The Café at Books & Books

The legendary Coral Gables bookstore café where author readings, jazz nights, and laptop sessions share the same tables.

The Story

Books & Books was founded by Mitchell Kaplan in 1982 in a 500-square-foot space in Coral Gables — the same neighborhood where the flagship still sits today, in a 1927 building on the Coral Gables Register of Historic Places. The café is the heart of it: author readings, Saturday night jazz on the patio, and a menu that was recently revamped with breakfast plus collaborations with Neighborhood Bagels and Pan Nom. It's more than a café — it's a Coral Gables institution.

What to Order

The Lavender Latte is the CoffeeBoy pick — floral, calming, and exactly right while you browse. The Vanilla Cold Brew is smooth with a vanilla kiss. And the Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate is warm, spicy, and a little dangerous in the best way.

For food, the Cuban Sandwich — ham, roasted pork, Swiss, pickles, mustard on crispy bread — is the move. The Avocado Toast is fresh and simple, exactly as it should be.

The Experience

Books & Books is a work-friendly spot in the truest sense: it's a place where working and hanging out blur together, where a laptop session can turn into an evening, and where nobody looks at you funny for staying hours. The wifi is strong (50 Mbps tested) and seating is plentiful — the caveat is outlets, which are fewer than you'd like.

It's dog-friendly (water bowls without asking), the courtyard patio is lovely, and Saturday jazz nights are a whole different experience. Parking is tight, so budget a few extra minutes. For a long afternoon of reading, writing, or calls-with-a-book-break, it's unmatched.

The Verdict

Not the best wifi or outlets in town, but the atmosphere is unmatched. Books & Books is where work feels like hanging out. Come for the afternoon, stay for the jazz, and buy a book on the way out.