Bouquiniste
Bouquiniste is a small, independent and curated bookstore, cafe and wine bar, serving a selection of coffee, tea, cake and light lunches. Also, opening for after work drinks, private functions and occasional live music events with a range of local and international wines, served with cheese platters. Bouquiniste runs an in-house book club 150 members and always welcoming more, free to join and no commitment necessary. Bouquiniste hosts author events including two international best-selling authors in the past 12 months, with more just around the corner, and also creative writing workshops. Get in touch to keep up to date with events!
Facilities found here:
Bar
Carpark
Non Smoking
Suitable for Functions
Takeaway Available
Our Story
Bouquiniste Book Cafe was founded in 2017 by Clay and Hannah, two Kiama locals with a background in writing, publishing, retail and hospitality. The bricks and mortar space at Shop 1 Kiama Centrepoint also boasts a special connection. In 1983, Clay’s parents first leased the space for their optical business and remained for 32 years, before relocating a few doors down. Clay literally grew up playing on the shop floor.
In 2017, Clay and Hannah decided to lease the space again under a different name, turning their hypothetical bookstore café into a real one. And so, Bouquiniste was born. A place that welcomes a community of readers through highly curated bookshelves, book events and monthly bookclub.
In old French, Bouquiniste means ‘Bookseller’, and pays homage to the hundreds of booksellers along The River Seine in Paris, where all the trinkets that decorate the bookshelves have been collected from.
To Kiama, Bouquiniste means a place where you can enjoy a Brewtown espresso, a local wine, listen to some good ole Rock’n’Roll and pick up all the best books.
If this sounds like a place that interests you, we invite you to come play on the shop floor with us.
Click here for more info.
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