The Bike Library Cafe

Rob Mihelic 9 months ago

One of the coolest, most unique new spots in Raleigh! Half the space is a Cafe, and the other half is a bike repair / bike rental shop. The whole design is done SO well and feels very local and community oriented. They maintain a clean, local, community oriented aesthetic that's uniquely 'Raleigh'. The coffee is delicious! The baristas are talented and they partner with a local roster to get all their beans. All the pastries are vegan, AND they are actually good (coming from a non-vegan that says a lot). the atmosphere is fun, energetic, community oriented, and great for a date, quick coffee break, or a 'work from home' day. It's not too loud. One unique thing I love about the cafe section is that the tables are actually large and spacious! plenty of room to spread out with a laptop or sketchbook. I never felt cramped or like I needed more space at the table. The bike repair/rental space is the best you'll find in the area too. It's not just a bike shop, it's a whole community with weekly group rides that also supports other local Raleigh spots. This is the center of the Raleigh bike culture and community. Cyclists will love it!

Lex Williams a month ago

Immaculate vibes. Incredibly friendly staff. Every table has an outlet (!!!). As someone who works from home, it's a great place to camp out and work for a bit if I want to get out of the house. Also, the best dirty chai I've had in the Triangle. I love businesses that try to foster a community, and TBL definitely excels at that. One of my favorite Raleigh businesses! (And one time a Post Animal song came on while I was in here, and that officially solidified TBL as my favorite coffee shop).

Sydney 3 months ago

A pretentious place that is empty for a reason. I came into the establishment after purchasing some coffee and bread from Boulted Bread, in which there was no room for me to sit and read. I settled into one of the (many) open seats at the Bike Library to read instead, my first time there. Within 5 minutes of me sitting there, the bike repairmen came over to me and asked if I purchased anything. I explained kindly that I hadn’t, and my occasion for coming into the shop. He insisted that I purchase something in order to remain in that seat. I felt a bit disgruntled by his demeaning way of asking for support for this shop. I said okay. I was planning on purchasing a water or maybe another $6 coffee after I finished my first one, so I kept reading my book. After another 5 minutes passed he came back again, this time sitting down at my table and telling me I needed to purchase something or leave. Personally, I understand this, but my problem was his insistence in an urgent and bitter way as if I was some person off the streets hogging up customer seating and using wifi, which was NOT the case. My response was that it was preposterous that he came up to me two times in such a short span of time. It made the environment feel unwelcoming and l no longer wanted to purchase anything to secure a spot at an empty table in that cafe. All the best to the Bike Library I just suggest talking to potential customers a bit more kindly instead of in a hyper fixative state of squeezing out profits.

Brett 6 months ago

These guys really saved my butt with an electric bike e-bike repair! They were able to finish a moderately difficult job in just a couple hours, and half the price of your typical mechanic... The kombucha is also the real deal, the girl at the desk is super personable~ Wi-Fi is fairly fast at around 120 MBPS. It has a rustic atmosphere and suitable for casual work.

Cher Calayan 4 months ago

I’ve been a fan of the Bike Library since it was but a shipping container on the Centennial Campus and I am also big fan of bikes and a huge War on Cars truther, so my 5 stars might be a little biased because they cover my niches. The place is very cozy and the music playing is always great. The matcha is one of my favorites in town and is reliably good. The workers are very nice and often engage in pleasant small talks. The place (and its owners) are very involved in the community which makes supporting them all the more worthwhile. The Bike Library’s mission of providing a third space to its community and making cycling accessible/safer is very admirable and they do it well all while serving good coffee and tea. Truly one of my favorite corners in the world.