Located at the foot of the Grove Arcade downtown, you’ll enter the Book Exchange to find a cozy bar and lounge, serving coffee beverages, 80 different kinds of wine, and locally sourced nibbles. As they say on their website: “Our store offers you the marriage of two of earth’s finest pleasures, books and wine, side by side.” Servers will deliver the wine right to your side as you delve into one of the store’s 60,000+ new and vintage books, with topics ranging from southern history to art and architecture. When hunger strikes, you can order a cheese tray, a dessert by French Broad Chocolates, or one of the house specials, a locally sourced Sunburst Farms trout dip.
My son enjoys a (rare) quiet moment as he relaxes with a good book.
The lounge is overlooked by a mezzanine, and as you wander a labyrinth of aisles that sometimes narrow to a shoulder width, you’ll discover little alcoves and conversation areas fitted with plush sofas and chairs. Rich red walls and worn oriental rugs call to mind a Victorian library.
Lounge and meeting areas like this one are tucked into cozy nooks throughout the store.
To me, a bookstore-cafe like Battery Park Books is the perfect place for planning, daydreaming, and taking a much-needed pause to recharge. It’s a place you can have a meeting, a date, or simply some glorious alone-time.
Toffee caramel latte. Image courtesy of ASpicyPerspective.com. This and title photo by Sommer Collier.
How scrumptious is this toffee caramel latte? It’s one of the coffee specialties at Battery Park Book Exchange. Find the recipe, see more gorgeous photos and read more about the store at ASpicyPerspective.com.
Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne bar is open every day 11am-11pm.
