Housing Works Bookstore Cafe
Café, Used Bookstore, and Event Space$$$$
SoHo, New York
The experts at Time Out New York and The Corcoran Group recommend this place
"Free wifi, good coffee, great cause, wonderful volunteers."(14 Tips)
"used books and relax in the back café"(8 Tips)
"The Moth Storyslam is excellent."(3 Tips)
"Best bookstore in the city and has free wifi."(12 Tips)
215 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- books
- coffee
- volunteers
- café
- free Wifi
- (15 more)
Sort:
- Popular
- Recent
Colin M. FordNovember 2, 2014Smell of old books, the balcony, people writing books and plays, a very diverse selection, a bustling café, a good cause—New York, this is your bookstore.
Untapped CitiesApril 19, 2016This wood-lined room at this place has floor-to-ceiling books, many for just a dollar. You can enjoy a beer or wine from its café while you devour your latest find in a bohemian, welcoming atmosphere. Read more
Kelly Ann GonzalesJanuary 11, 2013This place is my happy save haven in Manhattan! The staff is INCREDIBLY nice, the proceeds go to charity, and you can find books for 50 cents! I COULD LIVE HERE. I LOVE IT.Upvoted 1 week ago
Carmen NJuly 10, 2015One of the best used bookstores in NYC, and an all around comfortable, inviting space. The selection is usually on par with a "new" bookstore.
Neelu RaviFebruary 14, 2018This place is all about books and caffeine!! Lovely spot in SoHo. You can sit down and finish reading a book and nobody is gonna bother you! Perfect spot, if you wanna get some me time for yourself.
AmateurConciergeJuly 24, 2015With real estate prices so high, most coffee shops don't even have space to sit. Here's a great, old school bookstore with a tiny cafe and ample seating. Great to meet up or do a little work.
EceMarch 7, 2018Such a cozy and peaceful place. It’s more like a library with some drink options where you can work/study as they have wifi, or read books.
Sonya RytovaDecember 17, 2015Very nice coffee! Like really cool!) Cute place to talk with a friend or read a good book (actually it's almost the same ;) )
Jamie LonieJune 25, 2018This place has lots of big tables and no-hassle WiFi. Good spot to quickly meet a friend or do some work. They have books too!
Howard WongJune 6, 2013Being a New Yorker with the ever rushing lifestyle (for no particular reason) a bookstore like this is exactly what I need to mellow out. A very chill, calming environment to sip on a nice cup of java
Kaitlin SiemeringSeptember 23, 2015Great place to spend an afternoon! Awesome used book collection, pretty good coffee, places to sit, and all proceeds go to a worthy cause!
- Support them with your money (great cause and volunteers) BUT ALSO they have a ton of free talks and events! Shop and enjoy!
Eman AbdulazizAugust 30, 2018Cozy place with good collection of books on various topics. They have live book discussion every week or so.
Kelsey LeeJune 22, 2014They have consistently good coffee, and are always hosting amazing events and speakers, such as David Sedaris on 6/3. Get here early for big events though, the line stretches down the block.
Dan CastellanoDecember 8, 2019Spectacular bookstore cafe in the backstreets of SoHo, when you need to take a load off during a heavy day of shopping
Time Out New YorkMarch 24, 2016Ask Roulette is coming to Housing Works this week so come on in and enjoy the hilarious panel of questions that will have you curious and entertained. Thurs, 3/24. Read more- Untapped CitiesJuly 15, 2013This shop maintains an amazing vibe while promoting good causes. It's staffed entirely by volunteers, and all profits go to a Housing Works, a nonprofit that fights homelessness and AIDS. Read more
Ms HeleneDecember 13, 2012Surprisingly, they serve a good and strong soy latte here for around $4. Deep, intense taste. Double roasted perhaps? Served in a pretty small tea cup and saucer. Get to browse used books too!- The Corcoran GroupOctober 8, 2010Come here for the eclectic selection of used books and relax in the back café with a delicious selection of teas, coffee and snacks. 100% of the profits go to ending AIDS and homelessness.
Christine ArboledaMay 6, 2015Love the cafe, great place to relax and study or discover the great selection of donated books. Cozy like an old library feel that is inviting.
Zii HammadAugust 27, 2014In SoHo, and cheap? Crazy. Check out the cheap used book carts. The bookstore can be busy, but it stays fairly calm. Staff are also very fun. Volunteer run!
BollareSeptember 30, 2011Climb a rolling ladder and wheel through the two levels of vintage books or cozy up in the corner with a coffee and a page-turner. This Soho gem is the perfect spot to spend a cold winter day. —Tera
Katherine M.April 28, 2014Someone at a bookstore in New Orleans recommended this to me. Super hip events and a spiral staircase. Looking for something specific is hit-or-miss because books are donated. Read more
Polina WeitzDecember 31, 2022Cozy place with great books and old-school book shelves. Coffee is solid and it's a great spot to take a break at SoHo.
MichaelJanuary 27, 2017Need to escape Soho's shopaholics? Order a coffee and take some time out in this spacious yet cozy bookstore, all for a good cause!
Patronize the beautifully renovated café in the back, run entirely by kind & loving volunteers.
gmarco .February 21, 2015Quirky nice little cafe within a secondhand bookstore. Perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon.
SideTourMay 8, 2012Great events most every night of the week. Catch an up-and-coming author book party or strike up a conversation with a HW volunteer. A great place to get a local taste of NYC.
AbNovember 25, 2015Great stop with solid collection and decent coffee in the back. Easy place to work, but don't expect power outlets
Alexandros PlexidasMay 13, 2016Nice and cheap coffee for a good reason, free wifi, plenty of books to read and quiet atmosphere!
Katerina AnnaNovember 29, 2014Coffee is not the best, but it's not bad either! Lovely environment to drink your coffee and maybe read a book..? :-)
- Valerie LaiFebruary 6, 2013Awesome free literary and music events every week. The Moth Storyslam is excellent. Check their site for details. If you have spare time, sign up to volunteer!
Joury AlApril 22, 2018If live in NYC, this place would be one of my favorite. Friendly staff, good atmosphere, great area. The coffee was average.
Eliane vdBAugust 12, 2013Great place to get some work done while enjoying good music, sipping on a coffee. Warning: no outlets available for your laptop.
They host amazing special events. Cozy vibe inside. Check out the collection of uber-cheap uncorrected proofs on sale, and read the next bestseller before it hits shelves officially.
Danielle BorschMay 26, 2011Feel good buying here b/c of the cause. Beautiful dark wood shelves and lots of cheap hidden gems in the books. Open up the covers and find that several are signed copies. Plus they host the Moth!
Kate RitchieJanuary 31, 2012Nice, quiet place to work. Wifi is great, but make sure you have a full battery charge on laptop: no outlets available. While you are there, buy a book for a great cause!
Alexis BendjouiaOctober 12, 2015Awesome well-priced used bookstore with a cafe, and a selection of records.
Katie ChanpongFebruary 12, 2014Great spot for studying or working, but just FYI you can't charge your phone or laptop here. They turned off the outlets to cut down on the electric bill!- If I'm in the neighborhood I always stop by to browse the cookbooks and design books. Good prices
MetroFocusApril 12, 2012Help Housing Works alleviate the impact of homelessness & HIV/AIDS by volunteering. Whether its volunteering at the cafe or helping out in the book stacks, every effort helps. Learn more on MetroFocus Read more
ConZergeOctober 20, 2013Coffee, books, and a good cause? Yes! 100% of their proceeds go to Housing Works: a healing community dedicated to helping those affected by or living with HIV/AIDS.- Great place to have a meeting. Quiet, plenty of seats, and good drink options (coffee, wine, beer)
Jess NaldoApril 29, 2015Good spot to work with decent wifi but no outlets available for customer use, which is a bummer. Great place overall but make sure your devices are charged!- Jack OsborneOctober 1, 2018Could honestly spend hours in here. Great little spot with a decent selection of food and drinks too.
838 Photos
Foursquare © 2025 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe
126 Crosby St (btwn Prince & E Houston St)
New York, NY 10012
United States
New York, NY 10012
United States
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe is a nonprofit bookstore, cafe, and event space. All proceeds from every show you attend and everything you buy, down to a record and a PBR, go directly to our mission of fighting AIDS and homelessness.
Closed until Noon tomorrow (Show more)
- Mon, Sat
- Noon–7:00 PM
- Sun
- Noon–5:00 PM
(212) 334-3324
View menu on http://www.housingworks.org/bookstore/cafe-menu
Features
Reservations
No
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. American Express & MasterCard)
Wi-Fi
No
Outdoor Seating
No
Music
Live Music
Food & Drink
Menus
Happy Hour
Drinks
Beer, Wine, Cocktails
See More
You might also like
Places people like to go after Housing Works Bookstore Cafe
Appears on 1,686 lists
Corcoran's Most Popular Tips In Manhattan MegaList
Created by The Corcoran Group
55 items • 701 followers
NY Coffee Shops Offering Free Wi-Fi
Created by The Spark Group
50 items • 486 followers
Created by David Haber
116 items • 370 followers
