Few things pair better together than a good book and a tasty glass of wine. Some bookstores let you booze while you browse! Whether attending an author talk with bookworm pals or taking yourself on a solo reading date, these 11 bookstore bars in the South are stocked with books and beverages.
The Wild Detectives | Dallas, TX
Founded in 2014 by two Spanish architects in a renovated Craftsman home, The Wild Detectives quickly became a beloved Dallas spot. Blending literature, coffee, and cocktails, you’ll find people intensely tapping away on laptops, groups discussing books, and friends meeting for a post-work drink at the bar sans books.
Stepping into the warm, cabin-y shop reveals a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere that feels like your coolest friend’s living room. Outside, twinkly lights and paper lanterns are strewn over the picnic-tabled lawn. During their “Happy Book Hour,” you get a free drink with a book or vinyl purchase! Check it out.
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Lucian Books & Wine | Atlanta, GA
Possibly the most elegant player on this list, Lucian Books & Wine opened in Atlanta in 2021. Literature and fine wine unite in this sleek, modern space curated by an art dealer and a sommelier. The shop focuses on chunky coffee table art books and a refined selection of the latest fiction and nonfiction. Whatever you choose will pair perfectly with something on the expertly chosen wine list.
Scuppernong Books | Greensboro, NC
Since its inception over a decade ago, Scuppernong Books has become essential to downtown Greensboro’s cultural revival. The vibrant bookstore features new and used books on fiction and poetry, as well as a fantastic children’s section and a broad range of general-interest titles. Within the store, you’ll find a cafe serving organic coffee and espresso, wine, and beer sourced primarily from local small businesses.
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Book + Bottle | St. Petersburg, FL
Since opening in St. Pete in 2020, Book + Bottle has fulfilled the owner’s vision to blend his passion for books and wine into a welcoming neighborhood spot. With a carefully curated selection of reads and an inviting wine bar, this laid-back yet stylish atmosphere is perfect for any book lover, coffee snob, or wine enthusiast. Check online to ensure it’s open in the wake of Florida’s hurricanes.
Page & Palette | Fairhope, AL
A beloved third-gen family-owned bookstore in Fairhope, Page & Palette has been around since 1968, serving as a vibrant community hub for readers, writers, and artists alike. What began as a humble shop has become a lively store, café, and bar, with a welcoming space for book signings, live music, and creative pop-ups. Slide a few feet over in the shop to the Latte Da Bar for your choice of beverage to enjoy while you shop, read, or enjoy an event.
Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar | Asheville, NC
Visiting Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar is like walking into a literary dream. Wander through shelves of rare and used books with a glass of champagne or local wine in hand while live jazz tunes play in the background. This is the perfect place to take a break after your Asheville exploration.
Melt into a plush chair by a fireplace, open a new book, and order a coffee and pastry. Or, if it’s that kind of day, get a martini or a bottle from their well-stocked champagne library.
Check out this fabulous peek into one of our favorite bookstore bars. Note that Battery Park Book Exchange is currently closed due to water service disruption in the wake of Hurricane Helen, so call to ensure they’ve reopened before you go.
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Vintage Bookstore & Wine Bar | Austin, TX
Rich velvet textiles, floral wallpaper, and walnut wood furnishings welcome you into the charmingly photogenic Vintage Bookstore & Wine Bar, aka “Austin’s living room.” This locally, family-owned spot welcomes book clubs, readers, and oenophiles of all stripes to hang, sip, and flip the pages of a wide variety of books. (They serve coffee, tea, and NA drinks, too.)
Throughout the year, there is a colorful lineup of author talks, trivia nights, live music, and other events.
Garden District Book Shop | New Orleans, LA
Garden District Book Shop is nestled in the historic property called The Rink (originally a skating rink built in the 1800s!) in New Orleans’ beautiful Garden District. It’s been a literary gem since the 1970s, known for its focus on Southern authors and local culture. Enclosed by original ironwork and large windows, the space feels like a colorful cloister for book lovers, with shelves lined with unique and regional reads.
They recently opened a bar within the shop that serves Tip Top Proper cocktails, wine, and bites in a comfy living room setting.
Philosophers & Fools | Charleston, SC
A buzzy newer addition to Charleston’s vibrant scene, Philosophers & Fools was founded by a husband-wife duo of local creatives. It aims to inspire more of that moment of conversation and connection when you turn to the person reading next to you at the bar and say, “I’ve read that, and I loved it!” or “What are you reading?”
Everything here, from books to wines, is curated by the staff and consumable in a stylish, intimate bar atmosphere. We love P&F’s “book and beverage” pairings on Instagram each week. Take a look inside one of South’s newest bookstore bars.
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Books & Books | Coral Gables, FL
Books & Books was founded in 1982 by Mitchell Kaplan, one of our foremost champions of independent bookstores and literary organizations. He has grown B&B from a tiny indie bookstore into a five-location cultural institution that’s hosted more than 400 authors and community events. The flagship store is housed in a historic, Mediterranean-style building with a courtyard café that begs you to linger over one more cocktail and chapter.
Kramers | Washington D.C.
Kramers is an undeniably iconic D.C. bookstore with the cutest, most delicious all-day eatery attached. Buy a new read from its extensive book selection, or cozy up in a corner of the light-filled atrium for a snack, brunch, cocktail, or coffee. Peppered with locals and visitors alike, this is an excellent place to people watch, check email, journal, or devour your latest page-turner.
Go find your next favorite book, bottle, and beverage at these fabulous bookstore bars!
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