Best Bookshop-Cafés in London

With the prevailing ubiquity of remote work, the laptop-at-café culture has flourished. The only thing better than a nice café, however, is a café that's also a bookshop. Here are our favourite spots to lounge, work, browse, and read, all at one venue.

By Lydia Cooper | Updated Jun 30 2023

A bookshelf filled with books organized by color in a rainbow spectrum, ranging from white and yellow to blue and black. There are small tables and chairs in front of the bookshelf, suggesting a cozy reading or café area. — Image © Paper & Cup via Facebook

London Review Bookshop and Cake Shop, Bloomsbury

A quaint bookshop named London Review Bookshop with large glass windows displaying various books. The storefront has a welcoming, classic design with green trimmings and a signboard outside. Inside, bookshelves are visible filled with an array of books.

Yes, it’s an obvious choice, but included for a reason: its tea selection is almost as extensive as the range of books on offer.

The London Review Cake Shop can be found inside the bookshop, through a corridor in the History section, meaning that you can select a book to buy and then settle down with a pot of tea.

They serve the acclaimed Monmouth coffee, as well as a selection of loose-leaf tea served in glass Gong Fu teapots, and the homemade cakes range from Apple & Earl Grey to Rose & Pistachio, balancing delicate combinations of flavours.

Open Monday-Saturday, 10am-6.30pm.

London Review Bookshop and Cake Shop, 14 Bury Place, WC1A 2JL

Nomad Books, Fulham

The image shows the storefront of Nomad Books, a bookstore with large glass windows displaying various books and book covers. The signage reads nomad books with a red cat icon. The reflection on the glass shows a street with parked cars and buildings. — indybookshops.com

Nomad Books is the ideal place to visit if you have children, as they have a wide variety of children’s books and lots of comfy beanbags and chairs.

As the space is a bookshop-café, it’s easy to settle down with an espresso and still keep an eye on your little ones. Nomad run a monthly Modern Book Club: recent discussions include Claire Fuller’s Our Endless Numbered Days, Renee Knight’s Disclaimer, and Chigozie Obioma’s The Fishermen.

There are lots of creative events for children, including a Harry Potter Book Night, at which children are encouraged to either dress as a character, or pretend to be a wizard dressing as a ‘convincing’ Muggle.

The personal recommendations scribbled on bookmarks - a feature co-opted by Waterstones - display how knowledgeable the staff are, and the shop are happy to order in any requests.

Open Monday-Friday, 9am-7pm, Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10.30am-6pm.

Nomad Books, 781 Fulham Rd, SW6 5HP

Paper & Cup, Shoreditch

A storefront named Paper & Cup with a bright blue exterior frame and transparent windows. Inside are hanging lights and shelves holding various items. A person wearing sunglasses is partially visible in the lower right corner, sitting near the window. — drimvic.com

This social enterprise café in Shoreditch is run by a local charity offering training and work experience to former addicts and the long-term unemployed.

Inside, you can sample their selection of cakes, including vegan options, and read in peace. The books on the shelves are for sale - hardbacks £4, paperbacks £2 - and it’s the perfect place to people-watch in east London.

They also host a series of resident artists (most recently, designer Charlie Patterson), and the work displayed on the walls adds to the arty and vibrant atmosphere.

Open Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm, Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm.

Paper & Cup, 18 Calvert Avenue, E2 7JP

Arthur Probsthain’s/Tea and Tattle, Bloomsbury

A small bookstore named Arthur Probsthain with a dark wooden door and large display windows showcasing books and artwork. A sign hanging from the building reads Tea & Tattle. The exterior is painted white with cream accents and ornate detailing. — bibimbites.com

Directly opposite the British Museum, you can find Arthur Probsthain Oriental and African Bookseller, and below it, the traditional tea room Tea & Tattle.

At Arthur Probsthain’s, which has been in that spot since 1903, you can find a collection of Asian and African books, music and film, as well as rare and out of print editions.

Their gallery has a changing display of Asian and African art, and they specialise in books on Eastern and African art, music, film, religion, languages, literature and culture.

After exploring this specialist selection, head downstairs for tea and cake: Tea & Tattle offer afternoon tea for £15, a steal in central London.

Bookshop open Monday-Friday 9.30am-5.30pm, and Saturday 12pm-4pm. Teashop open Monday-Friday 9am-6.30pm, and Saturday 12pm-4pm.

Visit the bookshop and café, 41 Great Russell Street, WC1B 3PE

Review Bookshop, Peckham

Image shows the exterior of a bookstore named review with a large front window displaying various books. A red umbrella shades a small table and chairs on the sidewalk outside. In the background, a Bed & Breakfast is visible. A person walks down the street. — Londonist

The Review Bookshop in Peckham is best visited on a warm day, as you can buy a book and then take advantage of the outside garden with a fresh coffee for company.

There are some squashy stools inside for when the weather is less pleasant, and they also sell local zines, gifts, Moleskines and items for children. Sadly their resident shop dog Gus is no longer there, but one quirk of the Review is that they happily accommodate visitors with friendly dogs.

They often host book launches and readings, and the owner, Roz Simpson, is the creator of the Peckham Literary Festival, meaning that many of the autumn events are held there.

Closed Monday-Tuesday, open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am-6pm, Thursday 12pm-7pm and Sunday 11am-5pm(ish).

Visit Review Bookshop, 131 Bellenden Road, SE15 4QY