Books & Books
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
12 Reviews for Books & Books
I love Books & Books. It's a beautiful bookstore in the heart of Coral Gables.
Check out their website for a list of events. They have something going on every few days.
I've got to try their cafe next time.
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This review is specifically about the Cafe at Books and Books. A friend and I were trying to figure out where to go that was in Coral Gables, fast, simple, and good. Suddenly he had the brilliant idea to head to Books and Book's Cafe.
The place was packed as it was drizzling and so outdoor seating was out of the question and there was some special event. It was a full house however, there was one available table and within minutes our waitress appeared she was pleasant and helpful as we asked a few questions and made our choices. He had the smoked salmon and brie sandwich and I had a lobster salad and mango wrap.
We were both very pleased with our choices and the service.
I usually sit outside when I go to this cafe but I was surprised at how pleasant it is inside even on a very busy night. So far my favorite is still the Asian salad but I've never been disappointed at menu choices from Books & Books Cafe. Books & Books just knows how to do it right, do it well, and smile the whole time.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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06/30/2008
This is hands down the best bookstore in Miami. No competition.
It's beautiful, well stocked, has a… Read more »
The best looking bookstore you might ever see in FL. You'll know what I mean when you see it.
If you're the type of person who loves to find that perfect homey coffee shop/small bookstore atmosphere, it's almost guaranteed that you'll like this place.
Check out their events; book club evenings, invited authors, occasional hosted poetry reading...
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Possibly the best bookstore you will go anywhere. Their staff loves to read books. They know books and have a passion for books. The selection is unbelievable for such a small and quaint building. I used to dislike this place as a kid before I appreciated the treasure of reading, but now it's my favorite place to go after a classy coral gables meal. They have an entire section for used books where you can find books that you would never find anywhere else. I always buy something when I go because I can't help myself. I personally enjoy their selection of new science/discovery books. They also have an impressive fiction selection. A number of their books are autographed, adding to the specialness of this store. Every person that loves reading that I've brought here has fallen instantly in love with the store. It truly is a Coral Gables gem.
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This is a super nice location. We came for a nice lunch and sat in their nice great outdoor patio seating area.
Great menu! I had the mozarella, tomato, basil sandwich and my friend had the grilled turkey sandwich. The food was super yummy.
However, two stars down for the service! We sat for around 5 min before we decided to pick up our own menus, then finally our server came by. She messed up my friend's order, even after asking her twice what she had ordered! We had to ask for silverware, oliver oil and pepper after our food came. When we paid for our check, she came back and said, sorry, i don't have any coins for change (after it took forever!) Needless to say, she got the minimum tip.
Food and store = awesome.
Our server = suckyness.
I absolutely love Books & Books! I've only visited the Lincoln Road store so I'll speak about that one in particular. It has a great selection of books, not too overwhelming, great ambiance. Also, their cafe is pretty good, good food.
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I love Books and Books.
The staff are very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. They have an amazing selection of books and magazines, many that you wouldn't find in a Barnes and Noble, plus many are autographed.
My favorite part of the store is the used books section, where I've found some serious gems.
Books & Books is a local institution that holds its own against the bookstore chains by its selection and ability to attract recognizable (and upcoming) authors on booktour sessions. You won't find the latest Danielle Steele novel here but instead you'll gain access to excellent design/art/history/literature tomes you wouldn't find at B&N/Borders. Bill Clinton made a pitstop here for his book tour. Paul Rusesabagina, the man behind Hotel Rwanda, spoke here on his autobiographical book tour. This place attracts intellectual heavyweights along with casual browsers and has a nice atmosphere.
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i must admit. i have not stepped one foot into barnes + noble or borders since entering books & books. my favorite books store anywhwere! it's shaped like a U with a big patio in the middle where you can enjoy super tasty salads and lunch fare. everyone's reviews are so on-point...
it's a staple in miami and it's impact is far-reaching. in addition to getting great authors to come in and speak... they also bring in local and acclaimed musicians, artists, & cultural figures. miami is a better place because of their work.
i'd even go so far to say that books & books is not just a book store, it's a cultural institution.
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There are two locations for this store...the one here in Coral Gables (a more upscale area near the University of Miami) and the other down on Lincoln in South Beach. Both were recommended by a friend and we just so happen to hit up the CG location first...
Lovely ambiance for a bookstore...hardwood floors, high beamed ceilings, stacks and stacks of all sorts of literature from the latest paperback to the most tried and true of hardbacked classics. The place is kind of laid out like a "U" and resembles the interior of a cool house. On one side of the U there is a children's book room and another room with regular lit. If you travel to the bend in the U you will find a nice little restaurant replete with wine and yummy delicacies. You can either site in a booth along the wall of the U or step outside and site at a table in the sun. The last side of the U will find you among books again.
I walked out with two books: "The Unofficial Guide to South Florida" (which helped tremendously with suggestions on places to go and stay!...they also have a large travel lit section...) and "Cleaning Plain and Simple"...a great book if you need household tips on how to clean linoleum or update a closet, etc. Lots of home remedies for cleaning solutions!!).
Nice little establishment, very old school and classy...great departure from the crummy old book stores and vast Border's and whatnot's.
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Definitely the best independent bookstore in South Florida that can compete with Barnes & Nobles and Borders. While it is smaller than those chains, it is pretty big for a bookstore (at least the one in Coral Gables). It has been so successful that they now have 4 locations in South Florida, but I'm not sure how big the others are except for the tiny location in Miami Beach's Lincoln Road mall.
The front door to the bookstore is an iron gate to the patio. Yes, you heard me right... you walk into the patio to get into the bookstore.
When you step in, you'll have a little bar between you and the patio and you'll magazine racks at both of your sides, next to the doors that goes into the building. There are tons of cafe tables, tiled floors in the patio. And inside the bookstore, there are rolling ladders to scale the tall shelves, wooden floors, tiny tables by the cafe (the cafe serves good food and wine, btw), and there's usually lectures, readings or a celebrity signing. The ambience is definitely comfortable, cozy, and even romantic as there are vines growing outside, christmas lights, and arches to evoke a strong resemblance to Mediterranean architecture that made the Gables famous.
Oh, and you can park at the nearby parking garage across the street. While it is $1 for each hour for the first four hours, parking for the first two hours can be free if you have your stub validated.
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The BEST independent bookseller in South Florida!
I give it only three stars because trying to get food there (they've got a GREAT cafe) on a Friday night can be excruciating. I recently went and dinner took 2 1/2 hours. I hear the music outside in their courtyard is supposed to be nice, but not that I could hear it since the only seats available were the ones inside. Ahh...but I'm ranting
Go on a Saturday or Sunday in the late morning or early afternoon instead, and you can probably really enjoy the experience.
Now, if only they could get a decent selection of science fiction and fantasy books...I guess it's back to Barnes & Noble with me.
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