This library cafe is quickly becoming a beloved nook in the city.
What do you think is the best use of a narrow and tight space?
For Lost Books Cebu, it’s turning it into a simple bookshop with literary works from some of the world’s finest authors.
This independent bookseller and library cafe is located in what used to be an abandoned ATM area of a permanently closed bank near the Cebu Provincial Capitol.
Its quaint design makes it unassuming and difficult to find.
It’s arguably the smallest bookstore in Cebu, but it’s big on personality and style. It has wall-mounted tables serving as reading nooks and bright green shelves with classic novels, lesser known stories, and even historical accounts from around the world.
What makes this library cafe stand out, however, is its purpose as a home for Cebuano books and titles highlighting Filipino artistry. It fills a void for Bisaya authors who wish to gain more exposure.
Put it all together, and you have a small, quiet space to work and be productive while allowing your imagination to run wild.
LOST BOOKS CEBU AS A LIBRARY CAFE HYBRID
Lost Books Cebu has a charming and cozy vibe despite being a tiny cafe.
Owners of Lost Books Cebu aim to recreate an old-school library setup by allowing customers to borrow their books for a short time, for a small fee.
They offer a subscription service payable every month, which allows customers to borrow one book at a time. You are then given an ID card to present to the librarian.
However, there are plenty of reasons to stay at the library since it also doubles as a tiny coffee shop. The owners have curated a simple menu of coffee, juices, and sandwiches to complement your reading time.
Aside from this, they have a book binding service, where you can have old books restored to a seemingly brand new quality. The owner of the bookstore learned this skill while he was in the UK.
The small aisle with its two shelves houses approximately 200 new and secondhand books, some coming from world-renowned authors who won prestigious writing awards like the Pulitzer Prize.
Popular titles include a complete set of A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin and classic horror novels from Stephen King.
However, Lost Books Cebu truly shines because of its massive collection of Filipino novels, which were proudly donated by the authors themselves. These are not limited to Bisaya language writings, as they also include original English compositions by Visayan authors.
Original Bisaya novels sold include a poetry book by Adonis Durado called “Pahinungod sa Di Hinungdan” (To Whom It May Concern in English), which became a finalist in the 2019 International Book Awards.
Others include “Disaster”, a series of creative non-fiction articles written by members of the Women in Literary Arts – Cebu (WILA), Therese Villarante’s multimedia novel “Girl With a Broken String”, and an archive of Cebu’s burgeoning creative industries published by Hala Art & Design.
As more and more writers began to share their works with Lost Books Cebu, so did other creators from different art forms. You can also purchase stickers and posters made by several up-and-coming Cebuano artists.
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The end goal for this library cafe is to house original compositions for local writers to be proud of. According to a story on Sunstar Cebu, these original, award-winning Filipino novels were bestsellers in their first opening week. (2024)
This shows that there is definitely an interest and demand for local art, and Lost Books Cebu is the first place on the island offering an exclusive space just for it.
This unassuming library cafe is a recent hole-in-the-wall with a peaceful ambiance and vast selection of reading materials. Like a timeless classic sold at a competitive price, this is indeed a good find.
HOW TO GET THERE
Exact Location:
CAO Mercado Building, Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City
Operating Hours:
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Closed on Mondays
Ride any jeepney en route to Capitol or Fuente Osmeña Circle and get off at the Cebu Doctors’ University (CDU) or the Bo’s Coffee branch along Osmeña Boulevard.
If you get off at CDU, you will have to cross the street to Bo’s Coffee. From there you can walk to the library cafe. You’ll know you’ve found it because of the green awning of its entrance.
