The Library Bar

My favorite place in Philly to have a cocktail. I fully understand how this might not be for everyone but let me say if you are of a certain age, don’t mind spending a few $$ and want one of the best cocktails made by one of the best bartenders in Philadelphia, Papi Hurtado, then this is your spot! Intimate, sophisticated, and absolutely charming in every way.

Positive reviews on this place are most likely written by out-​of-​town hotel-​stayers, easily impressed by any metropolitan bar. Furniture is discount, cocktails overpriced. Far better options within brief walking distance.
ALSO: Does not feel like a library. At all.

Still took us a moment or two to realize this bar is inside the hotel and not accessible without entering the hotel.
Once we got past that …
We really thought the bar, while small and very much part of the hotel was great.
Drink options were fun and turned out delicious.
Care was taken in crafting every drink we saw made.
Staff was engaging and knowledgeable.
Had a great time and was perfect for a little afternoon cocktail

Fancy bar in the Rittenhouse Hotel. Chairs and sofas in cozy groups arranged about. Open yet private. Piano and guitar duo providing live music while we were there. Clientele was mix of business, elegant evening attire and urban hip. Interesting mix for people watching. Elegant bar with personal service from the bartender. Suntory Yamazaki, the current chizzy, for our 2 connoisseurs, gin and tonic, sangria; and decaf for the designated driver. Coffee served in elegant China. Sangria was off, sour. Should have sent it back. Not my kinda place, but hey, sometimes one can appreciate ostentatiousness.

Pricey hotel bar. Stopped by on a Thursday evening for pre-​dinner drinks. The bartenders here are polite and helpful. Drinks here are super expensive

After reading the reviews I was pretty excited for this place. Sounded like another great new artisan bar with impressive drinks and an atmosphere that embodies the prohibition roots these drinks spawned from.
Unfortunately what we found was a good cocktail bar with good service and overpriced drinks. While the old fashioned was good, for a Makers Mark old fashioned which, mind you was good was not worth eighteen dollars. While I am fine with spending for a good drink this place was excessive in their pricing and lacked originality. Sadly expectations were dashed even with the best of attempts by their very capable bartender. This was nothing more than a jazzed up 1990s wine bar with some books in the front room. There are better bars with much more originality to drop less money at so in my book skip the library.

You know the drink is good when the bartender lights it ON FIRE! The drink is pricy but trust me watching the drinking being made by the hands of master’s, you will enjoy every SECOND of it. In case you like drunk-​reading, the place is called «the library bar» because there are books everywhere. You can find some really fascinating books on religion and history, but if you are looking for fifty shades of grey, good luck ;)

The beauty and ambience of this intimate bar is only surpassed by the brilliance of the mixology. Yes, the prices are what you would expect at such a top notch establishment, but they are fair given the quality of the fresh garnishes and handmade syrups. Add the warmth of bartender Papi, along with his skill in making you feel welcome while making you that perfect drink, and you have the recipe for a fantastic evening. It is what keeps us coming back for a visit whenever we are in Philadelphia. Whether having your cocktail in front of the fire, or sitting at the bar making new friends, you will not be disappointed.

First of all, don’t even bother if you’re not in the mood to spend some $$$. If you are, this place is well worth it. The ambiance is perfect– went in the winter, snuggled on the comfy couch and the bartender lit the fireplace for us. This dude comes up with all of the drinks on the menu and he seriously has a gift for it.
I tried some sort of seasonal take on a spiked cider, and it was delicious. Perfect for a chilly night. My boyfriend decided to go classic and ordered a bourbon Old Fashioned, which he claims is one of the best that he’s tried in Philly. Bartender friend LIT an orange peel on fire before he put it into the drink. Faaaancy. We also each got a Librarian (strawberry, lemon, agave, ginger ale), which they typically serve as a non-​alcoholic beverage, but we got our with tequila at the recommendation of the bartender. Fan-​fucking-​tastic.
Also, he brought out complimentary snacks as soon as we sat down, which won me over immediately. House marinated garlic olives, homemade chips, and agave roasted pistachios. Doesn’t get any better.
If you’re looking for a nice place for some quiet conversation and a pre– or post-​dinner drink, this is a great choice. You absolutely get what you pay for.

Found out about this quiet bar by redeeming a voucher for a complimentary glass of champagne, which everyone earns by staying at the Rittenhouse Hotel. I believe this place is relatively new, because last time we stayed at this hotel, the glasses were handed to us as we checked in. From a marketing standpoint, this new system of claiming your free bubbly is pretty clever on their part as it opens the door for you to spend more money…
…Which is precisely what happened in our case.
While one of the bartenders was pouring me the champagne, another was mixing up an interesting-​looking cocktail, which caught my attention. I was fascinated by this act of craftsmanship to the point where I decided to order two drinks: a Perfect Square for myself and a nonalcoholic Librarian for my wife.
The Perfect Square was an absolute work of art. So much care and attention went into it. Don’t want to spoil it for you, but the best way to describe it would be a glorified, elegant twist on a Manhattan with an ultra high-​end price tag.
The virgin drink (Librarian) was equally astonishing. The strawberry syrup in the drink came through very assertively, making you feel like you’re in a field of fresh strawberries. My wife certainly enjoyed it, judging from the ear-​to-​ear grin which was displayed on her face.

This place is superb– super intimate and quiet, it’s a great place to go to catch up with an old friend, where you can stay and chat for a long time without feeling badly, because you are definitely paying a lot to do so! We met up with friends who came in town with a baby, and there was plenty of space to set the stroller while we sat comfortably on couches.
I gave 4 stars because 1. it’s possibly the most expensive bar in Philly and 2. the menu is super limited

Lovely bar… cozy interior… bit pricey… but it’s definitely must… especially for a good scotch…

For the first time ever I’ve ‘added a business’ on Unilocal,based purely on my experience at this relatively new bar inside the the amazing, the incredible, The Rittenhouse Hotel (see my review for the hotel itself separately).
It’s definitely pricey, but this is a high-​end cocktail bar with talent and professionalism behind the bar to match. Their signature ‘RH’ Whiskey Sour was as mindblowingly tasteful as it was fascinating to watch being prepared by Michelle, a mixologist with a true passion and flair for her craft.
The library environment itself is warm and welcoming, and you can sit at the bar itself or other, separate sections. Loved it and will make a mandatory stop every time I visit Philly henceforth.