The Library Bar at the Rittenhouse Reviews

strolled in off the street and had to sit a bit outside the bar. The server brought a nice big bowl of spicy nuts and water, we had delicious drinks off of the interesting menu. Drinks are pricey but The bartender gave up a glass of champagne. Set the mood for us to hop over to the shake shack!

Wonderful not "scene-y" bar. A little neighborhood feel. Charming bartender, great old fashioned. We're fans!

We were somewhat disappointed in the food. A rather quiet Friday night however the staff made enough noise laughing and talking about customers past. It was difficult carrying on a conversation as given the name we did expect quiet and comfort. Finally we gave up after the starter and moved upstairs to finish dinner.

And when you do, chemistry creates magic and you have so much fun! That is this place! The atmosphere which is a creation of the employees mixed with the ambiance is the ideal setting. Jesse made me a special cocktail based on my drink style and it was spectacular! We also had an appetizer that could have fed the entire bar. Wish I could transport this bar to where I live. If you live in Philly, you should become a regular here.

This quiet little bar is tucked away on the first floor of the Rittenhouse hotel. A quiet little spot that serves up awesome Old Fashioneds (and everything else). Occasional live music in the hotel lobby is an added nice touch.

This bar is amazing. This was our second time in 3 days during our visit. It is that good! What makes this bar really special is the staff and the wonderful cocktails. Rich and Nauman are fantastic hosts and make you feel at home! The cocktails we recommend are the great pumpkin (liquid desert heaven) and the novelty (Japanese whiskey matcha). Love this bar.

Cocktails can be on the higher end, but are delicious. The lounge-style bar has a great atmosphere and makes for good people watching too. They have a food menu too, but we only had drinks.

My husband and I visited the Library Bar while staying at the Rittenhouse. It was a beautiful bar with fabulous cocktails!!

The bartenders are friendly, highly skilled, and fast. The cocktail menu is enticing, and the ambience is something I call classic comfort.

Definitely some of the most creative cocktails around. They have the classics, and some very creative new ones with ingredients that will surprise you, but they work. Nice quiet surrounding. Well worth stopping in for a drink or two.

We were visiting from out of town and staying at an Air Bnb nearby. We wanted a "taste" of the high end hotel and bar. The drink menu was excellent as were the wine choices by the glass. The dark cozy atmosphere was exactly what we were looking for. The prices were high but for the location that is what we expected.

Atmosphere was nice, decor is eclectic with a stately library vibe. My date an myself enjoyed two bottles of Champagne while munching on a few appetizers and conversation.

Richie, our bartender was perfect; his attention to detail and overall service acumen was very much needed this evening as my wife and I were here for a few before dinner cocktails. It was truly special to be a part of!

We stayed at the Rittenhouse and were drawn to the Library Bar each night for cocktails. The service is outstanding, the drinks are good and the ambiance is wonderful.

This bar is located inside the Rittenhouse and serves wonderful cocktails mixed by true professionals.

Service beyond compare! This is truly a lovely place to sit and enjoy live music on Saturday evenings and good times with friends. Such a nice sophisticated adult crowd. And excellent appetizer options (try the cheese plate). It gets very hard to find a seat so plan ahead as it is a small intimate space.

On a hot day we looked for a quiet spot for a drink... Not only was this good but the whole ground floor offers wonderful locations - tea rooms and a stunning courtyard. If you're looking or elegance and peace - this is it!

Only had a glass of wine before heading up to the spa but the atmosphere was very relaxing. We had our drinks by the fireplace. Very nice.

Given coupon upon arrival for free sparkling wine or cappuccino at the Rittenhouse. We chose the Library Bar (because I love libraries). Great service, friendly staff. Maybe expresso would be better than cappuccino after dinner (just a thought). But hubs loved the cappuccino and I loved the wine. We were amused by the photos of Larry and Curly set amid the books. We had a dessert which was quite tasty.

As though it was almost meant to be, we randomly stumbled upon the Rittenhouse hotel without even knowing about it. Walked in for drinks and ended up coming back here three of our four nights in Philadelphia. Just a spectacular spot if you’re looking for a classy, modern atmosphere and ambiance with service and cocktails and food to match. Enjoyed cocktails and drinks in both the lobby bar area and the library area as the actual bar countertop was closed due to Covid while we were there. Six on five rating for the drinks and the service was a tad slow but understandably understaffed. If you’re looking for an elevated cocktail and don’t mind paying a bit for it in a luxurious atmosphere I highly recommend checking out this spot. I definitely will again the next time I’m in Philadelphia. Can’t say enough good things about it

If you want a quiet place to enjoy a cocktail and conversation, this is the place to go. The cocktail menu has some very interesting selections and I really enjoyed my "Gone With the Wind." Delicious!

Warm and comfortable bar on the first floor. Biggest selection of champagne we have seen for a while.Great cocktails and lovely ambiance.

We had a good time enjoying our complimentary sparkling wines (stayed at hotel). Cute space and a courtyard in clement weather.

I typically hate paying 15-20 dollars for a drink, but the Library Bar is worth it. The old fashioned is the best I’ve had in Philadelphia, and I am comparing it to the Randstead Room, Charlie is a Sinner and a few others. The drink was a good size, it came with olives and nuts and the fruit cherries in the drink were delicious. I also liked the decor of the room as it was somewhat dark and comfortable to sit in. I will be back.

The room (or rooms) are well decorated and service is top-notch. As soon as you sit you are offered nuts and/or olives -- classy touch. The drinks are well prepared and the bar is well stocked. I will note that drinks are definitely on the pricey side (figure around $20 for a cocktail). This place is great for a date night, for certain. The only reasons for not giving this place an "Excellent" rating was the price for the drinks (they were good, but not $20 without tip -- especially for a simple martini) and the location -- a classy bar like this should have its own entrance to really separate it from the hotel, not a walk through the lobby.

Came in alone while staying at the hotel to claim my welcome drink. Staff were friendly and attentive. The prosecco was delicious and they served me some olives and pistachio nuts to go with it. I felt really comfortable in this calm, relaxing environment with a drink. Good for a quiet chat or romantic drink, or a even a drink alone.

Ideal to rest after a city tour and try amazing cocktails. The service is great and the location most excellent. A lot of good restaurant nearby for the after cocktail.

Beautifully appointed bar with a delightful bartender who very generously let my family and I linger and chat for a bit.

Stayed at the Rittenhouse and had a light meal at the LIbrary Bar. Food was pretty good. Service was average. Prices pretty high for what they offered. I sat on the patio which was lovely, except there was a family there playing a game and screaming at the top of their lungs which made it rather unpleasant.

If cocktails are your thing, head to the library. What it lacks in atmosphere (it's a bit sterile, but very smart) it makes up for in expertise behind the bar. Enjoyed some of the best cocktails I've ever had here.

We enjoyed wonderful cocktails with world class live jazz music at the Rittenhouse Library Bar. Each night, the bar hosted top jazz talent. A must for jazz lovers.

The staff really know their cocktails - delicious. We had the old fashioned cocktails. Staff are friendly and interested in sharing their knowledge

Stopped at this lounge for before dinner drinks for our holiday dinner out with my co-workers. Beautiful updated decor. We sat at a cozy table (group of 6) which was great for conversation. There was a great cocktail menu. The bartender made one of their virgin drinks (strawberry) with vodka and it was delicious. Many of my friends ordered the pear/rosemary cocktail and it was delicious too. The bartender lit rosemary on fire in the drink. Very unusual but great. Bartenders were creative and friendly. A great place for pre dinner drinks.