Book Trader Cafe
| Category: | Coffee Shop |
| Address: | 1140 Chapel St A, New Haven, CT 06511, USA |
| Phone: | +1 203-787-6147 |
| Site: | booktradercafe.net |
| Rating: | 4.1 |
| Working: | 7:30AM–9PM 7:30AM–9PM 7:30AM–9PM 7:30AM–9PM 7:30AM–9PM 9AM–9PM 9AM–7PM |
Location
Photos 93
Reviews 45
A
A Private User
Book Trader Cafe, located in central New Haven across the street from Yale Art and Architecture, has become a venerable and beloved New Haven institution for many good reasons. The sandwiches (including the popular "Jane Rare"--a roast beef with horseradish sauce and goat cheese) are fabulous, generous, and always fresh. The split pea soup is literally the best Ive had anywhere. And the coffee is great--robust, clean, rich, and so good you can drink it black with delight. Right next to the food service (where service is always quick, competent, and polite) you will find busy racks for used books (cheap) and on the other side is a well-lit place to eat your food, drink your coffee, and study and chat. During the warmer months, there is an outdoor seating area. It is a perfect place, and I go there regularly to digest the morning news, read my email, and enjoy great coffee. Yet another reason to love living in New Haven!
A
A Private User
I originally went for change for the meter so i could stroll the neighborhood, but i never left Book Trader Cafe. The atmosphere was relaxed. Theres an outdoor garden to enjoy the fresh air or people watch, or inside, you can smell the aroma and listen to music. Wait, was there music? Thats how easy the vibe was. The split pea soup was fantastic (vegan). The Red Eye Chai perked me right up, and the book selection and display made me want to stay and read. I stared at other peoples sandwiches thinking "next time Ill order that"...cuz it all looked so good. Great place to work, think, date, study, just eat or chill. It was "everything New Haven" wrapped in one spot.
CH
Chris Malis
A great place to peruse a great selection of used books, then grab a bite at their small café, then sit, eat, drink (coffees), and read in the nicely airy table room before checking out at the friendly register. The books are arranged by topic, and they also have a nice and expanding selection of CDs for sale at very inexpensive prices. The staff is also very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended as a destination, or just to sit a spell with a snack and a good book.
CA
Cameron Page
This place has an amazing selection of books! Really well curated used books, great deals, even hardcover books are often $5. Great selection of novels and literary non-fiction, not so much genre fiction and other areas. Coffee is good, and they have some yummy cleverly-named sandwiches (Ernest Hamingway, etc). Lots of seating in a really nice well-lit indoor area, as well as an outdoor patio when its sunny out.
BI
Bill Goode
There are two kinds of used bookstores: Those that will take anything, and those that attempt to curate their wares to a certain degree. The Book Trader Cafe definitely feels like it fits into the second category. Ive found some good, unexpected, books here on multiple occasions. Just dont come here hoping to find a specific book, its a better browsing store than somewhere youll find exactly what you want.
YA
Yasmin Amico
Good food. Great service. A large variety of books showcasing diverse genres in a quaint, small space. A cute, en plein aire patio garden. Lovely atmosphere. Try the soups and sandwiches. Read a book. Buy a book. Stay awhile. Enjoy the atmosphere in this urban city oasis. A book lovers haven! Affordable prices.
LI
Libby Cummings
The big windows and ample natural light make this a great place to study. I also love their patio when its nice out. Their bagels are brought in from New York and outstrip other poor New-Haven excuses for bagels. For lunch, definitely try the house-made veggie burger.
IS
Ismael Garcia
Un sitio genial para alguien que le encante los libros y degustar un buen café. Uno de mis rincones favoritos en New Haven.
KA
Kasia Thomas
good vibe, nice staff. its a good place to meet a friend or get some work done. im not much of a coffee drinker, but i love their lemonades. the book selection is good — they have a variety of genres & a decent foreign language section.
CH
Christine Youn
easy way to buy old clean book. various LGBT books, yes. not many selection for Catholics and Hebrew, good sources for Islam, Buddhist, Other. cook books, yes, politics, yes. a little outdated CDs, yes.
CH
Christopher Mazzacane
Easily my favorite place for coffee downtown. They have a great selection books spanning every genre you could think of. Also a great place for pulling up a chair and getting some work done!
A
A Private User
Great place for lunch or study, and their coffee is pretty good too. Also, the patio is really pretty in the spring and summer. Really the only flaw is the lack of more than two outlets.
A
A Private User
The sandwiches and atmosphere at Book Trader are both terrific. Their greenhouse area of sorts is a favorite place to study when it gets cold out. Sandwiches are big and flavorful.
GI
Gina Macholl
Food and service was excellent. Food was very fresh and made to order. Coffee was delicious and the service was fast and very friendly. Nice place to sit and enjoy the city.
JO
Joanna D
Great selection of books, sometimes obscure ones, for cheap. It would be nice if they could enlarge their science/math section. Otherwise, a very, very special place.
CH
Chris Glass
A wide variety of unique sandwiches all served on fresh bread -- with lots of books all around. Amazing service! My favorite place to have lunch in New Haven.
PE
Peter Sparks
Nice place, great outdoor seating. Sandwiches were STACKED, and came very quick. Soup was also good. Lively place, also great book browsing!
JO
Joe Wehry
A terrific selection of used books in great condition adjoining a small café with outdoor seating. An intimate and intelligent alternative.
WH
Whoisthis01 02
Finally, a different business strategy in USA. Its about time somebody become little bit creative where the creativity is killed daily.
SA
satyaprakash pareek
Nice place to work, good coffees and A LOT of interesting diverse books. I like to work in my afternoons there. Internet is super fast.
DE
Dean Langsam
Very nice people, very good food. The vegan options are great and the staff are always helpful in picking the good dishes.
PR
Princess Puffles
Food was not bad, decor was nice, like the patio area. Service was really lacking, they should train the staff better.
A
A Private User
This is a great place to have a good cup of coffee and study or read for a while. Good atmosphere and good food.
JO
John Brandt
Really chill spot nice vibe, lovely book store. Descent joe, I had a cappuccino it was cool.
JO
Jonathan Carothers
Really cool place to write a paper, study, read, or just enjoy a good cup of coffee.
MA
Mark Feltskog
This cafe features used books, good coffee, and pastries; what more do you want?
NI
Nick Shelton
A great little bookstore, but there are others along chapel that are also great.
DE
Debra Fraulo
Always friendly staff. Great quick food! Lots of varieties changes daily!
NA
Nathan Pirakitikulr
Baked egg sandwiches. Who would have thought they could be so delicious?
DE
Desiree Pina
Had a very terrible time here. Discrimination!!!!!! Will never go back
A
A Private User
The Booktrader Cafe has been amazing since day one. Love stopping by!
SA
Sabrina Whiteman
Great welcoming space. However they are currently under renovations.
MA
Marcy G
Great place to pick up a book or to get cash for your used books.
OW
Owen Barrett
A nice vibe for a coffeeshop, though service was very confused.
S
S S W
Bring cash if you only want a coffee. $5 min on credit cards.
UN
Unsung Lee
Quiet and Quiet, so good to drink coffee with reading
PE
Peter Sorensen
My favourite coffee place in town, and a bookstore!
SH
Shu Fukuya
Good coffee and excellent space for reading books!
AA
Aaron Wong
Quaint bookstore with a cafe. Friendly staff.
KA
kama kazi
Meh
RY
Ryan Goding
Great coffee shop atmosphere.
OU
outofbusiness soon
Bad service not recommended
MA
Mario Perez
Friendly place, I love it
IC
Ichiro Ikuta, M.D.
Small bookstore and cafe
BI
Bianca Bolaños Aparicio
Great place.
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