7 (+1) bookshop cafes in London

Today, 7 March 2024, is the World Book Day. To mark the occasion, I’m visiting 7 bookshop cafes in London, as well as one bookshop bar.

London Review Bookshop & Cake Shop

The London Review Bookshop is located a stone’s throw from the British Museum. As the name suggests, The London Review Cake Shop serves cake, but also many savoury items. There is indoor seating, as well as an outdoor seating area in a courtyard, the latter being perfect for those rare (for London) summer days.

Caffe Nero, at Blackwell’s Bookshop High Holborn

Located inside the Blackwell’s Bookshop on High Holborn, this café is almost halfway between Chancery Lane and Holborn stations. Although Caffe Neros does not have wifi, you can use the bookshop’s network to connect. It is only open Monday to Friday.

Dillons, at Waterstones Gower Street

This is another one of my favourite bookshop cafes in London. It is located on the ground floor of Waterstones on Gower Street and is relatively close to quite a few underground stations (Goodge Street, Tottenham Court Road, Warren Street, Russel Square), as well as to Euston train station. Due to its proximity to the University of London, it is often popular with students working away on their laptops.

Lucky Jim’s, at Waterstones Tottenham Court Road

This café is also one of my favourite bookshop cafes in London. It is located on the basement floor of Waterstones Tottenham Court Road. For this reason, I personally go there on a rainy or cloudy day. Like all Waterstones, there is a wifi, which makes this café ideal for remote working.

The Cafe at Foyles

Close to Tottenham Court Road station, at 107 Charing Cross Road, there’s Foyles, one of the largest bookstores in London. The Cafe at Foyles is located on the 5th floor of the flagship store and is usually quite busy with customers working away on their laptops (there is wifi) or simply enjoying a light lunch or cake.

Stanfords

Established in 1853, Stanfords is advertised as ‘the world’s biggest and best map and travel bookshop’. No wonder why it is one of my favourite London bookstores. In 2019, it moved from Long Acre a few doors down to Mercers Walk (almost opposite to Covent Garden tube station). Here you can browse their large collection of travel guides and books, buy maps, globes, or travel-related gifts, or simply enjoy a hot drink at the small cafe.

Embertons, at Waterstones Piccadilly

This Waterstones is located a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus. It is Europe’s largest bookshop and is home to two cafes, as well as a bar and restaurant. The two Embertons Cafés are located on the lower ground floor and at the mezzanine. The bar and restaurant is located on the 5th floor.

Swans Bar, at Maison Assouline

Very close to Waterstones Piccadilly is Maison Assouline, a bookshop housed inside a resplendent Grade Two listed building. Here you can buy (or simply admire the covers of) luxury coffee table books and travel to exotic and glamorous destinations around the world. Bali Mystique is my latest acquisition. As the name suggests, Swans Bar is more of a bar than a café, a sophisticated place to enjoy a cocktail in the afternoon (as it closes later in the evening, 7 pm or 9 pm depending on the day of the week).

Further reading

If you’re interested in cafes suitable for remote working in Central London, check out my post ‘20 cafes for remote working in Central London‘.

Check out the following novels:

‘Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop‘ by Korean author Hwang Bo-reum

This novel is about a woman who quits her career and opens up a bookshop and employs a barista to prepare the coffee served.

‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop‘ by Japanese author Satoshi Yagisawa

Set in Jimbocho Book Town, a Tokyoite district distinguished by its high volume and concentration of used bookstores, this novel is about a young woman who finds solace in her uncle’s bookshop after a relationship break-up.

I first came across this book when I visited Rome in 2022. I’m glad that it has now been translated into English, as my Italian is not as good yet. The follow-up ‘More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop‘ is due to be released in English later this year.

‘The Christmas Bookshop‘ and ‘Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop‘ by British author Jenny Colgan

Set in Edinburgh, these two novels are about a woman who finds work in a bookshop and saves it from closing down/being sold out.

Alex

(the Traveling Psychiatrist)