(212) 375-1352

7 Ave A (nr. Houston St.)
New York, NY 10009 40.7226 -73.9862

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Neighborhoods: Alphabet City, East Village, Downtown

Hours:

Daily, noon-4am

Last updated 8.28.11

Category:

Bars & Pubs , Neighborhood Bars , Taverns

Payment Methods:

Visa , Discover , MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Jukebox , Happy Hour

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Library

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

Its name connotes images of books and papers strewn willy-nilly about tabletops. And while students from neighboring NYU and Cooper Union do make up the bulk of its clientele, little studying is ever actually done at this grimy, but wallet-friendly, East Village pub. The Library is a dive, but it's a welcoming one with a comprehensive rock jukebox and a party-prone atmosphere on the weekends.

Editor's Tips

When to Go:
On Tuesdays, get a round from the "Grab bag o' beers." Reach in and pull out a Killian's, Molson, Pacifico and more for $2.50.
Save Money:
Happy hour is a seven-day-a-week extravaganza from 5pm to 8pm with a two-for-one deal.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The bartenders are really fun and crazy.”
drinks
92.5% positive
  1. “like low key, but this bar was just dank and unpleasant.”
  2. “The bartenders are really nice, and the drinks are strong.”
  3. “Also they have awesome drink specials.”
  4. “Great bar.”
  5. “love this bar.”
  6. “this place is by far one of the most entertaining spots to drink in mid afternoon.”
  7. “If you like Bud, Bourbon, and Rock and Roll pull up a stool and drink.”
  8. “The bartenders are always friendly and make their drinks strong as hell.”
  9. “This place is not pretentious- the bathrooms are nasty (and I can personally attest to having quickies in there), the drinks (especially the shots) are very large and very strong, and the music and regulars can be obnoxious.”
  10. “the bar staff are friendly enough and there's usually some obscure b-movie horro.”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “The owner owns Eddies next store so you can order food in.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “BUT other things haven't changed-if you like good independent label music and hanging out with interesting, smart, artistic, somewhat antisocial people (aside for some suits that hang out during h-hour) then this is the place.”
  2. “This a great place because the bartenders.”
service
100.0% positive
  1. “The bartenders are really fun and crazy.”
  2. “Don't try to make friendly with the new bartenders, just get your 2 for 1 and play your smiths social distortion and big star.”
  3. “Best damn bartenders in the city.”
  4. “This a great place because the bartenders.”
  5. “If you keep your eyes open you can meet awesome people here.”
  6. “the bar staff are friendly enough and there's usually some obscure b-movie horro.”
  7. “The bartenders are always friendly and make their drinks strong as hell.”
  8. “Everyone is friendly.”
  9. “love the bartenders and I love kendra.”
  10. “The bartenders are really nice, and the drinks are strong.”
  11. “BUT other things haven't changed-if you like good independent label music and hanging out with interesting, smart, artistic, somewhat antisocial people (aside for some suits that hang out during h-hour) then this is the place.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/01/11

Come Here!

by ThatGuyJoe at Citysearch

Walk passed this place all the time and I finally decided to go in - great decision!

Bartender was super friendly, nieighborhood feel that I really appreciated.

The atmosphere encourages conversation, but the business of the day is drinking!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/21/09

Kristen and Thursday nights are AMAZING

by letmerecommend at Citysearch

this place has gotten a great makeover. its still got the grime of a LES bar, but they re-did the bathrooms (CLEAN, with MIRRORS!!) and the bar it self has cleaned up, not so grungy and dirty as it used to be.

Thursday nights with Kristen are half price for chicks all NIGHT!! go!! and put on some social distortion on the jukebox :)

  • Pros: big yummy drinks, hot bartenders, NEW CLEAN BATHROOMS
  • Cons: none
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/10/08

Seedy, deliciously so.

by brandnew10 at Citysearch

Alright... how to begin? This IS the lower east side bar. You have to be looking for an experience if you're going to have a good time here- the main attractions are the crazy kung fu/ horror movies playing on constant rotation, the ridiculously loud punk music, and rock-n-roll bartendresses. They will give you an attitude, and if you want to keep up you have to have a sense of humor . This place is not pretentious- the bathrooms are nasty (and I can personally attest to having quickies in there), the drinks (especially the shots) are very large and very strong, and the music and regulars can be obnoxious. This is what people miss about the LES. If you keep your eyes open you can meet awesome people here. As in artists, Burning Man attendees, body piercers and the like.

  • Pros: THE les bar
  • Cons: Not relaxing, you have to be confident to have any fun.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/02/07

Best Dive I've ever seen.

by carpenter816 at Citysearch

I've travelled all over the world both as a tourist and on business, but I must say that this is the greatest dive that I've ever seen. It possesses both the charm of a centuries old irish pub and the hipness of an old-school punk bar. The bartenders are skilled yet down to earth. Be sure to stop in on a Thursday to see Kristin. She must have been the most endearing whiskey-slinger that I've ever met. After all, it's not every day that a hundred-pound girl can outdrink me.

  • Pros: Everything
  • Cons: There's only one
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/25/06

Best Lushy bartenders

by eastvillagekids at Citysearch

you can walk into library bar any day , at any time and you are guaranteed to leave drunk and with a smile on your face. girls are always welcomed - I recently ended up in there on a saturday afternoon with my girlfriends and we had such an fab time getting drunk with the super sweet bartender. Best of all we never felt uncomforable with our fellow boy customers at any time.

PS.. best jukebox in NYC, best bloody-marys from Kristen , best Margaritas from Judy

  • Pros: Friendly lushy bartenders, cheap drinks, great jukebox
  • Cons: can get super busy

The Details on Library

Place Categories:

  • really fun damn bartenders
  • like place
  • best damn jukebox
  • love bar
  • good damn happy hour
  • not noticeably lacking menu
  • epecially ugly clientele
  • like rock
  • obnoxious regulars
  • great soundtrack
  • love kendra
  • like bourbon
  • best juke
  • like bud
  • most entertaining spots
  • great makeover
  • like burning man attendees
  • like the
  • best bloodymarys
  • obnoxious music
  • nasty bathrooms
  • not bad library
  • interesting people
  • good care
  • great tunes