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In our fast-paced world, it is nice to stop, take a break, enjoy a cup of coffee and read a book. There are several small coffee shops where one can bring a book to read and some even have independent bookstores in them where you can purchase books. Here are a few places to consider the next time to want to take time out for you.

The Book Carriage & Wonderland Coffee Creations
304 N. Oak St.
Roanoke, TX 76262
(817) 491-2858
www.bookcarriage.com

The Book Carriage & Wonderland Coffee Creations in Roanoke is a community-oriented, independent bookstore specializing in new books. As a member of the American Booksellers Association, it promotes the availability of books. Within its two-story structure, there are conference rooms, a reading area for children and local art displayed upstairs. The Book Carriage stocks the required reading material for Northwest ISD, Liberty Christian School, Argyle ISD and Westlake Academy. It also serves as a hub for book clubs and hosts independent author book signings as well as special meet and greets. The Wonderland Coffee Creations makes a wide variety of specialty coffee drinks and offers sandwiches. The loft seating is perfect for curling up with a cup of coffee and your favorite book.

Black Forest Coffee
5801 E. Northwest Highway
Dallas, TX 75231
(214) 361-2483

In 1991, tucked back on a street parallel to Northwest Highway, Henk’s European Restaurant, Delicatessen and Black Forest Bakery opened.  Its loyal customers kept coming back for its fabulous German food and to-die-for pastries. When it opened its Black Forest Bakery within the flagship store of Half Price Books in 1999, business exploded. Black Forest Coffee offers more than just pastries that will have you kissing your diet plans goodbye. It features coffee and espresso made from a candy-apple red Astoria Sibilla espresso machine. It also has a cold-brewed toddy that is used to create iced coffees and iced lattes. The soups and the sandwiches like the Rembrandt (Cajun spiced turkey, roasted red peppers, red onions, lettuce and tomato with cream cheese spread on your choice of bread) are customer favorites. Couches, tables and chairs flank the tiny bakery with cult-like followers who are engrossed in their newest book find from Half Price Books.

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Roots Coffee House
2570 FM 407, Suite 140
Highland Village, TX 75077
(972) 317-7234
www.rootscoffeehouse.com

Roots Coffee House in Highland Village is one of North Texas’ newest coffee houses. Bright spaces and comfortable seating make this a go-to destination to enjoy organic coffee and tea with your favorite reading material. With Root’s free Wi-Fi, you can download the newest book from your favorite author to your e-reader while sipping on a honey vanilla latte made with local honey, vanilla, espresso, steamed milk and cinnamon or a red symphony (Ghirardelli white chocolate, red espresso and steamed milk). One can lose track of time being engrossed in your favorite read and Roots offers sandwiches that can satisfy the pangs of hunger. The half moon chicken (chicken salad with pecans, cranberries and onions served on a croissant) and the multnomah (turkey, provolone, pesto and Craisins on grilled whole wheat bread) are sandwiches that should hit the spot. Roots Coffee House has two new book clubs: The Vintage Club and the Fresh Club. Lovers of fiction and non-fiction discuss novels, memories and classic works in the in the Vintage Club. Non-traditional and more eccentric literature like screenplays, graphic novels, philosophy and short stories are tackled to expand one’s literary palate.

Crooked Tree Coffeehouse
2414 Routh St.
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 953-1142
www.crookedtreecoffeehouse.com

With book in hand, one can head over to the Crooked Tree Coffeehouse. Crooked Tree is a neighborhood coffeehouse whose décor sports a laid-back, living room feel. The baristas are serious coffee aficionados and take the time to craft the coffee beverage of your choice. Crooked Tree considers itself to be a responsible coffee seller and serves direct trade and organic beverages. In establishing local ties, Crooked Tree serves Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters coffee. It also offers pastries, scones, croissants and sandwiches. If you take a look around the shop, you will see a variety of art from local artists and on Friday and Saturday nights, you can relax to the music of local musicians.

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