If you’re someone who loves to curl up with a book and a delicious treat or two, these book cafes in India are where you need to be! By Eshita Srinivas
Nothing beats an afternoon spent curled up with a book in one hand and a cup of something warm and comforting in the other. These book cafes across India take it a notch further with an excellent selection of paperbacks, delicious nibbles, and an Insta-worthy ambience.
When it comes to bibliophiles, self-care involves a stack of literary works, a cup of coffee, and a well-lit spot to enjoy. Although the magic of a few too many books at a library or a nostalgic activity at a corner of a bookstore have become a thing of the past, some spots across the country have lured avid readers in with their unique collection of publications and delicious nibbles. We round up a few that are a must-visit.
Check out these cosy book cafes across India
Located in North Bengaluru’s Kalyan Nagar, this spot, as the name suggests, is great for writers to work through their creative blocks. Characterised by the quirky decor, several shelves with books on sale, and delicious food featuring comfort classics like mac and cheese, chilli cheese fries, and chicken wings, regulars at this cafe end up spending hours here without realising it.
The cafe also houses the iconic Higginbotham’s bookstore, giving visitors the opportunity to pick up a best seller. Literary events and workshops are held here at regular intervals. Customise your pastas and pizzas for a delicious meal and wash it all down with some classic South Indian filter coffee. Their all-day breakfast menu is also popular with locals.
Image: Courtesy @tripleostudio/Instagram
- Address 509, 4th Cross Road, HRBR Layout, 2nd Block, Kalyan Nagar, Bangalore
- Phone +91 96118 11444
A family-run establishment that has a well-curated selection of Sikkimese, Tibetan, and Nepalese literary works exploring the regions’ history, this place was founded in 1970. What began as a general bookstore with a few magazines and novels has now turned into a full-fledged store with a cafe named Fiction and lodging services named Bookman’s BnB. On offer are delicious cheesecakes, momos, sandwiches, and Vietnamese coffee, amongst a host of other dishes. On a visit, you might spot some musicians, artists, or writers here.
Image: Courtesy Rachna Bookstore
- Address Jeewan Theeng Marg, Upper Sichey, Development Area, Gangtok
- Phone +91 97331 02304
Delicious European fare meets a plethora of books at this spot in Delhi. The Reader’s cafe has a menu that features the likes of classics like tomato basil bruschetta, mozzarella pizza, and lasagna. Also on offer are chocolate mousse, blueberry muffins, and a host of different teas and coffees. Book launches, literary games, and other interesting events occur here regularly as well and you’ll find many bookworms glued to the bookshelves against the wood-panelled walls here.
Image: Courtesy The Reader’s Cafe
- Address Ahinsa Khand 1, Indirapuram, Delhi NCR, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
- Phone +91 72919 71835
A relaxed space in North Goa’s Anjuna, this new book cafe and bar is a must-visit. Bright and airy, the collection here is extensive and the food is organic. An in-house garden offers all the produce for their meals. Recommended here are the fish meatballs, rice porridge, coffee, horchata, and beef burger. They switch out their menu seasonally, however, so be sure to check with them if you’d like to try something in particular. Their bookstore has about 5,000 literary works which will take several visits to fully explore. They also have an open podium to host art events.
Image: Courtesy The Flying Goat
- Address H.No 694/1,D'mello waddo, Anjuna Mapusa Rd, Goa
- Phone +91 98207 72399
Literature is almost synonymous with the culture of Kolkata and it’s no surprise that the city has a popular book cafe to cater to readers in the city. This spot has a good selection of books as well as stationery and on the menu are classic cafe fare like pastas, pizzas, sandwiches, and risotto. Desserts include cookies, brownies, and apple pie with ice cream. Between the bright interiors and reasonable prices, you’ll feel at home in this place.
Image: Courtesy Cafe Story By Chai Break
- Address 2nd Floor, Café Story Bookstore, 8, Elgin Road
- Phone +91 83350 63203
A beloved cafe in Guwahati, this bookstore added a cafe to its space in January 2019. The menu offers omelettes, burgers, sandwiches, pastas, noodles, and different variations of maggi. There’s also coffee and hot chocolate. Place your order and head on over to the tall shelves with books that range from young-adult classics to the latest bestsellers. The walls here are adorned with pictures of popular authors and covers of books and there’s WiFi for access to e-books, journals, and online libraries.
Image: Courtesy The Bibliophilia Cafe
- Address Jasowanta Road, Panbazar, Guwahati; above Western Book Depot
- Phone +91 70024 14647
A cosy space that welcomes bibliophiles in the city, Pagdandi bookstore cafe began with the idea to find a space for books and build a community around reading in Pune. Soon enough, children and adults alike would spend hours perusing the spines of books, allowing themselves to be transported to the literary world. While at it, many pick from the humble menu of chai, cookies, and sandwiches. At times, the cafe has cinnamon rolls, chocolate pie, or other unique desserts. A host of different genres are on offer here. You might spot some work by budding artists and photographers as well.
Image: Courtesy Pagdandi Cafe
- Address Baner Pashan Link Road, Behind Symantec, Baner, Pune
- Phone +91 77559 08525
A partially open-air book cafe and bistro in Secunderabad, this spot has a wooden deck for those who prefer the outdoors and a red-brick wall decor inside for those that would like to stay close to the wide collections of books here. The menu features fusion food.
This book café and bistro in Secunderabad has an old-world charm to it complemented by a natural setting. You may choose to enjoy the bare brick and glass décor inside the café or sit outside at the wooden deck. Walk up to the book corner where you will find a wide collection of books available for reading as well as on sale. You may also enjoy a round of board games with your friends. The menu focuses on fusion food, including coffee and mojitos, sandwiches and pastas, etc.
Image: Courtesy The Coffee Cup
- Address Above Canara Bank, Sainikpuri, Secunderabad, Hyderabad
- Phone +91 88807 10710
Walk through the doors of this popular cafe and the city noise will give way to the sounds of pages turning and the fragrance of pancakes, cheese tarts, and a host of other delicious food. There’s also beer and board games on offer. This popular spot has hosted many artists, including comedians, and is known for its excellent collection of graphic novels and comics. The decor here is quirky and you could spend hours exploring everything the place has to offer.
Image: Courtesy Leaping Windows
- Address Versova, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Phone +91 97699 98972
This bookstore cafe offers you a good read and delicious food with a side of stunning views of the Dal lake. The only way to get to this spot is to hop on a shikara and head to the Nehru Park island. This unique feature earned it a spot in the Limca Book of Records as the only bookshop-library on a lake. Over 80,000 books call this place home and you could head to the reading room to go through one. Many visitors savour the view as well as the words on their novels while sipping a freshly brewed cup of coffee.
Image: Courtesy Gulshan Books
- Address Residency Road, Regal Chowk, Munshi Bagh, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
- Phone +91 95966 00055
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