8 Library Cafes Across India to Bookmark For Your Travels
What’s better than freshly brewed coffee? A great book to go with it! Choose from a wide selection of literary works at these library cafes across the country.
Everyone has their own ways of looking for solitude. And there isn’t a more peaceful setting than a library, you’ll agree. But even better is a library immersed in an aroma of freshly brewed coffee and buttered croissants.
So, here’s a chance to book that date with yourself, sip on your cuppa and turn a page.
1. The Other Space, Dharamshala
If you’re an artist, you’re going to love the setup at The Other Space. Designed by the team behind ‘Illiterati Books and Coffee’ — one of the most popular library cafes in McLeodganj — this space is brimming with creativity.
Here, you can spend the afternoon exploring the mind-boggling works of various artists, as this place is a hotspot for numerous painters and poets from the region.
Situated against the backdrop of the mighty Dhauladhar range, you needn’t worry about finding a quiet spot at the cafe. The breathtaking views coupled with the selection of books make for an amazing treat. Apart from good coffee and books, you can also find stimulating conversations here that are an added bonus.
Open all week from 9 am to 8 pm
2. Kunzum Travel Cafe, Delhi
An interesting story prequels the inception of the Kunzum Travel Cafe.
Journalist Ajay Jain was looking to start a gallery for his books and photography. In an interview with Travel and Leisure, he recounted, “The idea was to create a space that would transport people to travel destinations even when they could not travel. We did this with a display of photography from my journeys, a library of travel magazines and books including my own, events like travel talks, a place where one could plan their trips with other guests etc.”
This was the start of the cafe in Hauz Khas Village of New Delhi, which is now home to a community for readers, authors, designers, editors and publishers to come together. On any given day, one can find gigs, stand-up shows and debates happening here.
We highly recommend the signature brownie cookies served here.
Open all week from 11 am to 7.30 pm
3. Atta Galatta, Bengaluru
Since early on in life, founder Lakshmi Sankar was insistent on the idea of wanting to start a bookstore. Her studies in English Literature fuelled this passion. Today, the dream stands realised in the form of the book cafe on the busy streets of Bengaluru.
She wanted the bookstore to be a hub of activity, and thus the name. In an interview with She The People, Sankar explained, “Galatta means noise. We wanted the bookstore to be the place where lots of things happen. We want to bring different kinds of people — college kids, married couples — to the store.”
With bookshelves lining the walls, there is a mighty selection to look forward to. These include over 10,000 literary works in English and other languages. Happy reading!
Open from Tuesday to Sunday 11 am to 7 pm
4. Higginbothams’s Writer’s Cafe, Chennai
Munch on a ‘Flammkuchen’, the Swiss version of a pizza, while you read a page-turner. This and many other delicacies are prepared by burn attack survivors who are employed at the cafe.
Whilst you’re browsing through the menu to pick your next dish, the Higginbothams bookstore has an equally amazing selection of literary works. Touted as the “most famous bookstore in South India”, the place has been in existence since 1884 and has been giving Chennai its dose of fairytales since then.
Open all week from 10 am to 10 pm
5. Bahrison’s, Delhi
The story of Bahrison’s is one of resilience. It was started in 1953 by a gentleman Balraj Bahri Malhotra who was displaced from his hometown of Malakwal, Punjab, during the Partition.
In the next six years that followed, Malhotra worked to set up a bookshop in Khan Market, Delhi. To counter the problem of meagre funds, he sold his mother’s gold bangles to raise money, and Bahrison’s was born. Since then, the bookstore has been a family-run affair.
Open all week from 10.30 am to 8.30 pm
6. Kitab Khana, Mumbai
An old-world charm surrounds the bookstore that resides in a 150-year-old building in Fort, Mumbai. Started in 2010 by couple Samir Somaiya and Amrita Somaiya, the bookstore cafe has been treating Mumbaikars to a literary feast.
As their website reads, “Bookshops are places where minds are opened and worlds become large. A place where one can enter a book and explore a world that’s never seen, not imagined. A place where mindsets change, where one can dream of changing the world. We created Kitab Khana in response to the rise of the online world.”
Open all week from 10.30 am to 7.30 pm
7. Champaca Books, Bengaluru
The bookstore entices its readers with a range of works — caste narratives from rural India, books on dystopian futures, moving personal memoirs on mental health, and translations from over 20 languages.
Browse through a selection of books on nature writing, science, fiction, non-fiction, the social sciences, and more. In addition to this, the place also frequently organises public events, discussions, screenings of indie films and artist meetups.
Open from Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 7 pm
8. StepOut Cafe Jaipur
Started by three engineer friends, Stepout Café is designed using upcycled materials and boasts a library of over 500 books. Located in Central Jaipur, a walk away from major tourist attractions, here, you can read to your heart’s content as you are served delicacies picked from a multi-cuisine menu.
The eclectic walls coupled with an equally fascinating selection of books and food make the cafe a great space to hang out and get a quiet moment.
Open all week from 7.30 am to 10 pm If you found our stories insightful, informative, or even just enjoyable, we invite you to consider making a voluntary payment to support the work we do at The Better India. Your contribution helps us continue producing quality content that educates, inspires, and drives positive change. Choose one of the payment options below for your contribution- By paying for the stories you value, you directly contribute to sustaining our efforts focused on making a difference in the world. Together, let’s ensure that impactful stories continue to be told and shared, enriching lives and communities alike. Thank you for your support. Here are some frequently asked questions you might find helpful to know why you are contributing?
Edited by Pranita Bhat
This story made me
-
97 -
121 -
89 -
167
Home
Read
Watch
Contribute
