What does the average book reader look for in winters? Only three things -- a good book, a nice corner to read it in, and a hot cup of coffee. This January, the wish of book lovers in Lahore was granted in the form of Books & Beans, a project of Vanguard Books.

Situated on Guru Mangat Rd, opposite a popular restaurant, Books & Beans is the good ol’ Vanguard’s flagship store in Lahore. As you step inside the unassuming entrance, it becomes clear that the focus of the place is on the books. Towering book shelves line the walls on both sides of the staircase that leads to the heart of the store. The stairs themselves function as viewing platforms for either wall and are divided in the middle by a space cleverly utilised to display more reading material.

The arrangement of different categories of reading material indicates that the management knows their market very well. Classics in every category greet the customer in the first place, followed by self-help books. The centre display is filled with a slightly more adventurous collection, all of which are currently on sale.

The book shelves on the main floor are filled with an eclectic mix that might give some tough competition to its snobbier (so to say) competitor, namely The Last Word. The prices being the same at both places, Books & Beans has the advantage of having a much larger space.

There is literally something to interest everyone -- including fun stationery for the little ones who might not be in the mood to read. Handwritten post-it notes stuck to different shelves encourage customers to pick a particular book and are an interesting feature, lending a personalised touch to the browsing experience.

The strategically placed traditional cane stools topped with designer cushions are a cute touch but it is highly unlikely that they will ever serve more than a decorative purpose.

One of the coolest fads adopted by the new additions to Lahore’s book scene has been the inclusion of a reading corner. A lot of book stores around town now include an area where one can sit and leaf through an interesting book. Books & Beans follows the same pattern but goes one step further by having a proper coffee corner.

The aroma of freshly brewed Arabica coffee wafting from the back of the store is almost tempting enough to interrupt a book search. The coffee bar has a sleek and modern aesthetic and would have been at place in any of the high-end hotels being built in Lahore.

The placement of a set of comfy-looking sofas complete with a rug and corner lamp is intended to recreate the living-room effect within a book store and succeeds quite well.

The store also boasts free wi-fi for those who would rather read online -- the ebooks.

Any bookstore is a valuable presence in a city’s cultural space and Books & Beans is a welcome addition to Punjab’s capital. The powerful combination of good books and coffee might just be an idea imported from the likes of Barnes &Noble, it wasn’t exploited fully -- till Books &Beans.