Up for an afternoon of reading, coffee?

The idea of relaxation today has acquired a 'novel' meaning with the trend of 'reading cafes' emerging at an enviable pace in India.

Cafe culture has experienced a defining moment in the recent years. High altitude ceiling fans, round coffee tables styled in archaic wooden architecture, life-size blackboards with the menu of the day scrawled in chalk, and turbaned waiters at service were some marked features of the 20th century coffee house scenario.

It is a changed scenario today. The turbans have been replaced by the humble cap, old-world architecture has made way for swanky interiors and a modest cup of 'coffee' too has changed to 'Cafe Latte.' The overall complexion may have changed but the 'purpose' of visiting the cafes remains the same. Our cluttered minds still yearn for that little space of recreation and retrospection amid technological invasion.

Listed below are a few cafe outlets that have brought a shift in the coffee house culture by blending literature with cuisine, allowing people to be one with their own self...again!

Cafe Turtle, New Delhi
Coffee houses in the past excelled in catering to the caffeine fix of visitors thronging post college/office hours in the evenings. However, picking up a book from the shelf stationed within the premises was an idea still not conceptualised.

This missing shelf now features in prominence at outlets like the Cafe Turtle. Priyanka Malhotra, Director- Full Circle Publishing makes a pertinent point as she says "The sphere of the 'public' did not offer the companionship of books and food earlier. The concept itself was not known." This phenomenon of a bookstore within a cafe is a novel development. Diverse sections of humanity of varied interests flock to Cafe Turtle. As you spot a group of business officials finalising a deal; under the same roof in another corner you witness kids munching their favourite cakes with glee.

Lebanese, Italian, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine combined with fresh juices and a range of coffees and teas ensure a delectable tour to the visiting members.

With events like story telling, book launch, book reading sessions and art exhibitions, Cafe Turtle brims with enthusiasts of all age-groups in a holistic environment.

Oxford bookstore, New Delhi
As you enter this 'book land', a quick glance at the neat spines perfectly stacked in the shelves makes you surrender to an abyss of authors and literary richness in all willingness. The major highlight of Oxford is its 'Cha Bar' which brews a selection of Indian and international tea of varied flavours. With salads, fries, muffins, cookies, pastries, cake, quiches and pies as tea-time snack options, your literary journey is sure to be a fulfilling one.

Crosswords Bookstore, Calcutta
When Manna Dey sang in Bengali " Coffee House er shei addata aaj aar nei " (those days of coffee house gossip are no more) to mourn the death of a recreational culture amid a transforming society, little did he know that the coffee house would be resurrected in a new 'avatar'.

Sidharth Pansari, Director, Crosswords Calcutta, believes that reading means more than opening a book, it means "opening a mind." A bookstore of repute, Crosswords is frequented by several authors who feel that "a quiet ambiance with a subtle touch of music in the background and good food on your plate make up for an apt environment of profound interplay of thoughts," he adds. Away from the jostling crowd and chaos of city life, the subdued atmosphere of the bookstore offers a sanctuary.

Varieties of tea, bakes and pasta are offered with frequent modifications in the menu. Author interactions, debates, plays are commonplace at the bookstore. "Spending time with books and coffee is a productive form of entertainment and relaxation," says Pansari.

Sudeshna Roy, theatre artist and filmmaker, Kolkata loves going through the coffee table books at Crosswords. Says she, "It's like the picture books I loved as a child...only the pictures have changed." She believes that Coffee houses are no longer the exclusive clubs of the 'intellectuals', but the young and the middle-aged too are in pursuit. "Brownies are my favourite...while sipping cold coffee with ice-cream, even an average piece becomes a good read" quips she.

Serendipity, Claridges Hotel, New Delhi
A chance occurrence of pleasant events is sure to please you if you are at the 'Serendipity' book shop of residing within the premises of the Claridges hotel. Mukta Munjal, owner, 'Serendipity Bookstore etc.' says, "Serendipity sets the tone for the lobby and the bakery at the hotel. The store is unique in multiple ways. Bestsellers, children books, lifestyle and motivational books are appreciated by foreigners here."

The bookstore has an alcove that allows the residents to relax while browsing through books with the 'Ye Old Bakery' placed at hand to serve them coffee and cakes. A colourful stopover in the lobby of the hotel, "Serendipity has increased its reach by offering delivery of books to customers at their locations," adds Mrs. Mukta.