Open Book Cafe

Politically correct attitude, overpriced junk food — stay fit, stay away.
They care about how many trashes their customers generate (they even collect them & display in a glass jar) more than how high calories (& sugars, sodium, trans fat, etc.) their junk food has.
A real turn-​off.

Great bookshop — you can see Yeng Pway Ngon’s taste in books on the shelves. The books in the café area are also for sale and obviously from the original Grassroots Book Room collection that local writer Yeng was in charge of for 20 years.
Tasteful, not too hipstery, and simple café. Could do with a few more food options, which is the only reason why this is a four-​star vote. It’s mainly a coffee and tea place right now.
It could have bigger and bolder signage too. See, I’m literate so I read signs, but two tourists walked in, took a look, and declared, «No food!» and left the bookstore and café EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE LOAVES OF BREAD AND PASTRIES ON DISPLAY.
I think these days advertising really needs to be in-​your-​face to succeed, not subtle. A pity.
I will be back! Even though I am not great at Chinese.

Sort of like a Books Actually for the Chinese set. I chanced upon this place while waiting for my resuscitation course to start next door.
Floor-​to-​ceiling bookshelves with plenty of indie-​looking Chinese publications. They also had a some English children’s books at a table in the middle (but the mix was 85% Chinese, 15% English). There’s a small café/​sitting area at the back of the shop for you to enjoy your book and a drink. You have to pay for the book first before entering though.
I liked the vibe of this place. It almost made me want to start reading a Chinese book… Almost.