Library By The Sea — Restaurant in West Bay

This is my favorite bar in all the world - it's just that good. You know it's special when a bar in a hotel on a small Caribbean island makes it onto the Top 50 Bars in North America list.

Why you should come here:

The bartenders are incredible. The make expertly crafted cocktails (either on the cocktail list or to your whims) while being friendly and unpretentious. You'll want to sit at the bar (or sit somewhere else first and move to the bar when a seat opens). Even if you're not chatty, these are bartenders you'll want to talk to. In our last visit we had exceptional service from Jack and Allejandro. In prior visits we've also had excellent service from Benji, another Jack, Tom, and Arnold.

The cocktails are so incredibly inventive. As of late 2024 all the cocktails are based on books, and each comes with its own story (as told by the bartender). Amazing flavors. We ordered eight different cocktails over our stay and I'd get them all again.

The "coastal library" vibe is killer. It's got that glow you want.

This is one of the reasons we love staying at the Seafire, but even if you're staying somewhere else, take a taxi here, have an excellent dinner at Ave or Avecita, and then come here to end your night in a special way.

Can't...

OMG you guys… this is officially the best cocktail bar in the Caribbean for a reason. The signature cocktails are expertly crafted based on stories from movies, books and fairytales. They’re are exquisitely presented and each is delightfully delicious in its own right. The top picks between us were a riff on a martini modeled after The Witcher and an apple highball that was fantastic. Other hits included the Hemingway (also available for $18 with today’s ingredients) and the peanut butter and jelly old fashioned based on IT. The vintage spirits are a fantastic addition. We tasted through bourbon from the 60’s and 70’s including Michter’s, Old Granddad, Four Roses, Jim Beam and Old Overholt Rye. Each was a time capsule of something amazing from the past that cannot be found today. Also tried a Glenmorangie 10 yr scotch from 1980 that bore no resemblance to the current offering and did not disappoint at all next to the other vintage spirits. If I could, I’d spend every day here, but was so fortunate to be able to enjoy it for one week with good friends on our vacation together. If you’re a cocktail or vintage spirits fan, this place should be on your bucket list. Highly....

We stopped by Library by the Sea at the Kimpton Seafire hotel prior to going to dinner. We had no idea what we were in for but seriously, probably one of my favorite cocktail experiences of all time.

Right away, we were wooed by the creative storytelling of each cocktail. There were also some snacks served. And you know who else was serving, the best bartenders ever Max and Jack! We had a few pre-dinner cocktails and loved the company so much that after dinner we came back not just for one nightcap, but a few. The conversations with the staff were as rich as their cocktails and we wish the night didn’t end. It’s obvious why this is rated the top 50 bars for 2024.

For anyone who truly wants to imbibe and be taken through an exploratory world of cocktails and storytelling, and respecting the art of it all we encourage everyone to visit and enjoy the journey through spirits.

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