Thursday, September 24, 2026

A novel approach to cocktails at Book Club Bar

Photos and text by Stacie Joy

Book Club Bar owners Erin Neary and Nat Esten have turned some of the Third Street shop's drinks into a book of their own.

The couple recently released a 192-page hardcover collection of cocktails and mocktails served at Book Club Bar over the years, with recipes designed to pair with everything from the classics to more contemporary reads.
The book also includes tips for starting and maintaining a book club — fitting, given that a book club is how Neary and Esten first met.

"We met in our own book club (shout out to Cafe Orlin, our old regular meeting spot!), which influenced the name of the store," Neary said. "All the cocktails you'll find inside the Book Club Bar cocktail book have been served on East 3rd Street at one point or another over the years." 

Book Club Bar opened at 197 E. Third St. between Avenue A and Avenue B in 2019, combining an independent bookstore with a bar and café. 

Signed copies of the new book are available in-store and through the shop's online store.

No comments: