Books and Beans
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Quick info
About Books and Beans
Books and Beans is a breakfast restaurant and second-hand bookshop on Belmont St in Aberdeen, with shelves of used books lining seating spread across the first and second floors. Orders are placed downstairs at the counter, and customers then head upstairs to tables, which sit close together. The menu runs to smashed avocado on toast, served on four triangles of bread, alongside pancakes and scones offered plain or as a cheese version. An afternoon tea option includes tuna mayo, ham and cheese, and egg mayo sandwiches, crisps, scones with jam and butter, mini red velvet cakes, brownies, and macarons. Coffee, including cortado, is served alongside the food, with fair trade coffee among the drinks on offer. It operates on a walk-in basis, with no reservations needed. The room mixes cafe seating with book browsing across its two floors.
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Menu & Prices
21 dishes- Pancakes And
- English Breakfast
- Panini
- Scrambled Eggs
- Avocado Toast
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention second hand books, afternoon tea, scones and smashed avocado.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention second hand books, afternoon tea, scones and smashed avocado.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the shelves of second hand books, an enormous selection that fills the bookshelves all around and makes the place a draw for book lovers, with one saying even non readers will end up browsing. Close behind is the food, where the afternoon tea with warm, freshly baked scones, sandwiches, macarons and mini red velvet cakes gets strong praise, along with a chai latte, a cortado, pancakes and a brunch described as fresh and good value. Staff are repeatedly called friendly and kind, and the music and comfy seats by the fire come up too. The caveats concern the kitchen. One reviewer found the scones a bit dry and too sweet, another said the creative menu did not match the taste and quality served, and a third found the smashed avocado dry on standard sliced brown bread, with no sign of the listed lemon zest and coriander in place of parsley. Another reviewer's cheese scone arrived a few moments after the coffee because it was being warmed up.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often single out the shelves of second hand books, an enormous selection that fills the bookshelves all around and makes the place a draw for book lovers, with one saying even non readers will end up browsing. Close behind is the food, where the afternoon tea with warm, freshly baked scones, sandwiches, macarons and mini red velvet cakes gets strong praise, along with a chai latte, a cortado, pancakes and a brunch described as fresh and good value. Staff are repeatedly called friendly and kind, and the music and comfy seats by the fire come up too. The caveats concern the kitchen. One reviewer found the scones a bit dry and too sweet, another said the creative menu did not match the taste and quality served, and a third found the smashed avocado dry on standard sliced brown bread, with no sign of the listed lemon zest and coriander in place of parsley. Another reviewer's cheese scone arrived a few moments after the coffee because it was being warmed up.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“Great music and absolutely fantastic value for money. Food was phenomenal and fresh with great ingredients. Friendly staff and nice and cheap :)”
- Google user
“Love the vibe in here, lots of books if you would believe it. Always get the pancakes but the other food always looks so good also.”
- Google user
“Lovely cozy space in aberdeen! I will say the scones are a bit dry and a touch too sweet but otherwise everything is perfect 👌 I'd reccomend this place for a cozy, quiet reading date or just a simple hangout with family or friends. It's a bit small but there's a second and first floor. The place isn't small in a suffocating way, it actually just adds to the cozy vibe! Would come again but I'd skip the scones unfortunately”
- Google user
“We both went for the smashed avocado. Generous helping on four triangles of toast, but the bread was pretty standard sliced brown. There was no evidence of the lemon zest listed in the ingredients. The herb was coriander, not the listed parsley. Overall, a bit dry. A drizzle of oil would have helped. Good coffee. At £27 for two, not wonderful value.”
- Google user
“It was nice to be back in Aberdeen and to revisit Books and Beans. We ordered downstairs and sat upstairs. I love the selection of second hand books, they have an enormous selection. It was really quiet for a Friday morning, I am not sure why. My friend and I enjoyed our time here. This cafe/bookshop has survived a long time and I hope the quiet day was a one off. Great to be here once again.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“Quirky cafe with leather armchairs and shelved used books on sale, for fair trade coffee and snacks.”
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom, seating
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Location
Restaurants near Books and Beans
- Wild Goose4.62890.1 mi£20–30Reservations
cocktails, hummus, langoustines
- Cafe 524.56450.1 mi£20–30Outdoor seatingVegan optionsVegetarian options
ever changing menu, cullen skink, tiramisu
- Molly's Bistro4.31860.2 mi
cullen skink, fried haddock and chips, apple crumble
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Books and BeansWheelchair accessible | 4.3815 | — | — | second hand books, afternoon tea, scones |
| Wild GooseReservations | 4.6289 | 0.1 mi | £20–30 | cocktails, hummus, langoustines |
| Cafe 52Outdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.5645 | 0.1 mi | £20–30 | ever changing menu, cullen skink, tiramisu |
| Molly's Bistro | 4.3186 | 0.2 mi | — | cullen skink, fried haddock and chips, apple crumble |
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