New Zealand Herald

Reviews for The Library

by Stephanie P.
6th February 2013

This business is a MenuMania SponsorOne of the Business' Favourite Reviews

Was introduced to The Library only a few weeks ago, WHY DIDN’T I FIND THIS PLACE SOONER!

The staff are great, fast service, very helpful and well groomed.

I ordered a couple of cocktails and was suprised at how fast they were bought out, and how great they tasted!!
The drinks are well priced and immaculately presented.
The atmosphere is awesome, and is a great place to just chill out, put your feet up and soak it all in.

Loved every second of my experience there, and now am a regular after work. Would recommend to all!

by Lucy M.
25th May 2013

Fantastic place to come on a wet and cold night. Lovely little hideaway and totally grown up. Staff were friendly but not hovering.

We had coctails and whiskey. The coctail was well balanced and the live music was a real treat.

Great ambiance.

by Grace S.
6th May 2013

I visited The Library over the weekend with a couple of friends, and as usual the ambience was pretty cool, and the cocktails were decent, however, this visit was let down by the staff.

We were served promptly for our first round and given glasses of water straight away. A waitress even came around to top them up only a few minutes after first receiving them – however this was the last we saw of her.

We finished our first round, and looked at the menu to decide what we wanted for round two. Then waited. And waited for a staff member to check in with our table again. We ended up flagging down a passing waiter. From memory, I haven’t encountered this problem at The Library before, but it’s something to be aware of.

The door staff were also found lacking. When we arrived we waited to get let in while the bouncer finished off a conversation with a passer-by. Then, when my partner tried to join us later in the evening he was refused entry – he had his ID, he was completely sober, and wearing a shirt, but was not allowed in.

There are other places to go for cocktails, with more encouraging staff, and we’ll probably be looking at those before returning.

by Anton
10th February 2013

Comfortable and cosy atmosphere with the live songstress being the icing on the cake. 2 for 1 desserts was spectacular, and definitely making it a weekly occasion. They should do something about the stairs, decorate it with posters or something, which maybe hard to do but I always feel they’re too clinical on they way up to the library.

by Daniel
19th November 2012

Tonight I visited the Library with my wife. The service was adequate but the dessert and drinks we ordered were very poor and, we felt, really overpriced. The dessert was the tasting plate for two and our drinks were a virgin mule and the golddigger. The dessert was very average with pannacotta particularly bland and not properly set. The rest of it was very basic considering the $30 price tag. The Golddigger cocktail was mainly ice with some watermelon syrup and at $14 is an absolute rip off . The virgin mule was nice.

I have been to the Library 2-3 other times thinking that it is a nice place but have always been underwhelmed with the quality of the deserts and drinks as well as the exorbitant prices. The Library does lure you in with its style and vibe, but let this not deceive you as the quality of desert and drink is very average and definitely not worth the prices. I have not tried the savoury or cheese menus so will withhold judgement on those.

I would not recommend the Library to anyone and will probably never go back.

by Roger
8th July 2012

Visited Library bar with my wife, the service was rubbish, the bar staff were rude to the point of arrogance. We asked a question about a drink behind the bar, the barman had a look at the bottle we asked about and we ordered 2 drinks from it….then when he could not find the price of the drink, he simply put the bottle away without pouring us a drink, and turned back to the bar and served someone else!!!! We were completely ignored, so we took our custom elsewhere.

by Katlin S.
18th June 2012

The environment was very relaxed with a 1920′s speakeasy vibe. We had just stepped in for dessert and were impressed with the results. We had the mini churros and earl grey creme brulee, both were delicious. I highly recommend stopping into the library for some drinks and desserts!

by Kathryn H.
21st May 2012

Relaxed, informal atmosphere. Great for bookish types, with Axminster carpet, bookshelves and piles of books everywhere. One couple was playing a game of backgammon when we got there! Good place to chill out after work. Good wine selection, and the salmon platter was absolutely divine. I would definitely go back again.

by Kylie
20th April 2012

Tonight was my 2nd visit to The Library. I adore the set-up of the place – it has such a great vibe! It was incredibly busy tonight, so I was in awe of how calm and collected all of the staff were. The staff are just so lovely, so accommodating. You wouldn’t know whether they were stressed or tired – they just do their job with patience and a smile. So impressed!

I took my Mum here as a treat. She’s not a “bar” kind of person, so we enjoyed Virgin Mules. She loved just chilling on an old couch with me and taking in the atmosphere.

Well done guys! I’ll be back!

by Tom E.
5th April 2012

Love the place, great atmosphere and great service. Went there on a Tuesday and destroyed the f out of some sweet desserts, loads of top-end lookers on the floor too!

NICE!

by Sam N.
30th March 2012

I have been to The Library bar the last couple of Wednesday nights, we go there for there 2 for 1 cocktails, we orded the first couple of drinks, they were fine.

We went to order another cocktail that was $30 each, after we paid we realised its not 2 for 1.. we paid full price.

After talking with “a manager” he explained there are conditions to which cocktails are 2 for 1… on the advertising it doesn’t explain this… no conditions apply etc…

They need to identifiy better which is 2 for 1 and which is not

As for the drunken pirates grog cocktail, it was nothing but some pineapple juice with a small amount of alcohol served in a tiki totem cup thing, which has nothing to do with pirates… for $30 each.

Comment from Matthew Y. of The Library 2/04/2012    Hide »

Hello Sam, Thanks for your feedback. The manager that you spoke…    More »

Hello Sam,
Thanks for your feedback. The manager that you spoke to actually called me while you were still on our premises after you threatened to write an unfavourable review if we “did not give you a free drink or shot”. We make a point of explaining the offering to every table when they get seated and how it only applies to the drinks on the House Favourites page of the menu. My staff assured me that they did the same with you and your friend and I have viewed the security camera footage myself. We do not advertise the Two for One Wednesday cocktail promotion anywhere apart from on our own website. Furthermore, the drink that you ordered is actually one of our most popular cocktails on our Luxury Cocktails page and costs $30 because it has lots of ingredients and, in particular, lots of alcohol. I believe my staff do a great job and we have lots of wonderful loyal customers that think so too. But everyone is entitled to their own opinion and if you don’t like what we offer perhaps your needs would be better served elsewhere.

by Dan P.
27th September 2011

I really like this place. Great set up, and staff that make you feel welcome. The cocktail list is impressive, with a great range of exciting cocktails to choose from. I went with a group of 6, and we all tried something different. We liked that the drinks we served quickly as well.

by Leedja
6th July 2010

This place is very cool, the decor inspired, I love it. I havent actually eaten there though, but the cocktails are pretty good and the staff knowledgeable and friendly which is always nice in a busy bar. Will have to go for food sometime!

by Reviewer007
20th April 2010

We went there at 8.00pm on a Monday night and got the “tasting plate of dessert for two”. Food was delicious but a little expensive but worth it. Nice cosy atmosphere.
On Tuesday they have a “2 for 1 dessert special” and Wednesdays “2 for 1 Drinks special”
Recommended.

by Biggie C.
19th January 2010

The library used to be the bar attached to Chow, but now it has its own look and feel. Drinks are good and its quite a cosy place. Have not tried the food but it looks good from what I have seen from others.

Write Review