seem to have improved upon the place by hosting more, and more diverse readings (see the attached sample of February's events). The coffee is good, there's free WiFi, and cocktails are available. The eclectic selection of new fiction and nonfiction works are jam packed with award winning authors, translated works, and titles I've not seen anywhere before. If there's a specific work you want that isn't in stock just ask to have it ordered for you. This continues to be one of my favorite bookstores in Providence.

    Chai and espresso
    Madison K.

    I love bookstores! While I probably will not be going back to this one, I'm always glad to see an independent bookseller in my area. There is parking available in lots across the street, I advise checking the map online to be sure where you can park when you decide to visit. It's in this converted factory and there's a nice courtyard which looks really pretty at night, and a big plus- this place is open super late! My friend and I went here on a weeknight. When we walked in, it was super quiet because a poetry reading was happening in the bar area. We quietly walked around the bookshelves, which form a horseshoe with a few tables in the center with some highlighted picks. I will say, I was hoping to find the new Hunger Games novel so that I could cancel my order from Amazon and support local... but I did not see it there. Some of the other books I was trying to find were also not there, so I picked up a copy of Eugene Onegin instead. When the poetry reading ended (I am glad that they offer a space for artists to share but the poetry was not my style), we went to the bar area. There are plenty of little tables and chairs. I ordered a chai latte, which was really good! There was a small children's book section but I would not bring a child here at night, especially if there's a poetry reading happening! The vibe is definitely radical liberal- like the crunchier ones- as opposed to East Side liberal. Anyways, I really like their bookstore/ bar setup and how they offer a lot of book readings and poetry readings. The world needs more bookstores!

    Bre B.

    I've always loved the vibe, the eclectic books and authors, the attached bar cocktail selections and chatting with customers or the owners. The atmosphere here is so chill! If you love books and or bars this is an amazing place to spend some quality time!

    Bar
    Ellie B.

    The bookstore has a great curated selection. It's a small space but they use the it wisely. The bar has coffee, tea, cocktails, and a few snacks. It's the coziest space to sit and hang out with a book and a beverage.

    savory strudel
    Megan H.

    Riffraff is a great place to look over books, read, or do some work! I've gone here a few times to study and have always loved it. On nights when I have to study late, it's also nice to pair it with one of the cocktails that they have! They have a good selection of different cocktails and wines, and you can even add alcohol to any of their regular cafe drinks, which makes it very interesting. Their coffee is decent, though I did get a bit too much lavender in my latte this time. Otherwise, will definitely keep coming back here!

    Comic book reading
    Stephanie G.

    What's better than a bar/cafe/bookstore? Come on. I mean how many of you have dreamed of running one of these? I met a friend for drinks and we stayed for a couple of hours. I had two really good glasses of wine, an orange wine and a Spanish rose. They had a small but nicely selected list of interesting wines as well as beers and cocktails. We also shared a cheese plate that was a bargain at $18 and included nice portions of two different cheeses, two types of crackers, nuts, dried fruit, olives, and cornichons. We stayed long enough to catch the beginning of a comic book reading, and it looks like they have lots of other great events later this month. And on the way out I picked up a book I've been wanting to read. Loved it!

    No. 6 cocktail
    Vijay S.

    A bar and a bookstore or a bar in a bookstore? Either way, I imagined this to be a speakeasy of sorts. But it's not quite like that; the space is divided into two parts. The bookstore is brighter and present as soon as you enter. The bar is behind the bookstore, is dimmer, and is a cozy space with couches and tables. There's a limited selection of cocktails on the menu, and it changes often. I got the no. 6 cocktail with mezcal and chartreuse, and it was pretty good. Overall, it's a good spot to spend time sipping on a drink and reading a book, working on your laptop, or chilling with friends.

    Bar area and ample seating for various group sizes
    Matt L.

    It is an absolutely gorgeous space that puts 2 of my favorite things together: a spacious cafe with jazz playing in the background & an excellent collection of books (that all feel like they have a high level of social capital because you've probably seen one of your friends read it on Instagram and thought to yourself, I wish I had that book too). Half of the place is the bookstore and the other half is the cafe/bar, which is smartly divided with different ambient lighting. There are a few outlets by the corners (by the couch area, by the edge where bookstore turns to cafe) and wifi, which makes it a solid study spot if you can snag yourself a seat.

    Isaac Butler reads from his book The Method at RiffRaff.
    Rebecca A.

    Riffraff has been a welcoming home for years and has only grown even friendlier and warmer under the leadership of its new owners. I appreciate the selection of excellent books and new releases. The children's books section is really sweet and well-curated. The events are also amazing! I read something I'd written at open mic night, I'd never done that before and the owners and crowd made it feel really supportive and warm. They also get top-tier authors to visit for readingsMagic happens at this place regularly.

    Bar

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    26 days ago

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    Business owner information

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    1 year ago

    Love the vibe!! Was able to pick up a book and just sit at the bar and read. The people that work there were super cool too.

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    11 months ago

    the greatest book café/dive bar with an ongoing events list of mind-boggling amounts of talent.

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

    This is a fun little bookstore with a nice bar and access to a beautiful courtyard. Very nice place to visit during warmer months.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Coffee shop, cocktail bar, and bookstore all rolled into one in a historic mill building.

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    8 years ago

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Riffraff Bookstore and Bar

    Would you say that this would be a good place to sit down and study? Also are there available outlets throughout the interior for laptop chargers?

    I think it would be a good place to study. It's pretty quiet. Haven't noticed about the availability of outlets though.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Riffraff Bookstore and Bar

    Definitely the type of spot u can relax and do some studying AND have a super super tasty drink!

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    My favorite bookstore, hands down…read more The team at Heartleaf has created such a welcoming & eclectic environment. They've carefully curating a wide variety of stories, accumulated so many sweet little goodies & knick knacks, & built a wonderful, irreplaceable community in Providence. They put a LOT of effort into highlighting BIPOC & queer authors in their collection. The range of genres & narratives - especially considering the tiny size of the store - is a masterclass in diverse inventory. The very best thing about Heartleaf, though, is the manager. She alone is worth a visit to the store. If she's napping, it's a cardinal sin to disturb her. You'll just have to come back another time to give her a scratch behind the ears. (Penny is the manager. Penny is also a cat. I promise I'm not randomly scratching humans behind the ears.) Thank you Caroline & Mads for everything you do. Long live Heartleaf!

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    I could not find the location. First I tried this location on Ives, and then I went to the stores…read morewebsite and used that to find a location a few doors down. Another business was firmly there. It was like an incredibly cold and disappointing scavenger hunt that I also lost.

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    I arrived at the store today, Thurthday, 1/22/2026 at around 11:00 am to purchase watercolors. The…read moresaleswoman at the main desk remembered me from previous visits. Suddenly, the police were called. Two Risd police officers arrived, detained me, and demanded my ID. I had no idea what was happening and was completely shocked After speaking with the store manager, the officers told me that about two years ago, when I purchased earrings at this store, I HAD TRIED THEM ON, WHICH WAS APPARENTLY NOT ALLOWED TO TRIED THEM ON! .. The same saleswoman who sold me the earrings at the time was at the desk today and she/or the store mange called the police today. she disappeared immediately when the officers arrived. The police officers themselves seemed surprised by the accusation. I am still struggling to process what happened today. I do not recommend purchasing anything from this store--mainly of course because of the disturbing and behavior and ridiculous accusation made by the saleswoman/manager , as well as the store manager's entirely lack of judgment, also of the exorbitant and unrealistic prices of this store. Therefore, I returned the set of necklace and the earring. The entire incident caused me significant emotional distress, and I remain shaken and upset by the injustice event I experienced due to the store manager's poor handling and poor judgement It is a shame and a disgrace... He/She showed a complete lack of judgment and caused me trauma for no fault of my own. If the saleswoman had asked me not to wear the earrings, there is no way I would have worn them.I complied immediately, after she asked not to wear the earrings.I am confident that the store's security cameras will fully corroborate my account of these events. The decision to involve law enforcement over an alleged incident from about two years ago about trying on earrings that, In addition, I would like to clarify that I purchased the earrings, and returned them in full compliance with the store's return policy. After the incident, a third party who heard about what occurred speculated that the saleswoman may have lost her commission on the returned item. Its raise the possibility that she made sure to inform the store manager that I was in the store, Since almost intentionally the moment I arrived at the store until the police arrived, she was busy texting on her phone. What deeply concerns me is that despite the fact that approximately two years had passed since that purchase and return, the saleswoman appeared to act in a retaliatory manner. Her behavior felt targeted and disproportionate, as if she were deliberately singling me out or "hunting" me, which ultimately led to an unfounded and humiliating escalation of the situation.This whole Spiel were not in my awareness when the officers approached me. This was and still shocking, absurd, unjustified and demonstrates a serious failure of managerial judgment. This action caused me undue distress, profound public humiliation and emotional stress, for which the store bears responsibility! The police made me sit on a chair at the store entrance while questioning me, as all customers watched, causing me public degradation and personal shame! I expect an internal review, and apology from the store manager. This is serious and troubling enough and on its own, and it raises the concern that it could happen again to any customer! The question also arises as to whether calling the police over the wearing of earrings on my ears is lawful and legitimate??? The store manager's actions constituted intentional harassment and abusive conduct! There was no legitimate basis for the manager's action, He abusing his authority and exploiting his position. I believe the manager targeted me as an immigrant, identifiable by my accent, believing I was easy to haras, as well racially motivated, despite my being an American citizen with 40 years in the field of education. Such behavior from management is unacceptable and warrants attention!

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    I stumbled spin this fun shop on a stroll. At first when. I walked in I saw lots of things that…read morelooked like nothing I would be interested in. BUT there is a great selection of old books, greeting cards and made in the USA items!! I am so happy I came in and was lucky to find things for an upcoming baby shower! Also shout out to the owners Nephew for being so helpful in the store!! Hopefully she had a great time at the baby shower!

    Riffraff Bookstore and Bar - bars - Updated June 2026

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