Library Alehouse

Always the perfect place to relax with a drink and delicious food. Weather you're going for the busy and chatty happy hour or getting to know someone on a more intimate level- this place has it all. With such a fitting name, Library, is a quite afternoon retreat for lunch or a drink. I've even gone and enjoyed a crisp chardonnay with a good book before meeting friends in the early evening. The relaxed vibe picks up some, with chatty locals coming to relax after work and enjoy the weekday happy hour. The ever-changing list of craft beers keeps the bar area packed during happy hour- but the back patio is a serene escape during this busy time. It tends to pick up again during dinner, and you may have to wait for a table, since the food is delicious and so very comforting. The intimate and relaxing ambiance is driven by dim lighting coupled with wood tables, bar and wall decor. I've had a few dates here- all of which have lead to tasting each others main courses and beers (great way to keep the conversation moving). If you are looking for a quite place to eat- ask to be seated on the heated and covered patio. Either way, you can sit back and relax knowing that you're in for delicious food and fantastic drinks to accompany the varied menu. My overall recommendation would be to try Library Alehouse for the first time during off- peak hours so your can ponder over the extensive beer/wine list and ask the bartender/server questions without feeling overwhelmed by the selection. Take your time, enjoy each sip and every bite, cozy up to a friend and just relax.

I think this is a really great spot for a first date. The drink menu is long and varied-- a fun way to interact and sample with your date. Their goat cheese salad is one of my favorites in town. I love the tree-lined outdoor patio, and the general vibe feels at the same time beachy and somewhat urban. Its location is also great to take a walk with a lovely outside atmosphere to other close by bars with live music and a slightly dancier scene. The other option is to just go directly for a long walk on the beach. The alehouse is mere blocks from the beach, putting it nicely between the ocean and the city.

If you are looking for a place to find a beer you have never had before make a stop at Library Alehouse. Right in the neighborhood of some crazier Santa Monica bars Library is a welcome respite from some of the other bars on Main Street. Mellow crowd and an attentive staff. My knowledge of good beer is limited but I enjoy coming here as there is always something new to try and always a waiter or waitress ready to recommend something delicious. Great place to either hang with friends, to bring a date or a good stop on a Main street pub crawl when your palette needs cleansing with something extra special.

If you like craft beers, a slightly older and more mature crowd (late 20s to 30s), and a good patio to sit back and enjoy said beer, than you're going to love Library Alehouse. When you walk in, there's a bar on the left with a good amount of taps and plenty of high top tables and room at the bar to sit. If you keep going through the joint and to the back, you'll discover the spacious patio/beer garden where you can sit with larger groups. It's generally mellow here, even on Friday and Saturday nights when Main Street is buzzing with post-grads. The staff is also really knowledgeable about the beer, so take their advice for some of the best options on hand.

Library Ale House For the craft beer enthusiast, or simply the enthusiast of beer and comfort food in a chill and casual environment, it’s hard to beat Library Alehouse on Santa Monica’s main drag. A public house in a SoCal sort of way, I frequent this place knowing I’ll have nearly 30 draft microbrews to choose from including a stellar selection of IPA’s (Green Flash on tap, yo!). They also have a plethora of hard to find bottled beers from all over the world and an extensive wine list. I’m always a little taken aback by the kick-back Sunday vibe of this place, even on a Tuesday night. There’s always locals, mostly hip young professionals and industry types, sipping brews at the bar situated under a high beamed ceiling. It never fails that I run into someone I chatted up the last time who inevitably knows more about beer than I do. Seating at the bar is close & cozy, making it an intimate environment to kick start a conversation with friends or strangers. Inside dining tables along the walls are high with bar stools and the tree-lined patio out back features warming heaters and a fire pit. As for food, I always make sure to come here starving so I can thoroughly down large and reasonably priced ($10-12) Portobello Panini Sandwiches, Hell Burgers (featuring scorching ghost peppers) and platters of Frickles (deep fried pickles). And I'm always bummed when I can't make their 4-6PM Happy Hour, Monday-Friday, where I scarf down cheap bar food and many of the beers for a mere $4. Aside from the high quality of the beer, food, environment and company that I find here, I am particularly impressed with the awesome customer service I always receive. Not only are the bartenders and waitstaff friendly and attentive, but they also know their beers and food menus exceptionally well. Library Alehouse is a prime oasis from the hordes of daytime shoppers and late night nightcrawlers in Santa Monica. And on any given evening of the week, you know you can find me here.

I love the Library Alehouse. It's a chill little spot for lunch or a mid-afternoon pale ale, and a great place to go for dinner and drinks. If you can, get seated in the patio area in back. While it's removed from the action on Main Street, it's a little more spread out than the smaller tables up front by the bar. Their beer selection is great, and everyone who works there is super friendly (and knowledgeable about their beer). I love their burgers. If you do go for a beer on the weekends, don't be surprised if the relaxed vibe is overturned by rowdy groups mid Main-Street-pub-crawl. That happens sometimes. No matter when you go though, the staff and crowd are generally cool, social, and fun.