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December 2023 by Krystyna L.
Beautifully designed and curated book shop with coffee and a delightful outdoor patio with tables and chairs to hangout and chat or stay and read!
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November 2023 by Filip S.
This is a small bookstore with a little cafe tucked into one corner. I've come a couple of times here to look through the bookshelves and have found some great reads. Their fiction selection seems to be most expansive, along with their selection of children's and coffee table books. Unfortunately, their poetry and non-fiction selections seem to be rather limited, but they have a good mix of classics and more contemporary works. Near the register, they also offer some stationary and other non-book knick-knacks.The cafe is lovely and uses great mugs that feature the bookstore logo. They also have some food selection, which I haven't tried. They offer both indoor and shaded outdoor seating. Highly recommend this place for catching up with friends, or to just simply rest and read through a book that you've just purchased.All the employees are super friendly and helpful!
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November 2023 by Keshante A.
Positive- This place was really cute! It was nice to browse around. It's cozy inside but theres lots of seating outdoors. I got a glass of wine and it was good. Cute little store, not in my area so not sure if I'll be back!Critical- parking was full so I had to park around the corner and it was pretty dark.
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November 2023 by Greg H.
We came here during the eclipse, we had heard about this bookstore and love the idea of more bookstores. It is a smaller place, being a former post office in Hyde Park but there is pretty good parking and a restaurant next door.They have a few tables and reading nooks, which is a neat idea, they are little chairs built into the wall that are only for reading. There is some outdoor seating a well. Not a lot of either but they do a decent job given the room.That said it is on the smaller side, it being new it was busy we we came and that makes it hard to navigate and look into books as there is always someone already where you want to look. Which is good the business is there but hard when you are either browsing or know what section you want but can't get to it.They have a coffee shop and sell some merch. I don't drink coffee but my wife said it was okay but again they felt rushed due to the line and crowds which took away some of the enjoyment. Not the fault of the store but a heads up to people who don't like feeling crowded or rushed. We would like to return after the hype has died down.But there are lots of books laid out in shelves, tables, and they do a good job with the space they have. The staff was friendly and there were several there to help and keep things together. We found a couple of books and bought them as well as some of the merch to help support the store.One weird thing I noticed and heard both an elder couple and a random dude mention is they don't have any sections for local or Texas authors or stories. It is not required but seems weird for a local bookstore and they don't work with local authors either which was very disappointing to discover. But overall it was nice to see a new bookstore and the pluses outweigh the minuses I feel but as stated we would like to return once the crowds slow a bit or on a less busy day overall and get a better feel for the place.I really hope it does well and stays.
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November 2023 by Kaya Asazu
Such a cute spot! Great service and good coffee! I found all the books I’ve been looking for a struggled to decide which ones to get.. I will say though their drip and espresso are great their matcha was not at all mixed (literal chunks of powder in my drink) and I wound not recommend.
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November 2023 by Sophie Ting
Amazing little bookshop. Many reading nooks, a child section with adapted furniture, a small coffee shop with a great outdoor patio. You'll want to spend more more there and end up reading something.
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October 2023 by Megan L.
This is such a cute bookstore. It makes me really happy to see places like this blow up on Tik Tok because I don't feel as if many people read nowadays. However, this bookstore is literally "romanticizing your life" in real life. There is so much natural lighting from the large windows, and the space is designed incredibly thoughtfully. I love that they offer a coffee bar with snacks and light bites and coffee and wine. There's plenty of seating outside but minimal seating inside. I spent my time here with a cup of coffee and wandering around to pick up books that caught my eye. I noticed lots of students studying here, and I definitely would've come here as well when I was still in college. This also seems like a bookstore that curates books, so I would dare say that you're bound to like almost any book you find here. I definitely fell in love with reading all over again after visiting this bookstore, and I'm happy that Austin has spaces like this. I am definitely coming back to find my next read!
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October 2023 by Leah H.
Super cute spot. However, it is very busy and there is limited seating indoors. Outdoor seating is provided but it will be difficult in colder/hotter months. My friends ordered teas and did not like them, hence the 4 star vs 5. My iced latte was good!
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October 2023 by Alanna J.
What a cute place. I enjoyed my short stop here for a morning coffee with a friend. I was surprised by their book selection- wasn't expecting so many options. The parking lot is a little tight but not impossible to find a spot since there were a lot of folks here pretty soon after they opened. There are a few tables inside and a couple of seats among the aisles of bookshelves as well as tables and chairs outside. BUT my favorite thing about this place was the coffee! It was so good. First sip I knew I'd be back pretty often. I feel like it's hard to find a coffee shop that checks off all the boxes and this place has a little of everything. The barista was nice - they spelled my name right which many places don't, plenty of seating, great coffee, cool atmosphere I'll be back again soon and this time with a book list
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October 2023 by Amy F.
Very cute coffee/book store in Hyde Park!While there's only a couple of 2-people tables, stand up bar area, and chairs indoors, there's tons of outdoor seating (with outlets!) with at least half of them being shaded. A word of warning: there are a couple of skylights indoors near the tables so during the height of day, the sunlight shines very brightly on your face and it is uncomfortable. That being said, it's an incredibly cute place indoors and in the fall, it will be so nice to sit outside.I did not really enjoy the oat milk latte - tasted very smokey and burnt, and I ended up paying $7 for the whole thing. You definitely pay for the cute atmosphere so I wasn't too mad about it, however it's unfortunate that the lattes weren't very enjoyable for me. I haven't tried their other drinks so it's possible their other drinks are better.There's ample amount of parking, which is especially nice in Hyde Park. Overall, it's a very cute place with mad aesthetic - just know that you're paying for it
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October 2023 by Manasicha Akepiyapornchai
Good selection of books! Nice atmosphere with seatings and all cafe!
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September 2023 by Lucas Austin
Absurdly priced and overwhelmingly mediocre.. Wanted to like the place but no one there really seemed interested in even looking at customers... and almost $9 for a dirty chai before tip is literally more than Ive paid at any shop in the entire city, and I've been to pretty much all of them. There are also only like 6 seats indoor which means you're usually stuck outside, which is unfortunate given the near constant construction nearby..I could get over the rest.. but not while paying $9-10 for a coffee... I get Hyde Park is bougie these days but come on.. There are 6 local coffee shops within a stones throw that manage to price their products reasonably, with more seating and employees who make eye contact
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September 2023 by Trisha Agrawal
A beautiful bookshop with a good selection of really interesting books. The coffee shop inside is also charming. Highly recommend visiting. Personally I can't wait to go back.
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September 2023 by Talj
A bit underwhelming. My favorite thing about independent bookstores is wandering through the shelves and finding those books I haven't heard of before, but First Light seems to only carry bestsellers and viral popularity books. The layout was awkward and cramped and not conducive to browsing for any length of time. Can't say much to the cafe as it was too hot to sit outside when I went (there's very little seating inside), but it looked a little chaotic. Hardly any space to wait in line much less wait for your order. I'm hoping to come back in a month or two and give this place another shot when it's cooler and I can enjoy their outside space. Curious to see if it improves with time.
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September 2023 by Kay Williams
Customer service could use a boost. Walked up to the outside window to place an order as it has a sign pointing saying you could order there. They ignored me as folks looked at me as they were making drinks never acknowledged that I was standing there and just kept going about their business. Eventually a guy comes over opens the windows and says, yeah what can I get you? He seemed annoyed so I asked him was it ordering at the window a thing because he seemed agitated. He proceeds to say, yeah I mean I guess. I said is it or not because I can order inside if that is easier. He takes my order acting really annoyed and hands me my drink does not say thank you or enjoy or come back to see us nothing.It was off putting because I love the space and have been multiples times. Now it seems like a typical austin shop where you can’t really get a seat unless you get there super early and instead of reading books that you bought or brought to read it’s just a spot to work remotely laptops everywhere. Takes away some of the essence. Oh and the inside is always super crowded around the ordering area no real understanding of where the line should be and tables oddly placed in the middle.Hopefully with this feedback they will improve some of these things.
