On January 2nd, while everything else in South Bank was closed for the public holiday, The Library Cafe was a welcome refuge. It offered wifi near the interior door, refreshing iced lattes, and a variety of baked sweet and savory snacks. I honestly can't think of any downsides to this lovely, accessible, and affordable cafe! As a visitor, it has quickly become my favorite spot to relax and stay connected. The only improvement I could suggest would be the addition of freshly brewed iced tea alongside their freshly made coffees. However, they do have a plus: natuvia, a natural, super low-calorie sweetener. You order at the counter, and if you're dining in, they'll give you a number and bring y...
Busiest in the morning for its well priced Breakfast Fare and great Merlot coffee this cool little bookshop/cafe is connected to the modern Queensland State Library in Southbank. I love sitting here with a long black even on a rainy day looking out as the beautiful green surrounds fold into the sharp background of the big city. With free wi-fi and a well stocked bookshop at your disposal its easy to spend an hour or two just chilling, watching the passers by as they travel between the Gallery of Modern Art and the Old Museum. Sometimes I feel as if I have come on a parents day as the place is often full of mothers and children, taking advantage of the ample parking and numerous child centere...
If you're not particularly maternal/paternal, you might want to give this place a miss. It's extremely child friendly (as it should be it's right opposite The Corner which is the State Library's kiddy hangout). I went with Mum, Dad and my almost 4 year old niece when we were on our way to see an exhibition. And it was such a lovely place to spend half an hour. My niece adored her babycino (which came with 2 marshmallows and a small chocolate). And when she got bored sitting with us, she had fun browsing in the bookshop which stocked some of her favourites the Angelina Ballerina stories. And I loved the fact that I felt deeply cultural (not only were we in the State Library building, but just...
As for the food, the menu features hot meals like burgers, toasted sandwiches, and chicken salads, alongside a display case filled with salads, wraps, cakes, and cookies. The salad case often has nearly empty bowls with just bits of leftover salad, which suggests that the salads are popular, but it doesn’t usually inspire me to order one. I’m more inclined to choose a slice of cake instead, as there’s a good variety available and they are attractively presented.
When The Library Cafe gets busy, the experience can be quite hectic. The line to order becomes long and chaotic, often spilling into the dining area, while the outdoor space turns into a maze of strollers and children. Yet, when it...
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They open early! During the week and on weekends, so if you need that early morning coffee fix, they're about the only place in the precinct that's open. (Wait, I think there's a coffee stand over at QPAC) Of course, you also can hook into the State Library's free wifi, so you can find a nice comfy seat to relax in. I'm not big on the food here. Crazy expensive, and little that I ever feel like eating, with one exception. Scones. Gosh. I love scones. And they'll even serve them takeaway, hot, with lashings of cream and jam. Goes down well with a nice cup of tea. Highly recommended! I don't drink coffee, but the numerous coffee junkies I know tell me this is the place to get coffee in the pre...
This is a cafe adjacent to a library, but DO NOT expect a contemplative space in which to read, write or think. Possibly the noisiest cafe I've ever visited, think yelling children trying to achieve a higher decibel level than the disgruntled staff member saddled with the task of washing and stacking pots, pans and dishes. Throwing is the verb more accurately describing the handling of the dishes. Bring your toddlers and your ear plugs, not your reading material. Oh, and the cappuccino offered a mild, bitter, rancid bite of stale oils, so I suspect the grinder is cleaned perhaps once a year. Either that or the beans are purchased in bulk, rather infrequently.
The Library Cafe has everything everyone else has already said (great, cool, breezy locale, awesome coffee, friendly staff) but it also has a little something extra a Poet in Residence program. This awesome initiative means you can catch regular poetry events at this great venue, and it provides a valuable creative outlet for Brisbane's quietly impressive literary scene. The next SPOKEN event is Friday 13th January at 5.30pm, and you can catch the events on the second Friday of each month. Features spoken word, live art, booze and open mic. See you there!
The prices are a bit steep; I paid $10 for a small iced coffee. However, the macaroons were quite good. The staff were decent, and while there is Wi-Fi available, there are no power outlets, which forced me to buy my coffee and head to the library to work. Overall, it wasn't outstanding, but it wasn't too bad either.
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Free wifi. The best chocolate thick shake you will ever have. Savory (roast veg) muffin delicious. I just feel the menu could do with some improving. It's owned by jimmys on the mall and you feel that a bit. Still they are often the only ones open so they work hard- and I keep coming back!
Nice atmosphere and great location. The food is quite expensive for the quality that you receive though. Try the nachos, they're good value.
