Books & Beans

Editor's Review

Coffee and literature have a rich history. Think of Raymond Chandler’s coffee swilling detective Philip Marlowe, T.S. Eliot measuring out his life with coffee spoons, and the countless writers who’ve used it to power great novels, many of which surely line the walls of this charming Aberdonian institution.

You’ll find Books and Beans on Belmont Street, in Aberdeen’s Old Town. Looking down the street, it’s the kind of place you’d expect to find — quirky, independent, established, like it’s been there for a while — it opened in 2002, to be precise. Indeed, inside the feeling is the same. There’s a warm, homely feeling to the cafe, not least because all the books upstairs do make it feel like you’re in someone’s front room.

Downstairs is the main cafe, but it is the bookshop that makes the nicest place to perch, by the window looking down onto the cobbles below even better. The space is ideal for events and workshops, and there’s a nice programme of things going on in the evenings. Really though, this is a cafe that excels at making everyone feel welcome, giving them unfussy, well made food, and good, solid cups of coffee, with Glasgow roaster Matthew Algie supplying the beans.

Review: Harry Harris

Image courtesy of venue

Cafe Features

Baby Change

Toilets

Wifi

Brunch/Lunch

Pets Allowed

Table Seating

Coffee + Drinks

Non Dairy

Decaf