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The Library

The Library

Dive Bar$$$$
East Village, New York
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7.4/10
573
ratings
  • Stars
  • Stars
    The experts at Serious Eats and The Corcoran Group recommend this place
    • Serious Eats
    • The Corcoran Group
  • Tips
    Lucy G.
    "One of the best jukeboxes I've ever come across."(17 Tips)
    Owen H.
    "I love this bar. Divey, cheap drinks, books on the shelves, punk rock, old..."(9 Tips)
    Shawn T.
    "The place is loud and they play old school movies on a projector!"(4 Tips)
    Jonathan R.
    "Come during happy hour and get buy one get one free drinks!"(10 Tips)
Tips and Reviews icon109 Tips and reviews
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  • Gothamist
    GothamistNovember 15, 2016
    Punk and post-punk reign on the popular jukebox at The Library. If you have a hard time choosing your three plays for a buck, helpful handwritten notes provide a little insight. Read more
    Upvoted Sep 22
  • Katherine K.heart icon on user image
    Katherine KruegerDecember 5, 2015
    I love this place. Great dive bar with low, warm lights, 2-for-1 happy hour drinks (if you tip!), and consistently great music. Plus the bartenders are v cool.
    Upvoted Sep 21
  • David H.heart icon on user image
    David HuApril 27, 2014
    Been here 5+ times
    If you come here during happy hour they'll give you a little critter with a beer. Don't get too attached to your new friend though, you can trade them in for a free drink!
  • The Corcoran Group
    The Corcoran GroupAugust 1, 2013
    We love to come here for happy hour for the 2-for-1 drinks, and also to see and play music from the old-school jukebox.
  • Lunar L.
    Lunar LNovember 8, 2011
    Been here 10+ times
    5-8pm 2-for-1 happy hr. Thurs ladies night 2-for-1 all night. Best jukebox. Possibly fave dive bar in the entire city. They know how to make em strong here. Bathrooms are disgusting, but it's great.
  • Yuri V.heart icon on user image
    Yuri VictorMarch 7, 2020
    Been here 100+ times
    A really good bar but why are the coasters so small?
  • Brittany T.
    Brittany ThompsonOctober 22, 2013
    Great bar. Very low key & chill. Unpretentious folks looking to enjoy a beer should check this place out. Don't forget to tip your bartenders!
  • Kate H.
    Kate HindSeptember 6, 2014
    Excellent juke box, cheap drinks, pitch black, writers on the wall, and you can probably get pregnant from the seats. Divetastic.
  • Audrey T.heart icon on user image
    Audrey TolbertOctober 29, 2014
    Divey but not too divey, this place still boasts a good beer selection while catering to the PBR and a shot crowd as well. Try to understand whatever weird ass movie they're showing.
  • Owen H.
    Owen HerterichAugust 28, 2016
    I love this bar. Divey, cheap drinks, books on the shelves, punk rock, old movies...all of my favorite things in one.
  • Katie H.heart icon on user image
    Katie HallSeptember 6, 2017
    Been here 100+ times
    Amazing bartenders. Amazing spot. Love.
  • Joseph S.heart icon on user image
    Joseph SmithSeptember 16, 2015
    The huevos rancheros was awesome. Our server helped us with the menu and had great pairing recommendations. Will definitely go back!
  • Garrett B.heart icon on user image
    Garrett BlackJanuary 12, 2017
    Come for the cheap beer, stay for the naked man shooting heroin on screen
  • Shawn T.heart icon on user image
    Shawn ThorntonApril 1, 2016
    A great place to share drinks and conversations with friends. The place is loud and they play old school movies on a projector!
  • Compass
    CompassJuly 24, 2013
    A projection screen and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves make this hip dive a respite from Houston Street chaos. The clientele drink PBR for just a few bucks, and locals wouldn’t have it any other way.
  • Ms H.
    Ms HeleneMarch 13, 2013
    A long and narrow bar, dimly-lit, cosy, grungey, friendly service, standard drinks, easy to get a seat early in the week, aka great neighborhood bar!
  • Katelyn L.
    Katelyn LMarch 25, 2012
    A jukebox with an impressive punk rock collection, and a projector that's always showing 50s-70s erotica. Rock out to The Clash with some Bettie Page strip teases in the background.
  • ᴡ Y.heart icon on user image
    ᴡ YoungNovember 5, 2016
    Can't beat the happy hour, also a very good place for an after-party gathering late night!
  • Pratheeksha K.heart icon on user image
    Pratheeksha KSJanuary 26, 2017
    Super cheap drinks, so much roomier on the inside. Great for groups, a quintessential East Village dive
  • Serious Eats
    Serious EatsMarch 6, 2013
    Drinks are cheap, the jukebox is well curated, the music is loud, B movies run on loop on a projector in the back, and it's dingy without being unpleasant.
  • Erin F.
    Erin FitzpatrickApril 30, 2013
    Been here 10+ times
    "I've been drunk for about a week now, & I thought it might sober me up to sit in a library." -The Great Gatsby
  • Tarik H.heart icon on user image
    Tarik HartJanuary 20, 2015
    Been here 5+ times
    Good jukebox. Cheap beer. Relaxed vibe. Thumbs up.
  • Alanheart icon on user image
    AlanDecember 14, 2012
    Been here 10+ times
    After midnight, you can loser up to a pube (Busch and whiskey) or El Guapo (24oz Tecate and tequila).
  • Joey C.
    Joey CoppedgeJanuary 27, 2013
    Spiked apple cider: done deal, do not wait to have it as your last drink it's SO delicious and completely worth the measly $7.00
  • Donia
    DoniaFebruary 12, 2015
    Been here 5+ times
    Fair drink prices and rad literature inspired art on the walls. I dig it.
  • Willy
    WillyApril 22, 2013
    Been here 10+ times
    This is a great place to take out-of-towners. It's disorienting without being overwhelming, and "only in New York" without being cliche.
  • Ishmael V.heart icon on user image
    Ishmael VasquezFebruary 14, 2016
    6 dollar Tecate tallboy, all day everyday. (32oz tallboy)
  • Shauna T.
    Shauna TagueOctober 25, 2011
    LOUD. But I LOVE it! Great music, cheap drinks. And they play some classic old movies on this huge projector. A lot of fun
  • Giovanni D.heart icon on user image
    Giovanni D'PalmaMarch 15, 2015
    Great local spot, awesome vibe and during the day has more interesting patrons
  • Y N.
    Y NApril 16, 2016
    See that comment below from "Michael Aiingorn" (Ayngorn, Einhorn, Aingorn, Aihnhorn, etc.)? He is a criminal scam artist. Don't accept one of his ATMs. The other 'real' name of his company is FTF Inc.
  • Julia K.
    Julia KJuly 4, 2011
    Been here 10+ times
    Awesome bar and a grrrrrreaaaat jukebox. People love to play Joy Division here, sprinkled with a bit of The Smiths and My Bloody Valentine. Clearly my cup of tea (/vodka).
  • Talia K.heart icon on user image
    Talia KrainesApril 10, 2023
    Been here 5+ times
    Great jukebox, fun lowkey bar
  • Lucy G.
    Lucy GoldsteinMay 15, 2011
    One of the best jukeboxes I've ever come across. Also, they play The Shining like ALL THE TIME, which is great if you like The Shining. (via Scoville) Read more
  • Damien C.heart icon on user image
    Damien COctober 15, 2016
    Laid back and unpretentious neighbourhood bar. Candlelit darkness inside.
  • L. T.heart icon on user image
    L. T.April 3, 2015
    Rude bar tenders who pretty much hate the patrons... But you can't complain with those prices! Great for pre/post gaming. Gets packed by 9-10ish.
  • Keith H.heart icon on user image
    Keith HobinSeptember 3, 2017
    Cheap drinks, good vibe, and they have a decent pickleback
  • Sarah N.heart icon on user image
    Sarah NixonFebruary 8, 2020
    Good deals - phenomenal bartender who looks after his patrons
  • Christine B.
    Christine BeOctober 11, 2010
    Been here 5+ times
    Run into Anton Newcombe. Dance with him. Have him comment on how long your tongue is when you catch a snowflake with it outside, then he'll start singing to you. Btw, happy hour will get you trashed.
  • Dez S.
    Dez S.February 24, 2013
    Been here 10+ times
    Get here for the 2 for 1 happy hour. Also play Blondie and T. Rex from the juke box.
  • Nick H.
    Nick HuddlestonSeptember 6, 2013
    Been here 25+ times
    $5 for a Busch beer & a shot of whiskey. "The Pube" is the best deal in town.
  • Ron C.heart icon on user image
    Ron CabreraNovember 21, 2014
    Ooooooooh yeah man, I come here for the 70's and 80's horror flicks they play in the back muahahahahaha!!!
  • Jack O.heart icon on user image
    Jack OsborneOctober 1, 2018
    Been here 5+ times
    Movies. Good tunes. Cheap beer. If I were a dive bar I'd maybe be this one.
  • Annie B.heart icon on user image
    Annie BJanuary 18, 2013
    Been here 5+ times
    This my one and only-ish bar! The bartenders make this place the place to be!
  • Osman C.heart icon on user image
    Osman ChaudharySeptember 28, 2018
    Been here 5+ times
    2 for 1 drinks during happy hourgood jukebox24oz tecates for $6
  • Laurenheart icon on user image
    LaurenMarch 27, 2013
    Cheep beer, great tunes and an awesome atmosphere. More, please!
  • Amanda H.
    Amanda HolpuchJuly 18, 2012
    This bar has Shel Silverstein graffiti and a rad juke box selection. What more could you want?
  • ripovheart icon on user image
    ripovJanuary 7, 2016
    Been here 100+ times
    Best dive bar in NYC
  • Rainbow L.
    Rainbow LASeptember 15, 2013
    Kick your self in the nutz if you love sicilian women who are former addicts!
  • Ryan G.
    Ryan GeeSeptember 27, 2013
    One of the only bars at which I've heard iron maiden. I loved it.
  • Alex R.
    Alex RobertsonApril 29, 2022
    Liz is a great bartender. Hittin that airbar
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