READING in the library is fun and peaceful until you feel your mouth getting dry and hear your stomach growling. And as much as you want to get food and drinks, eating and drinking are strictly not allowed in libraries.
Even if it’s permitted, getting up from your seat can be a hassle, especially when you’re alone, because who’s going to look after your spot and belongings? You’d be left with no choice but to bring all your things with you, unless you fully trust the people in the area.
The good news is that there are establishments in the country where you can read to your heart’s content without having to worry about getting hungry or thirsty: the library cafes!
In these places, you can both immerse yourself in a book and sip your coffee or have a bite. For bookworms and coffee lovers out there, here are some locations that you can add to your to-visit list:
The Library Cafe by Gourmet Farms
Good coffee and delicious gourmet food can be enjoyed at the ground floor of the 18-storey historic building of the Ramon Magsaysay Center along Roxas Boulevard in Malate, Manila. The store that houses these gems is called The Library Cafe by Gourmet Farms.
Opened in 2022, the cafe offers dozens of books found on the shelves that line the walls of the cafe. Bookshelves are placed on the first and second level of the store.
It serves a variety of beverages, ranging from traditional coffees, coolers, frappé, to specialty cocktails.
If you want to start your morning with a heavy meal, you can choose from pancakes, rice meals, burgers, sandwiches, and paninis. You can also opt for its gourmet classics menu that offers soups, stews, gourmet pasta, and chicken and beef dishes.
The desserts menu includes cakes, cheesecakes, and truffles.
The cafe is open from Mondays to Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For Sundays, it is only welcomes guests from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Blocleaf Café
On the other side of Malate is a simple coffee shop that has a mini library for its customers.
Different magazines, handbooks, and photobooks can be found underneath a long wooden table by the glass walls of Blocleaf café. It also has wooden racks that display these publications.
If you want to be surprised when picking out something to read, the cafe has books whose front pages are covered and only identifies the genre.
While reading or scanning through these materials, you can enjoy a sip of cold brew coffee, non-coffee drinks, and house sodas. These beverages can be paired with the cafe’s egg noodles, breakfast sandwiches, and chicken cutlets.
What makes this coffee shop more fun is that you can bring your pets with you during your book and coffee date!
Blocleaf café is located at 1850 M. H. del Pilar Street, Malate, Manila. It is open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Libro Espresso
There is also a mini library cafe situated outside Metro Manila.
Libro Espresso has a variety of books ranging from children’s literature, fiction, non-fiction, and magazines. It also has an online library that is available for membership.
The cafe serves coffee and non-coffee based iced drinks, shakes and sodas. For food, the menu includes pasta, rice dishes, waffles, sandwiches, snacks and desserts, and hearty breakfasts.
Libro Espresso is located at Unit 3 Phase 2 Prospero Commercial Bldg., Barangay Balagtas, Batangas City. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Trabi Café
Residents of Binangonan, Rizal can work and study in this cafe that offers not only a variety of food and beverages, but also books and paintings.
Trabi Café has a collection of fiction and non-fiction books, magazines, manga, graphic novels, cookbooks, and educational materials, among others. If you want to check its booklist, you may visit this link.
To add more fun to your reading experience, you can sip the cafe’s classic and blended drinks, tea, milk tea, fruity drinks, and hooch on their beverage menu. Cakes and pastries are also on the dessert list.
The cafe can be found at 0905 Tambayan Road, Sitio Hangganan, Pag-asa, Binangonan, Rizal. It is open daily from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
