The Bookstore Speakeasy

I sat at the bar with my husband a couple weeks ago and had an incredible time. The artistry in the drinks was so impressive and the food was very good for being hidden away in a smaller town. Fabulous escargot! Max might just be one of the best bartenders I have seen anywhere, but you could tell the whole staff loves their job. We would live here if we lived closer!!!

It was our 1^st time at this establishment this past weekend. What a great place. I was blown away with atmosphere and ambiance. The food was excellent, entertainment was awesome, and staff what top notch.

This place is super cool!
Expensive, but worth it. Def will be back.
Very authentic feeling. No windows, all candle light.
Loud but private feel to it. Age ranges from 21−50+
The food was great. Of course you need to get a drink if you go! Drinks are also great.
Go when it’s jazz night

I dined here for the first time recently & I absolutely loved the feel of the restaurant-​very cool & unique!!! Definitely nothing like I have ever experienced in a restaurant.
Pros: awesome décor, romantic ambiance, fantastic band, delicious food & drinks, friendly staff (although the hostess seemed a bit on the cranky side), the manager was a delight to interact with, the food was beautifully presented
Cons: the underside of our table was sticky, unisex bathrooms that smelled like urine (thanks fellas-​ugh)
The menu needs a little work: We assumed that when we ordered the cheese & meat plate (for 2) that we would get a little of each cheese & meat listed on the menu but that is not the case. The waitress said that we could pick 1 meat & 1 cheese; which was a bit disappointing. That should be noted on the menu. Nonetheless, the plate was tasty!
There aren’t any prices listed on the drink menu. I had 2 mixed drinks, both of which were 4−6oz– & when we got the bill I saw that they were $ 12 ea. If I had known that I would have gotten 1 mixed drink & then switched to beer.
I noticed that our waitress was «new». She was fumbling a little & received some help from other servers. Having been a waitress myself, I totally understood how she was feeling & we didn’t make mention of this at all. Well to our surprise, at the end of the night she presented us with a $ 10 off coupon for being patient with here as she worked through her first Friday night (again, we never said anything). So that was a pleasant surprise but was not necessary. She did a good job.
Visually my cons list looks longer but the pros totally outweighed the cons! We had a fabulous time & are looking forward to going back soon! A definitely MUST visit if you haven’t already been!

Fantastic!!! This place is a gem! The food is delicious and the ambiance is wonderful!

I’ve been a long-​time fan of the bookstore, but I’m disappointed after the change to new management. They really set the tone with a long, self-​important list of rules on the first page of the menu — «Don’t touch the oil lamps or we will replace them with a plastic candle.» «Texting while out with your friends is rude, they are there to see you, not the top of your head.»
For my drink, I ordered a Sazerac, and it just tasted like watered down whiskey. None of the other ingredients appeared to be present, except for the flamed orange twist on top. Thankfully they did replace the drink free of charge.
The new menu is poorly formatted and uses different font sizes inconsistently throughout. If there’s extra room on the page, don’t just make the font larger to fill it.
The new a-​la-​carte sides for entrees seemed low class. A nice restaurant will serve you sides that go with the dish.
Disappointed with what used to be my favorite cocktail place.

We went for dinner to celebrate my gf’s birthday. Very cool, awesome, & different atmosphere complete with a wonderful jazz band. The chickpea popcorn was surprising & unbelievably good!!! Our clams & other large plate entrees were delicious. Yes, they were pricey, but worth it!!! Fantastic place for special occasions!!! We really enjoyed the place, & look forward to returning sometime in the future.

I really used to love going to The Bookstore. Well crafted, creative cocktails, tasty and unique menu items, and great ambiance with the lighting and live music. The past two times I have been to The Bookstore were less than ideal. Once in the fall we had made a reservation for 10:30 on a Thursday night. When we arrived, on time for our reservation, they turned us away saying the kitchen and bar were closing because there were too few customers.
Fast forward to this week. We had a party of about 10. Apparently there is a new chef and the menu is entirely different. Service was fine, but the new menu items are quite misleading. We ordered the black truffle and garlic fries with homemade ketchup to accompany our drinks… the fries were indistinguishable from fries that have been sitting under a heat lamp in a dining hall and the ketchup tasted like a mixture of Heinz and mayo. When we expressed our concern to the waitress that we received regular fries, she told us that the taste was «very subtle». Apparently it is so subtle that it is entirely absent… A friend also ordered the rice cakes and said they were unflavored and bland… albeit they were rice cakes. Another ordered a meat and cheese plate, which used to be a staple of our times at the bookstore, but the chorizo was almost stale in flavor.
Overall the drinks are still fantastic and the waitstaff is friendly and willing to recommend drinks based on your taste.
I’d recommend staying away from the new menu and sticking with drinks.

I remember walking past the door to the Bookstore my freshmen year in college on the way to Riteaid. I saw it and thought, «What the hell is this hole in the wall bookstore?» Little did my underaged self know, that was EXACTLY the point. It is a speakeasy themed bar and restaurant, with a «bookstore» as a front. Their menus are even pasted into vintage books.
It has some of the best craft cocktails I have ever experienced. I didn’t think I would ever associate Bethlehem, PA with a memory of classy anything, but The Bookstore vehemently proved me wrong with their high class cocktails. I MISS this place and will definitely be back when I come for reunions!

Absolutely amazing! The specialty drink combinations are incredible. The variety unmatched.
The cheese plates is expensive, but provides generous portions!
We only had the scallops small plate and it was tasty.
Great atmosphere and live band is a plus!
Make sure you have reservations…

Been here a few times… food is very good but this is not a cheap outing.
The menu ranges from gourmet burgers and sandwiches to
The handmade cocktails are REALLY good but at $ 12 each, you might want to pace yourself. True to its name, finding it the first time was an adventure.
Street parking (meters) nearby.
I’ve not heard live music here, but would like to.
You can get away with casual, but I’d aim for business casual.
One more thing: it is very dark inside, so bring a flashlight or smart phone to read the menu.

Overall: Gem in Bethlehem, but sometimes felt like an imitation of the higher end cocktail bars that have paved the way for places like this. They need to work out some kinks to reach 5 stars in my book.
Drinks: Drinks were well crafted and delicious (the William Henry Pratt was my favorite next to whatever the bartender concocted based on my request for «absinthe, something strong, and on fire» which included gin and green chartreuse which I love). But, the liquor selection was a bit questionable at times. The best option for white rum was Bacardi (really?). However, everything ultimately tasted good, and isn’t that the point?
Service: All of the bartenders were knowledgeable and friendly. However, I am not a fan of the system of rotating bartenders. I strongly feel that when you sit at the bar, only one bartender should be helping and serving you all night in order to build a relationship; I’d rather not be served by 3 different bartenders. Additionally, another big reason patrons sit at the bar is to watch their drinks being made; unfortunately, most of the drinks were made at the middle of the bar where the ingredients were located instead of in front of us (except for the one time I specifically requested it).
Atmosphere: Great underground, speakeasy feel with low ceilings, books, lanterns, candles, and music. My only complaint was that the music was a tad too loud so that I couldn’t exactly «speakeasy.»

The Bookstore Speakeasy embodies everything that I love in life — unique and hand-​crafted cocktails, bar food done right, live music, great service, cool location. It really does not get any better than this.
It has been a year since I last came here, and my expectations were very high, so I knew that there was potential to be let down. Fortunately, the opposite happened and my experience was better than my last.
Our party of 2 made reservations a month ago for Halloween night at 9:00 pm. Upon arrival, we were seated in a great spot right by but not too close to the live band. Immediately I realized that some work had been done to the interior– it didn’t seem as crowded and there were some other elements that appeared updated — whatever they did, it’s a job well done! Speakeasy vibes are hard to emit, but I was definitely picking up what Bookstore was putting down — they are doing it right for sure.
The drink and food menu was more extensive than I remembered it being. Last time I was here I had the William Henry Pratt cocktail and it blew me away, so I had to order it again. It was just as good as I remembered– the cracked black pepper was the star ingredient that brought everything together.
Food: We went with the calamari, house pickles, pork ribs, periogies, and the Kobe burger. The calamari was probably my least favorite thing I had — it was very good, but in comparison to everything else lacked a little something. The pickles were tangy, crispy and earthy. I couldn’t have just one. The ribs were fall off the bone perfection, and the periogies came with chorizo sausage that added a nice depth and spice to each bite. Out of all of the food, the burger was the best. It was nothing short of spectacular — the meat melted in my mouth, and the onion jam added a great sweetness and acid balance.
The Hemmingway Daiquiri cocktail that I ordered next was delicious — I really enjoyed the flavor combinations. I finished the night with a New Deal cocktail– probably the best one I had that night.
If you have not been here, you MUST give it a try.

After basically being a guest of the new manager, Hillary, I felt that an updated review was necessary.
As I said, the restaurant is under new management, and they’ve made so many changes that have improved a wonderful space. Esthetically, those awful curtains to the rooms are gone, the walls seem a lighter color, and the room has been expanded for more seating. The menu has been overhauled, too. TONS — and I mean, TONS — of new cocktails have been added. The Bookstore added more snacks and small plates, and the entrees are awesome, too.
And by «more snacks and small plates,» I mean my friend and I couldn’t stop eating. The bruschetta, the shrimp tacos, the cheese and meat plate. And the cocktails, oh the cocktails. I started with the sneaky bubbles and never wanted to leave. All of this great food and drink was topped off with wonderful service from Hillary, and I could tell the rest of the staff had really stepped it up too — bartenders delivering drinks, attentive servers, etc.
This review deserved an upgrade and the Bookstore deserves another visit, too. I can’t wait to go back.

This place was awesome. Quaint and unforgettable. Food was delicious but service was even better. Loved our bartender and the band was magical.

The is one of the best experiences my wife and I have ever had at any restaurant. The food is AMAZING!
Very romantic and very quaint.
You MUST give the Bookstore Speakeasy a try, you owe it to yourself and you romantic other the great experience.
The service is outstanding and the food is like I said earlier amazing. The prices are very fair.

Five stars for drinks! Their cocktails are exclusive. No joke! The boyfriend and I each had two and I wanted more! Highly recommend to order the Mata Hati, Tuesday Brunch, and Bartender’s Choice. Beautiful crystal glasses served with the drinks. Food is decent– of all the things I ate the meat and cheese plate is the best. We sat at the bar so had the wonderful experience of watching two cheeky/​semi sarcastic bartenders — excellent service coming from them two nonetheless — make cocktails and some light conversation here and there. I wish I kept drinking their cocktails all night.

This was a surprise find that really put the cherry on the top of our local visit. We sat at the bar and were privileged to watch the choreography of the staff.
Many yummy cocktails and pickled eggs! Good ones!
Live music too!

Wow! The establishment really holds true to the speakeasy vibe beginning with a obscure side door marked «bookstore»; there is no other sign for restaurant.
As you enter– it is very dark, lit only by small candles on books, not a good idea for a first time date this is definitely a «rendezvous» type of place; soaking up the vibe with a friend, lover or someone you know really well. It is really loud in there and a jazz band started playing during our meal.
Food/​Drinks– wow!
The menus are in old books, the had a good selection of Beers and Cocktails but I chose their groovy challenge of giving 2 adjectives to the bartender and receiving a customized drink. Sexy and Citrus got me a martini type yummy and potent drink– I loved it but it was 12.00 so you are warned.
Small plates are a great sharing idea, and theirs are reasonably priced especially for the quality. We had the spring salad and it was good, perfect amount for 2. The crab dip, just GET IT. I am not a seafood fan but my friend is a vegetarian so we ordered it, served in a small soup cup the crab dip is rich, spicy and thick. It is served with small toasts, which we could of used one or two more of. Seriously just get it!!!
Large Plate was specially prepared gnocchi with out the pork and it was amazing. For $ 24.00 we had a creamy and decadent meal served with onions and green beans. I highly recommend the gnocchi, typically I would not order 2 creamy dishes but vegetarian dishes were limited.
Dessert– 3 desserts were listed we chose the homemade butter cookies served with a small ramekin of blood orange paste and a ramekin of blackberry compote, AMAZING! My only complaint is maybe serve a pastry straw or chocolate straw because there was not enough things to dip.
If my rendezvous partner is reading this– «I left the gnocchi doggie bag in your fridge for your husband.»

Had such a great time, service, food, cocktails all wonderful. Make a reservation for live music on a Thursday-​Saturday.
Will be back for a 50^th birthday real soon