The best book cafés in İstanbul
Minoa Books & Coffee, Akaretler
One of the first locations that comes to mind when considering the top book cafes in İstanbul is Minoa Books & Coffee. In 2014, Minoa was launched in in Akaretler as a bookstore with a café-restaurant area. Now offering many branches in the city, Minoa – home to more than 60,000 books – has revitalized urban life over the last decade. Minoa Pera, which opened in Tepebaşı in 2023, promises a pleasing book café experience for readers and coffee enthusiasts, while Minoa Village, which has operated in Etiler since 2020, stands out with its restaurant.
FiLBooks, Karaköy
FiLBooks in Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa – Karaköy’s favorite neighborhood – serves coffee, scrumptious desserts and books! And if you sit at one of the tables near the door, you might get cuddles from the resident cats. FiLBooks, one of İstanbul’s best book cafes, has an undeniably cozy atmosphere, perfect for perusing magazines, reading a novel or enjoying an intense conversation… We should also note that Fil is a publishing house that occasionally hosts workshops and events.
İstanbul Bookstore (İstanbul Kitapçısı), Kadıköy
İstanbul has numerous İstanbul Bookstore where you can enjoy a cup of coffee and read a book. The İstanbul Bookstore in Kadıköy is among them and is considered one of the best book cafes in İstanbul. At the İstanbul Bookstore Kadıköy branch, you can explore the library, enjoy a hot beverage, and delve into a book – all while taking in the sights and smells of İstanbul.
Türk Alman Bookstore Cafe (Türk Alman Kitabevi Cafe ), Taksim
Türk Alman Bookstore Cafe, founded in 1955 by Austrian Franz Mühlbauer, is one of İstanbul’s oldest book cafes, offering German textbooks as well as volumes from a range of disciplines. In 2015, the bookstore began operating as a café and, today, this hospitable, cozy spot offers a wide range of books in German, Turkish and English, as well as a variety of tasty treats and drinks. We recommend stopping by the Turkish German Bookstore Cafe, which is located on Istiklal Street near Tünel, to browse the book selection and sample the coffee or hot chocolate.
Nail Bookstore, Kuzguncuk
Nail Bookstore is another address on the Anatolian side that stands out as one of İstanbul’s best book cafes. Located on the famous İcadiye Street, leading up from Kuzguncuk beach, Nail Bookstore is housed in an elegant 19th-century building with a bay window. Nail Bookstore’s warm atmosphere attracts visitors – who stay to spend hours with a good book and a cup of coffee.
Beyond İstanbul: Discovering the Finest Book Cafés in Anatolia
Penguen Coffee Roastery, Ankara
Next, we look at the best book cafes in Ankara, the capital. Penguen Coffee Roastery is in Çankaya, the city’s most populous district, at the intersection of Iran and Argentina Streets. The popular, multi-story Penguen Bookstore is an excellent place to savor a coffee while reading your favorite book or magazine. Penguen Coffee Roastery is also an ideal meeting place for spending time with loved ones – or simply to watch the daily hustle and bustle of the city.
Uçurtma Book & Cafe (Uçurtma Kitap & Kafe), Eskişehir
Not far from Ankara is Eskişehir, the small but vibrant university town. Uçurtma Book Cafe, one of Eskişehir’s best book cafes, is beautifully decorated and serves delicious coffee and snacks. In addition, the book café hosts numerous workshops.
Olbia Book & Cafe (Olbia Kitap & Cafe), Konya
In Konya, considered among Türkiye’s most spiritual cities, you’ll find the lovely Olbia. Featuring a wide range of books from major and independent publishers, Olbia Book & Cafe offers a breakfast and dessert menu in addition to coffee. One of Konya’s best book cafes, Olbia also hosts noteworthy events such as poetry days and live music performances.
Fidan Book Coffee (Fidan Kitap Kahve), Malatya
Fidan Book Coffee, one of Malatya’s best book cafes, attracts readers from all over the city. On İnönü, İbrahim Tanrıverdi Culture and Art Street, Fidan Book Coffee offers a diverse selection of books, along with delicious coffees, light fare and other dishes. The venue also hosts a variety of events, including book signings and interviews.
Çağdaş Book Cafe (Çağdaş Kitap Kafe), Trabzon
One of the largest cities in Türkiye’s Black Sea Region, Trabzon’s natural beauty makes it feel like a paradise on Earth. Since 2016, Çağdaş Book Cafe has been a popular destination for book lovers living in Trabzon or visiting the area. Tea is brewed from tea leaves picked by hand from the team’s garden in Sürmene and the café’s kitchen serves light fare and bar bites as well as healthy delicacies…. A fitting destination for anyone who loves books, coffee and delicious flavors, all accompanied by sweet jazz music!
