The Best Cafes Near SMX Book Fair in Manila to Sit Down and Read Now

Fresh off a haul at the Manila International Book Fair, happening from September 9 to 13 at SMX Convention Center? Fortunately, SM Mall of Asia sits right next door, and home to some of the best cafes near SMX book fair, with coffee, food, and a seat waiting for chapter one!

If you've been wondering where to read after MIBF, cozy up at one of the spots below, where a warm drink and a genre built for the mood are waiting to welcome you into your next read. Whether you are after things to do in SM solo or scouting date spots in SM with a fellow reader, this is one good way to spend quality time with your loved ones here at SM Supermalls.

For the Reader Who Wants to Start Immediately: Toby's Estate x National Bookstore

Toby's Estate inside the National Bookstore Superbranch turns book buying into one smooth move. Grab your next read, order a coffee, and sink into a seat without leaving the store. This MOA branch is the first Toby's Estate inside a National Bookstore, now in soft opening, with a cozy corner built for readers.

Order their signature Flat White, which is Toby's bestselling classic of espresso and silky steamed milk. Grab a Tamago Sando while you’re at it! This combo is best paired with a contemporary fiction book. It’s definitely comfort in a cup, as well as comfort on the page.

For the Reader Who Wants a Little Magic: Hoshino Coffee

Hoshino Coffee, on Level 2 of the Entertainment Zone, brings kissaten charm: wood accents, quiet corners, and enough hush to make the MIBF crowds feel far away. Order the Pancake Soufflé with a Hoshino Blend hand-drip coffee (known for its smooth profile with a hint of chestnut).

Stay at Hoshino’s for a while and turn a snack into a full meal. Let the plot twist of your fantasy or young adult fiction unfold with every bite and every sip of your Hoshino orders.

For the Reader Who Wants a Change of Scenery: Cộng Cà Phê

Cộng Cà Phê on Level 3 trades mall décor for vintage Vietnamese charm, a full scene change without leaving the building. It’s a spot that will surely make readers want to stay and let the chapters do all the talking. Consider ordering their Coconut Milk Coffee, the drink diners keep calling the standout on the menu. It goes super well with another Vietnamese classic: a bahn mi.

Cộng Cà Phê is the kind of place where reading travel memoirs or historical fiction seems to make the most sense. Let the eclectic setting and the story both take you somewhere else far beyond your imagination.

For the Reader Who Deserves a Sweet Break: Apéritif

Sky Garden's Apéritif serves European café charm: pastries, cakes, and a view worth lingering over. Quiet, scenic, and a step above the usual food court, this spot ranks among the better date spots in SM for a slow afternoon together.

Their Chocolate Chip Crookie, one of Apéritif's bestselling picks, is definitely a must order. Pair it with a book on romance. Tell yourself you’ll only read for thirty minutes. And when paired with a hot matcha latte, watch the thirty minutes turn into three chapters and a second coffee.

For the Specialty Coffee Reader: Candid Coffee

Candid Coffee on Level 2 keeps things simple: homegrown specialty coffee, an easy atmosphere, and no rush to leave your seat. This is the best spot to get another Flat White, which many coffee enthusiasts marked as a best seller this side of town. Their browned butter chocolate chip cookie is a must try too!

Whilst here, enjoy a mystery or a thriller. With a straightforward coffee and straightforward page-turner, let’s see if you manage to put the book down. And if you’re feeling a little bolder, order the Vietnamese Latte instead. It sure is sweet but boy does it come with a stronger kick.

For the Coffee Connoisseur: Yardstick Coffee

Yardstick Coffee at MOA Square draws the serious coffee crowd: espresso, pour-overs, seasonal single-origin beans, and branch-exclusive drinks you will not find elsewhere. If the choices get too overwhelming, an easy go-to would be Yardstick's Sea Salt Latte. It’s the perfect entry point before going deeper into single-origin coffee.

Yardstick Coffee is a cozy spot for your nonfiction or essay books haul. After all, long thought pieces deserve a slow, thoughtful cup. Feeling adventurous? Ask for the Seasonal Single Origin pour-over, where the beans change but the ritual does not.

For the Reader Who Isn't Ready to Go Home: Single Origin

Single Origin at MOA Square is for readers not ready to close the book yet. Slow down over a proper meal, order coffee, and keep the pages turning past sunset.

Start with the Corned Beef Benedict, a regulars' favorite, alongside a French press coffee to keep the night going. Both make ideal fuel for long-form nonfiction or epic fantasy, books built for more than one sitting.

They are open until around 11:00 pm or 12 midnight, so your reading night does not have to end after dinner.

Make a Day of Your MIBF Visit

SM Mall of Asia turns your MIBF trip into a full day out, proving there's no shortage of things to do after Manila book fair. Consider the mall your go-to hangout for book lovers, especially during mall events like MIBF week.

Pair a fantasy novel with a soufflé pancake at Hoshino. Match a romance paperback with a cookie at Apéritif. Or pick your favorite from these SM MOA cozy cafes, order your usual, and settle in to the max with your latest read.

If you are craving more than just coffee, tea, and pastries, browse SM Mall of Asia’s full restaurant list! There you’ll find more dining picks to pair with your next book chapter.

With all these great places to cozy up in, bringing the book home may not just be the best part of buying one. Maybe it’s finding the right spot to read the first page, then going all out on every chapter after.

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