Bookshop cafés in Brittany: 6 cosy addresses to enjoy

So the mercury’s taken a nosedive? Cheer up – our favourite bookshop cafés will warm you up, body and mind both! You can immerse yourself in a thriller while munching a brownie or enjoy a cup of tea while devouring a graphic novel… they’re all great! You go in the first time just to look round and come back again for the mood, which is unique. Because in Brittany, coffee isn’t just a matter of roasted beans, it’s’ all about sharing and words to savour.

In the blink of an eye

1. Ulysse à l’Ouest – Bécherel

A sensory odyssey in Bécherel

Let’s be clear: Bécherel, the Breton village with 16 bookshops, is well worth the trip in itself. And with Ulysse à l’Ouest, there’s definitely more than enough to wake up your senses. Make your way to the little village square and step inside: a whole selection of secondhand treasures to browse through. And during the odyssey, you’re swept away by the scent of coffee and old pages. A well-earned rest before going back to the shelves, with soft jazz as a backdrop. What really bowls us over there? Their organic, vegan and gluten-free delicacies? Their old-style hot chocolate? The place is revitalising. You go back home light as air, and full of smiles into the bargain!

Closed on Mondays

Ulysse à l’Ouest

Where to spend the night: Maison d’hôtes Philden

2. Au Chien qui Lit – Pleudihen-sur-Rance

Words…and munchies

You go into Au Chien qui Lit with the munchies, ready to devour everything in sight: dishes and novels alike. In Pleudihen-sur-Rance, between Saint-Malo and Dinan, Nicolas and Olivia, two repurposed actors, have turned a ground floor into a real little haven of wellbeing. Everything breathes conviviality. Bountiful garden and no shortage of books within reach – just let go! The wooden decor and visiting storytellers have everything it takes to warm your heart. The menu? A gourmet magnet! Mouthwatering snacks and seasonal dishes prepared from local produce… A unique address after a stroll along the banks of the Rance.

Open all year round except Mondays and Tuesdays.

Au Chien qui Lit

Where to spend the night: Maison Alfred & Agatha

©Couple enjoying beautiful views on the ocean, standing together near the car on the rocky coast, showing with hands heart shape. Carefree lifestyle, love and travel concept

Ideas

The inratables of the summer, the place to be to treat yourself to a seafood platter, the best views on the GR®34, the best spots to start surfing… in short, all the good...

3. Le Tagarin – Binic-Etables-sur-Mer

Read, vibrate and share XXL-style

It’s a blue house… in Binic, 15 minutes north of Saint-Brieuc. And you’re going to love this great local hangout, no doubt about it! A huge place – bookshop by day and a venue for concerts, game nights, theatre and philosophical aperitifs in the evenings… What could be better?! And at summer’s end, we all love snuggling up by the fireside succumbing (almost) shamelessly to the homemade cheesecake. The café-restaurant area serves a whole array of hot and cold drinks. Hey – how about some of that carrot cake… Can’t you just feel the relaxation in the air? As good as it gets for a drink and a chat in a haven of peace.

*Psst, hot tip: there are 3 adjoining maisonettes on offer for rent.

Open all year round. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

Le Tagarin

Where to spend the night: Le Manoir du Roselier

4. Elizabeth & Jo – Plougastel-Daoulas

The weight of words, the wonder of… cakes

In the town of Plougastel bordering Brest Harbour, Elizabeth & Jo (Julie and Julie actually) have created more than a bookshop: a true living environment. It’s divided into a cosy lounge area where you can settle down by the stove and enjoy a cup of tea or a glass of spiced apple juice and homemade pastries…and a bookshop with a British touch and the best possible selection. You’ll also love their stationery, children’s toys and all the events and workshops they organise. Teens, knitting addicts and OV fans: everything you need to create lasting ties. A vibrant, gourmet, truly inspiring spot!

Closed on Sundays and Mondays

Elizabeth & Jo

Where to spend the night: An Koad

5. De l’Encre à l’Ecran – Le Guilvinec

The 7th Art and plenty of stories to enjoy

Take a pinch of Bigouden spirit, and a hint of Liège soul. Mix together. Between Bénodet and Audierne Bay, here’s the bookshop café where Charline and Raphaël, two Belgians who fell head over heels in love with South Finistère, set down their suitcases. Browse through the shelves between two sips of aromatic tea and three mouthfuls of crispy waffle. The children race to the Kids’ Corner and film buffs make for a selection inspired by the 7th Art. Each and every volume is an invitation to complete immersion, to travel! With creative workshops, encounters and lectures to top it all off. Irresistible!

Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

De l’Encre à l’Ecran

Where to spend the night: Bigouden Backpacker

6. La Dame Blanche – Port-Louis

Cocooning by the fireside

We know a really neat spot near Lorient, in Port-Louis’ pedestrian street. Two paradises await your discovery behind La Dame Blanche’s bluish-green façade: one for the pleasure of reading – the advice and selection on hand are great! The other for snacking. You can spend hours in the little lounge area sampling their homemade cakes… Rainy days? Happy days! Three armchairs welcome you with open arms in front of the crackling fireplace – snug as can be. After a tour of the Citadel or the French East India Company Museum, a real gem of a place you simply won’t want to leave!

Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

La Dame Blanche

Where to spend the night:

Hôtel de la Citadelle in Port-Louis
Hôtel Le Patio de Victor in Lorient

7. La Veilleuse à Bangor – Belle-Ile en Mer

A reading break in the open air

In Bangor, in the heart of Belle-île-en-mer, La Veilleuse is a must. A dream stop-off after the Sunday morning market, a bike ride…or before a summer dip at Yeyew, the hidden beach nearby. Café, bookshop, tearoom – it’s a true Ali Baba’s cave. Sip a lemonade, fruit kefir or steaming hot chocolate on its spacious terrace as you thumb through your novel … A radiant break to enjoy without moderation.

Open all year round except Tuesdays.

La Veilleuse à Bangor

Where to spend the night: