Peter Kern Library

I absolutely am a fan of speakeasies. But this place is on our top list. We have been to other speakeasies all over the world but this is still our favorite.
Their drinks are very carefully made and the bartender goes out of their way to make you a drink that you love (i.e. they ask if you prefer Bourbon drinks or Vodka drinks). The menus are made out of old library books. Fun! The music there is superb. The occasions we have been there we heard Jazz one time and super cool Indie another. We are actually repeating tonight so I will come back with more tips! Tip: Try to go on a weekday instead of a weekend!

If Julie Andrews were to sing about a few of my favorite things, it would include great books, swanky spots, and delicious craft cocktails. Basically, she’d be singing a little ditty about the Peter Kern Library. Sadly, this place isn’t as much of a local secret as it once was, but if you plan your visit carefully, you can enjoy a quiet library atmosphere, conversation without having to shout, and be delighted with the magic whipped up by the bartenders. They pride themselves on the quality of the drinks, which is certainly reflected in the price, and it shows. They are the perfect blend of classic with a twist of modern. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, order a Holden Caulfield. Maybe try my personal favorite: The Aviation made with tequila rather than gin.
This little spot is located inside the Oliver Hotel, but you will only find it’s entrance in the alley. You won’t find a sign, but only a dim red light. If it’s a busy night, expect to wait to get in. The Library is small and they do a great job of maintaining an intimate setting, which means they limit the number of patrons.
This is a perfect date spot or a great spot if you’re out with your girls. Just a note, if you’re looking for a traditional bar setting, Preservation Pub may be a better fit.

Very pretentious bartenders really set my date off. Hand crafted drinks and a cool atmosphere but hard to get over the bartenders attitude.

Best secret bar in Knoxville! Drinks were amazing. Love the atmosphere and the menu! In the Oliver Hotel has a speakeasy vibe. Feels like you are stepping back in time.

So if you are looking to rage out, this is not the place. It is absolutely a hidden gem that is not so hidden. Just follow the red light or open the heavy sliding door…
The atmosphere is nice and the drinks are done well. It is somewhat dim with a creepy child portrait that SHOULD HAVE an amazing back stoey to it, it doesn’t, but it creatively decorated antiquish looking artifacts.
Definitely a cozy place to enjoy some Absinthe or a cocktail of your choice. The music is eh, it needs to be a tad more trendy while the lights need to be just a bit dimmer. This bar has a very private and initimate feel to it but the music and lighting is a bit off.
Overall a great place to have a fun but calm night.

Peter Kern is on the top of my list to take out of towners for a cool experience. You enter in the alley –where the red light is. Go through the hall and to the first door. The inside is reminiscent to what I think a speakeasy would look like haha (thank you Hollywood). Craft cocktails and Coffee are what this place is about. It is very intimate and can’t hold more than 50 people comfortably. There is usually a wait on the weekends, but going earlier or later can help during that! Love how unique this place is right off Market Square. Their drink Menus are in the vintage books !

This could have easily been a gimmick. We have three «speakeasies» in Tucson that I know of, and I love the idea, but I’ve also seen it done poorly. I loathe gimmick bars, abhor them, really. I’ve also studied mixology and bar tending on my own and in professional instructor for over a decade now, and I get weak in the knees over a beautiful, complicated cocktail, and can be more than a little judgmental at the trendy-​but-​shallow frat boy/​sorority girl/​soccer mom hangouts. And tourist traps make me throw up in my mouth a little. Screw you and your dumb collectible Moscow Mule mug…
I love genuine cleverness. Classics are great, but I can’t even begin to describe the joy I have in finding a place where they serve unexpected and clever combinations. Give me alchemy over chemistry any day!
The Peter Kern Library has it all down, and I mean every detail. The menu is extraordinary, the ambiance is great, and the servers were all fantastic when we were there. It was my favorite thing we did for the ten days we were in Knoxville, and cooler than any place I’ve been to in DC, NYC, Toronto, or San Francisco. But all that aside, the way our bartender flamed the citrus rind for my drink was a work of art in and of itself, and I can say that The Warrior (with gin and Cynar… CYNAR!!!) was the best cocktail I have ever had in my life. For the astonishing creativity, ambiance, and quality, the prices are also quite reasonable.
People who criticize the exclusivity, secrecy, and complicated drinks just completely miss the point of this gem. It’s not a bar. It’s not a nightclub. It’s not a restaurant or lounge. And it’s not where you should go if you want some Polynesian daiquiri for girl’s night out or a sake bomber with the buds. Just as the name implies, the Peter Kern Library is intelligent, thoughtful, and nuanced, and damn, damn, damn I wish it was in Tucson.

This. Place. Was. So. Cool. I am a nerd — a big, fat, literature, history, drinking, nerd. This was my kind of place. First of all we walked down an alley and into a hidden door only noticeable by a red light bulb. From there we walked into a dark hallway with another hidden, sliding door. A man came out, checked out our ID’s and let us in. I really felt like we traveled back in time. The menu was glued into the beginning pages of old books and the aesthetics looked just like an old library in a mansion. The couches were comfortable and the staff was friendly. They helped me pick out a perfect gin drink. The drinks were also categorized by country they originated (somewhat). If you want something unique and have some free time in Knoxville I highly recommend having a drink. It’s a little pricey but totally worth it. To boot — it’s also in a great location around other shops, restaraunts, and bars.

Very cool speakeasy bar that is a little tricky to find if you don’t know where you’re going but I love the hidden entrance. There is usually a guy outside of the bar that pretends to be the front desk guy of the hotel that will let you in but you need to tell him what you’re looking for because he won’t seek you out.
Lots of yummy cocktail options and like most speakeasy bars all of the ingredients are very fresh and unique to this bar. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about drinks especially if you aren’t sure what some of the ingredients are… the bartenders are very knowledgeable and can re-​craft the drinks to your liking. The menu’s are inside encyclopedias which was a pretty cool touch.
They don’t have food but they work closely with Tupelo Honey which is just down the hallway so its a great alternative. I would love to visit again when I’m back in town!

Really, really love this speakeasy, although I also loved it before the major décor change. Enter through the alley, not the hotel lobby please! (the whole point) Over the top, cool, creative cocktail menu (both content and looks). Try the Bazarov without the ginger beer. Some limited food. Great date spot!

Stopped in here and had a delicious rye cocktail. A neat little place when it’s not too busy. Nice dark atmosphere. Small.

This place is so cool. It’s a speakeasy. You literally have to walk down an alley and walk into a door that has absolutely no signage. You know it’s open, because there is a red light that is on. It’s very small and cozy. There is a bar on one side, and on the opposite side there is what looks similar to a library with a fake fire. The bar is basically set up with large three sided booths. It’s a full bar, but the specialty drinks are listed in old encyclopedias. I ordered their equivalent to the old fashioned. You order at the bar, and the bartender brought it to our table. He was friendly, and he came to check on us several times. This was the coolest speakeasy that I have ever been to.

Best spot for specially crafted cocktails and great coffee beverages. Insane crowds on weekends. It’s in a hotel so they are open basically always. Favorite cocktail — the Warrior — gin, cynar, burnt lemon peel and pepper syrup. Fave non-​alcoholic coffee — coconut latte. Fave alcoholic coffee — Caribbean.

I really dig this place… when it’s not overcrowded. The drinks are always great and I love the vibe in this little bar. They serve delicious craft cocktails, as well as beer and wine for the less adventurous. If you’re a first timer it can be a little overwhelming. Here are some tips to get you through…
1. If you go on Friday or Saturday night, you will more than likely have to wait in the hallway until space opens up. That’s just a fact. I highly recommend going on a weekday around 5 – 7 PM. It’s much more enjoyable and intimate.
2. If your party is 2 – 4 people, you may have to share a section of the seating area with another patrons. These are big sectional type couches. You can easily get 6 – 8 people to a section, if the people already sitting there are cool with it. When I first started going here, I hated this aspect of the bar. It can be off putting. After waiting in the hallway for 20 – 30 minutes, you tend to get over that part of it real quick.
3. Alternatively, if your group is 6 – 10 people, I would read 1 and 2 again…
4. BE PATIENT! There is a limited staff. This place is tiny. It’s going to take a few minutes to get your drinks. These are hand crafted cocktails. Some of these drinks have like 9 ingredients. If you want a Coors Light and a Vodka Tonic, there are plenty of other bars that can suit your needs.
They’ve also started serving coffee and espresso in the mornings. It’s definitely worth checking out. The Coconut Cream Latte is unbelievably good and the espresso was nice and rich.

This place not easy to find, you need ask or just go the dark alley with a red light. Amazing place if you have a date and want to enjoy delicious drinks.
I went on Sunday night and the service was amazing.

The atmosphere here is perfect for an intimate gathering of a small group of friends. The drink selection is what I would love to keep stocked in my fridge every day and the prices are quite reasonable. The service is slow which is why they only get four stars.
The fireplace is warm and the wrap around, light brown leather couches are very inviting!

Also known as locally as «The Speakeasy», this is the preferred date-​night destination for my wife and I. There are only two ways in — behind an unmarked sliding door in the lobby of the Oliver Hotel, and through an even more unmarked door in a back alley lit by a single red bulb.
Once you find this little place, the ambiance is amazing. Dark and (usually) quiet, it’s packed full of character. There is a stuffed fox with a hat on one shelf, an Old Rip van Winkle bourbon bottle on another. Old books, clocks, and odd decanters. Too much to remember, much less list.
The Library is really tiny, so sometimes seating is limited. The bartender is fast and friendly.
The drinks we’ve had are excellent — mostly sticking to a version of a Manhattan. The bar food is tasty — I’ve tried the cucumber cups with smoked salmon (yum!), the mini caprese salad, and the hot pimento cheese with tortilla chips. The menu is fun; it’s glued into the title pages of old encyclopedias and the food menu is printed onto a bookmark in each volume.
It’s a bit pricey, but we have enjoyed our visits enough not to mind. As a final bit of fun, the tab is delivered on a library checkout card.
Definitely worth a visit!

I’m not sure who this Peter guy is, but the fact that he served me a strong cocktail in the evening and an even stronger coffee in the morning makes me think we might be long lost BFFs.
Why lost, you ask? For good reason. Because unless you’re staying in the oh-​so-​stylish Oliver Boutique Hotel, you probably avoided the desolate alley entrance and didn’t even notice the dimly lit bulb light beckoning booze-​hungry visitors like the moths we are. Pete’s coy, hard-​to-​get, speakeasy game is strong, and I appreciate that. He’s picky too, so be prepared to wait.
Why long, you ask? Because that’s how both of my bevvys were made. My long black (or americano to the uninitiated) was smooth and floral, and my tall-​glassed tequila cocktail was smoky and spicy, although admittedly a bit sweet for my taste. But that’s okay Pete, when has being too sweet ever gotten you in trouble?

I was lead down a dark and poorly lit alley. Then all of a sudden, a dark door opened up into a hallway with one man standing there by his stool. he greeted us with such delight. huh? where am i? We waited about 5−10mins because it was at max occupancy. Wow, I thought to myself, this place is going off! To my surprise, I was really blown away when I stepped into this ‘library.’ It was everything that I was not expecting, yet again, I didn’t even know what to expect. A very speakeasyish type of ambiance in that it was dim dim lighting. Interesting paintings with bucket seat lounge arrangements and a few ottomans here and there. There were about 4 bar seats and hightop to the side.
Its hard to imagine what the turnover rate is here. Drinks are moderately priced and quite delicious. They make their own bitters from scratch here and their signature drinks are also classic takes on old time favorites. The drink menu is cleverly glued to the inside cover of an old hardback book. I’m sold on this place. I had a sazerac as well as an old fashion. Just add a cigar lounge in somewhere and the world is complete.
A great place to meet friends for a drink and small chit chat while LCD sound system is playing through the speakers. Ambiance is on point so 5stars for that.

Shhh. Behind white sliding wall in Oliver hotel there is a secret passage to the coolest bar ever. No, there is no sign or name. Just find it. Or ask concierge. Quietly. Shhhhhh.
It’s quiet, dark and intriguing. Candles flickering and portraits looking at me from the walls.
Leather-​like wall paneling. Huge leather couches. Fireplace warming up the space. Bookshelves set with odd books.
Menus hidden in encyclopedias? Heck yes!!!
Friendly bartender gal makes me perfectly smooth bourbon old-​fashioned.
Love. It. To. Bits.
I gonna drive 900 miles to Knoxville again. Just to be here.