The Bookcase and Barber

What a unique little spot not far from Main. The petite blond working the door was friendly and welcoming. She also chatted with us a bit inside while keeping an eye out for new guests. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable. She answered our questions about the new winter menu. I generally don’t like sweet drinks but I picked one anyway because it sounded so yummy and it was. Everyone in our party was happy with their drinks. The care and attention they give to presentation and garnish is excellent. I love the clever drink names and imaginative, unusual cocktails here. I also like the book theme of the menu and interior. We will be back!

I’m so glad we discovered this speakeasy on our honeymoon! We not only found a super vibey spot in the middle of town, but I also discovered one of my new favorite drinks: The Steinbeck (Jack Rose)! My husband said the old fashioned was the best he’s ever had. Tons of drink selection and reasonable prices, especially for Durango.

The cocktails are fabulous and well crafted. I’m so impressed with the delicious and meticulous manner in which the drinks are delivered. Highly recommend and be patient as you receive great works of cocktail art. This is an experience not meant to be rushed.

Love this place. It’s dark and cozy and intimate. Craft cocktails. If you want quiet, and away from her Main Street crowd then this is for you. I was told it gets. Say before dinner at 5-6 and after - like around 7-7:30.

I'm a local and have been coming here for years but felt compelled to write a review after a particularly great experience tonight! I was at Bookcase and Barber for a private party and I asked the bartender for a mocktail. She asked what flavors I liked (mint, ginger, kind of sweet) and whipped up a wonderful drink! I loved it so much I had two. Whatever this drink is, I will definitely ask for it again and, hopefully, it will get a name so I can get it every time I'm here!

My husband and I decided to check it out before our dinner reservation. Very legit craft cocktails. Atmosphere was great and my cocktail was one of the best I’ve ever had. Highly recommend!

Neat speakeasy within a barbershop. Not exactly "secret" when the passcode is on the website, but still fun for sure. Our drinks were all solid and I enjoyed the whiskey options. It was incredibly dark inside when we went so I wouldn't recommend it for larger groups but honestly I wouldn't recommend any speakeasy experience for more than 4 people. Check it out!

A great speakeasy - and we go to many. Reba described each drink in detail, down to the nuances of the liquor. Great concept. Cool vibe. Amazing drinks!

What a cool place! It's an actual functioning barber shop by day, and a speakeasy by night. You walk in to what seems to be a barbershop, but behind the bookcase is a cute and cozy hidden bar serving delicious drinks. You do need the password to get in! We came on a Saturday night and it was full and we were added to the waitlist. We didn't have to wait long before we were able to be seated, maybe 15-20 minutes. It's really cozy inside and has a great cocktail list. I got their "Capote", which was a screwdriver and I was a little nervous it was going to be too sweet for me, but it was PERFECTLY made. The perfect amount of sweetness without being too sweet or acidic like orange juice. Definitely a place you want to hang out for a while, I'll be back next time I'm in the area.

We came here Saturday night when we were visiting Durango and got their password on instagram. You walk through the barber shop and go into the bar behind it. I ordered The Hearth and it was amazing. It was so complex and the more I drank it, the more I liked it. I wish we had stayed here all night. He got Grandpa's Soup and loved it.

Went here with a friend on a Friday night. The wait wasn't long and we got a nice quiet table. Pretty cool decor and setting.

Love B & B! We have been going here since they opened. We live in AZ but have had property in Durango for 25 years and go there a couple times a year. We can tell a bartender what our tastes are and they make a cocktail that is perfect.

Great Wednesday night visit. Wasn't crowded and the service was great. They made me a fantastic off-the-menu margarita. If you don't see the drink you want on the menu, just ask and they'll likely have several concoctions to suggest for you. Oh, and don't forget to get a shave and a haircut!

I really enjoyed the Bookcase and Barber. We were given a table quite quickly on a Saturday night, after being put on the waitlist it only took about 30 minutes, which was greatly appreciated. The service was prompt and helpful, we ordered 2 rounds of drinks and felt as if though our server timed their arrival perfectly. I also really enjoyed the atmosphere, although I felt the experience would have been better with a physical menu, as I feel being on your phone takes away from the whole book theme. In terms of drinks, we tried a Putin in Cabo, the Cranberry Saw Us, and espresso martinis. All the drinks we tried were super unique and tasty, I also enjoyed the thought behind the names. I would love to come back and try a couple more cocktails here!

Loved the experience. This is a legitimate barbershop! It has two barber chairs and a wall of bookcases. We arrived just before 9pm and we're greeted by the "barber" who asked us what the password was. She opened the bookcase and we walked into a dark swanky speakeasy. Loved the ambiance. Sat at the bar and had a Rye Old Fashioned and Joads Wrath. Good service and drinks!

Really a fun spot, walking through a real barbershop with somebody getting a haircut, then the wall opens up and you are inside this very cool bar. A must do in Durango.

Great little speakeasy in Durango. Quiet and dark and the mixed drinks were very good. It wasn't as expensive as some we have tried out in Denver. Nice change. I would definitely go back when in town.

Definitely recommend this speakeasy. Really a step back in time. Walk in to an old barber shop give out the password and a secret passage is opened that opens up into an old book store. It's super quaint inside and the waitress and bartender really know their stuff and are able to give recommendations.

Excellent haircut and conversation in a nostalgic atmosphere. I look forward to trying the speakeasy someday as well!!

Great little speakeasy in downtown Durango! Check the website for the secret password. We walked into the barbershop and there was a barber waiting for a client. I almost sat in her chair for a clean up, but I'm pretty partial in who I let cut my hair. Needless to say I might give them a go next time I'm in town. We walked to the woman guarding the bookcase and gave her the password. She sat us down and we placed our order. The drinks were decent. I ordered a 2nd libation and this time went with an E.H. Taylor Small batch neat. Always delicious! Unfortunately there was a group that from the sound of it, had thrown back quite a few shots of tequila before we arrived and threw back 4 more whilst we were there. We thought we could have a nice quiet and intimate experience. We couldn't. We decided to grab the check and head out. We will go back next time we're in town and hopefully it will feel more like a speakeasy then a college bar. Haha! Don't get me wrong, I will throw down with the best of them. This just wasn't one of those times. Give them a go if you're ever in downtown Durango.

Fun little speakeasy with very creative drinks. I had the Siren's Song For Odysseus which has Whats key and Greek yogurt in it, among other things. It was delicious-perfectly balanced and slightly fruit. My husband also enjoyed the Mint Julep. Bartender was very friendly and the atmosphere was relaxing. All around an excellent speakeasy

The staff is extremely nice and helped my friends and I pick some great drinks. One of my friends wasn't drinking and so our waiter made her a mocktail for free just because! (And it was super tasty!) The drinks were very reasonably priced and definitely got your money's worth because they were strong and tasted so good. The inside was more "hidden bar" and less "speak easy" but I did like the place! There's a password but it's easy to find on the website

Very cool chill Speakeasy, with see through windows from the inside but tinted on the outside. The barber shop is actually used when the Speakeasy isn't open. Swanky furniture - very dim lighting. Expensive drinks for the ambience you get, but that is to be expected.

Super fun!! You've got to check out the social media before you walk in, this way you know today's password. I enjoy all the bourbon options, and if you're a fan of sweet cocktails, this is a great place. Not for kids. Walk in , and you think this place is an actual barber shop. Then look around and find the door with a secret opening. This is where you knock and be ready with the password. You don't have the password? You don't get in!

Great place to stop and have a cocktail. Great Bourbon selection with great prices. Decor is cozy and love the library themed items around the place. The themed drinks are fun.

The acoustics are horrible. We were seated to the right in the back - two tables for two and a third for a group, sadly for us it was a group of 3 loud and obnoxious drinkers. Even though I hinted for them to tone it down, by joining in with punctuation remarks, it was to no avail. The other couple left and we were reseated - however yet again we could hear every word from the couple in the next nook. We cut our losses and left. I passed my comments on to the manager who said "we cant control what people say or how loud they say it", quite libertarian methinks, only I don't want to sit and listen to f*** and s*it every few mins. A simple rearrangement of seating so romantic couples can all be together instead of a group would make sense. The drinks were very good and no complaints there.

Surprised to find this gem in such a small town but we thoroughly enjoyed tasty drinks in a cozy atmosphere and the conversations that ensued. Friendly service topped off an all-around great time.

There is a reason SEVERAL local bartenders and locals told us to find this truly special location. Not only is it crazy fun...both in location, decor and bar menu...but it is unforgettable. Fine the password to get in...then sneak past the barber to the hidden passage to the speakeasy of times before. Today...Monday...I ordered a perfect Manhatten for only $5 when I whispered the "code words". The papusas were ok...but the experience is what your are here to enjoy.

What a FUN HIP COOL little hidden spot! This was a memorable stop during my Durango visit! When you first walk in, it looks like an old-timey barber shop on one side's entrance and a bookstore on the other side's entrance -- but to get past the initial rooms, there is a secret password. Locals have to tell you (or you can find it on one of their social media pages I'm told). I kid you not. The staff lets you in through the "secret" door, and then that's where it gets magical. The menu has drinks named for various classic authors. This adds to "the bookcase" theme in the name (plus the bill comes tucked inside a book!). We had several amazing, hand crafted drinks - including a specialty one made for me, The Francesca! The bartender overheard us talking about the different drink options and what we liked, and he offered to create my own one-of-a-kind drink. Very cool and very delicious! The customer service is exceptional, attentive, personal, and fun. It's really a great part of the experience to be able to talk to and interact with your bartender. This spot is definitely an after dinner stop, or a liberation only stop. You'll want to go somewhere to get some food before or after, because these are not skimpy cocktails. Watching the bartender mix the drinks, chatting with friends in the tiny speakeasy-type room, and sipping tasty cocktails in this little beverage cave was perfect. I will most definitely be back. PS you can get a haircut too. The barber shop is functional! :)

Hands down our favorite bar. Every time my husband and I visit we stop by for a drink or two. We've taken friends and family, and each time no one leaves disappointed but in awe of the experience. The drinks are delicious and the ambiance is just right for craft cocktails!

Most awesome place! It's a speakeasy, which I didn't even know was a thing! The drinks were unusual and artistic and wonderful. The ambiance was relaxing. Low lights, beautiful decor...I felt like I'd stepped into another reality.

Wannabe speakeasy owned by lame old men probably from Texas. Stuffy, pretentious, and weird. Me and my buddy saw this spot on Apple Maps and wanted to check it out after a movie. We didn't know it was a "speakeasy." Dude at the front was chill, but then these two old white men came out, told us we couldn't go in because we didn't know the password. They didn't make eye contact with us, and we're dismissive and rude. It was like we were trying to enter a ten-year-olds pillow fort. We felt uncomfortable and left, and they laughed at us while we left. We were chill and polite the whole time, just didn't want to be in a space that felt so try hard and was owned by a try-hard midlife crisis man. IF YOUR BAR IS ON THE MAP ITS NOT A SPEAKEASY, and you're just a jerk.

Great drinks, need a password, bartender was super busy. Check for the password on their social media. It gets busy so stop in early. It was a fun scene to be in that town. So hidden away, a true speakeasy!

This is a very cool speakeasy. Be sure to check the website or social media postings to get the current pass phrase to gain entry. The craft cocktails are amazing.

Do you know the password?? You need to in order to enter the bookcase! This cocktail cave is typically reserved to the underground, back-of-the-shop, down-an-alley kind of locale. The history behind this secret speakeasy is definitely worth a visit, especially for out of towners. You may not want to spend the entire evening here. It's no one's "local', which is neither good or bad, but better suited for after dinner drinks or a round or two. Pedro was an amazing server who gave us history of the bar during prohibition. We had no wait and enjoyed every sip of our hand crafted libations. I am tempted to return before we leave town it was that infredible

@the_bookcase_and_barber we loved it! The atmosphere was very fun and playful. The drinks were delicious and let's just talk about the customer service experience was so wonderful and welcoming! My wife and I will be back soon.

This is a great spot! We had a few great cocktails and enjoyed hanging out for a bit. The menu is fun - there's something for everyone - and the atmosphere is cool. The service was super friendly. Definitely check it out!

This is now, hands down, my favorite bar in the universe. Unfortunately, it's about 1000 miles from home. You have to check online to get the password. When you walk into the barber shop (yes, a real barber shop), you have to tell the young man there the password. If you have the right password, he will remove a book from a bookcase, which swings open to reveal the world's coolest speakeasy. Maybe 25 seats. That's it. There are two very cool tables made from harpsichords. The bar is made from a beautiful slab of wood. There is a large one-way window, so you can see our, but no one can see in. The cocktails...OH!!! THE COCKTAILS! The menu is a leather-bound book and has two sections. Part 1 is The Authors. Here you will find classic cocktails named for the authors that enjoyed them. Not surprising that Hemingway has 2!! The second section is The Stories. These are innovative cocktails created by the staff there. Wow! I had the Burt Reynolds, which was an upgraded Harry Houdini...mostly bourbon. Delicious. Hubby had the Lieutenant Dan. Tequila, chocolate, and orange...it was really tasty!! The check arrives tucked in the library card pocket of an old book. Classic. Best ambiance! Best service! Best cocktails!! Go here!

If an unknowing patron were to walk into the Bookcase and Barber off the street they would find a simple barbershop that gives wonders haircuts and has an impressive collection of books for a place that cuts hair. However, someone who is more in the know has simply to speak a secret pass phrase to initiate what is the beginning of an overall wonderful drinking experience. After speaking the correct password (which changes every few months) to the doorman, the bookcase opens to a 1920's-style speakeasy. The bartenders are dressed in suspenders and dress shirts, the walls are lined with clippings of prohibition-era newspapers and other memorabilia, and the bar is stocked with an impressive collection of all type of liquor. While you can order practically any cocktail you could think of, the B&B provides menus put together by their incredibly talented staff and which change seasonally. Whether you order something classic or a B&B original cocktail nothing you have here will fail to impress. Even a drink as simple as a Screwdriver is made with fresh oranges juiced by hand in front of your eyes. Simply put the Bookcase and Barber surely is a gem in what downtown Durango has to offer - one you will need to try for yourself to truly understand and enjoy the complete experience.

Love this place! If you're visiting you should check it out. You can tell your waiter what you like and they can create something unique.

We had a lovely time drinking cocktails behind the bookcase after a fulfilling fabulous dinner at Ore House. I dot. Think I could have gone to a normal bar to drink after that delicious meal. You need something special. Go to one of their social media pages for the password phrase to get inside the bar. The Barber shop is open during the day and behind the bookcase is open at night. We had the ever insightful and helpful Tony serve us. Of all the people who could have it was nice to have a southerner who could chat about home. Anyways, he explained the history behind speakeasies, this place and then the menu. He suggested we pick from the stories because they change with the seasons and are uniquely created by them plus they were about to disappear from the menu. Love the suggestions to pick from the stories. Wish we would have been in the mood for more than two drinks as there were so many libations I wish I could have tried. Don't get me wrong with three of us we knocked back 5 drinks so I tried all those, but so many more I wanted to drink. I am a lover of old fashions but since I had just had one and they had a similar story to an old fashioned called the midnight ... I picked it. I was not disappointed in any ways shape or form. Could have drank it all night long, but I wanted to try something else. The second one I had was a Story rec by Tony that had a base of gin and I can't recall what other elements but it was a divine way to end the evening. My hubby loves earthy drinks so he had the emerald city. It was so so so good! You have to like greens cause it has an aroma and taste of arugula. Check out the picks to see our drinks, light in there is low so we had to use the flash, so know it is all prettier than the pics. It is a very well decorated place.

I mean, this place is just the coolest. You can't come to Durango and not check this place out. Speakeasy's are so fun, especially when you walk through a bookcase to get in. Make sure you get the secret password ahead of time. Such a vibe, it's perfect.

Came here to get ready as a closed event for my friends wedding party. The drinks were fantastic and the staff were both very personable. Couldn't have asked for a cooler experience as a groomsmen would definitely recommend.

I had been here so many times in the past and wanted to take some friends. After a 35 minute wait, we were given a table upstairs. 10 minutes later a waiter appeared. When we asked for a menu, we were informed we must use a QR code. Come on!! It's not Covid. You used to have leather menus. We asked about a drink with Apertivo when the waiter informed us it was similar to an appetizer. Lol! I can't even!!! My vodka/cran was extremely watered down. Such a disappointment!!

Let's be real, this is the coolest place in Durango, right? Like, El Moro is the hip place to go, and Ore House is the fine-dining place to go, and Zia is the fresh-fast place to go.... Bookcase is the cool place to go. The cocktails are strong though, so have a DD cause otherwise you'll be in trouble ;P

Too cute to pass up! I heard about this speakeasy located behind the bookcase of an actual barber shop, and knew in my heart that this was going to be a must go. The space is cozy, with plenty of opportunities to mingle with others at the community table and at the bar. We were seated at the community table (which was made using an old harpsichord, by the way!), and met a bunch of nice folks from different parts of the country. Their cocktails are well made (pricey, but worth it for a night). Despite being in a region where mezcal isn't the most popular, their mezcal based cocktails are pretty well done. Definitely recommend this place for both drinks and ambiance. I vote this place as my favorite venue in downtown Durango!

Durango's finest bar. Yep. Now you know. It all started with a visit to the barber shop. I mean, really, it did. Then I got talking about the books and before I know it there is a bar here. Hold on , say what. The young kid then gives me a password and tells me to get back there when the bar opens up. Ok, still not buying it but I'm form out of town and have time to kill. I come back and I give this 'password' which is supposedly on their website but I wouldn't know it if it hit me in the face. He also said you could just ask them on their social media pages or just ask him when you are there and boom - he moves a book the door swings open and I shit you not there is a darn bar in there! Maybe 20 ish seats , but thats it. Damn it was a sweet bar ! Now the inside of the bar is to die for, beautiful tables made from harpsichords (pluck stringed vs piano which is stuck stringed - I looked it up!) a one way window (I need this in my house!!) and the menu is a leather bound book. Get outta here !! Did I say best ambiance ever ? Your bill comes in a library card pocket of some old book and they read a limerick at the end of the night at closing (you did not think I would have left till they threw me out now did you!) and its a riot. Good lord my favourite ever ! Too darn bad they are a 1000 ish miles away ... The bar tenders are funny and have the best conversation skills. Oh and the cocktails are phenomenal...I mean at this point you expected it. If you are in Durango, this should be on your absolutely must visit list.

Fun menus and great atmosphere. Love the variety and changing menu, gives us plenty of reasons to come back.

Amazing experience! My husband and i stopped into this amazing speakeasy tonight and were amazed by the decor, incredible drinks, and great atmosphere. Daniel was our bar tender tonight and we couldn't take our eyes off of his skills and genuine love for his job and making amazing tasting and looking drinks! Definitely a must see in Durango!

There's a reason why this place is rated and average of 5/5 stars and as I scroll down the page I don't see a single 3 or 4 star. This truly is the best speakeasy I have ever been to. Living in downtown Denver I've been to my fair share of speakeasy's but none have ever knocked my socks off like this place! First of all, look for the barbershop! Once you get into the barbershop you gotta give the secret password! Hint, it's on their website but it's not easily spelled out that it's their password. You can also ask them on social media. I loved the thrill of searching for the password but they weren't jerks about holding back on it either. Once you get the password you're in the clear! It's a dim lit bar with fund posters and odd quirks about prohibition. I absolutely recommend you sit at the bar if you can. The bartenders were SO interesting- one in particular with short blonde hair had the most interesting stories, and odd facts about the process of creating cocktails and alcohol. I would ask her the most simple questions which would turn into a 20 minute conversation about how different alcohols mix with one another. The drinks were ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! You can order off the menu or tell the bartenders what you like/don't like and they'll come up with something for you! I normally HATE the taste of lavender but they made me a frothy egg white lavender cocktail that was to die for! Best part is if you stay until closing time- they read off a poem from the Limerick. Best way to end a night!

Fun place with a large selection of alcohol. The bartenders can make you whatever you desire.

Fun place to bring guest who are not expecting a speakeasy. The service was extremely slow - took 40 minutes to get our drinks. The drinks were delicious but they need two bartenders or a backup bartender when needed.

The Bookcase and Barber was a fun place to visit! The speakeasy vibe is pretty neat. The bar served great drinks! I'll definitely go back there next time I'm in Durango!

This place is off the hook with crafted cocktails. A lot of the libations have ingredients that I've never heard of. The owners are great!! I can't say anything nicer about this place! The next time you're going to see a man about a dog this is the place you need to go. I even had Pedro cut my hair while I was there and my lady said it was(is) the best haircut I've ever received. Next time I'm in Durango I will definitely go here again!!

Current faves: Betty Davis (gin) and Tom selleck (bourbon/whiskey) and their house made spiced rum is bomb!!!

We had such a great time at The Bookcase and Barber. Their drinks are something special, the service was impeccable, and the vibe is on point! My husband had been here previously and he specifically returned when we were next in Durango. If you are looking for a Barchef (much more than a bartender) you MUST give this place a try. And to make it better, find out the secret password before you go and have fun with the staff! It adds to the charm when you play along.

If you have never been to a speakeasy you're in for a treat. You walk into a barbershop and wonder what is going on. There is a bookcase along one wall and if you know the password a secret door in the bookcase opens. That's we're the fun begins. Very classy high end libations and cool vibe. Check it out I'm sure you'll enjoy.