Library Alehouse, Santa Monica CA

Had the hell burger and 2 different sour beers. Highly recommend the golden sour! It is very flavorful

Rude staff. Pressuring you to buy drinks constantly. Very abrasive and unfriendly. Best dish on the menu is gone. Pass.

I think when I read about this place and that it was a "library" ale house I thought it meant it would have a massive selection of beer.
Essentially they have stapled various books to the wall (hence the term - library). I thought this concept was nifty but the beer selection wasn't as large as I would have expected.
The beer selection itself is not super special.
I think having more local beers would have also been cool, and maybe 2-3 per category.
The food was okay but a bit overpriced.
It was fun to try one time but I don't think I would be back.

(I updated this slightly and lost the response from the business because of this).
To library ale house.when I think large selection of beers I would assume 30-40. I guess having that all on tap would be impossible so would have to also consist of bottled beers.
This was not a terrible place. I mean I am sure local patrons love it. I just thought that for the price of the beer and food selection (I am vegetarian so maybe that's harder to accommodate on the menu), it was a 3 to 4 stars.

We come here with the midnight runner club every Monday and I get their cider.
Always a good time!

Great beer selection, great food, staff is excellent. Been a somewhat regular for years, always a great experience.

I recently visited Library Alehouse and had an extremely disappointing experience. From the moment I arrived, it became evident that the establishment had significant issues with its seating arrangement and capacity management. The outdoor-style benches they used for seating were terribly arranged, resulting in an uncomfortable and cramped dining experience. It felt like a mixed seating area gone horribly wrong.

To exacerbate the problem, Library Alehouse seemed to have completely maximized its capacity, squeezing in far more patrons than they could comfortably accommodate. As a result, my group and I were subjected to a subpar service quality that left us feeling ignored and neglected. Our orders were forgotten multiple times, and we had to repeatedly remind the staff about our needs.

One of the most baffling aspects of our visit was the absence of a convenient water service. The only option available was a campout-sized water jug situated in the back. To my disbelief, I witnessed people resorting to pouring water directly into their mouths like feral animals when the place got super busy. This lack of a proper water distribution system was not only unhygienic but also extremely unprofessional for a supposedly reputable establishment.

The combination of uncomfortable seating, overcrowding, and poor service ultimately ruined what could have been a pleasant dining experience at Library Alehouse. It is evident that the management needs to reevaluate their seating arrangements and capacity limits to ensure a more comfortable and enjoyable environment for their patrons. Furthermore, they should invest in a proper water dispensing system to avoid the spectacle of customers resorting to uncivilized behavior due to the lack of basic amenities.

Considering the numerous issues we encountered during our visit, I cannot recommend Library Alehouse to others seeking a pleasant dining experience. The establishment's failure to address these fundamental shortcomings left me thoroughly disappointed, and I will be hesitant to return in the future.

Despite this their burgers where high qaulity and I thouroughly enjoyed their food, its a shame this was overshadowed by the rest of my experience.

Our food was excellent! The staff was even better. Excellent atmosphere and great variety on tap.

The burger was awesome and it definitely will fill you up. Fries are crispy and thin, one of the best fries I’ve had in a while.

Great beer selection and an incredible menu. The crispy fish tacos and hell burger were outstanding. The staff is very friendly and attentive. Order the lemon cheesecake for dessert!

From draft selection, to an actual vegan option that's not a burger, not to mention the dog friendliness and overall atmosphere. I feel so lucky to have this place walking distance from my house! The best!

Had the buffalo chicken salad. Legit, some of the best buffalo chicken I've ever had. Most places just spray Frank's. This is cooked into the chicken. Delicious.

Fantastic service. Great playlist. Love the vibe

The front is nice, the back patio is pretty gross and without any charm. The food was very mediocre and the beer is slightly better than average.

I’d only suggest going here for only a beer and sitting by the bar.

Delicious food as well as draft beer selection! More seating space in patio behind. Cheers!

Stopped in for some beers and a snack. Buffalo Wings were great. Lot of beers to choose from. Staff very attentive and nice.

The Library has been a consistent dining option for me in Santa Monica for 10 years. Great craft beer selections.

Fish and chips and chicken club tasted great. Beer selection was great. Our order got messed up and came out late but they made it right.

Tried this place out for the first time and the food was amazing here. They have an awesome menu selection and the service staff are the best.

Good food, good cocktails. Waited for a table for a while but it was worth it. Cool, laid back, classy place.

Favorite local spot
My partner and I love it here. Firstly the staff are ALWAYS incredibly friendly and welcoming, this is the main reason why this is our chosen local spot, it feels like home. The selection of beers they have is huuuge and is always rotating. The food is A+ too, especially the wings, sweet potato fries and brussel sprouts but the burger is also not to be missed.
If you're wanting somewhere to grab a drink or food or both in Santa Monica then this is THE SPOT.

Been wanting to try this spot for a while and we were sooo disappointed. I got the buffalo chicken salad - it was supposed to have fried chicken but I’m not sure if the orange mushy object was even chicken. The lettuce was old, limp and overdressed. We had a few bites but couldn’t eat it. The burger was just okay - also mushy, little flavor. Unfortunately we left feeling a bit sick. We got one beer that came completely flat and went back, the replacement beer was somewhat less flat. The waitress was very nice and the inside was cute but I don’t think we will be coming back.