Book–Themed Cafes To Check Out If You Love Reading
What could be better than curling up with a good book? While there’s always the library, cafes have the added advantage of good food to munch on while you read. Check out these cafes, and find yourself a new hideaway for a rainy afternoon.
1. For a feast for the senses: Cook & Tras Social Library
We all love devouring a good book, but if you're looking for a gastronomical experience that goes above and beyond, this elegant haven will whet your appetite. Located within the recently opened Six Senses Maxwell, Cook & Tras Social Library sets itself apart from most book cafes by offering a full-fledged menu.
And not just any menu: the dishes served here are made with sustainable and organic ingredients, so you can chow down and still feel healthy afterwards. Try the tender Baked Barramundi ($28), which is light enough to melt in your mouth. If you're feeling particularly healthy, the aptly-named Alive & Inspired ($22) offers a delectable mix of greens like baby spinach and avocado, with a light drizzle of kombucha dressing.
The eatery's book collection is nothing to sneeze at either, with thousands of books selected from the UK's Ultimate Library. Truly a feast for both the mind and the body!
Cook & Tras Social Library, Six Senses Maxwell, 2 Cook Street, Singapore 078857
Find out more here
2. For a spot of tea while you read: Looksee Looksee
There’s nothing quite like a good cup of tea to enhance your reading experience. As a tea salon cum reading room, Looksee Looksee has a generous selection of books for you to browse while you enjoy your tea (no borrowing allowed, sadly). The menu changes every month to offer different tea pairings, with a caffeine–free option as well if you can’t take caffeine. Interestingly, there are no set prices here. Instead, patrons pay by tipping however much they want. Although there’s no free wifi here, the pastel–hued interior and calming music give this tea salon a quaint and cosy atmosphere.
Looksee Looksee, 267 Beach Road, Singapore 199545
Find out more here
3. For a relaxing sanctuary: The Book Cafe
This cafe’s quiet ambience makes it perfect for hiding away from the world for a few hours. With comfy couches, free wifi, plenty of power–points and shelves filled with a wide variety of books and magazines, it’s easy to lose track of time while curling up with a book. If you’re feeling peckish, The Book Cafe offers an all–day breakfast menu, with classics like Eggs Benedict ($16.95) and French Toast ($12.95). For those with a sweet tooth, the cafe has a tasty selection of desserts as well, such as their signature Traditional Italian Lemon & Pine Nut Pie ($6.95).
The Book Cafe, 20 Martin Road, #01-02, Seng Kee Building, Singapore 239070
Find out more here
4. For a vast new library to explore: The Reading Room
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to be Belle from Beauty and the Beast, this cafe is for you. With endless rows of bookshelves lining the walls and towering stacks of books everywhere, stepping into The Reading Room is like finding yourself in the middle of a giant library. Be sure to try the flavourful Truffle Pasta ($28.80), topped with actual truffle shavings, and wash it down with a Himalayan Salt Coffee ($5), made with beans imported from Naples, Italy. And if you stick around till night falls, the place transforms into a bar — where you can continue to enjoy reading while unwinding with a drink in hand.
The Reading Room, 19 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089833
Find out more here
5. For a glimpse into a fantasy world: The Moon
From its whimsical name to its otherworldly decor, The Moon feels more like a cosy living room than a mere bookstore cum cafe. The dim illumination of fairy lights gives the shop a mysterious atmosphere, which is only enhanced by the eclectic collection of books available. Unlike most bookstores, The Moon prides itself on filling its shelves with works by women and persons of colour, making it perfect for unearthing hidden gems that don’t get much mainstream attention. So grab a Haldi Doodh (Golden Turmeric Milk; $6) and a slice of Chocolate Cardamom Cake ($10), and let yourself be drawn into another world.
The Moon, 37 Mosque Street, Singapore 059515
Find out more here
6. For Chinese literature (and Taiwan vibes): Katasumi Koohii
Located in the back of indie Chinese bookstore Grassroots Book Room, Katasumi Koohii’s quiet atmosphere, genteel patronage, and rustic motif feel authentically, uncannily, Taiwanese. The menu consists of simple pastries baked in–house, as well as Taiwanese cafe staples like Hand Drip Coffee ($6). Whether you’re fully comfortable reading in Chinese or are functionally illiterate, this humble cafe is perfect for whiling away the hours with a Brown Sugar Latte ($6.50) and a good book.
Katasumi Koohii, 25 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089839
Find out more here
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