Read up and smell the coffee at Dubai’s library cafes

A cup of coffee or tea has certainly grown from a thirst-quenching beverage to a consistent part of our lifestyle. A massive world-wide trend toward providing coffee shop experiences, multiple coffee and tea flavors and different themes has certainly been recognized.
UAE market has got the largest share of this trend among other sisters in GCC with a consumption of 3.5 kgs per capita each year; a number that is almost twice as much as other average consumption rates in GCC. This huge demand for coffee positioned coffee shops in a fierce competition to differentiate by providing better products to consumers in terms of of in-store experience, customer’s service, atmosphere and presentation.
A relatively new concept — to GCC — is paving its path in Dubai, that is of library cafes. In an attempt to meet an unmet need of a tranquil café where a customer can enjoy a tasty cup of coffee and read a captivating book or get some paper/computer work done, many library cafés have taken the initiative to this approach in Dubai. Examples may include: The Archive Café at Al-Safa Park, The Pavilion in Downtown, Victor Hugo Café in Jumeirah and the latest is BookMunch café and bookstore in Wasl Square. Arab News interviewed the owner and managing director of BookMunch Dareen Charafeddine to ask about the new concept of book-friendly cafes spreading around Dubai city.
“It is so refreshing to see new concepts cropping up, particularly those with a cultural theme such as literary/book-friendly cafes. It seems that customers are not only tired of mainstream cafes and big-name brands but also of having to visit a mall every time they want to enjoy a coffee or meal out,” she said. “The concept of friendly neighborhood cafes is becoming more and more popular because of this — they charm and inspire those who are looking for something a little different — a ‘home from home’ environment,” said Charafeddine, adding that the combination of a bookshop and cafe is a perfect marriage of two of life’s greatest pleasures — reading and eating.
“Taking the time out to read is a luxury but also of great importance — and for many people having a cup of tea and munching on a treat whilst enjoying a great book provides a true escape and very fulfilling experience.”
Asked about the target audience of the cafe, Charafeddine says: “BookMunch is very much a café for the community. We welcome absolutely anyone from Safa Park’s daybreak joggers to drop-off mums from the many surrounding primary schools, food bloggers, book lovers, WIFI nomads, coffee connoisseurs and carrot and courgette cake lovers.”
She adds: “It is a place for book clubs to meet, and for people to come together and enjoy, whether they’re looking for a quick coffee, lunch with friends or the chance to browse our books and treat themselves to something delicious.
BookMunch is a place where customers could pen their own masterpiece, sit with a good book and a coffee without feeling pressured to ‘eat and go’, watch the world go by or simply enjoy some time with family and friends. We cater for them all.”
Five years from now, where does she see Book Munch Cafe and are there any franchise opportunities?
“We have been open for just over three weeks so are taking everything one step at a time but the feedback and turnout we have had has been extremely encouraging.
We have already had several very positive press reviews and social media discussions — and have even been asked for franchise so it has definitely crossed our minds — we shall see what the future brings but it certainly looks both promising and very exciting,” said Charafeddine.