Library Cafe

You'll find Library Cafe tucked into the University of Reading's campus, but don't let that put you off if you're not freshly enrolled. It's the kind of place where postgrads are hammering laptops, undergrads are cramming between lectures, and locals pop in knowing they'll get a decent espresso without the pretension of town centre chains. The space feels like an actual campus café should—functional but friendly, with enough seating to settle in properly. Grab a coffee and a pastry, find a corner that doesn't reek of desperation, and you've got yourself a solid spot away from the madness of the city centre.