The Library Bar

There is a man in a tuxedo and well-​manicured moustache. He’s smoking a delicate cigar and thinking about his women. He never calls them «dames» despite this being the slang of choice for the rubble outside. This is the 1920’s after all. He calls them «ladies» even though he sometimes feels heated after talking to jazz girls. There is a man playing the piano in his near vicinity, while the man sips a cocktail. The place he is sitting in is Library Bar. It couldn’t be anywhere else. What a classy man. What a classy place.

Easily one of my top 3 bars in Copenhagen! I almost didn’t want to write about it, for fear of disclosing what I thought was a totally secret tip, but seeing as there were already 11 reviews at the time of my writing, seems like the cat is out of the bag anyways — so why not throw some love their way?!
I only found out about The Library Bar last fall when I attended a rum tasting there (which, by the way, was awesome) and instantly fell in love. I am just an absolute sucker for this type of old-​school, dim, cozy bar with wood-​paneled walls, book shelves, leather sofas, and classic cocktails mixed by bartenders with suspenders and bow ties.
Their cocktail menu has a lot of classics, which seem to be experiencing a sort of renaissance recently, but also some signature cocktails of their own invention, which never disappoint. The prices are the usual range for cocktails in Copenhagen, but rest assured that you’re really getting quality drinks here. There’s a grand piano in there as well, where I’ve seen a very talented young singer/​pianist perform on some occasions.
It’s small and therefore fills up quickly, but only once did I not manage to get a table after a couple of minutes. It’s definitely not as busy as other, more hot shot bars around the city. Definitely a place to go!

I don’t really have anything against The Library Bar to be honest:
The place is alright, very central — inside Copenhagen Plaza hotel, which is next to Copenhagen Central station. You can’t get even more central than that, but the bar itself isn’t very big. It’s more like a room than a bar, a library to be exact, so I can’t really sue them on that.
With its dimmed light and cozy chairs, this place gives an aura that matches one of their best drinks: Old fashioned. You could imagine old men with cigars (well, smoking isn’t allowed inside), sipping their 30 year old scotch inside, and it’s nice in a way that it’s one of those bars where you could have a proper conversation without having to shout to each other (I guess I have reached THAT age where I don’t like to hang out in discos and loud places anymore).
Three stars — because it’s quite small, and that the drinks are pretty average for the price. A normal cocktail would set you back at around 110 DKK, which is probably normal for Copenhagen standard, but I would rather have that drink at Ruby’s for example, for that price. Then again, this place is a hotel bar, where it’s a common knowledge that hotel bars are pricier than normal bars, so it’s totally understandable that way.
That said, I wouldn’t put this place on my night outing list (if there’s such a list.) but it’s a good choice to have if you are near central station and have nowhere else to go.
As other Unilocaler pointed out, don’t come here if you’re under 30 or have a young soul, you wouldn’t like the sombre atmosphere. Me on the other hand…

Nice and calm and a good place to bring a book or magazine and relax for a while. Closed on mondays when we where last there.

Well reading the reviews I got curious to try this bar. However I arrived and it was more like a lounge where everyone was sitting around a table with their comfy couches. Good for a talk or a business drink, but if you want to be around people and have fun this is not such place. We went in and turned away and left. If you re over let’s say 35 – 40 then it should be ideal for you. For me it seemed out of my league and not a place I would like to stay with my friend.
On the other hand the interior was indeed very cool and it had this warm lounge feeling. There are no windows so it is quite dark and the colours they have used are also dark.
It is located just after the reception on the ground floor on your right hand side in the back.

This is one of those hidden gems right by the main station. My friend brought me here for the first time in November and I really fell for it! It’s like stepping into an old Library with a beautiful piano, woodwork and great cozy atmosphere. You would never knew it existed from the outside which makes it that much more surprising. They have a great list of cocktails and their bartenders know what they are doing. The only reason it doesn’t get five stars is because if they are full and there is only one bartender, sometimes you have to wait ten to fifteen minutes to be served, and that’s a bit annoying. But they take extra care making each and every cocktail. If you are into cozy corners and nice interior, this is the place for you. Especially at Christmas where they hang a giant upside down Christmas tree. Very cool!

Intimate, quiet, and very dark-​wood-​paneled-​old-​boys-​club feel. Imaging dim lighting, coffered ceilings, and leather armchairs clustered around low tables. Excellent table service so your glass is never empty. Very nice place for a few drinks.

Very cool place, nice atmosphere and very capable bartenders.