The staff were attentive, the atmosphere "big city modern", and the food was all very fresh and delicious. It's one of the few locales that offers this type of dining experience in the downtown area so be sure to get a reservation (at least that was our experience on Sept weekends). read more

The Library Bar & Bites - Charcuterie board - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

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This would have been a five star experience for us had our first two course no been overcooked. We really liked it in here...great design and atmosphere and lots of good options for vegetarians. We came in after a recommendation from our tour director who knew we liked whiskey and that the Library had a peated whiskey brewed by a distiller from another city we had just been in. We had our shot of peated whiskey as promised and dug it. We were seated at the bar as the place was packed and we didn't have a reservation. We were happy to have the spot as well as to see not only did they have numerous vegetarian options, but they were all clearly labeled on their menu...so food options for us was not a token afterthought and we felt welcome! Unfortunately, I guess because it was so busy, the first two items we ordered took a looooong time to get to us and both were overcooked, like maybe the kitchen forgot they were in process which would explain the delay as well. We tried the Tempura Brussels Sprouts...a special menu item...overcooked...the tempura was a dark brown (tempura batter when cooked properly is a nice light golden brown with a nice light texture and taste to it) and the brussels on the inside were long void of any desirable texture. We also got the regular menu offered Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Flatbread. This was also overdone...gone was any chewiness in the crust leaving us with nothing but hard crunches and a pretty overall rich-tasting dish on top. Normally that would have been enough food for us, but we were only in town for one night and really wanted to try the cheese board...so we did and this was the saving grace of the meal. Served with cheeses, moosetard ground mustard, seasonal organic jam, house pickles, dried fruit, crackers, house baked italian crostini, house olives, this was plenty of food for us, looked really good, and we realized we could have just ordered this and we would have been indulgently full. There are many more vegetarian options in all of the menu categories to choose from, especially the "shareables" section, so vegetarians - show up and you will be well taken care of. We had a great time, also talking with the bartender! If we were ever in Fairbanks again, we'd definitely come back and try more. read more

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Love the people, the food and the variety of drink options - cocktails, Veuve by the glass, Oregon Pinots - great spot! Highly recommend! read more

The Library Bar & Bites - Deviled eggs and Veuve Cliquot - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

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Small cute place in downtown fairbanks. A variety of cocktails and sharable plates. It's prob a bit too bright lighting for a speakeasy vibe. However i did enjoy the ambience for dinner tonight. Easy to have a conversation with your party around the table. Delicious food. I hope i get to come back and try the other cocktails as well. We didn't make a reservation, however we went on a Tuesday night. I can see this place can get crowded and reservation may be needed for busier nights like weekends. read more

The Library Bar & Bites - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

Service here was unbelievably rude to us, very short and slow. Food was mediocre at best. Overpriced and rude I do not recommend.

Wonderful staff. Creative inviting bites. Perfectly balanced for business meeting and also casual. read more

Confused. Is The Library a craft cocktail bar that serves snacks to accompany their craft cocktails, or is it a full-service restaurant with a nice cocktail list? The place is small making it sometimes impossible to get a table. But this is typical for Fairbanks. The kitchen is partially exposed which is another confusing detail given the fact that all you can see in the kitchen is storage. Open kitchens are generally meant to impress and entertain but in this case, the exposed kitchen storage only serves to confuse and leave the customer asking, "why?" The menu to me represents fancy bar food. Flat breads, snacks, soups and salads dominate the food portion of the menu. I don't mind a good cocktail bar with high end cocktail snacks. But to be sat at a table in what appears to be a full service restaurant just to eat fancy bar food is again, just a confusing experience. I think The Library is a great spot for an after work cocktail and snack but you can do a lot better than this for dinner, even in Fairbanks. I wanted to love this place as I would love to see more fun and modern eating establishments in Fairbanks and had hoped this place was what I was looking for. Sadly, it just left me confused. If The Library would focus on being a craft cocktail/wine bar that simply serves snacks and avoid being a sit-down, full service restaurant I believe the establishment would be more cohesive and less confused but it's a very successful restaurant so clearly plenty of people like it. read more

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A fabulous find for a more elevated dinner in Fairbanks. Great atmosphere and helpful staff with incredible cocktails and delicious bites. Bonus, the best mocktails in town! read more

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Great vibe atmosphere, beautiful paintings, caught an early, quick bite and drink after work and before heading to the airport. Do NOT pass up the seafood bisque! Yum! read more

The Library Bar & Bites - Entrance - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

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Great food to share or to have to yourself, good wines, kind people, sharing, feeling welcom. SOOOOO sad it will be gone.

Loved the bar! Good balance between a bistro and a speakeasy. Has an uplifting vibe with the good indoor lighting, but not too noisy so you could still enjoy conversations with friends. Our drinks were fantastic! Delicious and beautiful presentation. Food is also great! Staff was incredibly helpful - welcoming, checking in regularly to make sure our needs covered. Highly recommend! read more

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Hostess was incredibly rude and kicked our group out into the-22 F weather. We walked from our hotel looking for dinner and they were full but wouldn't even let us warm up inside prior to asking us to leave. read more

Last night in Fairbanks and had wished we ate here sooner because we definitely would have been back for the seafood bisque, only change would have been to order a bowl instead of a cup. Larry and Robert made yummy drinks and I appreciated Larry's suggestion for me when I asked what he could make me. I had the long haired Barbie. It was delicious! We also ordered the shishito peppers, a couple of flat breads and the chicken and broccoli Mac-n-cheese and finished with a brownie and ice cream for desert. My favorite of all was the seafood bisque! I loved the how the place is split up in sections displaying art and books in rainbow order. I can't wait for my visit next year to get more seafood bisque! read more

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Lovely bar and restaurant! We enjoyed sitting at the bar and taking in the vibe. Drinks were excellent and service was great.

The service and food were terrific. The music was too loud for my taste but I am 65+. I had the Prosciutto Arugula flat bread and my husband had the beef and pork ragu. Both were very, very tasty! read more

We hit up The Library for some birthday libations tonight and we will definitely be back. Cocktails were top notch (my fav was the One Flew Over The Cosmos Nest!). And we ordered enough "snacks" for it to be dinner. We had roasted Brussels sprouts, marinated olives, the prosciutto flat bread and a cup of soup each (seafood bisque for me and cauliflower cheese for the husband). It was all delicious. We were equally impressed by the spirit selection behind the bar. The decor is fun. The place wasn't crazy crowded or loud. We loved it. read more

The Library Bar & Bites - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

I can see why they encourage reservations, because this place is poppin and the food options are really good. Everything is tapas style and shareable. We started with the Baked wings which were really good and my favorite. Had a little kick to it at the end so it's spicy. The Shrimp tempura with sauce was delicious and the Hummus bowl with beet was refreshing. My group was originally not a fan of beet but after a few bites they enjoyed it. Chicken pesto flatbread was the best. Highly delicious and recommended. Curious George drink was delicious. Was basically an old fashioned with banana chips. Greta spot, if I'm ever back in the area I'll definitely be back read more

So good we came twice! We were on a trip in Fairbanks and wanted to try out a local bar before dinner. This place has really fun vibes and a great place to chill and grab a drink. The first time we came, we came close to closing so it was packed and we had to sit at the bar. We ordered drinks and the hummus plate and 2 flatbread. The drinks were amazing! Soo good and very strong haha and the food was delicious too! The 2nd time we came we ordered different drinks and ordered the charcuterie board. Again, everything was great! The staff is so nice and the service was great. The restaurant is cozy and small but nice place to chill. Would highly recommend coming here if you're visiting Fairbanks! read more

The Library Bar & Bites - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

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Where to begin? First time here and it will be the last. Let's start with the INCREDIBLY rude man at the hostess desk, I believe he is the owner, I have never met such a rude proprietor in my life. Super friendly with who appear to be regulars, but locals visiting for the first time? Not so much. The food was "ehh". Falafel was very over cooked, seafood bisque salty and the chorizo mac and cheese was dry and overcooked. Waitress forgot one of our apps and said we never ordered it, all six of our party heard the order which she even read back. If you like overcooked food and rude service this is the place for you. read more

The Library Bar & Bites - Dry overcooked Mac n cheese - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

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First of all, Fairbanks Alaska is not a dining destination. It is a desolate looking town (at least in the center) and we did not expect much in the way of restaurants. We were there for one full day on our way to Denali and the hotel food was awful. Fortunately, a family member is a flight attendant for Alaska Air and where the flight attendants go, you are guaranteed some quality. This meal was amazing. The place is very attractive - lighting, decor, mix of high top and low top tables and it was packed on a Friday night. We had made a reservation and it was a good thing - no way we would have gotten a table. We ordered two drinks and two small plates - the cheese board and the pizza dip. The cheese board was amazing and more food than we could eat. The pizza dip was spicy and hot and gooey and just perfect. I doubt we'll be back anytime soon but if you find yourself in Fairbanks go to the Library! read more

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If you look at the ratings breakdown of all of the reviews, people either give this place a five-star rating or a one-star rating... you would think that The Library Bar & Bites was a polarizing politician! I am one of this folks giving this spot 5 stars. Mainly because the clams were the best I've ever had. What made the dish was the delicious sauce they were in. It was like a spicy curry sauce and it was so good I dipped my flatbread into it too! Be careful though, the dish is spicy! The Prosciutto and Arugula Flatbread was tasty and only made better by said sauce from my appetizer and I'm convinced that you won't find a better cocktail anywhere else in Fairbanks. Service was great and super welcoming, not sure what some others experienced but I was super pleased with my visit. read more

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French dip Friday for lunch. Elevated experience with fast, exceptional yumminess, and don't forget the handcrafted cocktails read more

The Library Bar & Bites - a plate of food - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

Don't let the exterior fool you. This is a sophisticated restaurant with a varied menu and creative bar. Try for reservations, but early seating is another option if you don't mind a hard departure time. read more

Great cocktails and ambiance, but service is more frigid than "Cold Mountain". Cocktails have always been great. Food is good for what/where it is. Ambiance is above average for Fairbanks. Sadly, their hostess seems to have a "Heart of Darkness" -- predictably rude, both while taking reservations and rushing diners out the door. The Library didn't live up to our "Great Expectations". read more

Okie let start of with if you're look for city vibes this is your spot. From the waitstaff to the ambience of inside. It has everything you want. The bartenders are knowledgeable and know exactly how to make their drinks. Food is upscale with a touch of Fairbanks. If you're looking for more than just beer and elbow to elbow this is your place. Make reservations if you try and just show up on the weekend you may be turned away or have to wait for seating. read more

The Library Bar & Bites - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

We are frequent travelers to Fairbanks and have always wished for a place like this. The vibe is soothing and the food is scrumptious. Our only wish is that it could replicate itself down in Lake Steven's, WA where we live. This will be my go to every night while in FB. THANK YOU, Larry for the attention to every detail. read more

The Library Bar & Bites - Seafood Bisque - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

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Was closed for renovations, with no mention of the closing on this site. Also seemed to be in a less than comfortable area for "out of towners". Hotel staff didn't know of establishment when asked about. read more

Can I say COOL and not because this is Fairbanks. Nice bar atmosphere. The place to see and be seen. Definitely a gathering place where you are sure to run into friends if you are a Fairbankian, which I am not but i was with a local. She was eager to go here as it had been open just a week. The drinks have clever names. I had the tequola mockingbird ×2 and freind had the Sound and the Slurry. So good. The shareables were also top notch. Roasted shishito peppers and the chicken pesto flatbrea, so tasty and thevperfect amount of food for two. The night we went the owner csme out to check on us. Such a warm and welcoming place. Great food, drink snd overall grest gathering place. read more

The Library Bar & Bites - Urban chic new hotspot. Great vibe ecellent food and cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

I love their cocktails but hate that they increased prices to $18/drink! Over $40 for just two drinks is crazy.

This was my first visit and I will definitely come back! Great atmosphere, excellent customer service, food was delicious, drinks were the bomb! I cannot eat spicy food, so they accommodated me by leaving out the a few ingredients. Highly recommend making a reservation. read more

The Library Bar & Bites - One flew over the cosmos nest! Not too sweet, slightly tart, all natural flavors! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

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What a great surprise this wonderful little restaurant is. We were searching for a local place to eat and had a hard time finding something until we stumbled upon The Library. Food delicious, atmosphere charming and comfortable our waitress/ hostess Julia so personable and welcoming. Dining here will be one of our Alaska trip highlights read more

Of the three places clients and vendors try to drag me to in this town that I don't like, this is the least offensive. It's just kinda bland bar food with pretensions. Unlike the other two corpo eateries I reviewed today, I wouldn't actually skip a lunch here- I'd just eat something afterwards that won't make me sad. read more

-Decor, drinks, & oysters were fabulous -Service uneven ~overly attentive at first, then completely ignored our requests (ie., more bread or crackers for the overly sweet cheese tray) -Cheese tray ~ embarrassing with 3 hard white cheeses, an enormous bowl of jam, dried fruit that didn't fit the cheeses, and too few bread/crackers for the amount of food on the plate. A soft cheese (Brie or Chèvre) and a cheese that differed from the others (a Bleu or an aged) would have elevated this plate immensely. Also, the only savory on the plate was what appeared to be a house pickle - it was lovely, but not enough to offset Costco crackers and 3 over-toasted pieces of baguette -Brussels sprouts - flavorless and disgusting presentation. I realize this establishment has only been open a short time and that this is Fairbanks, so many people may not care...but as one of the priciest spots to go for nibbles and drinks, I definitely expect more. read more

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This place is such a hidden gem in Fairbanks! Absolutely loved the good vibes and even better food. The brussels sprout appetizer was by far the most amazing version of brussels sprouts I've ever had. Take note that the jalapeños are extremely spicy though (coming from someone who normally loves spicy). Pictured is the BBQ chicken flatbread and the mushroom flatbread. The only reason I took one star away is because everyone's food came out in our party but my husbands and they brought his flatbread out after we had finished with no apology. read more

The Library Bar & Bites - Mushroom and Brie I believe - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

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The drinks are strong, the food is incredible and the bartender and chefs/ cooks were so kind and helpful! So happy with my experience and will come again the next time I'm in Alaska. I highly highly recommend the pulled pork mac and cheese. read more

The Library Bar & Bites - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

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So happy that they opened up. This is the place we've always needed in Fairbanks. A great cocktail bar with an OUTSTANDING drink menu and great nibbles menu. Finally a place to get decent wine by the glass, some excellent food a good atmosphere. Go early as they are deservedly popular and fill up quickly. I can't wait to go again and try more things from the menu. read more

The Library Bar & Bites - oysters! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

From the moment we entered the establishment, we felt VERY unwelcome. We asked for a table, when there was obviously enough seating, but the hostess made us come back 30 minutes later. We returned and had our meal served by an attentive waitress while the hostess continued with her stank face and attitude. After asking for our check and paying, we noticed the hostess while she walked over to the waitress and whispered under her breath "fifteen!" Mocking the fact that we tipped the waitress 15 dollars. The waitress acted shocked and rolled her eyes, saying "really!?" as if it was a joke. We were close enough to watch and hear their interaction which was very disappointing for a bar that we had high expectations for. After their interaction, the hostess walks back to our table and starts snatching cups and plates away from our table , saying that they need to throw in their dishwasher load. Mind you, there is a table of 6-8 people enjoying their dining experience at the table next to us. The hostess was very pretentious and needs to check her attitude at the door before she walks into an environment that should feel welcoming. We traveled from California and had high hopes for this place but we were underwhelmed by the experience as a result of the hospitality the hostess provided. In the case that the hostess was more welcoming and inviting, we would have left a far better review and tip. However, we believe it is a complete representation of the establishment and the dining experience that the staff provides. She should definitely find a job that's fit for her age and her attitude. read more

Fairbanks newest locally owned hotspot! Experienced bartenders and servers, divine cuisine, and the atmosphere is so warm and inviting. read more

The Library Bar & Bites - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

Great menu and delicious, unique food! It's a small place so call ahead or make reservations.

Very disappointed in the service by the hostess at this establishment. My friends were in town visiting from CA and I was very excited to take them to this LOCAL spot. Immediately felt un-welcomed by the hostess , she had a very pretentious condescending attitude . The waitress was absolutely fabulous and the bites and drinks were amazing. However, having worked in customer service I believe in the overall experience, and tonight it was not that. I also did not appreciate the difference in service with the group next to us. When we arrived we had to come back in 30 minutes due to "seating". This group arrived at closing time and were immediately seated, were offered drinks and bites, and were not RUSHED on the way out. If the customer Service was better it would have been a 5/5. Lastly, the hostess mocking a tip is completely unacceptable and has a complete disregard in taste. A tip is earned not guaranteed, so the waitress can thank the hostess for the tip she received. read more