Sappho
Bookshop & Cafe,
Bar & Live Music
General Secondhand Bookshop
51 Glebe Point Road, Glebe NSW 2037, Australia
Phone (02) 9552 4498
Sappho
Bookshop & Cafe
Bar & Live Music
General Secondhand Bookshop
51 Glebe Point Road, Glebe NSW 2037, Australia. Phone (02) 9552 4498
“Though their life was modest, they believed in eating well.”
― James Joyce
At Sappho we take great pride in our coffee. Our Baristas are dedicated and passionate about coffee.
Our food is carefully selected, simple, and fresh. Locally and ethically sourced where possible.
“Though their life was modest, they believed in eating well.”
― James Joyce
At Sappho we take great pride in our coffee. Our Baristas are dedicated and passionate about coffee.
Our food is carefully selected, simple, and fresh. Locally and ethically sourced where possible.
“Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.” ― Anthony Bourdain
We buy books
We buy and sell used books!
We have over 30,000 titles available over our three floors in a huge range of categories – art, literature, history, politics, religion, philosophy, science and foreign language, to name a few.
Titles come and go all the time so if you don’t find exactly what you are looking for, keep coming back, it’s likely to turn up, and in the meantime you’re bound to find something else that takes your fancy!
We are always looking for new stock!
Gift certificates
Need a gift for a book lover who already seems to have them all? They’re bound to find something interesting at Sappho with one of our gift certificates in hand!
They are also valid for use in the cafe, bar, and Da Capo Music, so they can browse the bookshop and grab a coffee or a meal!
To purchase one, click here.
A courtyard oasis
Sappho is the perfect place for catching up with family, sharing coffee with friends, love trysts … or even just treating yourself to a nice glass of wine.
“Coffee is a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to your older self.”
― Terry Pratchett, Thud!
We like to be noticed…
My first visit here, amazing and very cosy inviting. Books, literally floor to ceiling. Packed full. Had lunch, all day breakfast a favourite. I will be back.
Ray Conder
Really well curated collection. In a city where you can pick up free books from most Inner West street corners, it's nice to have a guided hand (and some good coffee).
Nathan Jones
A Glebe icon. A place to go to lose yourself. And the assistants know their books, what's on the shelves, where to find things. A lot to love about Sappho's (including the resident cat of course, xx)
Karen Emmerich
SUCH a cute place to hang out. We only had a coffee but the food in the kitchen smelled really nice and the garden has a wonderful, low-key vibe in the daytime.
Emily Zajac
莎弗二手書店咖啡屋: 人間天堂雪梨大學旁Glebe街道上，夢想般的書店。在網路發達的時代，走入彷彿60年前的一家書店。它似乎象徵著長久以來的一種堅持，一種理念，與深度的文化。即使跌落深谷，它仍會堅持爬起來的一種生命力！進門是書店，走到後面，出現咖啡吧台。你可以坐下喝杯咖啡，感受深深刻畫在歲月裏的書店文化。喜歡書，想找資料，可以上二樓。
Young Wu
One of my favourite places in Sydney. You can browse their wide range of books and have a coffee and a bite to eat in their cozy courtyard. At night it converts to a wine bar where you can listen to live music. Staff are always so friendly and service is great. Would definitely recommend.
Deborah
The place is vintage, full of books which attract your eyes. The rooms are beautiful and you can see many less common books. Sometime you can see some rare books around 100 years in some corners. Those books are broken but have history. I like it very much, I just bought one printed in 1856. Going up wooden stairs you can see different room, really antique.
taylor or
The strongest matcha latte in Sydney. Very impressive. And the atmosphere is quite lovely but it can be a little cold in the winter time
Sora Yang
Hidden away behind a nice little second hand bookshop, a nice cafe with an excellent variety of brunch options. Also a licenced bar.
Koen Ruymaekers
Sappho has a great selection of books of all genres! plus a really cute cat named charlie. always love stopping by to see what’s new.
Tatem Loucks
We recently visited Sappho Books, Cafe & Bar and had a pleasant overall experience. The atmosphere is relaxed and unique, with a great mix of books, greenery, and a quiet courtyard that makes it a nice spot to unwind.The coffee was good and the menu has decent options for a casual bite. Service was friendly, although a bit slow during busy hours, which is understandable given the relaxed vibe.It’s a great place to read, catch up with friends, or just enjoy some quiet time away from the city rush.I would happily come back again.
Amin
If Glebe were a store, Sappho Books, Cafe & Bar would be just it.Do yourself a favour and visit this wonderful place!!!!!
Sophia
Ohh I had a fantastic experience, the lady clerk was very nice to me as I asked for to trade in my old books that I couldn't find a place to donate and would recommend sappho books to everyone. With their abbundance categories of book surely everyone would find a suitable one meets a person need.
Triet Minh Nguyen Duy
Café en arrière cour très agréable, concert gratuit très bien.Par contre je n'ai pas l'habitude de leur recette du mojito : avec de l'eau plate et non de l'eau pétillante et avec uniquement du sucre liquide, et vraiment pas beaucoup de menthe mais ont bien voulu en rajouter.Bref, je recommande sauf le mojito
eleonore
A pearl of a cafe.You can have coffee and breakfast here. It doesn't look it from the front, but has a cafe in the garden area at the back.Lovely
Old School Caretaker
What a special place this is. I reckon the best bookshops are secondhand and the best secondhand bookshops are like rabbit warrens - and this one really is. Each twist and turn leads to a new cozy nook, and in the late afternoon these wee rooms have so much natural light! Some really beautiful decor choices and - crucially - chairs to sit in as you read. An incredible and expansive collection of titles and genres, too.I am sitting in the gorgeous backyard cafe feeling very sorry for myself that I live across the ditch and can’t come here regularly, especially to attend their events, which I can imagine are lovely.10/10 vibes, you can tell this space was curated by people who truly love books and a good atmosphere. Dream bookshop!
Elani Austin-Tennant
One of a kind bookstore. A whole world of culture and knowledge to get lost in. Great cafe out back too.
Alison M. Downham Moore
I found here by accudently!! Small book shop with cafe &bar behind the book shop!! It was good location near bus stop and nice atmosphere..-특이하고 이쁘고 고양이 사진은 못 찍었지만 서점에 촬리가 있음.. 너무 이쁜냥이..
Colin& Steve
Great place for a snack or coffee to when meeting friends. Staff very friendly. Menu for easy food limited but they are happy for you to ask if they could do something not listed on the menu, eg cheese/ tomato toaster. I go often for coffee and snack often.If interested in the evenings the bar is open.Highly recommend
James Brooking
Beautiful Bookstore that's more spacious than outside appearances would have you believe.I highly recommend the "Sappho's custom blend chai".friendly staff & great service. Having recently returned to Sydney after 9 years in Newcastle, I'm glad to have found a new Bookstore Cafe to visit.
We love Sappho! The bar garden is awesome, the food is delish and the staff are lovely (and great dancers!)can't wait to play again 😉
Beautiful, quaint place. Paradise for book lovers and some great food! Perfect for some alone time or with your kid or other book lovers 😊
This is my absolute favourite place to get away, drink good coffee and daydream as I browse the day away. I wish I lived closer so that I could visit every week... but then I would probably own an entire library of books 🤔😎
Great place for book fans, enjoy a coffee or some delicious food in the cafe. I dare you to leave without a book!
Quirky cafe with loads of character and cute little nooks for enjoying amazing food the best coffee around!
We had our 25th wedding anniversary party at Sappho. The staff put everything on seamlessly, we didn't have to do anything all night, just kick back and enjoy the food, drinks and company!
I would like to thank everyone involved for ensuring that every aspect of our wedding night was exactly as we imagined. Friendly staff, incredible food and the cafe provided the perfect backdrop for photos.
It is on of the best cafe in Glebe & excellent vegetarian food, chai tea, latte - we have been returning to this establishment for past 10 years🎉
LoVe Sappho Bar! Fantastic setting & great staff (say hello to Jeb & Zoe)!Love their live music & especially the "Poetry" & "Open Mic" nights!Best place in Glebe!Highly recommended!
Haven't gone for breakfast or lunch. Night time in my opinion is the best time to be at Sappho's. Beautiful live music each time I've been. Relaxing, great vibe, great for anything, dates, meeting up with a friend for a drink. Staff are helpful and food and drinks are on point. I love everything about this place. It feels like I'm sitting in my backyard and someone has jazzed it up with fairy lights and a beautiful live band. Have introduced alot of friends to this place and each of them have adored it like I do.
Sappho Books Cafe and Wine Bar, has been Emad's residency for nearly 6years. It's a great place for smokers and nonsmokers. It has a large back yard with tables and chairs, where one can meet people , have a drink or even read a book, have a birthday party or even get married there. I first knew Sappho as a book shop, and was a regular customer there, but in the last few years I have been helping my son Emad, by being his Roadie. We enjoy going there.
Nice relaxing atmosphere and good service. Looking forward to the poetry evenings this forthcoming 2017!
Live music and poetry
There’s always something happening at the Sappho bar!
“Give me books, French wine, fruit, fine weather and a little music played out of doors by somebody I do not know.”
― John Keats
Live music and poetry
There’s always something happening at the Sappho bar!
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Looking for sheet music?
The Da Capo Music Bookshop is housed upstairs – Australia’s only second-hand music store!
Looking for sheet music?
The Da Capo Music Bookshop is housed upstairs – Australia’s only second-hand music store!
Visit us in Glebe
We’re open every day at
Phone: (02) 9552 4498
The Sappho Bar – a hidden gem
Much more than just a book shop… the Sappho Bar is one of Sydney’s best-kept secrets.
A hidden gem
Much more than just a book shop… the Sappho bar is one of Sydney’s best-kept secrets.