Riffraff bookstore and bar

I took my nieces to Riff Raff for a girls’ night, and they’re now convinced it’s the greatest bookstore around (hard to argue). The drinks were excellent, and the book selection is curated with such care that browsing felt like a conversation with interesting people you wanted to know. It’s the rare kind of spot that works equally well for solitude or company — come with friends and laugh over cocktails, or come alone and leave with both a book and a new acquaintance. Either way, you should absolutely buy a book—it’s good manners, but also, it’s important. Oh, and the coffee was stellar. I’m curating my own little list of suggested movies. Witches of Eastwick is my first choice, but I’m adding Drop Dead Fred! #ewcobwebs

Attended the open mic poetry and loved the venue and bar. Interesting selection of books for sure. The bartenders and selection of mixed drinks were good. Overall a great chill vibe.

This place is SO cute! It feels like a perfect second or third date spot for book lovers. We visited on a quiet afternoon - he spent two hours combing the collection while I read and enjoyed the craft cocktails. It's small but has an interesting collection and delicious drinks (plus the tallest, tastiest donut I've ever had).

This place is really such a gem. I’m fairly new to sobriety and have found that this is my favorite place to go on a Friday night. Open till 12am I can hang out and read and write and drink coffee and feel like I’m “out” but not be triggered by a super alcohol heavy atmosphere. The inside is lovely and cozy and I love the patio area too. Cleaned and well maintained and an interesting selection of books. I can’t attest to the cocktails but the coffees have been good & the truffle popcorn was a good little snack. The staff have always been welcoming and helpful as well. Highly recommend :)

Fantastic selection in every genre! And they have such kind staff! Often, bookstores have a dozen poetry titles, so I think the ones with a full shelf are gems. Riffraff has an entire wall of poetry, with great contemporary poets, including translations. If you read poetry, you’ll love browsing their selection. If you don’t, this is the perfect place to find some!

Magical local joint. Poetry jam was cool. Going to their Jazz night this Friday night at 6. Love this place! Good hot chocolate too 💙🙌🏼

We hosted an event for ~50 people at Riff Raff and everyone fell in love. People bought t shirts. The team there is great, everyone we interacted with leading up to event and day of were so kind and helpful with decision making. The drinks were delicious. And the space is just good vibes. We love it there!!

Fantastic curation of books with a lovely seating area. Their cocktails are some of the best ive had.

What's not to love about riff raff? Community feel, a quiet yet inviting space. Wide selection of books, places to sit and chat and read. Love the inclusion of the bar as well, great selection of wines and cocktails. If you are a book lover in the Providence area this is a must go to spot

This was one of the coolest places I have gone in a while. Alternative book store and bar. It like someone conjured up my fantasy world. This place has so many interesting and conversation starter book. You could spend ours just reading the backs or inside covers. The bar had amazing drinks. They have book club and open mic. Very cool. I will be returning will select a book. Buy, read and drink. Like best dream Eva. The staff was great answered my random questions. Will return as soon as schedule allows.

I've always loved the vibe, the eclectic books and authors, the attached bar cocktail selections and chatting with customers or the owners. The atmosphere here is so chill! If you love books and or bars this is an amazing place to spend some quality time!

Riffraff continues on as a marvelous independent bookstore/bar despite the loss of both of the original founders. In fact, the new owners seem to have improved upon the place by hosting more, and more diverse readings (see the attached sample of February's events). The coffee is good, there's free WiFi, and cocktails are available. The eclectic selection of new fiction and nonfiction works are jam packed with award winning authors, translated works, and titles I've not seen anywhere before. If there's a specific work you want that isn't in stock just ask to have it ordered for you. This continues to be one of my favorite bookstores in Providence.

I love bookstores! While I probably will not be going back to this one, I'm always glad to see an independent bookseller in my area. There is parking available in lots across the street, I advise checking the map online to be sure where you can park when you decide to visit. It's in this converted factory and there's a nice courtyard which looks really pretty at night, and a big plus- this place is open super late! My friend and I went here on a weeknight. When we walked in, it was super quiet because a poetry reading was happening in the bar area. We quietly walked around the bookshelves, which form a horseshoe with a few tables in the center with some highlighted picks. I will say, I was hoping to find the new Hunger Games novel so that I could cancel my order from Amazon and support local... but I did not see it there. Some of the other books I was trying to find were also not there, so I picked up a copy of Eugene Onegin instead. When the poetry reading ended (I am glad that they offer a space for artists to share but the poetry was not my style), we went to the bar area. There are plenty of little tables and chairs. I ordered a chai latte, which was really good! There was a small children's book section but I would not bring a child here at night, especially if there's a poetry reading happening! The vibe is definitely radical liberal- like the crunchier ones- as opposed to East Side liberal. Anyways, I really like their bookstore/ bar setup and how they offer a lot of book readings and poetry readings. The world needs more bookstores!

What's better than a bar/cafe/bookstore? Come on. I mean how many of you have dreamed of running one of these? I met a friend for drinks and we stayed for a couple of hours. I had two really good glasses of wine, an orange wine and a Spanish rose. They had a small but nicely selected list of interesting wines as well as beers and cocktails. We also shared a cheese plate that was a bargain at $18 and included nice portions of two different cheeses, two types of crackers, nuts, dried fruit, olives, and cornichons. We stayed long enough to catch the beginning of a comic book reading, and it looks like they have lots of other great events later this month. And on the way out I picked up a book I've been wanting to read. Loved it!

The bookstore has a great curated selection. It's a small space but they use the it wisely. The bar has coffee, tea, cocktails, and a few snacks. It's the coziest space to sit and hang out with a book and a beverage.

Riffraff is a great place to look over books, read, or do some work! I've gone here a few times to study and have always loved it. On nights when I have to study late, it's also nice to pair it with one of the cocktails that they have! They have a good selection of different cocktails and wines, and you can even add alcohol to any of their regular cafe drinks, which makes it very interesting. Their coffee is decent, though I did get a bit too much lavender in my latte this time. Otherwise, will definitely keep coming back here!

I've always loved Riffraff. I can say with absolute certainty that it's been passed on to good hands. Maybe even the best hands for the job. Ottavia cares so deeply about her business. Her care, dedication, and kindness shines through in every corner of Riffraff. She's also such a joy to talk with! She always has excellent book recommendations! I've found very niche books that I've been searching for here (like Wine Simple, A Totally Approachable Guide from a World-Class Sommelier by Aldo Sohm) & also discovered new gems (like A Nation of Women by Luisa Capetillo). Support local. Buy your books local. PS - Really, truly, don't miss out on their hot toddies.

Love the vibe!! Was able to pick up a book and just sit at the bar and read. The people that work there were super cool too.

cool spot what's not to like?? was in the area for work and randomly stumbled into a poetry reading on a sunday evening. wish i could've stayed longer to browse the selection thoroughly but looked like a great mix. if im ever in town again will def go back!

A real nice idea for a bookstore. It's really cozy and nice to catch up with a book club and friends or even alone with a cocktail. One side is bookstore and the other is a cozy bar. The drinks might not be for everyone but the concept is good.

Pretty cool spot. Some classic book/author options and then a whole gamut of lesser known options for you to peruse. The selection isn't huge or overwhelming but I ended up finding something to sample in the cafe with some wine and ended up purchasing. Good amount of drink and seating options. Overall worth popping in to check out if this is your scene.

A bar and a bookstore or a bar in a bookstore? Either way, I imagined this to be a speakeasy of sorts. But it's not quite like that; the space is divided into two parts. The bookstore is brighter and present as soon as you enter. The bar is behind the bookstore, is dimmer, and is a cozy space with couches and tables. There's a limited selection of cocktails on the menu, and it changes often. I got the no. 6 cocktail with mezcal and chartreuse, and it was pretty good. Overall, it's a good spot to spend time sipping on a drink and reading a book, working on your laptop, or chilling with friends.

Nice cozy place and decent coffee but I don't know how I'm supposed to read books with the music playing - not that it's loud or obnoxious, but it just doesn't work for me... I'll give 5 stars since the worker accommodated my request to take a book to the courtyard to read there but I don't see myself coming back often unless they have quiet hours or something

Vibes were impeccable, service was super friendly. Definitely the type of spot u can relax and do some studying AND have a super super tasty drink! Will be back!

the greatest book café/dive bar with an ongoing events list of mind-boggling amounts of talent.

It is an absolutely gorgeous space that puts 2 of my favorite things together: a spacious cafe with jazz playing in the background & an excellent collection of books (that all feel like they have a high level of social capital because you've probably seen one of your friends read it on Instagram and thought to yourself, I wish I had that book too). Half of the place is the bookstore and the other half is the cafe/bar, which is smartly divided with different ambient lighting. There are a few outlets by the corners (by the couch area, by the edge where bookstore turns to cafe) and wifi, which makes it a solid study spot if you can snag yourself a seat.

Riffraff has been a welcoming home for years and has only grown even friendlier and warmer under the leadership of its new owners. I appreciate the selection of excellent books and new releases. The children's books section is really sweet and well-curated. The events are also amazing! I read something I'd written at open mic night, I'd never done that before and the owners and crowd made it feel really supportive and warm. They also get top-tier authors to visit for readingsMagic happens at this place regularly.

Could use better lighting for reading in the café area. A few discreet spots or lamps would be useful and wouldn't detract from the atmosphere.

The hot chocolate was good, the eavesdropping even better. Cafe is sweet but the bookstore is a true star. Ended up chatting with person at front desk and got great recommendations

I love this place! Sunday date night for cocktails and books. Park for free in one of three lots. Sandwich board signage leads the way to this storefront. The bookstore and bar are so well curated. I may just visit every day (except Monday when they are closed). You will love this split bookstore/bar. See you soon.

This would be the most amazing date spot for artsy folk and book lovers. The atmosphere is very hipster and cozy. Dimly lit in the back corner in a very pleasant way. I felt like I could spend all day here! I met up with a coworker here and we sat and talked here for nearly two hours! There is both indoor and outdoor seating. Couches, arm chairs, small tables, 4 person tables. Outside there is seating for larger groups, but inside the biggest table can probably seat 6-8. It was a great experience and I can't wait to come back when its a tad warmer to enjoy the outside area. Drinks are reasonably priced, with both alcohol and non alcoholic options. I got a iced matcha latte that came with a bamboo straw- which I thought was a nice touch. There's multiple milk alternatives if you want to avoid dairy in any drink. Free parking lot across the street, as well as some street parking.

A bar and a bookstore, what an excellent love child! This has been a dream of mine, but I guess I never considered how it would work exactly. I envisioned something like the Magdelina room--dimly lit with couches and naked nymph murals on the walls and a bar in the center--and bookshelves all around for perusing and reading, predominately by candlelight. I don't know why that was the image I had, but this was very different. The front of the space, immediately when you walk in, is all bookstore (albeit a small one). It's very bright. I'm a non-fiction kind of gal, but none of the titles struck me as anything I'd like to read. Beyond the bookshelf partition is the bar, and there it's dimmer, with bench seats and a few high two-tops. It's very blue, and darker, but feels industrial rather than cozy. It reminded me a little of Bolt, but maybe that's just the neon sign talking. They offer a couple espresso drinks, a hot cider (which I got: it's great on a cold night!), and a selection of beer, wine, and cocktails. Note: They're into absinthe. I thought it was interesting, and I'll probably visit again with writer friends, but it didn't live up to my dreams.

Cute and trendy bookstore/bar/cafe in Olneyville. Found out about this place a year ago but haven't had the chance to pop in. Riffraff is located inside The Plant, which is a huge restored mill building. The parking inside the building is definitely tough to find, best bet for parking are the lots across the street. There is a pretty good book selection, with unique books that you usually don't find at regular bookstores. I ordered the Spicy Hot Chocolate which was delicious! I loved the vibe inside, very quiet and a great a place to get work done.

Very Cool cocktail bar/ bookstore. Well crafted cocktails. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Interesting and fun vibe. Definitely worth checking out.

This is a fun little bookstore with a nice bar and access to a beautiful courtyard. Very nice place to visit during warmer months.

Super cute concept in a sunny courtyard. This place is good if your looking for a new, adventurous read but may not have what you're looking for if you want something specific. They do however offer to order anything you need. Cute small bar with tables for reading or studying and some couches. Seems like a cozy spot to pass time in Providence.

A bar in a bookstore, sold! I came here with a friend who was home for Christmas for drinks after dinner on a Friday night. The place was almost empty which is a shame. The staff was super friendly. I got a hot apple rum cider and my friend got an espresso martini. Both were fabulous! The music was chill without being sleepy. Overall a really cool place!

Coffee shop, cocktail bar, and bookstore all rolled into one in a historic mill building.

Thought I had already left a review. Since it has not appeared. I will write an abbreviated version. Cute spot to relax with your own book or browse through the book store. I had an hour to kill and was happy to find this great place to have a glass of wine and relax with a book.

I love books and I love booze, so Riffraff was heavenly. A bookstore and bar? Wine and books? Cocktails and books? Sold. A friend and I were visiting Providence and Newport for a weekend, and when I read about Riffraff on Yelp, I knew I had to go. We had a few drinks (wine for me, rose cider for her - they also have a great cocktail menu) and bought a few books. The bookstore is on the smaller side, but it was larger than I was expecting for a bookstore/bar. And it had a great selection - they clearly take care in choosing books for their store. I'm in love.

This place is the perfect cozy place to get a drink and curl up with a book or meet with friend. I'm so glad it's still in business!

I expected RR to be sorta stuffy, random with used books all over place, with worn leather arm chairs, and a bar that leaned heavily on the PBR. (Still, that would be cool in its own right.) Riffraff was actually filled with surprises... some of which I will ruin in this glowing review. The place is split in two. A brightly lit bookstore and a dimly lit cocktails/beer bar with communal tables, a few perfect-for-a-date bar height tables, and other seating. Of Note: The bar area is not really warm nor "cozy"... so it truly feels like its own thing. So if you're expecting "a living room/den/study" area to read your recently purchased book... it's not like that. These two entities are separated by a bookcase, of course. The selection of books is unique and well-curated, but the reeeeeal find here is the cocktail menu. We had a couple of drinks here (#4 & #6) and they were srsly perfect - perfect! If you go, and you really should check it out even if you're not a reader, definitely have a cocktail. Cool concept. Cool place. Glad it's here.

It's a bookstore. And a bar. I'm not sure why you would need more information than that but if you do: It's a bookstore within The Plant's space so it does take a second to find it, but they have plenty of signs to guide your way. To a a very pleasant space that's half bookstore, half bar, entirely both a nice place to hang out and do some work during the day and have a coffee (or a stronger drink, I don't know your life or judge you) and a nice place to hang out with friends and have some Drinks at night. They have cocktails/a full bar in addition to beer (a few on draft) and wine. Also a couple bar snacks on offer. The book selection does slant unapologetically left, but it's also not as though you feel obligated to talk politics to hang out there. I'm very excited to see how this place develops - they're definitely going for a "third space" vibe and I love it! Mostly I'm just annoyed this wasn't here when I lived right across the street because I would have been here daily.

Have been here a couple times now and it's seems like a really cool place. A lot more low key than other bars. It's a great place to get a drink and chat with some friends. The bartender was great the first time we went there as well. Both times we went were pretty quiet though, not sure if we just went at off times or if people just don't know about the place yet. Unfortunately when a place is like that, it makes me not want to hang around for long. However the place has potential and the drinks very good! I had the hot apple cider, which was delicious! Another night I had a cocktail and it was very good as well, different from anything I've had before. I can't remember the name but it has creme de violette in it, very floral. Great book selection and they will special order books for you as well. They have a variety of beers, cocktails and they do espresso too. Snacks are salt and pepper nuts and olives. We got both and both were good! For brunch they have a cereal bar. Not sure if that means a variety of cereals or a granola bar though!

This was a really unique place. When you first walk in, there's a small bookstore section and then if you continue on there's a bar and a lounge/seating area. They sell coffee, beer, wine and cocktails. They don't sell food except for olives and peanuts. The olives are $5 and the peanuts are $3. The cocktails looked pretty good and come in petite little champagne glasses. I think they could do something to spruce up the business a bit. It was pretty dead inside when I visited over the weekend. It was a nice place to relax but I don't know if I'll be itching to go back.

Very cool spot. Instead of the normal coffee with books, Riffraff has a bar. You enter into the book section which has a great selection of books. Curated/specialized book and I saw a few local authors or stories. I do love that bookstores are coming back. The space is divided into the book side and then a bar side. It has some long tables as well as some comfy leather seats. I spotted some games as well. The bar side is dark so I am not sure you could actually read in there or possibly it was darker for our event. The decor is cool and I very much like their Riffraff lighted sign on the wall. The owners and staff were great and helpful. Our Yelp event included wine tasting by the woman who helped them select their wine offerings. Riffraff is located in Olneyville in the same building/area as Troop so there is parking (hurray!) and you could make the visit more than one stop.

Bookstores and booze seems to be the trendiest combination these days, so while I was interested to stop by, I wasn't necessarily blown away by the idea. Riffraff is in an enclosed area within Olneyville complete with worn out brick, an outside movie area (?), and Troop PVD right next door. We decided to visit after hiking around Neutaconkanut nearby. When you walk in, the books are the first thing you see! We got there around an hour before they closed, so we weren't able to spend much time looking at the books. The drinks area is in the back and is starkly separated by the books both physically and visually. Though the darker decor felt classy and luxurious, I was surprised that a reading area would be so dimly lit! There was ample space to solo read, chat with friends, get some work done, or just relax! The drinks menu was pretty extensive with a unique range of cocktails, beers, and cafe drinks. We got the hot chai latte and a can of beer, which is a combo I can't say I've had before! The chai was yummy but it wasn't as creamy as I was hoping for. The brewed tea seemed a little weak and watery, which made the drink feel flat as well. I probably wouldn't order it again. I did love that you could add books to your bar tab though! Very cute detail. Overall, I can see myself hanging out here with friends for a fun evening! Make sure you check out the bathroom! It's very mesmerizing.

I love to read, and I've spent time in my share of bookstores across the country. That said, Riffraff is a truly special place. It's got a well curated collection of books that's actually lured me into reading some fiction, which is unusual for me, as I'm a die hard non-fiction fan. The book clubs they offer guide you toward books that are off the beaten path, and excellent. The space itself is comfortable and fun to browse in as well as have a drink in. I don't get over there as often as I like, but I got on the mailing list so I can keep up on events and new arrivals. Given that things are locked down, I wanted to take advantage of the Surprise Package to support them, and I went for it this past weekend. My package arrived and I am convinced the folks there are READING MY MIND! The three non-fiction books I received include one that's been lurking on my to-read list, and two that are so much up my alley it's not funny. As soon as I can get there in person, I will be back! Otherwise, I'll be hitting up the Surprise Package as soon as I'm done with these three.

I've been dying to try this place ever since my friends told me about it. I ordered the hot chocolate which was delicious and frothy. You can choose to spike it for an additional $4. The building is split so that the bookstore is when you first walk in and then the lounge/bar is on the other side. It has a super chill vibe and would be a great place to get some work done.

Books and beverages! First things first- the smell of freshly printed books is basically a drug. Second- I read the prior reviews and I'm definitely center-left, but married to a centered-right military man, and trust me- there are books for everyone! There is non-fiction, and classic literature, as well as children's books. The best part: grabbing a book and heading over to the bar and paging through a freshly cracked novel. What a great place and idea for a community of people who love books and the bar. Pretty busy here on a Saturday night, feels fresh and welcoming. Comfy couches, picnic tables and bar seating.

Love the concept, and my latte was incredible! Will definitely go back when I have more time to browse books!!

The book selection isn't large but it is extremely varied. I was able to spend an hour browsing for a book and then three more in blissful quiet with the terrible book I bought. Money well spent. They also have a great loyalty program: buy 5 books and get a free coffee. Can't beat that! My suggestion: Buy a book from an author you don't recognize, ask the bartended for their favorite drink, and profit. Thank me later.

This is where I chose to spend my 21st birthday and have my first (legal) drink in the U.S.! They have a small but high quality drink selection and the books are perfect for radical leftists, queer people, and other riffraff. I even had to come back a second night!

I'll give this place FIVE STARS for the atmosphere and book selection! Such a nice outdoor space, and the staff seemed super friendly! I'll give it another chance and update the review, since it may have just been a bad night, but I'm taking two stars off for the MEASLY, tiny portion of wine I got. Prices were reasonable, but for the charge I expected a typical glass of wine. The bartender actually took the 2oz measure (like for liquor shots) to measure out the wine, which right off the bat felt stingy. As he measured, though, he didn't even fill the "shot" measure more than maybe halfway, and I wound up with all of three sips of wine. I was pretty disappointed, but wasn't going to request a refund due to all the COVID craziness every business is dealing with. Originally we were planning on sitting for a bit to start looking through the new books we got, but we wound up leaving not super thrilled after that. Like I said, though, happy to give it another chance.

This is turning into one of our favorite hang out spots First of all, a cool, employee curated book store with personalized reviews in itself is wonderful. But then add a relaxed, lounge feel bar and you get the perfect spot. I love how they change up the drinks every once in awhile to new seasonal cocktails. The bartender is super nice and very patient when you need to take forever deciding because all of the menu seems wonderful!

Wonderful bookstore with well chosen, literate, and alternative selections. Staff pick notes are pithy and informative. Cool layout, too. Especially nice to have a lovely bar and coffee shop, too. Low key with folks playing board games and alternative tunes.

Stumbled upon this place looking to something different than your typical bar. Had a fancy coffee drink, browsed the book collection and walked out with a stack of them. Books are well curated, so is the coffee and cocktails. Welcoming little spot!