The Book Lounge is an independent bookshop in the heart of Cape Town.
Passionate staff, great coffee and fantastic books.
I don't see a book on your shelves/ online store. Can you still order it?
We don’t have everything in our shop loaded onto our website, so send us an email to see if we have it.
If we don’t, and if the book is still in print, then in most cases we should be able to order it. Let us know what you’re looking for and we’ll quote you.
How long does it take to order a book?
It varies – if the book is in stock at our local suppliers’ warehouse it takes around a week to ship. If not, it can take anywhere between 4 and 12 weeks for them to ship books in from the UK or US. Email us with the title of the book and we will send you an estimated price and shipping time.
Do you operate during loadshedding?
Yes. We have backup power and our tills, payment systems and lights all work.
I am a new author - how do I get my book on your shelves?
You can submit your book via email to booklounge@gmail.com, and we will consider whether or not we think it is a good fit for us.
Please include images of the front and back cover, a sample of the writing and the price. We don’t take submissions over the counter, and prefer to deal with them over email. Please note that we add 15% VAT if you are not VAT registered, and a 40% markup.
I'd like to host an event at your shop. How do I do that?
We are not a venue for hire, but we do have a carefully curated events programme centered around book launches. If you’d like to be considered, please send an email to booklounge@gmail.com with information about the book, and we’ll have a look at it.
Do you still host a reading for kids on Saturdays?
Yes! Every Saturday at 11am a staff member reads a few stories to kids, and then we do a fun activity. The recommended age is between 3 & 8, but everyone is welcome.
Can I bring my dog?
We are dog-friendly as long as your dog is friendly!