A coffee and a good book: could anything be better?

Louise Ibbotson of the York Parents website gives her verdict on a project that offers nourishment for body and mind

 
When I was living in London in the mid 1990s it seemed all the rage to sit in a book shop slurping on a coffee while reading. Now that concept has been brought back to life in a brilliant fashion with the launch of the new Reading Café in Rowntree Park.

The café is housed in the building nearest the Richardson Street entrance. As well as serving drinks, cakes and savoury snacks there are books to read (and borrow with your City of York library ticket). There’s also free wi-fi.

There are inside and outside seating areas with plenty of room for pushchairs. Baby changing facilities are also available.

Children’s books are thoughtfully displayed in easily accessible bookcases with plenty of choices of adult reading – it even had a copy of 50 Shades Of Grey on the shelf.

The opening menu offers the usual fare of hot and cold drink and gorgeous looking cakes. For a savoury option there is a nice range of sandwiches including the yummy sounding chorizo, fried onion and red pepper or the tomato, mozzarella and pesto mayonnaise.

Main meals are also on offer with the menu being developed further over the next few months.

I really like the look of this café and the idea behind it. I can’t wait to visit again.

• Rowntree Park Reading Café, Rowntree Park, Terry Avenue, York, YO23 1JQ
• This review originally ran on The York Parents website