Bibliotheque — Restaurant in New York

Next up is Bibliotheque, a beautifully curated café tucked along Mercer Street in the heart of Soho—a place that feels as if it were plucked straight from a dream. My friend and I stopped by after Jummah prayers on a warm afternoon, drawn in by its quiet charm and understated allure. From the outside, it’s easy to miss, but once inside, it unfolds into something quite extraordinary: a hidden library-lounge with a dark, classical interior that feels both intimate and sophisticated.

Soft lighting filters through the space, glinting off rows of books, brass accents, and deep-toned wood. There’s a quiet rhythm here—conversations hum gently in the background, music plays low, and the overall ambiance feels like a refined retreat from the bustle of Soho. Though Bibliotheque doubles as a wine bar later in the day (a lovely option for those who do drink), during the afternoon it transforms into an ideal space for reflection, reading, or simply savoring a good coffee.

We kept our order simple: an almond croissant, a chocolate croissant, and flat whites. Both pastries were beautifully done—the almond croissant fragrant with a delicate nuttiness and soft frangipane, while the chocolate croissant was richly layered, its bittersweet filling perfectly balanced by the buttery pastry. The flat white carried a smooth, velvety texture with a well-pulled espresso base—comforting yet elegant.

We were served by Aisha, who was kind and attentive, and had the pleasure of meeting AJ, the owner, whose warmth and presence made the visit feel personal. It’s clear that Bibliotheque isn’t just designed to be seen, but to be felt—a space that values atmosphere as much as flavor.

Bibliotheque is, in every sense, a hidden gem—a sanctuary of quiet sophistication where design, hospitality, and craft intertwine seamlessly. I’ll certainly be returning, not only for the coffee and pastries but for the experience of being enveloped in such thoughtful calm right in the...

I’ve been here a couple times and usually have a pleasant time, despite the layout catering more to those on laptops + looking to drink and not really to read or peruse their selection. Today, however, arriving close to 6pm I checked out their books in the front and sat down with one to decide if I would buy it or not. After being sat for a few minutes a worker came up and placed down water, and when told I was still deciding on what I wanted to order retreated. A bit after, prob 5 minutes or less, he returns and asks again, this time I ask if I can get an espresso but get told they don’t serve that after 5pm, which is fine. My problem begins here, after I say that I’m good at the moment, communicating that there’s still a chance I will order something in a bit, he says “well you have to buy something.” This has never happened before. Shocked, because I had a product of theirs that I was still checking out (the book), I had no words. He further accosted me by taking the menu on the table and trying to take the glass of water in my hand, and said “we’re trying to run a business here.” I immediately returned the book to the shelf and left. I’ve never been treated like this before at an establishment and whether he’s a manager/the owner (because I usually don’t see him), I will never come here again. This is not a third space — this is a place catering to people who are looking to spend, which is fine but god forbid you take a bit to get something, you get treated rudely. What a way to run a business. Everyone is a potential customer and for book lovers, I would highly recommend going to the Book Club Bar instead. A place that actually wants you to read, and you don’t get forced or accosted for not buying something the minute...

Beautiful bookstore bar & as a bibliophile, I love their concept! Also such friendly and lovely staff, and great selection of books

Despite my constructive criticism below, I still enjoyed the experience and would come back, but will order a different drink next time 😉

However, 3 improvements that I think will greatly change the experience:

-Improve the seating / reservations system. Our group of 4 pm was turned away from the lounge area due to no reservations on a weekend, but there were plenty of empty tables when we left (I don’t know if they were empty when we arrived, but it would’ve been nice if we had the option to move to there if there were cancelled reservations)

2. Terrible mocktail: we got the Phony Negroni and Phony Amaro Falso. They came in beautiful bottles but tasted like disgusting artificial flavouring 😭 the first tasted like artificial Dr Pepper (but worse), the second tasted like cherry medicine cola. We took a few sips and couldn’t continue.. (it was even recommended by a very nice staff member!)

For a bookstore bar, why not have a nice mocktail menu for those who just want something fruity/cold to sip on while reading? They had juice but it feels a bit out of place at such an upscale bar

Or at least, get bottled mocktails from better brands! I’ve had many tasty ones before

They also didn’t have any cocktails, which felt a bit strange for the setting, but I suppose it’s because their focus is on wine

3. better vegetarian food options :) we had the mezze plate which was decent, but very overpriced for a...