A Books & Beans review of Book Club at 197 East Third Street in East Village, Manhattan
Ambience
Book Club is the epitome of Books & Beans. Any passerby would assume the small outpost on East Third Street is nothing more than a bookstore, but when you walk through the front door (or garage door in the summer months) there is more than meets the eye. A worn wooden bar with 6 or 7 high-top seats is home to a young east village crowd quietly sipping on coffee in the morning and conversing over wine and beer in the evening. The back of the store has a few tables and gushy leather chairs that are surrounded by piles of high-demand books, reminiscent of a Harry Potter common room. In the warmer months, a back door opens up to a small courtyard with picnic tables and bright blue Adirondack chairs. Laptops are allowed (until 7 pm), outlets are readily available, and wifi is free.
Coffee
The café serves MUD Coffee – an East Village institution – and has all your favorite milk alternatives. They also serve tea (including matcha) and hot cocoa. If you’re looking for an alcoholic coffee beverage to ease you into your weekend, make sure to try their Bomani Cold Buzz, which is an alcohol-infused cold brew (it’s only $7!).
Food
Book Club only serves small pastries, like croissants, scones, muffins, and cookies, but there are some amazing restaurants nearby if your appetite kicks in. My personal favorite is a small Mexican place located in Ben’s Deli Grocery, a bodega on Avenue B. Their tacos are great and inexpensive. Not in the mood for Mexican? Head over to Sonny and Annie’s, also on Avenue B. The deli is known for their creative Korean-inspired sandwiches.
Check out Book Club’s website https://bookclubbar.com/ for upcoming book releases and evening events!