The Bookworm 书虫
Sanlitun Nanjie,
Sanlitun
back of Bldg. 4, Sanlitun Nanjie
三里屯南街4号楼
6586-9507
www.beijingbookworm.com
books@beijingbookworm.com
6503-2050 (fax)
Open 9am-2am
Price Y100-Y199 per couple
Accepts International Credit Cards
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says -
A café, European bistro, lending library and bookshop all in one, this place has been a perennial favorite among expats since its opening in 2000. Regulars flock to The Bookworm for their well-made sandwiches, salads and pastas, a full range of bar drinks and regular community events geared toward both adults and kids.
Reviews Been there? Add a review!
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Old location memories... I really liked the cozy atmosphere of the old location. The 2nd floor location is a bit like a chain bookstore instead of a cellar with lots of rare gems inside.
Also, it seems the electrical outlets aren't so plentiful in the northeastern room.
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love the talks, hate the crowds i alternately love bookworm events and hate it when i arrive 10 minutes before only the find the place slammed and attempting to see a lecture through a throng of shoulders and standing on my tiptoes.
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Come here for the people-watching, cozy, airy, space; and loads of books (and magazines, including all the latest celebrity rags!). However, I find the food (with newly inflated prices) to be nothing special. Best to come on during the off-hours (in the mornings or evenings) as there seems to be a sense, during busy times, of having to rush and finish your drink to make room for other customers.
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Found a review of a book on some site, China: The Art of Law. The review was covering the author's book signing at The Bookworm. So, I thought, I'll go to the bookworm and see if they have a copy --- which they didn't. They didn't even seem to remember this past event.
...which is all okay, I guess... anyhow, so I picked up two other Chinese business books from one of our local business consulting companies. However, when I tried to pay they refused to give a fapiao under the pretense they were 'out of them'... boggle
I expect these kinds of hijinks from a hole-in-the-wall kebab place, but not from an alleged pillar of the community like The Bookworm. Give me a break!
I hope they clean their act up, because until they do I'll never buy a book from them again... and will continue to refer others away due to these shady practices.
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Cozy (exclusively) international place, has a real chill set-up and the food seems good.Nice Christmas atmosphere; really bad service though!!!
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People are always moaning about the bad service at The Bookworm but I've actually never had a problem. They are prompt and orders usually come at the same time, which is a bonus in Beijing where waiters never seem to understand that people want to order and eat together. I order the steak quite often, and it's always well done and the meat is decent for the price.
The only negative is the mad rush to get a seat when they have events. Why can't you reserve or book tables when there are book talks/lectures? Unless you get there two hours before the event is going to happen, it seems like it's impossible to even get a seat.
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On the dining note: Did I mention their Mushroom Risotto as Excellent? It reminds me of what I had in Italia, really authentic! I've heard rumor saying their Blueberry Smoothies is really good too, but I haven't been able to try it (Is it seasonal or is it off the menu?) Mango smoothies is not bad either. It'd be even better if there's more non-smoking area... as it's tiny and smoke swirl tends to stay in there...
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I agree that it is overpriced, but totally worth it as the atmosphere is supreme. The only thing I would change is the smoking.
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Love this cafe, so cozy and so different. It brings sort of attachment to people, but it is sometimes too noisy and hard to find seats. Popularity is not always good thing.
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Yep I have been asked to pay extra in order to get a fapiao.
On a 180 yuan tab, you want me to give you 1 yuan to get a receipt so I can expense it!?
This was enough to get me to stop going & I used to go once a week and drop at least 120 yuan each time.
It is a really shady practice that gives tax breaks to the business.
I never ever ever ever ever have this problem at local places where the food is cheaper and the wifi is just as good.
If you must go, bring your headphones. This place is packed with douchebag intellectual-wannabe conversationalists and without some sort of barrier, you will want to punch a lot of people for being so lame & will spend your time fighting that urge or blogging the overheard convos rather than doing work.
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P.S. They never put enough alcohol in their cocktails so you're better off asking for a shot and telling them to fill that sucker up (otherwise they will pour 3/4).
Yeah, the crowd there drives me to drink.
I call it the Vicious Bookworm Cycle (get excited, go to BW, get depressed by douchiness, get a few drinks to temper the rage, get happy-ish, drop money, get pissed about having to pay for a fapiao and refuse to do so on principle, go home, forget why BW stinks, repeat the following week).
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Oh amyvicious - glory be. Your comment "This place is packed with douchebag intellectual-wannabe conversationalists and without some sort of barrier, you will want to punch a lot of people for being so lame & will spend your time fighting that urge or blogging the overheard convos rather than doing work" had me wondering if I was having a schizoid moment and had taken on another persona at CW and was really actually you. It was like you had taken a chunk of experience from my own head and pasted it on this page. RELATE!!!! especially the "punch" and "blogging the overhead convos" part. God bless you.
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Really liked the place. Food was great as well!
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They have the latest books in from the states and you can check out books from here like you would at a public library in the states. There are cool people to meet here, and the coffee is decent. The food is lacking, but who goes here for the food?
Cool hangout if you've got a bit of nerd in you like me!
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Good environment, yet-to-be-improved Spaghetti, and good wifi. Tweetup-worthy. ;-)
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I love the atmosphere and the concept of the lending library. And yes, I have a pair of headphones so I never have to hear the surrounding conversations, thus I can't really complain about my time at the bookworm. The food however, is another story. I've found it's all rather bland, which still doesn't bother me, because I never really come here to eat anyway.
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Change in Event Policy
Thanks to the continued success of The Bookworm’s busy event programme, we’re making some changes to the way we run our events. Although we’ve always been reluctant to charge an entry fee for book talks, it’s become evident that there’s really no other way to manage demand, and to guarantee that if there’s a particular speaker that you absolutely have to hear, we can confidently guarantee you a seat.
So, from July 1st 2008, you’ll need a ticket to attend events at The Bookworm. Tickets for all events will be 20RMB for Bookworm members, and 30RMB for nonmembers, and will include a glass of wine, a beer, or a soft drink. Tickets for events will be available one week before each event. For example, a ticket for an event on Tuesday 22nd July will be available from Tuesday 15th July onwards.
If you don’t have a ticket for an event, you won’t get a seat. Tickets are available at The Bookworm. We will not take reservations for tickets.
Obviously some events will be more popular than others, and so the tickets will run out more quickly. This means that in some cases, tickets will be available on the door on the evening of the event, in other cases they won’t. We’d like to ask you to use your own judgement as to when you think you’ll need to come and buy a ticket. Our website will always carry as up to date information as possible on the status of ticket sales for each event.
Where possible, for heavily oversubscribed events, we’ll broadcast talks over the PA system to other parts of the shop. There will be no charge to listen to the talks this way. We hope this will alleviate some of the frustrations you might recently have experienced in finding you’re unable to see the talks you want. We’re making these changes in accordance with the feedback we’ve received from you, our audiences, and hope the new system will be a change for the better. Please see our website www.beijingbookworm.com for details of how to become a member of The Bookworm.
Thanks, The Bookworm Team please mail bookwormjenny@gmail.com with any further questions
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I love going here for coffeee and internet, the food is good but exppppensive!!!! Still, I can't stay away! Bravo Bookworm!
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I agree with amyvicious about the punching of douchebags and blogging their douchey conversations. Still, the Bookworm is the place to be! I can't stay away!!!
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I am really starting to be discouraged/saddened/frustrated/annoyed by the wait staff at places that mainly serve expats and see to have developed some kind of unreasonable (and illogical) superiority complex. Yes, I look Chinese even though I left for the US when I was 4. The result? Complete inattentiveness.
I walked in and none of the waitstaff turned their heads. I walked around, checking out the best place to plop down with my computer, which has a complete lack of battery life. There were no outlets that would properly fit (mine works in the regular 2-prong round/straight outlets as well as the three prong 2 straight/1 round). There was one extension cord that I could have used but it was all filled up. So I approached the waitstaff, who were happily chatting in the back, and asked for a menu and for another extension cord. She promptly told me that there was only 1 extension cord. 1 extension cord? In such a seemingly popular place. Why have only 1 extension cord (obviously you don't have any for your clients) unless you use that cord to handle your own electrical stuff - lamps, etc. - but then how can you give that away? I have never had trouble asking for extension cords at Wudaokou.
Anyways, I looked around, saw the oblivious (perhaps purposely so?) wait staff, and walked out.
Never going back.
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sorry, is it a cafe or a bookstore? can i just see or borrow some books without paying for any food?
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Hi Yin, The Bookworm is a restaurant, bar, bookshop, lending library and events space. So, its up to you what you'd like to do when you visit us. You can eat and drink in the bar and restaurant, you can join the library and borrow books, you can come to any of the regular events we host. We'd prefer that if you come to read the books on the premises that you do buy something, otherwise its a bit difficult to run a business. Please visit our website www.chinabookworm.com for more info and for contact details in case you have any more questions. Best wishes, The Bookworm
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Thanks for your reply
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Nice place, but shame on the poor service. Staff literally avoid eye contact and pretend you don't exist. Can be pretty frustrating trying to get your order or even get noticed for that matter.
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I am sitting here now, and its a very nice looking place (interior). I get a very nice "home" feeling, since we have a few of these in Norway. Anyhow, the prices are stiff with a whooping 25Q for my referance drink: Hot Chocolate.
Its the kind of place I could meet contacts etc, but I doubt I would go here regularily due to the high prices.
Nonetheless you cna borrow books here, which is cute.
Obviously cater to expats with coin and comfort written in their/our eyes.
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well, what can i say its 9 in the morning and the bookworm advertises breakfast, i can understand that due to the patrons packing the place at 9.00 it takes 20 minutes to get food that is cold, yes i think they forgot that it should be hot when served, the staff forgot to put a order of toast through until reminded 10 min's later and then has the cheek to look at me like its my fault. How this place can justify its prices when the food has issues and the staff to be put in the nicest possible way walk around with a air of snobbery that they work here, i will not be coming back ever
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Yes, the service here sucks and the everything is overpriced for what it is. The only thing going for this place is its location and the sort of airy, expansive awesomeness of the reading rooms. Their bookstore is decent but don't rely on their "library" for good reading materials. There's nothing new on those shelves.
All in all, I try to avoid this place if I can.
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I find it cozy enough but the staff acted a bit peculiar. They were helpful and courteous until a new person went behind the bar (he had a chat with the staff), and from then on the staff looked at me like i had three heads.
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For those who can't help themselves and go dizzy from excitement at the sight of shelves and shelves stocked with books, this place is ideal. Other reasons to never leave the place include moleskines and postcards for sale, good coffee, interesting lectures, great food, an extensive list of drinks and wine, tsing taos at a pocket-friendly 15 kuai and the mandatory wi-fi.
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I love this place. International magazines to read /and to buy in Beijing . The new books arrrival ,Anyone who loves reading like me , couldnt but be a regular visitor here. There are likeminded people here to interact if you talking types. The staff not so intelligent but is okay.The books are sufficient reason for me to get back. I dont normally buy the food out there except for some drink or coffee . Its my one in a week destination.
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all time favourite. i love to read. love to be in a place where you can read or work quietly but yet still feel 'alive' with all the people there around you.
but i would have to agree with ivorynightfall and baobabs when it comes to service.
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Great atmosphere; great music. I've only been there a couple times to chill; but I look forward to checking out some of the lectures and events in the future.
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This is our favourite place to collect foreign magazines and books.
Though we cannot afford to buy expensive magazines, we collect in 1 months atleast 3 or 4 magazines and now are planning to build our own library.
This place you can get a chance to meet new friends as many young people interested in reading come here.
The coffee and snacks are expensive,so we just have coffee here.
Sometimes we take our laptops as its WIFI is good.
Good place to connect to many people and learn from reading. My favourite place for a hanging around and catch up on the news .
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Like the place that they keep organising talks.Thats really good. Another best thing is networking. You could different persons in an environment where people arent drinking like in a bar. I like meeting people when they are in their senses.
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great atmosphere, but overpriced The lectures/talks organized are wonderful and the atmosphere is also terrific. But I always feel like I'm being ripped off when the price of a small cup of coffee is around 20yuan (no refills!) and a small sandwich is around 40yuan.