Library Alehouse

Library AlehouseLibrary Alehouse
Library AlehouseLibrary Alehouse
Bar, Eatery

2911 Main St
Santa Monica, California, 90405-5315
United States

(310) 314-4855 | map
libraryalehouse.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.23
Reviews:
47
Ratings:
82
pDev:
9.46%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 5 by crewfan1952 from Ohio

Feb 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.15 by slasich from Pennsylvania

May 16, 2020
 
Rated: 3.88 by Sammy from Canada (ON)

Jan 18, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by Nrod from Argentina

Nov 29, 2017
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Reviewed by lordofthewiens from New Mexico

4.58/5  rDev +8.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
My wife and I stopped in the Library Alehouse on a pleasant Friday afternoon. There's a bar and high tops as you enter, with a covered patio in the back. On our visit the patio was getting most of the business. Definitely a relaxed, low-key vibe.

There were over 20 beers on tap. A very nice selection. I finally got to try a Pliny the Elder.

We stopped at the Library because they had vegan enchiladas on the menu, and they did not disappoint.

Service was the best we've had in some time.

Definitely a place to revisit.
Apr 05, 2017
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Reviewed by hopsputin from New Jersey

4.64/5  rDev +9.7%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.25
Vibe: Relaxed vibe. You're a block from the beach, and also on Main St. in Santa Monica. One of the bars in LA that is more wood than metal & concrete. It has a very welcoming feel. Noise level is never too loud. Sports are on TV, but the volume is muted - just the way it should be in this kind of bar. Beer is definitely the focus here

Quality: Top notch. Beer selection is excellent, and always rotating. Tap lines are always clean. They have great tap takeover nights, and get a mix of great national distro as well as some great hidden beers

Service: Again, its really good. Bartenders are all very knowledgable, really enjoy beer (which you don't see everywhere), and are always happy to talk to you and make you feel welcomed

Selection: As mentioned above, the selection is quite good. Great bottle list, taps are rotating and get a good mix of nationally/globally distributed beers as well as some nice local options. Tap takeover nights are always fun, and every once in a while they pull some goodies from their cellar

Food: Much better than you'd expect a beer-focused bar to be. I've never had anything bad from there. It goes well beyond your typical bar food, with some really killer dishes. Each dish has a beer to pair with it as well, which is great

Easily my favorite LA bar.
Mar 18, 2017
 
Rated: 4.43 by frasergrove from California

Jul 31, 2016
 
Rated: 5 by deniserat from California

Jun 15, 2016
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Rated by Intlpostman from California

4.35/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Excellent place to have a beer and something to eat. The tap selection is always very solid.
May 05, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by VABA from Virginia

Aug 26, 2015
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Reviewed by nathanmiller from New York

4.58/5  rDev +8.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.75
Really good spot with a fantastic beer list and incredible specials. Glad I was able to stop by, especially on a Wednesday afternoon when a ton of very good beers for very cheap. Friendly crowd too.
Jul 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.59 by Beervana from Canada (BC)

May 20, 2015
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Reviewed by colingaiser from Colorado

4.49/5  rDev +6.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4
A friend and I literally stumbled into the Library to escape a torrential downpour on March 1, and I am so glad we did.

The place immediately overwhelms you with a very particular small-town charm ... the atmosphere is akin to a down-to-earth coffeehouse in my hometown of Bozeman, MT -- the decor is simple and refined, while the lighting is perfectly balanced and inviting.

We sat at the bar and immediately ordered a Smog City coffee porter, an Old Chub Nitro, and the Avery Pump[KY]n imperial porter (6 oz of delicious boozy goodness). If I didn't know any better, I would have thought we were drinking at a brewery taproom ... the beers seemed so fresh, and I didn't detect a single off-flavor (impressive considering two of those were Colorado beers). They were also beautifully poured (particularly the nitro) by our awesome bartender, and I was forced to be THAT insufferable person who takes out his phone to snap a photo of each glass.

(The drinks seem a little overpriced, but you really do get what you pay for.)

Also, props to the bartender. She was everything you want a bartender to be -- she was a generous server (gave me as many tasters as I wanted!) and engaged us in conversation without being intrusive. I hope she's there when I return, which I almost certainly will.

Unfortunately I did not get to try the food ... but sneaking glances at other people's plates, it looked delicious.

Highly recommend this charming little craft-beer pub.
Mar 05, 2015
 
Rated: 4.63 by hoppy_411 from California

Feb 27, 2015
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Rated by Micros32 from Washington

4.68/5  rDev +10.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75
Always has amazing micros on tap but great food selection to go with it. Can get crowded after 7pm.
Feb 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4.23 by Cynic-ale from Texas

Feb 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.28 by Stevedore from Oregon

Dec 19, 2014
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Reviewed by tkdchampxi from New Jersey

3.83/5  rDev -9.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Smallish selection of pretty good beers.

Laid back vibe.

Small menu selection; somewhat overpriced; green and health conscious options available.

Indoor and outdoor seating.
Dec 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4.59 by loganburgh from Michigan

Dec 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by LADaveBN from California

Dec 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by DCLAguy11 from California

Nov 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.7 by Rado from California

Oct 31, 2014
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Rated by jwolfe1311 from California

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%
Great beer. Cool place. Good food.
Oct 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.48 by Owenvig from Illinois

Oct 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.61 by stephenjmoore from Maryland

Oct 09, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by mbw314 from California

Oct 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.24 by mig100 from Texas

Oct 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by wethorseblanket from California

Sep 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.56 by smithdc33 from California

Sep 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by ubiq3000 from California

Aug 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Rollzroyce21 from California

Jun 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by GRG1313 from California

Jun 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Wowcoolman from California

Jun 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Bramsigman from California

Jun 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by notchucknorris from California

Jun 10, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by werdnacross from California

May 13, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Bnoise11 from California

Apr 21, 2014
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Reviewed by Kyle_Darr from California

4.46/5  rDev +5.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75
I think this is the best beer bar in the Venice/South Santa Monica Area.

Awesome portions of food for what youre paying for.

Knowledgeable staff, bartender will chat you up about beer if time allows him to do so.

Only like 18 handles but still all craft and their beer buyer is on point.

Sitting at a table servers can be slow, but on a busy night that is to be expected.

Few Tv's... i guess hipsters dont like sports :(
Apr 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by drewone from California

Feb 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by carmike813 from Illinois

Feb 18, 2014
Library Alehouse in Santa Monica, CA
Place rating: 4.23 out of 5 with 82 ratings