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Categories: Jazz & Blues, Lounges, Dance Clubs
3015 Oak Lawn Ave
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Gosh, I really need to be quicker on the review uptake since Katie, Kiki, Steph, and Tricia have all said everything I've wanted to say, and more. So take my star rating and raise it to the 4th power. I shall provide my rundown (just to be redundant, for fun) and then try to be more creative.
- Hotel bar =/= expensive. $3 champagne glasses with complimentary Chambord (if you ask)! Thomas Dearest did his best to keep us in the Happy Hour Time-Space Continuum, and our cute girls-night pocketbooks thanked him. There was a bit of confusion with the check at the end, but TD graciously explained it and all was forgiven.
- Super comfy chairs, lovely lighting and atmosphere, delightful ambience all around. Beaded pillows!
- Eric the piano player! Super awesometown! Somehow we brought the classy into the library and turned it into an impromptu karaoke night, with jazz renditions of Baby Got Back, Open Arms, Sweet Caroline.. No thanks to the weirdo who wanted him to play Sarah McLachlan's Angel so she could sing along to it. You made me think of sad doggies and kitties that need to be adopted.
- Pretty good beef (that I picked out of Kiki and Tricia's sliders) and decent flatbread. Maybe I do like figs after all.
- Cougar/Donkey hybrids. Cougkeys? Donkgars? Our new friend told us all about her secret to keeping young. Her innuendos absolutely made my night.
- In my drunken stupor, I decided I wanted to read and plucked a book off of the shelf. Some of the books had little notes about the hotel.. neat!
- I almost don't want everyone to know about this place because I want to keep it my dirty little secret. Please forget everything you've just read.
An element of my modus operadi is having a stable of destination drinking establishments.
Unlike my patterns for dining out where I like to sample the newest and prettiest young thing on the block--seldom assuming the moniker of a "regular" at any given restaurant-- I like my watering holes to be trusted and known commodities. I rarely wander into a new bar these days unless I have a need to add to my repertoire. Bar hopping is certainly no longer part of my vocabulary.
Over the years, I've had a number of pubs, lounges, and clubs in my rotation, each one fulfilling a particular purpose. In some cases, certain bars on my laundry list were there because they were known to have a beverage specialization of a certain genre, such as a Martini or a Lethal Weapon--my favorite drink of all time.
But mostly, my collection of preferred grogshops were oriented towards a particular mood or occasion. Be it for watching sports, crying solo over my drink, or trying to seal the deal with the perfect date, I had a specific card in my drinking deck.
For a number of years, The Library at the Melrose Hotel, was firmly entrenched in the list of places to whet my whistle. Typically, it was an ideal spot for trying to impress that special someone after a great meal. Wood paneling, a piano player tickling the ivories, a cool and varied crowd, and a noise level that allowed a normal conversation. And, of course--couches-- where if the date was going well, one could reduce the distance to the object of their affection.
However, a few years back, I moved The Library out of the rotation. Over the years, it had gotten old and flabby. The Saturday night lines waiting for a table disappeared along with cool kids and shortly after, a television set was added to watch one's favorite playoff game. Sure, the piano and the crooner were still there, but the crowd was more apt to contain the faces of Ma and Pa Kettle asking for white Zin and demanding bar snacks-- along with folks from Des Moines in for the needlepoint convention, arguing with their barmaid after being told that their cocktail was indeed eight dollars.
Well, things may be, once again on the uptick for The Library. I had heard that the lounge had been renovated and updated. So, a few Saturday nights ago after dining at Bolla, SO and I made, once again, a pilgrimage to The Library.
Sure enough, the old Library has received a much needed face lift. The bar area has been redone and updated to the 21st century. Lighting fixtures, seating, and other aspects of the lounge has been replaced with more modern versions without dramatically changing the character of the joint. You'll still find the wood paneling, the piano player, and the "library" books on the shelves, but then again, these are the aspects of the lounge that needed to stay.
So, will the Library find its way back into my hallowed rotation?
Don't rush me. Give me time to sleep on it.
I came here on a Saturday night after already being in the Warwick Melrose for another function (when the open bar shut down at midnight). From what I heard, this place usually had a line and had a waiting list earlier in the night. Sounded lame but when we got there, our group got in without any hassle. Very classy place and great ambiance/decor. Very mixed group of people: the trendy bar hoppers vs the older crowd that were the hotel guests vs the TX-OU weekend party-goers. Lots of people but had enough roaming space. The music was rather dull and drinks were somewhat overpriced. Since living in New Orleans for many years, I have a higher standard for jazz/piano/lounge music. The servers were super nice. Overall at that time, I already displayed some delayed motor skills, so I had a great time.
Great atmosphere, the library of an old novel, but no smoking pipes! Tucked away so you feel safe and other worldly. Drinks are steep, but you pay for luxury. Food looks good, but I havn't tried it.
Library Bar mixes my two favorite things together: Books and Booze.
I am pretty sure most people do not actually partake in the books but since everyone was late to ladies night (okay I'll end the bitterness now... ;) ) I chilled with a glass of $3 happy hour champagne, read a book and listened to some jazzy piano music.
Once the girls got there everyone ordered a round of champagne and Kristen G. inquired about adding Chambord into her drink. Thomas, the bartender/waiter guy, said he could do it FOR FREE! And how awesome is Thomas? He did it for EVERYONE.
So, we were basically the only people there. There were a few scattered couples about but most of them didn't stay for very long. The piano player was playing covers of Elton John songs and a few other well known songs that I don't remember so we requested a few songs. He played us Sweet Caroline (Ba Ba Baaaaaa) because I am pretty sure that is the Yelper's unofficial drinking song and something else I don't remember... maybe some Journey? Then he played Baby Got Back without us asking. We were in love.
So the After Hours Happy Hour is 7:30-9 so when 9 rolled around we obviously were not ready to leave so we asked Thomas about how much the champagne would be on non-happy hour prices. Thomas is so amazing that he said he'd keep giving us the happy hour prices. Did I mention how much I love Thomas?
The rest of the night the piano player (I forgot his name) played us whatever song we wanted. If he didn't know how to play it, he'd whip out a CD and play that for us.
The Library Bar may not be the place to be seen or to meet people, but if you want really amazing service and a good time it's definitely worth going to.
Can I give Library Bar more than five stars? More like six or seven?
Katie C. beat me to the punch.
The Library is fan-effing-tastic. Thomas was thee most amazing server who totally took care of our small group of ladies on ladies night part deux. He made me my Kir Royale's at no extra charge and kept the drinks a flowing at happy hour prices. After my night, I needed it.
Eric was the awesome piano player who let me sit with him, sing along, and pick out all the songs I wanted if he had them. Like Katie said, if he couldn't play what we wanted, he would bust out with his iPod. Best piano lounge player, hands down! He played some Baby Got Back, he played Prince, he played Journey without the words because he said he can't sing that high. And he let another patron sing some Sarah Mcwhatever her name is. Eric was part two of making my night fantastic.
Oh, and the food? Divine. Tricia C. and I shared the chopped beef sliders with horseradish cream. They were so cute and really tasty. I could have used more horseradish, but that's just because I like things HOT!
The Library just looks plain awesome when you come in. The chairs, the books on all the walls and the dark, mansion like library decor is just fabulous. I mean really, throw a bar in the middle of a library? What's not to love?
And parking is faaaah-reeee with validation. Oh, and be sure to note that the hotel is the Warwick at the Melrose? Or something like that... so you're not lost when you see Warwick.
Like Katie said, can I give this place like 12 stars? Thank you Thomas!!! I'm totally coming back just because of you.
Just watch out for the donkey's.
See Katie C. and Kristen G.'s reviews.
The place was gorgeous! Shelves of books all along the walls, a big beautiful wooden bar, comfy couches and chairs, giant zebra-ish chandeliers, a lovely piano/pianist in the corner, and one fantastic waiter named Thomas.
We were expecting expensive drinks for such a fancy schmancy place but the vibe was very laid back (jeans and tshirts would have been welcomed, ahem :) and they had $3 domestics and champagne! So it was a champagne evening for us-Champagne Royales actually because we got them to add Chambord on the house (thanks Kiki!) The waiter told us they were Kir Royales, but I just looked that up and he was mistaken. Tsk tsk, Thomas.
I also split the beef sliders with horseradish cream, and those were definitely good. Some of the pieces of chopped beef were a little fatty but the sauce and overall dish was awesome. The giant onion rings that accompanied lacked a little in seasoning, but were good too. I also couldn't help ordering a prosciutto, fig, and goat cheese flatbread because that's one of my favorite ingredient trifectas. It was a little disappointing though because although the ingredients DO always go well together, the bread was a little too crispy and dry for my taste. Could have used a little bit of a sauce (maybe something with balsamic?) or more toppings. Or maybe what I really was hoping for was a pizza, haha.
Also, can I review our new friend? 5 Stars for her too. I wish we could have been more than friends. Cheers to you.
Library bar was by no means your typical library! The place was very elegantly styled, and definitely caters to an upscale clientele. Despite this, I completely felt comfortable in jeans and a very casual top...definitely not out of place. The vibe is old study/stogie room with a modern twist. Nice comfy seats, beautiful wooden tables, zebra-print chandeliers, and a piano player willing to play any genre of music. The best was when Eric provided us with a jazz rendition of Baby Got Back!!! Sounds strange, but its even better than the original.
Service was FANTASTIC. Our waiter Thomas was prompt in bringing out our drinks and even jazzed up our champagne with chambord at no extra cost. There are daily drink specials, and if you just so happen to miss happy hour, there is an after hours special where you can get $3 domestics and champagne by the glass! As for food, the bar menu was pretty slim and a little pricey, but the food was pretty tasty.
I would not call this a Dallas hot-spot by any standard, but if you want a nice relaxed evening with friends, significant others, visiting relatives, this is definitely a great place to try out. The atmosphere and stellar service will surely bring me and my friends back in for more! Oh, and the valet service is complimentary, just get your ticket validated at the bar. Now that's service.
Just watch out for the donkey's though ;)
A top Dallas magazine voted this place had the best Martini once upon a time, which is still true. Sip delicious cocktails in a sophisticated but not stuffy place while enjoying live entertainment. This is still a best kept secret! Both locals and visitors will be found, definitely a mixed crowd and very Gay friendly. Lite food menu from the adjacent 5 star restauraunt. Get your valet ticket validated by your attentive server and get on your way to your next destination or, sneak a walk to the nearby clubs before claiming your car.
This is one of my favorite hotel bars in the city. It is never crowded and they always have good live music. The bar food isn't bad and the prices are great. It is definitely an old-school type atmosphere but you can actually hear yourself think in there. Also, you don't have to shout to have a conversation. Aubree-Anna sings on Saturday nights and she is awesome (just check out the latest Best of D Magazine).
I stayed at the Melrose for a big wedding last year, and was very sad that the bar was closed for remodeling. Had to check it out, now that it's open and a big hit with Yelpers.
My friend and I had the Famous Thomas as our waiter. Thomas was great, very attentive and patient -- even when I tipped a glass of cava all over the table. I told him that he was a minor internet celebrity.
We visited in the early evening. I thought the piano was a little loud. Drinks were great.
Other than another table of young-lawyer-types, we were the youngest people in the bar. Now, I'm a fan of the hotel bars, and I know that a quality hotel bar draws an older crowd, so I didn't mind... but if I were looking for a "lively" after-work spot on a weekday, I might skip the Library.
Still, this would be a great date spot, or relaxing place to catch up with friends... just be sure to sit on the side of the room opposite the piano so you can hear yourselves. ;)
The Library Bar is an awesome place. Relaxing environment, comfortable chairs, professional staff and a great selection of drinks. The Jazz piano is subtle and you won't have to yell across the table to have a conversation. The place draws a mature crowd, mostly 30+ and the occasional grandparent, but good for any age.
Wednesday nite, never thought it would arrive. Piano Bar sounds good. Dallas' best option - the Library at the Melrose. Red leather barrel chairs and the new décor that exposes the original carved wood that's now gilded all around the ceiling; nice old world feel mixed up with a Michael Kors attitude under careful lighting. Big, bar-height community table that greets you as you come in from the lobby went from Wifi'ing med board applicants vying for the lone waitress in late afternoon to the regulars that had their own chairs at 7 or so.
This is an elegant piano bar that satisfies without giving space to the prying eyes. No media, but they should have been there to catch Bad Boy in his pea coat. Looked particularly charming and human today. That, "I remember you," look with a double take was a little disconcerting. Made me wonder if he really did? Made me wonder, Did I ever really say that to him?
As for the nibblers; the potato skins are just a tease. Three servings of 1/5 of a potato each, one with duck, one with salmon and one with cheddar/bacon. Excellent, but not enough to survive on. The calamari now though with the five spice sauce and the greens... oh baby. Served battered and fried, tossed in a bowl with the baby greens and all things hot and spicy including jalapeño slices, share and then you'll have room to enjoy dinner. The Tuaca lemon drop came in a cute, stunted martini glass. An alternative to the grown up martini.
Used to come in after a bad day and could get a Famous Grouse, Amber - neat, have a cigar, and put out the fire. The days of healthy living make that a possibility no more. Nonetheless, now if you put your head back in the red leather barrel chair and close your eyes, the piano man will sooth the burn in your soul. Superperson enjoyed themself, but had to go before the wine tasting started. Newton - filtered chard - nice with the calamari, great with a steak. Old Ronald was delight too. After imbibing I always forget to get my valet ticket stamped, have learned to keep it in my hand until they get that done upon arrival. Just a reminder that saves a cool $12.
This fairly small bar is just inside the Melrose hotel. We stopped here one night before going to Houston's. With wood paneled walls, comfy leather sofas, chairs you sink into it. Feels classy, like a sitting room in an old house. You'll hear the quiet buzz of conversation between friends and businessmen of the live piano music.
Service was leisurely so take your time. Prices aren't really cheap. A great selection of appetizers, small dishes and sandwiches to munch on. I prefer something a little more modern, but I really liked this place.
Unfortunately they only have valet parking, be sure to get your ticket validated before leaving to avoid the $10 fee.
i felt like such a grown up when i went here. they have lovely mood lighting, luxurious leather seating, and piano player that's actually good.
i ordered a side car, which is one of my favorite retro cocktails. it was incredible. sure it cost $10, but it is a grown up bar and it was top notch liquor. it's a great place to take a date, although if you're not so sure you like the person, the romantic vibe may be a little awkward.
oh, and thanks for the advice about the valet parking. make sure you get your ticket validated. otherwise you have to pay $10. spend that extra $10 on another cocktail!
Live jazz music is performed quietly each night at the Library Bar in the Warwick Melrose Hotel. Decor includes dark wood-paneled walls, leather chairs and couches, low-lighting, and -- of course -- a wall full of books (though few patrons, hotel guests or otherwise, have ever been spotted actually reading them). Although the vibe is decidedly upscale, attentive servers make all guests feel welcome. Valet parking is free with validation or guests can self-park on the street.
This is just what a bar in a good hotel should be. Good drinks, comfortable chairs, excellent piano, low lighting. Sophisticated, warm, and welcoming. For mature audiences only (but that's not the same as old, just the opposite of immature).
Dallas, TX
Category: Jazz & Blues
Dallas, TX
Category: Jazz & Blues
Dallas, TX
Category: Music Venues
Dallas, TX
Category: Music Venues
Dallas, TX
Category: Music Venues
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