Romanticise your lunchbreak at this dreamy Derby café filled with antique books and typewriters

We're big believers that books are nourishment for the soul. So when we discovered a place that combines storytelling with food (and cocktails), we knew it was going to become an instant favourite.

BookCafé in Derby is one of the city’s quirkiest venues that exudes comfort, cosiness and books (so many books!)

The venue is a Grade II listed building that was originally built as a bank in 1879.

Read more: Love Derby

The independent café which has two sites in the city centre and Belper, serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and cocktails.

It always seems packed, such is the pull of this pretty venue that wears its rustic stripes with pride. 

I have visited BookCafé several times but not in the past year, so I was long overdue a lunch there.

I settled for a Turkish shawarma wrap of spiced chicken with Greek yoghurt, tomatoes, coriander and cucumber.

It was a filling meal for £9.95, as the tortilla wrap was generously filled with chicken. 

Everything was fresh, from sliced cucumbers to tomatoes. The skinny fries, which were crisp and hot, were also good when dunked into creamy mayonnaise.

I had already had three coffees that morning so I refrained from a hot beverage on this occasion and stuck to tap water.

I appreciate venues like BookCafé that offer free tap water without having to ask, making it an even more convenient and welcoming place to be.

I feel the venue has dialled up its literary references and this is an excellent move in keeping with the cafe’s ethos of championing all things bookish.

There is a giant nod to writing and books.

Many chunky, antique-looking tomes are packed on shelves around the venue.

There is even a pretty typewriter, and all references to the literary world made me feel like I was sitting in an old library.

As I tucked into my turkey shawarma wrap, taking in the gentle background buzz of café culture, I honestly thought I couldn’t be happier on that somewhat cold January afternoon. 

Address: The BookCafé, Corn Market, Derby DE1 1QH