The Library Cafe

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.

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 precinct.
Anyhow, It’s a nice little café, but not being big into the food or into coffee, I find there’s little here for me.

When you’ve been studying or immersing yourself in the plethora of cultural opportunities among the GOMA /​SLQ precinct, The Library Café is a welcome «pit-​stop». Serving Merlo coffee the food prices are a little high. It is popular with mothers, students and with free wi-​fi it is a great spot to park your laptop, work and watch the day go by.

The Library Café is a handy spot for a drink and a snack between cultural pursuits at the State Library, GoMA, or Queensland Art Gallery. On weekdays, it’s peaceful and full of comfy places to sit and you have your pick of a breezy outdoor table or a cosy indoor banquette. On weekends, though, The Library Café turns into a crowded vortex of screaming kids and flustered parents, so I’d give it a miss then if you’re after a quiet coffee while you read or study.
In terms of food, there is a menu of hot meals like burgers, toasted sandwiches, chicken salads etc, and also a cabinet full of salads, wraps, cakes, and biscuits. The salad cabinet is usually full of almost-​empty bowls that only contain salad dregs. I guess that just means the salads are popular, but it means I’m not usually inspired to order a salad. I’m more likely to order a piece of cake or slice because there is a good selection and they are well presented.
When The Library Café gets busy, it’s pretty hellish. The queue to order gets long and unruly and crowds the inside tables, while the outdoor area is a minefield of prams and kids. When it’s quiet it’s a great place to sit down with a drink or snack while you peruse the books you just bought from the Library Shop or take advantage of the SLQ’s free wi-​fi.

On January 2^nd when everything else in South Bank was closed for the public holiday, The Library Café was a welcome respite complete with wifi near the interior door, an ice cold latte, and lots of baked sweet and savory snacks. I really can’t think of any down sides to this beautiful, accessible, and affordable café! As a visitor, this has become my absolute favorite place to hang out and stay connected! The only thing that could make it better would be some fresh brewed iced tea to go with the freshly prepared coffees. However, they make up for it by having a natuvia– a natural super low calorie sweetener.
Order at the counter and if you’re staying to eat, they’ll provide you with a number and deliver to your table. Bonus tip: at the bottom of the soda cooler you’ll find large open bottles of cold still water. Help yourself and grab a glass from one of the nearby counters. The tap water here tastes much less chlorinated than the regular tap water– so skip the plastic bottle and save the environment.

The Library Café 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 13^th 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!

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 across the way from both the Art Gallery and GOMA) and full — my cappacino was suitably creamy, helped by the enormous (but exy) raspberry and coconut slice I devoured.
Culture and eating — such a great mix…

Busiest in the morning for its well priced Breakfast Fare and great Merlot coffee this cool little bookshop/​café 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 centered activities provided by the Library. The breakfast options are definitely the best value for money with lunch being a little on the expensive side, that being said, whenever you choose to go you will always find something satisfying.