This place gets a bad rap, but it's honestly my favorite spot in SLO to get weird. Whenever I'm in town, this is my go to place for drinking/dancing. Let me tell you why. They have a great staff. From the folks working the front like Billy to the guys inside like Rick the bartender who makes awesome drinks to Wes who makes sure the place is spotless. All the times I've come here, the music has been great and my drinks were always on point. I'm particularly a fan of the DJ who plays 90s hiphop on the regular. Another plus is that they have an outdoor area where you can smoke. I don't personally partake, but the fresh air is nice after sweating your worries away on the dance floor all night. It's usually filled with college kids who do too much and end up puking or making bad decisions in a corner. Just to give you an example I'm of why the staff is on point, a couple of weeks ago I was in town with friends having a girls night out when someone tried to put a damper on our night. We were at the bar waiting for Rick to make our drinks and noticed a guy by himself babysitting a drink. A girl walked up to the bar and stood next to us. Not even a few seconds later she turns to the guy and yells at him to not touch her butt. The guy apologized and said it was an accident. I knew it wasn't. A few seconds later he does it again, this time she yelled louder and left. I was surprised she let is slide because I honestly thought she was going to clock him. My friend decided to stand next to him while she waited for her drink. And what does the guy do? He grabbed her butt too. Not okay. She told him to stop and he had the look on his face like he didn't know what was happening. You would think he'd stop, but homeboy was clearly stupid. My friend turned away and he did it again. This time around, we told Rick who then called Wes over and kicked the guy out. In summary, if you're into 90s hip hop, good drinks and appreciate outdoor areas, this place is your friend. read more

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This place is absolutely off the wire. They are really disrespectful and offered my friend drugs for some reason. Honestly this used to be one of my favorite spots but recently it feels like they've changed and started going in a really bad direction. Please just be careful. read more

I wish I could rate this place zero stars. My friend and I, within the past week, have gotten their real IDs taken as 22 year olds. We both have called and they didn't answer the call so we had to order new ID's. I have been there over 20 times since living in slo but the bouncer with long brown hair is on a power trip and my lawyer friend said she is looking into it. honestly, i loved it and it was my favorite spot but just be careful please because they seem like they've become kind of bad people. oo read more

Had a bachelorette trip for my sis and we ended up here for the rest of the night! It was a lot of fun. Really good throw backs and drinks were pretty good price. Small cover charge on a Saturday night. read more

The Library - Bars Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Please update hours and work on customer service skills . I hate when the staff is so anxious to depart before closing and rushed paying customers read more

Ahole security guards before you even get into the place. "They have a no backpack policy so you need to leave it outside" Who asks people to leave their personal belongings outside the place. And no they won't watch them nor be responsible read more

Good vibes and a bunch of people having fun dancing. I liked the music a lot, a good amount of early 2000s remixes. A lot of pretty women and young people too read more

DO NOT GO HERE OR SUPPORT THIS PLACE This place USED to be one of my favorite spots to go to in downtown until Friday night (12/29/23) I was leaving the bar and witnessed an OBVIOUSLY drunk girl walking in. The male bouncer checked her ID and let her in, then the girl that sits there opposed the bouncer and told her she couldn't go in (understandable because she was VERY drunk). BUT then this SOBER female worker proceeded to aggressively push this drunk girl out of the doorway, which encouraged the drunk girl to take a swing. The drunk girl then fell on the ground and this SOBER female worker started to stand over her and punch her multiple times while she was on the ground and DRUNK. People eventually pulled her off, but if your workers can't control themselves and are gonna beat on a blacked out girl while she's down, I DO NOT support this place. If you're gonna work at a bar, learn to control yourself around helpless drunk people. This was so unprofessional and I really hope that drunk girl is okay and this female bouncer gets FIRED. My friends and I will not be returning read more

Went here to celebrate a birthday. First time for all of us in SLO and had the WORST EXPERIENCE! Got harassed by the security guard MIGUEL SOTO (who was also allowing underage girls in from the back). He literally busted open the mens bathroom AND RIPPED ME OFF THE TOILET WHILE I WAS PEEING!!! First of all it's 2022 why is it a problem that I'm using a "mens bathroom" second of all the girls bathroom was FLOODED. Water all over the bathroom floor and smelled absolutely terrible. Don't know what allows a man to think it's okay to GRAB A WOMAN OFF THE TOILED MID PEE but stay AWAY from this place ladies these men in uniform think they're hot shit. Will be filing a lawsuit. Stop hiring pervy men who take advantage of their uniform. Stay AWAY from Miguel Soto! Image of him is under "Photos" read more

The Library - Miguel Soto - Bars Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

love coming to this bar at night.Its so fun and the music is always popping.The service is amazing,my drinks comes out delicious.Theres no fights of anything too crazy everyone is happy and wanting to dance read more

Karaoke night was a blast unfortunately the bar tenders worked at below snail pace and made us wait nearly 30 minutes for a drink after several attempts at trying to get their attention. read more

We went there and girls toilets were flooded completely, so we used the boys. We were literally ripped off the toilet (while peeing) by a guy who then kicked us out with pee coming down. Do not go. Girls beware read more

This the worst staff I've ever come across. I wish I could give less than one star. Rude, arrogant, inhospitable, & assholes. Went out for a good time and left assualted. read more

Very cool name but there was no library themed anything inside that I could see. Nice bartender, large window table was cool to watch busy downtown SLO on a Saturday night. Music was a bit loud but okay but it turned even louder at about 10 so we left. Good place for an early drink. read more

The Library - Bars Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Waited in line for 15 minutes to be told that if we don't have a stamp we can not enter even though they didn't close for another hour and 15 minutes. read more

Oh Library, it's been way too long. The place sounds like our DTLA "Library bar" however, it's totally different atmosphere and everything else. I do not remember this place having music on repeat so many times.. Possibly new DJ or a bad night? The music and the crowd used to be poppin where all the students and adults would have a great time. It's one of the closest club/dance bars like the ones they would have in SF and LA, not sure no more. I had no complains with their drinks because they were good pours, however, the DJ was horrible that Saturday night. It's still a bit small inside, and if you're there on a crowded night, prepare for some squeezing between people and have drinks poured on you. Try to claim the tables on the side between anyone does. At least you and your friends will have a place to leave your jacket and a place to sit while someone goes getting drinks. If you want to dance and don't mind the squeezing into the dance floor, feel free to. You cannot miss the dance floor when you walk in, because it's just RIGHT there. Overall, this place is okay. I've bumped into mostly Bay area people and LA people saying that this is the closest club/bar they have in SLO. It's a hit or miss kind of deal here. Best part would be, there's no cover charge. read more

Every city, or rather, every college town has that one kind of divey but all around good time bar. When I first walked by, I could hear the 90's music bumping, the disco/strobe lights flashing and just a couple of random people dancing around. Dude. This is soooo my kind of place. I hurried to meet my friends and dragged them back here. By this time, the bar had filled up a bit more but we got in quickly with no cover. A couple of rounds of whiskey shots later and I was really feeling this place. By the way, their shots here are more like two shots. Mother's next door was pouring half the size for shots. I liked the music and dark, chill vibe so much that I left our party the second night and went back here again. Two nights in a row and unfortunately, both times were much too short. Luckily, I know a few places like this back home. But if you find yourself in SLO, I'd suggest either this place or Mother's for your dancing pleasure. read more

After coming from Mother's Tavern I was a bit disappointed. It was so cramped and the flow of everything was just terrible. Once you make your way to the bar to get a drink, it's impossible to go anywhere else. The building is extremely narrow so you really can't move around. Pros: Good music..(at least the night we went) and no cover. Cons: Crowded with a really poor design. read more

If you love hip-hop music, this is definitely the club to be! Even though the place is small, the DJ's, alcohol & music make up for it. Definitely a college crowd/scene, so dance with caution. For those that are complaining, just make the best of it or get some drinks to loosen up. ;) read more

The Library - Some guy photobombing. - Bars Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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This place is no frills, strong drinks at reasonable prices. Get there early so you can snag one of the few tables, which is great for people watching and having some personal space. The Bacardi girls came by with some Bacardi and coke shots in cute little mugs. The music was loud and the dance floor was packed. It was a great mix of people of all ages. I had some delicious shots - Chocolate Cake and Spiced Apple, and unfortunately, the biggest tequila shot I've ever seen - I think it was 8oz. I had a lot of fun, but will never drink tequila again! read more

The Library - The LIbrary - Bars Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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great bar but y'all need to do something about the main DJ, i almost had a heat stroke and didnt even care because the music was so bad. a playlist from spotify would have been better read more

Reasons why I gave it a 1/5 wish I could give a 0.. Guys bathroom stall has no door.. no door! Why isn't this fixed?! Ordered a Long Island ice tea (sis in law got it for me, her treat I said get me whatever) it tasted Horrible!!! Anyone ever had the cheapest vodka aka PoPov? comes in a plastic bottle.. it taste just like rubbing alcohol... well that's how my drink tasted... They have zero beer selection on tap.. honestly like 4 beers on tap the rest you order as a can or bottle and charge you $6-8 for a can or bottle.. bruh... There was a DJ and played some whack music but the thing that made it worse was the music was so loud I couldn't talk to anyone let alone a bar tender which you need to tackle people to make your way in and be known Last but not least it was OVER PACKED!! Why have the guys outside if they can't count?! No joke we got shoved so many time it was irritating we couldn't even dance because you bump in to everyone... Left to a brewery down the street better beer, better prices, more room, better music If you like your girls 21 years or younger come here, you like hood rats come here, don't care what you drink? come here! Come one come all! -sarcasm read more

This is a club for the 25 and under crowd. I've been there done that as far as grid locked clubs go. You'd have to be pretty determined to push your way through to the bar. There was a $10 cover last night. I'd have to say that's absolutely ridiculous especially when there's no live music or any sort of love entertainment. Won't be back. Not my cup of tea. read more

Oh man. Does this place feel like late nights and deep regrets... Granted, that can be the perfect setting for a great night out ;) but I can't think of a reason to come here. If you are under the age of 25 maybe, but after that? I'd like to hear your reasons for return visits. The music is awful. Nothing but rap and hip hop. Obviously this is totally personal preference, but I can't review this place for your musical tastes, just mine. So...awful music. It's so small too, if you're looking for a place to be smeared and prodded by a ton of dudes looking for ladies, this will be your jam, otherwise, like me, you'll wish your friends hadn't suggested coming here. The bar is fine, they serve alcohol. You can't talk to anyone, just use hand and mouth movements to communicate what you want. In that sense the bartenders excel. Reading lips is not easy. There is a small back patio cage (it literally is an exterior cage attached to the building. You come here if you want to, talk and be heard, and/or smoke. Alternatively you could leave and talk normally. The smoking I get, but you can do that at Frog and Peach too which I would take any day over this place. read more

Total dive bar with long lines for what I don't know. The floor is beyond sticky, the bathrooms are horrendous and the bartenders are overwhelmed. You will on a friday night be packed in here arm to arm and can barely walk. Its a typical college place and the drinks can be decent depending on who is pouring. I've seen more people puke in this bar than anywhere in slo, and smoking week on the back patio unbeknownst to the bouncers. Id come back it it wasn't a friday night but I sure hope they hire a cleaning crew, and that crew is going to earn their money. read more

I used to use my mom's credit card to buy my college buddies beer at 'the Library.' Mom would get the monthly bill and then gladly pay it, because she assumed that I was buying books at the county library every Friday night. Well-priced drinks, cool owner, and the kind of crowd that will back you up in a bar fight. My book collection never grew, but my group of friends did. :) read more

This place ABSOLUTELY RUINED my 21st birthday. Huge mistake making it my first stop downtown that night. My birthday was on a Saturday, so I knew it would be packed downtown, but I just wanted to go in to take the Statue of Liberty shot and get out of there. There was a line outside and I was with a group of people but was able to get inside with some friends somehow who were already waiting in line. The douche bag bouncer at the door wouldn't let my boyfriend in to see me take my first legal shot (he didn't have cash and couldn't pay the $3 cover). My parents were also with me and when my Dad tried to argue with the bouncer, he actually laid his hands on my Dad, a sixty-year-old man, and forcibly pushed him out of the way. I vowed never to go there again after that, but I decided to give it a second chance another night because the bouncer (one whom I had never seen before) tried to lure us in by telling us their drinks were 2-for-1, so my boyfriend and I went inside for a drink. There was a $10 minimum for cards, which was fine, so we told the bartender to give us another drink to just set us over the $10 minimum. We FINALLY got our drinks from the bartender and eventually got the check back and it was nearly $20! When we asked him if the drinks were 2-for-1 like the bouncer said they would be, he asked us if we had a "2-for-1 card", and we didn't. The bouncer was supposed to give us a card to give to the bartender but instead had lured us in without giving us the card, causing us to pay for way more drinks than we were prepared to pay for. Bottom line: slimy, rude staff and creepy crowd. AVOID, AVOID, AVOID. read more

Nice little place to go a study ( Drinking). Visit this joint every time I visit San Luis Obispo.

Yes, this place is super ghetto. I advise the girls that come here to NEVER wear open toed shoes...there are always spilt drinks and God know what else on the floors. It's always smelly and the windows are without a doubt fogged up because it's so freaking hot inside. Usually when I tell my friends I'm going to the Library, they are always puzzled and say "Ew, why??" But despite all negative things I just wrote about, I've had some of the best college memories from this place. This bar (to me) by far plays the BEST music to dance to. This is why my roommate and I always went here. Their drinks are super strong and usually twice the size of drinks compared to the other bars nearby. Best thing to do here if you don't like to dance...people watch. The Library attracts the most diverse and interesting group of people in the Central Coast. read more

Was at this "classy" bar last night.. I am a male, was wearing a tank top shirt, and was asked by the bouncer to put on a shirt... I gestured to a girl wearing far less clothing than I was, and was promptly told that "she didn't need a shirt" I would never return to a venue with such ridiculously sexist views on men. Outraged is an understatement.. The venue itself was very overcrowded, dirty, and the DJ was playing music from over five years ago... All things I could forgive from a bar if they didn't have such lopsided dress standards. Don't waste your time with this close minded establishment. read more

A-OK for SLO standards. Typical college bar I guess. I've been a few times and there usually isn't a cover (see below). Bar is smaller than others in the area and has a SMALL dance floor with some places to sit and a smoking area in the back. Dark, loud, and crowded, like most other places around. Most recent visit was last week for a friends birthday. After having our fun at DTB, we headed over to the library at around 1am to get a few more drinks before the night ended. We were surprised to be told that there was a $3 cover. We were a fairly decent sized crowd and even explaining that we just wanted to buy some drinks before last call, they still insisted on the cover. Or, the guy said, come back at 1:10 and it will be free. Really? It's already 1. You can't just let us in now? Whatever. 15 minutes later we come back, and guess what, there's still a cover! But oh, it's *only* $1 now. Yes, it's just a buck, but I find it ridiculous that you would 1. flat out lie to your customers like that 2. try to charge cover when you're gonna close in a few minutes After that, I probably wouldn't come here again, unless I was dragged along by my friends. read more

Woah..What happened? I think I tripped and fell into a car on my drunk stumble over here. Maybe I was accosted by one of the four transients in downtown SLO. Either way I must've perished and had my beliefs shattered in front of me because this HAS to be Hell... Nope. Its the Library. My bad people..my bad. This is the ultimate for the "Omg-im so drunk- i just wanna dance and spill drinks and scream that every song that comes on is about me-dude bra this place is as good as bong rips with Nati Ice" crowd. Listen, I'm not bad mouthing dancing, I've been known to get my Dishwasher on (washin, washin, rack em to dry, rack em to dry) but this place caters more for finding that person thats juuuust drunk dry hump you for a couple hours and maybe a sloppy make out, and I'm just not havin it. On top of that though, its small, dark, somewhat seedy, and draws a lame crowd. However is not ALL bad. My beer was nice and cold...and umm.. oh the bouncer told me my girlfriend was hot. So umm.. theres that. read more

Pro: Special drinks Con: Loud, noisy, watered down, smoky, bad air Under no condition should you come to this place... it's pretty much torture to get in and torture to stay. This place is full of Jersey Shore wannabes and people that dash in to observe the madness. Skip this place. read more

My shoes were sticking to the floor as I attempted to walk from the front door to the bar. Overcome by the effort and fear of falling onto this sticky mess, I decided to turn around and find another place to get drunk. At least a place that if I fell down, I might have a chance of regain an upright stance instead of being mired in who knows what on that floor. Drive Bar Rating ***** **** (see SLO Drive Bar List) Drive Bar Rating Factors: (1 * for each) Small *, dark *, seedy characters on bar stools *, windows and floors could use a wipe *, good drinks *, smart ass folks on both sides of the bar, locals hang out *, clandestine meetings * in the far corners of the lounge or the bathrooms, extra points for smell *, tacky design and poor service *. Hint: Costco and Home Depot both have mops for sale! read more

This place is trashy! the only reason my friends and i come here is for 2-for1 drinks on tuesdays! so this place is only good for "pre-partying" before going to other bars on tuesdays. read more

The Library is my favorite late night bar to go to, as long as they have a good crowd. They've got great music, lots of lights, and a small dance floor at the front - it's definitely a younger crowd. They have a lot of drink specials, especially 2-for-ones. The bartenders are nice also. Not much more you can say about a solid bar with a dance floor. read more

The Library - The Statue of Liberty birthday drink! - Bars Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT RACKET??!!! Oh, it's what the DJ is playing and calling "music". I'm low maintenance when it comes to finding a spot to grab drinks, listen to music and shake what my mama gave me...but whatever it was that the DJ at the Library was playing made shaking anything pretty impossible! He'd play a great dance song, but would mix in some techno sound effect that would ruin it. Here's a tip: not every song translates into a techno mix very well! One more tip: if the crowd is dancing, leave it alone! Oh yes, then the DJ's "hype man" would grab the mic and yell "go DJ, that's my DJ...". Grrreat.... Anyway, 2 stars because although the music sucked, I was able to consume some libations and the company I was with made it a fun night. read more

Oh lordy you havn't changed a bit and I love you for that. Stiff drinks, loud music, dark lighting making my look utterly perfect, and a mixed crowd raning from grizzlled old patron to the young 18yr old I have a fake id and you know it because I am still a size zero college student. The bartenders here may have changed but the essence that is the library still has not. Hit this place up on my impromtu personal pub crawl and def decided i needed water after my vodka with soda flavouring (my favvvsss!) This place get hot so quickly so it is def one of my fav bars to hit up in winter when it gets slightly chillier. (not that slo ever actually get cold). read more

The Library has a small dance floor if that's what you want. Good luck finding somebody to dance with though. Small bar. read more

Decent DJ, huuge drinks, weird crowd. Its great as long as you have a good buzz and are ready to dance and ignore the sketchy guys. The drinks are large, and you can get your moneys worth and a good buzz out of a few. read more