Rough Draft Bar & Books

The highlight of Kingston IMO! This is a place conducive for thinking, reading, ruminating, socialising, people watching, imbibing and just dwelling. You can browse their books while having a drink (beer or coffee). It’s also kid-friendly, with an ample kids section of books. Spent 2 hours here and felt like I could spend many more!

We took a quick getaway trip to Kingston - our first time there. We stopped off at Rough Draft Bar & Books and it did not disappoint. The book selection was good, and my kids liked the kids section. I did end up picking up one book on my list which always makes me happy. My husband and I both had caffeinated drinks while we were there: mine was a mocha, he had one of their specials: Lav-ender’s Game. That one was interesting, you have to try it to see what I mean. If you are in Kingston put this place on your list - I kind of wish we had one closer to us! :)

A charming and cozy spot with fantastic coffee and delicious food! The almond croissant was absolutely divine - flaky, buttery, and just the right amount of sweetness. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the scent of books creates an unforgettable atmosphere. I’ll definitely be returning. If you’re in the area, this place is a must-visit!

Rough draft is a book shop, coffee shop, and bar housed in one of the most historic buildings in Kingston. It is a place with respect of Kingston’s past while having a real pulse on Kingston’s present and hope for its future. The staff are incredible! They are knowledgeable, kind, and efficient. If you visit, I recommend you try one of the monthly coffee or tea specialties named after books. Each year I look forward to the “June Austin” (a lavender and vanilla latte), and the “sex drugs and coconuts” that generally returns in August. If none of these appeal to you, then I recommend the cold brew, the hot chocolate, and the mocha. I also recommend you try one of the pastries from the case that they source from Kingston bread and bar; my favorite being the salted chocolate chip cookies. The tap list is always exciting to look at as they do curate a fantastic selection of local craft beers and ciders. This place is excellent for everyone! They often have story time on Sundays for children. They have a schedule of events that always surprises me with its range from trivia nights, to author book signings, to meeting your public representatives. There’s bound to be something that interests you. They also encourage you to come to work with your lap tops or notebooks. The seating here allows it to be friendly to all size groups. There’s bar seating along the windows if you’re cruising solo, smaller tables of you have 2-4 people, one bigger table or a lounge area nestled around a coffee table for larger groups. I always recommend this place to friends visiting from out of state as I feel like this is a great place to see what Kingston is really like. Edit: I recommend bringing your own reusable to-go cup! They have always been environmentally conscious, and as part of that consciousness they do charge extra if you require a paper cup. This isn’t a problem if you intend to stay to drink your coffee there! However if you’re taking to-go, best bring your own cup!

A great place to drop in for a local beverage, peruse the bookshelves, and find a sweet stack of local authors to treasure. You can also find some amazing baked goods from Kingston Bread for purchase as well. A sweet little place to drop in, tune out, and lose yourself to imagination. Finding this place could be tricky, and one may need gps to help you with parking; as it is located in the city of Kingston, with its anciently established roads and buildings. Worth a visit and a browse.

Great local spot. We are truly blessed to have. Bookstore meets cafe meets watering hole. Great food. Great drinks. Great coffee. Decent tea but I freely admit I am a snob when it comes to tea. Very nice selection of alcoholic beverages. Family friendly. You can have some refreshment and find something to read maybe even your latest literary obsession. Great place to meet, chill, giggle outside or whatever. Occasional live entertainment. Highly recommend.

The owner of Newt recommended that I check out this coffee/used bookstore and I’m glad I did. I ordered a cafe air lait and the coffee was wonderfully smooth. They had benches and tables outside and it was a perfect way to enjoy my coffee and read a book I brought. A bonus is that dogs are welcome to come inside. Though not a dog owner, I do love dogs so seeing dogs made me happy.

Great chill spot for morning coffee, a study session, or to have a night cap! We visited during a holiday weekend, and though it was busy, we still found a spot to sit and enjoy the awesome atmosphere. Definitely recommend if you’re visiting the area!

A combination bar, cafe and bookstore, this spot is a fun place to hang out in. In addition to alcohol and coffee/tea, they also sell hand pies, baked goods and bread from local places. It was busy on a Saturday afternoon. There are some couches and tables but if it gets crowded, there aren't a lot of places to sit. Street and metered parking

Kingston, NY - I've been to plenty of bookstore cafes, but more should adopt a bar like this one! This is a very cozy and inviting cafe-shop that beckons you to lounge or browse over a coffee or craft beer. The ambiance is warm, with thoughtfully curated book displays. We went for an afternoon pick-me-up but lingered a bit and ended up buying a "Where's Waldo"esque book for my child. I'll always be a fan and advocate of book-books as nothing beats brick-and-mortar or the feeling of thumbing through the pages of the physical article in your hands.

Amazing bookstore where you can get a great microbrew hence the name "rough draft. " I was able to get a lager for seven dollars and a James Baldwin paperback for $20. Very cool take on a bookstore - You often see the coffee shop /book store combo, which they also have - along with tea, but to be able to grab some brews makes this place just amazing, along with the eclectic selection; ranging from the occult to self-help!!! 10/10.

A great place to go anytime of the day or evening! Books, Caffeine, alcohol or food. It's cozy in here and you can sit within the books or at the bar. The staff is attentive and very friendly. Coffee - 4 out of 5 Lattes - 4.5 out 5 Cookies - 5 out of 5 The molasses cookies were so damn good. The drink specials is a must! If you are in the area go check this place out.

This place is so great. like so great we went back the next day kinda great. I highly recommend trying to go as early as possible as the afternoon hours on saturday proved this place the most popular spot in town. So many people in one space! and it's not small! The pastries were fantastic, cappuccino and tea were both delicious and well made. They can get backed up because they only have one cash register for food/drink - so prepare to wait a little. But there's no better place to do it since you are surrounded by interesting literature, ambiance, and a little cards/games selection to browse. Overall a cozy spot and a must see if you're in the Kingston area! Dog and kid friendly! :)

This historic building hosts the perfect coffeehouse/bar/book shop! The drinks are delightful. The book options are wonderful and diverse. The staff is friendly. AND ITS IN A PRE REVOLUTIONARY WAR BUILDING. This must be a stop on any trip to Kingston!

This is one of my favorite bookstores PERIOD. Located in the historic town of Kingston (New York's original capital), the whole area is oozing charm and Rough Draft Bar & Books is no exception. The only thing I like better than browsing a bookstore is browsing a book store with a beer (or one of their super fun rotating coffee specials!). No notes. I highly recommend!

I'm always looking for somewhere to work from as a remote employee. Rough draft has the best community vibe, loads of events, and delicious coffee and treats (and after hour drinks)! Definitely recommend if you're in the Kingston area.

What a great drive to Rough Draft Bar & Books from NJ. I can't tell you enough how anxious I was to walk in, browse all their books, try their delicious coffee and find a poetry book. This gem of a place is nestled in the town of Kingston, NY of which is filled with incredible history (if you're a history buff, you'll love the town). I arrived at peak time, so it was quite busy. However, I was able to find a stool in the corner at the bar area. I waited for the staff member just bit (understandably) and I placed my coffee order. What I ordered: Sex.Drug & Coconuts version 2.0 It was their featured drink for the month of August (see their Instagram page - @roughdraftny ) I was so excited that I immediately asked for the coffee drink not realizing that I had a option between hot or cold. What I wanted was the cold version, but I got the hot which was outrageous delicious!!! Plus I got the bonus beautiful decorative foam on top.(see photo) Staff members were kind and the ambiance was very cool and relaxing atmosphere. Plenty of stools around the bar area. Different types of seating, near the window, large farm table in the center with benches, and sofa. You can order draft beer. The prices were reasonable too. I didn't order anything else, but I'm looking forward to going back soon with a few friends who are books lovers. Great selection of books of all genres and a small gift shop with cool tshirts. (I'll get the tshirt next time around) There's outdoor seating as well. Perfect place for a date and and Autumn Trip.

Best bookstore in Kingston! I'm not a coffee drinker but I do love their hot chocolate. I order the same thing every time I stop by ( Small hot chocolate and a cookie) .This place is super cozy with an awesome selection of books. If you can find a seat on a less busy day your in luck! It's a chill place to meet up with friends or get some work done. Staff is always friendly and helpful. If your new to Kingston definitely check it out it's one of a kind.

This place is soooooo cool! Where can you get beer at the wee hours of the morning?? Rough Draft! Books and Beer Books and Beer!!! Boooooks and beeeeeeer!!

Awesome spot with an amazing location in historical Kingston. Great, fresh selection of local beer and I need to try their coffee. There was live music both times I visited and an awesome crowd. Good selection of books and regular specials.

Amazing! Great good, lots of choice and great espresso. Also, you can work there and not be told to leave. Lots of folks, eating and writing. Beautiful building and nice size place too!

This place is cute! They also have the best croissant I have ever had in my life. It is so buttery you can see the butter on your fingers, and it has so many layers, it's actually crazy. The coffee is also veryyyy coffee - you know sometimes when you get a latte and it tastes like it's just pure milk that someone wafted coffee onto? That doesn't happen here. Your latte is going to taste like coffee, and that's apparently rare these days.

What can I say?! Rough Draft is everything you need it to be and nothing that you don't want it to be. It is everything and nothing. One in all and all in one. Pleasure, pain, resentment, time, forgiveness, water. .....Oh you're still here? Glad you stuck around for the second part of the review. SO, the second pat of the review starts by me saying I like this place! Delicious assortment of books and really interesting coffees to go or to stay or to stay and then go.

My partner and I always stop in here if we're driving past Kingston. The bookstore is such a wonderful combo of books, cafe food and drinks, and beer/alcoholic drinks. It's large enough but not too large. Each section is pretty curated and there are plenty of books highlighted for you to pick up and check out/purchase. They sell pastries from Kingston Bread and Bar which is super exciting if you're like us and didn't make it there before closing and want their fantastic peanut tahini miso cookie. They also sell great personal sized pot pies (flavors rotate) that serve as a comfort lunch. Definitely worth spending some time here!

*sigh*. This place wasn't as magical and cool as I'd hoped it to be. It gave me a Barnes and Noble feeling. You know when parents grab stacks of books for their kids and sit in the corner making a mess and think it's their own personal playground. Or when other adults do the same time with a huge stack and leave it there without buying anything. Also this place was PACKED (which is a good thing for the business) but I just wasn't a fan :/

Soooo stinking cute! We came up from NYC and needed a place to work from. It is a brewery, bookstore, and cafe all in one rustic inviting place. It was clearly a popular destination as many of the seats were taken. The 5-stars is for the wonderful service, creative drinks, and all-around awesomeness of this place. The vibes were so nice. The drinnnnnks of the month are so interesting and creative. My friend had a strawberry cardamom latte and an IPA. I had a blackberry honey espresso tonic. My drink tastes like iced tea with a bit of an espresso kick! Good amount of seating although limited outlets and table seats (for laptops). One bathroom only. Dogs welcome! Saw plenty of cute pups just hanging out inside too. Hats off to this place!

I love the bookstore/cafe/bar combo! Very popular place on a Sunday afternoon and there was a long line for beverages. We enjoyed hot cider on a crisp day, and I enjoyed their special of the month too--Squashington Irving (espresso, pumpkin, vanilla and spices). Very fun latte! Outside seating. I love a good bookstore and this was very enjoyable.

Large book store in Kingston with coffee, tea and alcohol served. They also have fresh baked good from various local bakeries Variety of seating inside and some outside when the weather is nice. Went on a Friday night and they had live music

Great coffee. Great owners. Great staff. Great space. Just great. Oh, and beer and books! Support this place, they deserve every bit of it. I remember when they first opened and I worried that the concept wasn't gonna work in Kingston, then I went there... it works. It's awesome.

Was visiting upstate and found this spot. Super cute bookstore and coffee spot- tons of space for sitting inside and outside, great for working from home. Got a solid cup of coffee and a delicious cookie and was able to find some super cute cards and get a ton of work done here. It's in a great part of town so you can pop in if you're walking around the area or walk around the town after getting some work done here.

Atmosphere: Great. Hang out: Wonderful. People on line, standing to the side waiting for their order, Individuals hanging out and people conversing ...all blocking the books. Fail.

The books are displayed nicely, and easy to find anything you're looking for. Because they are arranged around the furniture it feels like a welcoming space. I purchased three books here and spent an hour reading. They also have a drink menu, and I got a seasonal drink and a cookie. They have a nice little display of coffee books near the coffee bar, and I browsed while waiting for my order. They have a good selection of poetry books, which I don't find often at smaller bookshops. I would recommend this book shop and I hope to visit again. I also appreciate the well kept bathroom space, as it's far from home, and it's difficult to find clean bathrooms while traveling. I can tell they care about the customer experience.

I think I found heaven. Books, beer, AND brew?! Only thing that would make this place better is if they opened up a location near me on Long Island!

I love this place. I can have a beer or a coffee or both . ambiance is super cute . staff always pleasant !

We went to Kingston for a little getaway and discovered this great place. The atmosphere is wonderful for just sipping coffee and browsing through the store. The coffee was good and so were the pastries. It's in a great historic area too.

Super cool spot in uptown Kingston which is a favorite of mine for many purposes. Great for starting or continuing day time drinking on the weekends, good for casual date nights or before dinner drink, but my favorite is as a study spot. The medium to low noise level at all times is hard to find elsewhere. I also love the big windows so you feel slightly less like you're in a dungeon of learning. I also love it simply book store, with lots of cool display themes that have lead me to books I otherwise wouldn't have found. They have trivia night, though I've never tried. They sell fresh bread from local spots and sometimes sweets from the local Kingston candy bar. Ive seen advertisements for various author events, too. This place is a great addition to the local community and I always recommend!

Love this place for a hot drink among the books in winter or a refreshing drink on the patio in summer! The hot chocolate was excellent: a deep chocolate taste without being too heavy and not too sweet. They also offer a good selection of original drinks and wide variety of local beers. The vibe is everything. People young and old enjoying a pastry while browsing through a book, working away on their laptops, enjoying a drink at the bar, reading books to their kids... The diversity is refreshing!

This could be the coolest idea I've seen in a while. Combining four of my favorite things in one place-beer, coffee, baked goods, and books. Wifey and I stopped in here today while on a mini beer tour in Kingston. Located in one of the most famous areas of New York (Four Corners in Kingston) the place has a great beer selection, amazing books, very cool ambiance (as long as the hipster community doesn't annoy you), dog and kid friendly, and a warm friendly staff. I had the King's Christmas Scotch Ale and Wifey had a Rose Cider. Both were fantastic. A couple items to note - Parking around here is tough, but there's a free parking lot down the street, getting a table in here is also tough as there aren't a lot, but people seemed more than willing to share their space, and with all the beer and coffee served here there was a queue for the restrooms. That said, I would love to come back here again.

I was blown away by this bookstore? Cafe? Cool spot to chill/have lunch/ watch the World Cup? It's so many amazing things at once. First I was just going to grab a cup of coffee but then I realized they had bakery and lunch items! I grabbed a lunch item and it was so delicious, the beef was tender and flavorful with a great pie crust that was flaky but not dry. It was prime lunch hour (12-1) but I was even able to grab a table that was close to a charging port too so I was able to get some work on my iPad done. Then in the lounge area behind the cafe tables was everyone cheering on their team in the World Cup game going on. It was such a fun atmosphere but also I was able to have enough quiet to focus on my own work at the same time which sounds contradicting but was amazing. I had the new mint mocha special latte I would recommend it iced and will have to come back to try it warm. The baristo made it great I even came back as I was walking out and got a second one to go, that's how tasty it was. He also remembered my name from an hour prior which was kinda cool. Lastly I want to speak to the actions of the amazing staff who helped and displayed such humanity towards a man in need that will have me coming back here as a regular for as long as I live in the Hudson valley. I don't want to embarrass anyone so I won't go into details but the barista behind the counter is an incredibly kind soul. I can't believe I haven't come here sooner but the next time I'm in this area I will definitely be stopping by.

I've recently moved to Kingston and this place is already home. What's not to love? -- Surrounded by books, extremely sweet serving staff, some cool events and inexpensive coffee! See you there..

One of the coolest bookstores I've been to. A great spot to curl up with a book and drink (beer and coffee, they've got all the bases covered). My mom and I were trying to find a parking spot near our AirBnB (this stretch of Kingston is a pain when it comes to street parking, thanks to the super narrow roads). We finally gave up and decided to just use the meter parking rather than risk a bad parallel parking job but found out, d'oh, no quarters. Walking into Rough Draft, clutching a one dollar bill, I felt a fair bit of trepidation, since most places in this day and age have gone completely digital, but let out a sigh of relief as soon as I spotted the old-fashioned tip jar. The guy behind the counter couldn't be nicer in giving the quarters. Came back later in the day to try their pistachio cookies. Absolutely delicious, with a kick of ginger, tons of pistachios, and a nice crumb. There's a good amount of seating - tables, couches, bar stools. They may have upped their free WiFi since past reviews because I didn't have any trouble with the Internet speed in logging on remotely (which usually causes my computer to crash if I try to log on outside my house). They have a no-calls, no-Zoom policy for the indoor seating, which I fully support. Come here and support a fantastic local bookstore.

- awesome service - long lines on Saturdays, but it didn't feel crowded There was a lot of space indoor and out But turnover is fast - tasty cookie - raspberry beer was good - beer available at 8am - soundtrack is cool - bathroom line can get long - good variety of charming books

Local recommendation. Excellent bookstore with beer, pot pies, coffee and snacks. Comfy place to zone out with a book and the above. In an old stone building in the historic Uptown District. Recommended.

I love this place and I can't even read. No matter what you're drinking this place has a delicious variety of it. You like beer? Great! You like coffee? Great! You like Brett? No, you love Brett. He's really the best. I've been drunk here, I've been hungover here, and I'm always happy here.

Anyone can come in and get a coffee, tea, water, or another type of drink they might enjoy. You can also sit down or stand. You can also read a book, look at a book, or buy a book. You can speak with others or remain silent. If they look at you, don't make eye contact. You could fall prey to their secret song. Each knows a verse and when all are sounding, the flesh of the innocent turn to stone. Cold granite compels the dark staff to act boldly. Weaving untold horrors through the streets. Circumambulating the town center and tracing their geomancy deeper into the grooves of time. Love the cold brew!

A Kingston favorite! Coffee, beer, and books- what more can you need?! They offer great events (like a book signing and cookie session demo with a local cookie decorating legend, Amber Spiegel). Get there early because seating fills up!

Great atmosphere. Well curated books and amazing Golden Tea! Also an option to buy a book that an inmate has requested which is a cool program.

Been coming here for years. Great beer selection, excellent coffee, friendly owners, wonderful light on the far side during the day. All set within a beautiful historic building. And they made a proper flat white. And sell books!!! Outdoor seating in good weather at an historic corner.

It's pretty cafe and bar. Full of special draft beers in a bookstore. The view was really beautiful and peaceful when u saw through the glass windows. I am not a beer person, but it tastes delicious. The only thing u will need to know is u will need to order one of a food item every bills. I ordered a chocolate cookies which is pretty pricey. I should've order an apple.

Super cool and cute spot to hand out and they have decent amount of outdoor seating during COVID. I loved my beer (sour) and we loved sitting outside enjoying our drinks while we visit Kingston. Unfortunately many restaurants and bars were closed while we visit Kingston but I was so happy we were able to stop by this place. We couldn't see inside of the store but I would love to come back to spend more time when everything is back in normal!

Amazing coffee place/bar/book store. I spent a morning there starting with a coffee and pastry, then having one of their ipas on draft. I really enjoyed the experience, as well as the drinks and food. The staff is very pleasant and helpful. I loved the atmosphere and the vibe of the place and will certainly return when I'm in the area.

Books, coffee, vegan baked goods and wine... clearly Rough Draft knows the way to a girl's heart. Put in a couple cats and this would be paradise. Don't get me wrong. I totally get that this is probably not going to happen due to that pesky health department, but a girl can dream. My writing pal and I were looking for a cafe to fit in a fast and furious 60 minute writing session before dinner last week and Yelp pointed us in the direction of RD. I walked in and inhaled the beautiful smells of books and brew and knew all might be right in this world. Because I can be easily swayed from writing, I didn't dare start perusing the book selection. A cursory glance revealed some unique titles. I'll be back for more. The bar is large and affords seating like a real bar. Pretty cool. There's a decent selection of wine, beer and coffee/tea drinks. I opted for a chai latte, a rarity for me, and they have oat milk. It's good. Really good. But let's face it, when writing in a place that has wine as an option and it's about wine o'clock, I'm gonna go for it. I'm a bit of a hermit these days, but I can see myself leaving my house again in the foreseeable future. My only concern is the lack of good seating. There's a large communal table with benches and two ill-suited chairs, a few high boys with stools plus a smattering of couches. An additional 10 or so seats at the bar and that's still not a lot. So I'm thinking that it's a good idea to plan on perusing the books while sipping. I just glanced at the sidebar of recent reviews and see that I'm not that special. It seems that books, booze and coffee are a hell of a lot of people's favorite things! Add in more seats, please, so we can get that rough draft completed while drinking copious amounts of wine and even indulging in a giant vegan donut. Pure bliss... it's not elusive as you think.

I simply love this place! What a fantastic place in this wonderful town! The bookstore is amazing, with a terrific selection of books and with seating to enjoy reading, all while sipping on some of the delicious beverages they offer there. Coffee, tea, wine, beer pastries (vegan choices too, yay!)........ I could happily spend an entire day here if I lived in Kingston!

One of my favorite bookstores/coffeeshop/bars in the country. There's nothing quite like this place. It's large enough to have a wide array of books, all the latest titles, including academia, and specialty categories like Cooking, Graphic Novels, and Hudson Valley-specific. There air chairs and sofas sprinkled around, plus nice seating areas, from high-tops, to places to sit and look out the original paned windows. The bar itself is large and well-spaced. During the warmer temps, they have large outdoor picnic-type tables which can easily sit 6-8 people per table. Coffee is top notch and they have a great list of wines and beers. Very friendly, smart/trendy vibe without the pretentiousness. Locals and visitors mingle because why? We all love books at the end of the day!

My first time visiting this amazing place but it won't be my last. It's a genius combo of a highly curated book shop and a bar serving both coffee and espresso beverages, tea, beer and wine. Drink options are extensive. They also serve some nibbles and baked goods as well. Came on a chilly winter day and they also had hot apple cider and mulled wine. Our stout on tap was delicious. Prices are reasonable but the space is super cozy. I love what they have done with the inside! Servers were super friendly and chatty. I would be a regular here if I lived closer. Wish I did.

The best. Great book and beer selection. What lit they don't have, they will get. Staff = awesome. Be nice to them!

Drove to Kingston on a whim (1 hr) to try what seemed to be a cute and cozy book and bar store. It did not disappoint. Best described as cozy, communal, friendly, chill, relaxed, serving nice draft beers and hot chocolate (other drinks available). Read books while you sip on delicious hot chocolate or a cold IPA. I would highly recommend stopping in and walking around a really cute town.