The Writers Block Bookstore & Cafe

The Writers Block Bookstore & Cafe Reviews

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4.6
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This place is a triple threat: great food, coffee,...

This place is a triple threat: great food, coffee, and books. The book selection is fantastic. The food is creative, fresh, and delicious. I love coming here for lunch with a friend or just a quick cup of coffee while I browse the shelves.

First time customer this evening. Great spot to me...

First time customer this evening. Great spot to meet with a good size crew to chat, eat, and drink. Everyone liked what they ordered, from borscht to what looked to me like a deconstructed gyro? Looks like they do a lot as a venue for talks and shows, I'll definitely be back!

Finally, a late(ish) night place to grab coffee in...

Finally, a late(ish) night place to grab coffee in a relaxed atmosphere.
They serve the local Indigo teas and good roasts. They also have a decent menu for snacking or a meal.
The shelves are lined with new books in a renovated, old space. Interesting history in the building and the district it is in.

Super kind staff, warm ambiance, creative food wit...

Super kind staff, warm ambiance, creative food with lots of veggie choices. A great place to study and meet people.

Don t try the chocolate scone cookies. Really stale, chalky, and unsweetened. I had to give it back and buy another dessert.

A new little bookstore and Spenard cafe. We went o...

A new little bookstore and Spenard cafe. We went on a Friday night and it was pleasantly busy. The counter service was fine and the food okay, we had some basic cheese paninis and soup. There was live music which was a little loud and there were people taking up a couple tables to collect signatures to recall Dunleavy.

Laid back atmosphere - too laid back for my tastes...

Laid back atmosphere - too laid back for my tastes... But the staff is friendly, the food is lovely, the coffee is always good, and they often have neat events featuring local artists etc.

Bonus - beer and wine license!

Go check them out.

Wow this place is super awesome!

Wow this place is super awesome!

Ok Here we go

Food 5/5 - Great Food! Food was super fresh. Lots of options for vegetarians. Liked the mix and match soup/salad/sandwich options. .

Service 5/5 - Everyone was super nice and helpful, all smiles.

Facility 5/5 - Building is extremely clean. You can see the kitchen and all the fresh produce being made.

Location 5/5 - Easy to find, easy to get in/out and lots of parkin

Awesome place, got a cheese panini and raspberry l...

Awesome place, got a cheese panini and raspberry leamon hard fizz. My son got yogurt with fruit and Italian soda. Everything was delicious and was high quality. The lady was very nice and friendly. They have really cool event that go on throughout the week, jazz band and singers. Can't wait to go back and try other items and experience the music!

Litty

It is very hard to find a place to eat, where pla...

It is very hard to find a place to eat, where placing an order takes more then 29 minutes. If you are looking for a place like that - it is Writters Block. Can't comment on the food. Couldn't order any.

The Writers' Block has very friendly staff! Their ...

The Writers' Block has very friendly staff! Their menu has gluten free options available! They also have a very good selection of books! They do a great job of representing Alaskan authors as well.
Also the options for events and music performances are varied and fun! I've had a great time every time I have been there.

The Writer s Block has added something wonderful t...

The Writer s Block has added something wonderful to this city - for a place that likes to read and drink coffee as much as Anchorage does, it was a crime that up until last year we had no independent bookstore/cafe in town. Don t get me wrong, I love Title Wave (and its proximity to Middle Way & Kaladi!). But as delightful as a secondhand bookseller near quality restaurants is, it s not quite the same as a quirky independent establishment like this one, that is equal parts bookstore, bistro, and event space.

The Block is awesome. The owners are often here, and almost always present at the plentiful (and awesome) events they host. You ll encounter friendly regulars too, as well as folks on dates and others having meetings and others sitting solo with a notebook or a computer. The atmosphere could not be more cozy, inviting, and inclusive.

And the food and drinks are outstanding. Quality local brews of both the coffee and the beer variety are always on offer, as are teas and creative cocktails - the Block mojito is simply perfect on a sunny summer night. To warm you up for those cooler times, the menu is full of hearty comfort food from around the world, especially Jewish and Latin American classics (drawing on some of the owners heritage). Basically, the Block as something for every season and every eater, and it s all high-quality so you can t go wrong!!

The humans who established Writers Block are owed a debt of gratitude by Anchoragites. Thank you, Block, for shining a light on great books and using your space to promote the arts and marginalized voices, and thanks for the delicious libations and noshes as well!

So happy to find this gem. They seemed to read my ...

So happy to find this gem. They seemed to read my mind with every drink and food choice. It felt like visiting Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo just put yourself in trusted hands and enjoy each moment. I opened a tab and spent one of the most productive writing afternoons I have enjoyed in months. Will be back for sure especially for the Israeli Salad. My only regret is that I ate it too fast to get a photo. The Japanese ramen serving bowl made me feel right at home ( ) " Here s a snap of the heavenly iced herbal tea for now (^o^)

Maybe they were having a bad day but I saw 10 patr...

Maybe they were having a bad day but I saw 10 patrons leave the line to find food somewhere else on Sunday because they just left patrons standing there without so much as an acknowledgement. When I inquired after 35 minutes of trying to be patient, the gentleman manning the coffee machine was incredibly rude. We went to Fire Island.

This is such an adorable little bookstore! It's sm...

This is such an adorable little bookstore! It's small and cozy but surprisingly has a really extensive selection of books. I was really surprised to see a really large number of books on my "to-read" list on their shelves. They have a really diverse selection of topics and authors and I noticed a lot of BIPOC and queer authors and titles which was really cool! We haven't eaten at the cafe yet but hope to return for food someday soon. After COVID, I can totally see myself spending an afternoon in one of their cozy chairs drinking coffee and reading. Definitely check this place out.

One of the coziest spots in town. The staff is alw...

One of the coziest spots in town. The staff is always extremely inviting, and they have cool events and shows when we aren't in the middle of a pandemic.

Today I tried the Cucumber Fizz drink and it's a delicious cocktail for sure.

I'm a regular here and I absolutely loooovvveeee t...

I'm a regular here and I absolutely loooovvveeee the block mojito and Ukrainian borscht. They hold events here and sell books, music, and art from locals. It's a great place to work on stuff, or hang out with friends, or just to relax.

Great midtown cafe with tasty sandwhiches and soup...

Great midtown cafe with tasty sandwhiches and soups. As a musician I have had the honor of playing on a local jazz concert at The Writer's Block and it was a great venue. They also showcase and sell a fine selection of classic and local literature. HIghly recccomended

Writer s Block is such a lovely little gem, right ...

Writer s Block is such a lovely little gem, right in the heart of Spenard. Always great tunes, delicious food and wonderful libations; including the hard, adult variety! The Pelmeni is a must have for those who eat meat and if not, the Pierogi is just as swell! They have a new deck outside for you pleasure and comfort in these crazy times; or they re down to about half capacity inside right now. All are welcome in this place, as long as they treat other patrons with respect. Open Wed-Fri from 10a-8p and till 5pm on Saturday/Sunday. Masks are required for everyone s safety but provided if you ve recently lost yours! Plenty of great books. Right now carrying a great selection of aplicable books such as, White Fragility.

I have been to Writers Block for coffee and to han...

I have been to Writers Block for coffee and to hangout before. Great atmosphere! Yummy beverages. However, this evening we waited an hour for our grilled cheese sandwiches and peanut butter paninis. We had children with us. Half-way through we were informed that there weren't any bananas. So sad. Front of the house tried to make it right. Free soup. Thank you. After choosing different ingredients for the panini, it was not good. By that point I was disappointed in the service. Still, I think this is a great place. I wanted it to be better. Hope you have a better experience.

Love it! Enjoying a small Ceasar salad with a Cos...

Love it! Enjoying a small Ceasar salad with a Cosmopolitan today while reading a book before I go to work.

This is my Happy Place to stop on my way to work.
Great book selection (especially local authors and books for children) and they take special orders. The menu may be limited but I have enjoyed plemeni, matzoh ball soup, and salads.

Many special events at this venue may be found on their Facebook page.

Excellent casual lunch spot with a mellow yet fri...

Excellent casual lunch spot with a mellow yet friendly community ambiance. Staff were welcoming and pleasant, drinks and food were delicious and prices were reasonable. I ll be back for sure next time I m in the area.

This is one of the coziest spaces in Anchorage - a...

This is one of the coziest spaces in Anchorage - a perfect little getaway where you can bring a book or your laptop in peace. It's usually very busy, but even then, not noisy. Their food is unique and delicious, hot cocoa is wonderful, and I love their bread pudding! And the staff is super friendly and make the vibe of the place great.

What's not to love? Coffee, a book store, live mus...

What's not to love? Coffee, a book store, live music and other events on the weekends? It instantly became my favorite place in down. The staff is kind and welcoming and they remember my name which is a big plus for a regular like me. All in all a chill vibe perfect for any season.

Nice

Great atmosphere, good coffee, BUT the food portio...

Great atmosphere, good coffee, BUT the food portions are very small. I paid $7.50 for a salad in a very small soup cup. (Salad would have fit in my 12oz coffee cup) It barely counted as a side salad let alone justified the price. Will probably think twice before I order food again. Tasted good though! Still giving five stars because I think it's a great business, just wanted to provide a warning to future salad fans.

My new favorite place in Anchorage. Wonderful vibe...

My new favorite place in Anchorage. Wonderful vibe, great people, good food and beer. A community space that Anchorage has needed. Now we can share a chill public living room environment together while we enjoy compelling events and support local musicians.

Great atmosphere and service. The only reasons I d...

Great atmosphere and service. The only reasons I didn t give five stars: the door is usually left open, so the place is FREEZING, the music can be a bit loud, and the staff can be really loud. If they fixed that it would be perfect.

This is such a great addition to Spenard. Deliciou...

This is such a great addition to Spenard. Delicious borscht, pelmini, wine-based cocktails, a solid beer selection and a great selection of handpicked books. They have at least one event a week and I've heard some good music. I give them only four stars because the coffee is really bad. It's a bummer, too, because there is a lot of good coffee to be had in Anchorage. I've tried americanos cappuccinos and lattes, and it doesn't seem to be the fault of the Barista it's the base coffee (Uncle Leroy's) that they use. It tastes burnt and chalky and I just really don't like it. Please, change your coffee! Otherwise you guys are doing a great job. Update: the barista made me a pour-over and it was very good.

The Writers Block Bookstore & Cafe

The Writers Block Bookstore & Cafe

4.6