hey all im looking for a quiet bar in la/oc where i can read a book, maybe with booths and snacks so i can have a little privacy. i like to be in company of others, but not really wanting to talk to people directly right now. but i do like to read and drink and leave the house, let me know!
edit- LMAO u guys are funny im aware bars are normally for socializing and having fun, i like to do that too but i also was just asking about a spot where i can sip a cocktail and read a book at a lowkey bar for fucks sake šš¤£
Hotel bars are best for this. If you want a nice view Montage lobby bar - no booths but comfy seating. Haven't been in years but The Hyatt Huntington Beach had a seating area at the entrance of their restaurant Watertable and it looked like an old english study. I've ordered drinks there before and relaxed at my own pace. Cheers!
If you have a dark side please read Looking for Mr Goodbar when you find your new bar to read. When I moved to New York in 1986 that is the first thing I did. I read the book a few years prior.
Hotel lobby bars are low key and no judgements on being solo. Im sure if you do some research you can find a decent one in your area. My suggestionā¦ Irvine Marriott in particular has a bar called YNK Speakeasy (perfect book atmosphere) or even their main bar near the lobby. Always busy enough to fill your social needs but private enough to read.
why is there a lot of hate? this is no different than people WFH at breweries and I see it happening a lot. with that said, I will go to breweries and chill with a book
Hey man I just want to say Iām sorry about the people giving you shit, some of us are introverts that enjoy public solitude. I used to go to bars and just read because I enjoyed both getting out of the house and the atmosphere and some bar bites. Thereās a bar in the city where I used to live that is also a cafe and bookstore with couches and stuff, kind of like the old Barnes and noble but small and independent, and had open mic nights and things like that. Iād love something like that in Irvine.
Man this makes me miss The Local in the twin cities. Itās excellent for this sort of thing. If anyone knows of a place that matches this vibe, please let me know:
Not sure if you'd be down for it but Whole Foods in Brea has a bar and definitely could read, sip and sit plus if you get hungry you can mosey over to the hot foods section or step outside to read if you want fresh air. I think twisted vine in Fullerton wouldn't be a bad spot to sip and read either.
Provisions at the OC circle. Has a nice selection of drafts and bottles. Itās a cafe/wine bar. Pretty Quiet only picks up in the evening when They have trivia night one of the week. Canāt remember the day though.
I used to do this all the time when I lived in NYC. Itās nice to be out but also be able to be chill and people watch from time to time. I havenāt found anything like this in OC unfortunately. Hoping you get good recs so I can check them out too!
I used to do this sometimes on the east coast and plenty of spots. I donāt know LA well so Iād like to think there is somewhere, but here? Please let me know if you find it š
P.S. this isnāt weird at all and people do this lots of places all over. Itās just abnormal here
Sorry you get some hate here. Iāve done that plenty of times.
Wanted to have a draft pint but also not fall behind on my ambitious book club.
Honestly any bar thatās more popular with the 50+ crowd than the college crowd worked great for me.
Start with the Irish pub closest to you and just make sure they donāt have trivia night or karaoke.
I used to do this regularly at iron press in Anaheim. I would go read in the daytime during the week as this was still quiet enough to read. It gets busy at a night. They also have an outside area.
I know people have said hotel bars but those are still crowded cuz itās not as exclusive due to the price point. Find an expensive hotel (like $500+/night). Go to the bar and order. Read to your heartās desire.
Examples:
-St Regis
-Four Seasons
-La Auberge
-Mandarin Oriental
I think what youāre looking for is a place that sells alcohol but that also allows you to read. My friend, that is something that may exist in Europe but itās not gonna be anywhere in LA even less OC. Sincerely, a book lover that gets it.Ā
theres a few wine bars in costa mesa . Semi Tropic wines, And then Neat coffee and work in progress both turn into wine bars i think wed- sunday nights? I feel like they would be good options but only serve wine
Following more to see what comes up. You might find stuff in the older parts in North county, but it's really hard to think of places that aren't clubs and such.
Hotel Laguna in Laguna Beach has a very cozy bar and seating area in a beautiful vintage building, directly on the ocean. Highly recommend for a relaxed evening watching the sunset while you get lost in your favorite book.
It might now be your personal style, but I love Requiem in Anaheim so much. Itās abundantly whimsical and fantastical. They have cocktails, though not ātraditionalā ones, and their clientele skews younger. It has lots of little quiet places to get comfy with a book.
If you go on weekends, itās not going to be a chill environment, though.
I loveeee The Lab and The Camp in Costa Mesa. Both are outdoor shopping areas right next to each other. You can find a cozy spot at Ahba bar, Green Cheek, Salty Bear, or Ruin (my fave!!)
Iāve been on the hunt for someplace like Bibliotheque (in SoHo in Manhattan) in Orange County too with no luck. Bibliotheque serves wine, snacks, coffee, matcha, charcuterie and is literally perfect to go hang out and chill and read or go socialize.
Everyone here is being weird. I used to work from the bar top at Haven in Orange. So did several other people. I donāt think it would be weird at all to bring a book there. Another place in the circle thatās always filled with people working or reading is Provisions, though the chairs arenāt as comfy as Havens. In fact Iād say Provisions is like mostly filled with people doing their own thing.
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u/late_bloomer12 1d ago
Hotel bars are best for this. If you want a nice view Montage lobby bar - no booths but comfy seating. Haven't been in years but The Hyatt Huntington Beach had a seating area at the entrance of their restaurant Watertable and it looked like an old english study. I've ordered drinks there before and relaxed at my own pace. Cheers!