#Rough draft bar and books full#

Overall - This is a fantastic place with everything a book lover might want, loads to look through, room for friends, quiet corners to be alone, plenty to eat and drink, and a great Colonial-era vibe.

Location - Situated in the old downtown portion of Kingston, a few minutes away from the exit for Highway 87.Ĭustomer Service - The staff were friendly and let us buy our books right from the bar.

#Rough draft bar and books full#

It felt just right.ĭiversity - They hit all the expected categories and genres, and many were new titles I hadn’t seen yet.Īffordability - I didn’t see any discount sections or used titles, although I got distracted by the bar so maybe I missed it? Otherwise, typical new book prices, which is fine.Īmenities - Amenities galore! Lots of seating, a full bar, food and pastries, coffee and donuts, bread of all sorts, and warmth against the cold rainy weather. Quantity - It felt like a lot of books to look over at the time, but considering how much space was dedicated to seating they actually have fewer books than other shops, it just felt like a lot because they were so evenly distributed. Quality - The books were new, bright, excellently displayed, and ready for eager readers. The shop is very community focused and eager to serve multiple purposes. You won’t be disappointed.Ītmosphere - Rough Draft is full of books and browsers but still felt spacious, with plenty of tables and a full bar. If you’re anywhere within a drive’s distance, do yourself a favor and cruise on through. I walked away from Rough Draft full of books, beer, and baked goods, ready to hit the road and spread the word about this excellent shop just a few minutes removed from Highway 87. It was one more “B” in a shop full of beer and books, and I couldn’t have been happier. The back kitchen also had a “bread lab” where they baked a unique selections of fresh breads and rolls. The food was excellent and we were able to buy our books from where we sat, no waiting in a long line. My lovely companion Amelia and I then adjourned to the bar area, where we found a menu full of pies (I selected the breakfast pie, with eggs, bacon, and cheese in a flaky crust), wine, coffee, and craft beer, most of it local but with selections from all over the map. This is a bookseller who can stay ahead of the curve. Again, the thing I loved best about the selection was that there were so many fresh titles I hadn’t heard of before. I kept grabbing books as quickly as I could turn, and I ended up with a couple poetry titles and a new hardcover about Hunter S Thompson’s fight against fascism called Freak Kingdom. The titles were vibrant, new, and called from every corner and table. Scott Fitzgerald wrote about booze (his favorite subject). It was packed and looked like a great place to meet up with friends and family, and an even better place to hold a reading or event.Īs for the books, there was an excellent variety and many new unique titles I hadn’t seen elsewhere, with your usual fiction, Children’s, and various nonfiction sections that included local history, biography, music, sci-fi, YA, art and painting, photography, and a small but excellent table for books on cocktails, baking, and finer culinary arts, with a book that contains all the essays and letters F. Stepping inside I found alternating shelves and displays of new books spread out among tables large and small where groups of people were sitting around eating, drinking, chatting, and reading. Located in the crisscross downtown section of old Kingston, New York, which was once the capital of the state back in 1777, Rough Draft occupies a quaint stone building that feels like someplace old Rip Van Winkle would wander into after a long nap to tuck into a meat pie and a craft brew. I stopped in on a rainy Saturday recently and it was such a warm, charming, bustling respite that I didn’t want to leave. At least so far, though I think they’ll be tough to beat. I’ve been proud to shine a spotlight on a handful of bookshop / bar combinations in the past, and even a couple wine shop and bookseller combos too, but when it comes to putting a pint, a bite, and a book in front of a casual browser, Rough Draft is the top of the pile.