Books and Beans in Aberdeen City

Summary: Expected a quiet, cosy bookshop with drinks service, instead got a stressful greasy spoon with a few bookshelves.Full review:After a lovely weekend visiting Aberdeen with my book loving partner, we were very excited upon finding out there was a second hand bookshop and cafe in the heart of Aberdeen. We were expecting a quaint and cosy establishment where you could peruse books, and then maybe sit for a little coffee. This is NOT what we got.When entering Books and Beans, I was greeted with a rundown corridor that either leads to a very odd smelling and looking "cafe" on the bottom floor, or a rundown staircase leading upstairs that we never got a chance to look at before a rather unfriendly member of staff ushered us back outside. We were given (no choice) a table in the cafe while being talked over.We instantly got an unpleasant smell when in the cafe (something other reviews have mentioned before, so it's definitely not just us!). It was cold, loud (the full kitchen was open plan and shared the room with the diners), and there was pitiful display of books (we were never given an option to go upstairs, which may be different).We ordered chips and couple of drinks (no soft drinks were available, only "organic" drinks), which were fine. Chips were good and large portion. Reasonably priced, although we specifically stated we didn't want the optional service charge, something incredibly rare for us (both of us have previously worked in customer service).I hope this is taken as constructive criticism, the owners seem to take bad reviews personally and snap back at reviewers. We love this concept, but rather than a quaint bookshop with coffee, this is a bad, rundown greasy spoon with a few bookshelves.

The place has an awesome vibe. The food was amazing!!

Food was nice.Coffee excellent.But a long wait for the food.Butter portion should be given with toast ,and sugar or sweetener with hot drinks,without asking.The service charge is daft,you probably miss out more than you think,most folk will give a minimum £2.Be nice if the tips were just for the waiting staff.

Really slow service. Drinks came after the food. I waited outside the toilet for longer than five minutes while one of the waitresses was just chilling in there on her phone. Took ages to bring the bill over and the food was all pretty average (the giant pancake is nice).EDIT: It's a shame the owners are not taking the criticism constructively and instead are arguing back to their 'would be' customers. For clarification, the toilets are clearly marked female, male and disabeled and are not unisex.

The worst service I have ever had.5 members of staff only 12 customers and took just over half an hour to take our order. I shad to raise my voice to be heard over the staff who shouted across the cafe at each other.The continual dropping of the cutlery in the kitchen the over exaggerated banging when emptying coffee grinds!We knew exactly why this was happening as staff shouted we are closing soon, this was 3-45pm, We are closing at 4-30start clearing up!Having grown up in and worked and worked in hospitality. I would be disgusted with my loud-mouthed, ignorant staff.To charge over £8 for 2 lattes, extortionate, that we're like warm!I will NEVER set foot in here again.If you do go here take a blanket it is freezing, Ihad to put my scarf over my knees!

Great place, fantastic morning coffee, simple tasty food for a very good value, nice staff. Definitely must visit place in Aberdeen

Coffee served in a chipped glass, which was dealt with but it felt reluctant. Awful service overall, very slow and illogical. Waitresses walking past piles of dirty plates on tables and faffing around on iPads. The food was average and honestly you could get better quality for half the price in the spoons. Also, the shabby chic aesthetic is not working for them, it just felt like an underfunded community library.

Great find during our stay in Aberdeen. Really good food, and coffee ☕ of course! Friendly staff and relaxing atmosphere. Highly recommended!

Absolutely LOVED this place! Coffee shop with light, cheerful vibes, lots of seating and most importantly: BOOKS!!! Great service from staff as well. Perfect reading nook for the Aberdonian bookworm.

Cute and welcoming cafe in central Aberdeen that ticked all our boxes… They’re dog and family friendly with both vegan and omni deliciousness and a tonne of books to peruse and enjoy. We loved our visit to Books and Beans!