If you've heard there's a secret bar near FIU and wondered what's actually poured behind the bookcase, the answer is finally public. The Library, the 1920s speakeasy inside specialTEA Lounge at 10766 SW 24th St, now has its full menu online, drinks, bites, prices and all. So you can walk in knowing exactly what you'll order, even if you still have to find the door.
Here's a local's read on what's on it, what to try first, and how to plan a late one on the Coral Way corridor without guessing.
What a secret bar near FIU actually pours
The heart of the list is a section called specialTEA Cocktails, and it's what makes this list its own. Because The Library lives inside a tea lounge, the bar infuses loose-leaf teas straight into the spirits. Most of these run $16 or $17.
- Through a London Fog ($16) is Beefeater Gin infused with Earl Grey Black Tea, vanilla syrup and oat milk. It's the one to order if you like a drink that reads soft and finishes smart.
- The Collector's Vault ($17) goes the other direction: Bulleit 95 Rye, chocolate liqueur, dry curacao and two kinds of bitters. Whiskey people, this is yours.
- Purple Prose ($17) is Don Q 7 Rum infused with lavender and butterfly pea flower, and yes, it's as pretty as the name suggests.
- The Jekyll & Hyde ($17) splits the difference between mezcal and tequila, with Asian pear green tea, muddled jalapeños and an edible candied pear.
- The Daily Buzz ($16) is chamomile-infused gin with honey syrup and an edible sugar glass bee. Heads up, it contains bee pollen.
The names alone tell you the bar had fun with the library theme. Oolong & Juliet, The Scarlet Letter, The Almond Almanac. It's the kind of list you end up reading out loud to whoever you came with.
The classics, done straight
If you'd rather stick to the canon, the Prohibition Era Cocktails section is where to look. The Old Fashioned ($18) is built on Jack Daniel's Bonded Rye with Angostura bitters, and it's still the drink the bar judges itself by. You'll also find a Sidecar ($18), a Manhattan ($16), a Classic Negroni ($16), a White Negroni ($16), a Dirty Martini ($16) and a Mint Julep ($19) made with Maker's Mark Cask Strength. The Daiquiri ($12) is the easiest entry point on the whole list.
Late in the evening, the Coffee Curations section earns its spot. The Spiced Espresso Martini ($17) folds spiced chai black tea into Tito's and freshly pulled espresso, which is a very good argument for staying until close.
Not drinking, or keeping it light
This is the part people don't expect from a speakeasy. The mocktails aren't an afterthought, they're built on the same teas. The Berry Rosey Mojito and the Golden Spice Mule are $8 each, and the Yuzu Fizz is $5. If you're the designated driver for the night, you're not stuck with a soda water and a lime.
Beer drinkers get a real list too, with draft pints and snifters starting at $6 and a long run of craft bottles. One detail FIU folks will appreciate: the Sunblazer golden ale is on draft, and the menu describes it as FIU's official beer. Enough said, apparently. Wine is simple and fairly priced, with a house red and house white at $7 and a sparkling at $6.
Food behind the bookcase
The bites lean small and shareable, which is exactly what you want with cocktails. The Prohibition Era Bites include Speakeasy Deviled Eggs ($6), Midnight Marinated Olives ($5), a Bootlegger's Cheeseball ($8), Secret Society Hummus & Pita ($8), The Flapper's Trio of finger sandwiches ($12) and Bookie's Shrimp Cocktail ($13). There are soups and a Waldorf salad at $6, and the Boardwalk Cannoli Duo ($10) closes things out with one pistachio chocolate and one espresso.
It's not a dinner menu, and it doesn't pretend to be one. It's the kind of food that keeps a table going for another round.
One thing worth knowing before the check arrives: a 20% automatic gratuity is added to every check, and all of it goes to the staff. It's printed right on the menu, so no surprises.
Planning a late night near FIU
If you're looking for bars near FIU open late, The Library runs Wednesday through Saturday, 6 PM to 1 AM, and it's about two minutes from campus. You pick the time you'll arrive and stay as long as you like until close. Each arrival time only holds a handful of people, so the room never feels packed.
A reservation always gets you in, since your library card scans you through the street door. Walk-ins come through the bookcase inside specialTEA Lounge while the bookshelf is open, but on busy nights it locks to walk-ins, so check the live walk-in status on the homepage before you head over. Wednesdays in particular fill up, because the microphone comes out at 9 PM for karaoke night.
A few practical things: it's 21 and over, so bring ID, and it's cocktail attire, so dress for the room. There's free parking in the plaza lot out front. Groups bigger than four should email the team ahead of time. The Find Us page has directions and parking if it's your first visit.
Now that you know what's on the list, the only thing left is picking your night. Reserve a time at The Library, claim your card, and keep the address to yourself.