Little Switzerland Books & Beans

Charming mountain book store. 📚 Wished I lived closer, definitely the kinda book store I could get lost in on the regular. The delicious aroma of the coffee wafting through the place was mouthwatering. Cool art and gifts for sale throughout the place. Friendly staff with café dining just a step away. I'll definitely be returning!

Great place to find an old or new book to read on vacation. Try the pastries and order a drink. Don’t forget to head upstairs for the art gallery - local artists’ work on view.

This little book store was awesome! They had some funny magnets and tons of books! Loved the sense of humor! And the coffee was amazing! They have pumpkin spice flavoring all year around so I couldn't help myself! So cool that the employees love Halloween as much as I do!

Little Switzerland Books & Bean Cafe in Little Switzerland, North Carolina, is an absolute gem! This quaint cafe offers some of the best cappuccinos and lattes I’ve ever had, each cup brewed to perfection. The atmosphere is incredibly cozy, with numerous nooks and crannies filled with a vast selection of books. It's the perfect spot to relax and lose yourself in a good read while savoring your coffee. The charm of this place is unmatched, making it a must-visit for anyone passing through the area. Highly recommended!

Absolutely lovely place to have a coffee and a pastry, and peruse the massive collection of books. We make a stop every time we’re on the mountain. They have an excellent collection of books and gifts, and the people who work there are great!

How do you make the mountains better? Put a 3 story book store at the top! - Be ready to spend some time and have a cup of coffee by the fire place or out on the porch. The proprietress was friendly and ready for a chat and the selection of gifts, art, and snacks are a real treat (buttermilk blueberry muffin was quite yum). as well as an impressively well curated selection of used and new books of good quality and topics. BOOK LOVERS: Do yourself a favor and leave your phone in the car. This is best experienced while connected to your soul and not the internet. Have fun.

I have wanted to get here since I passed by going to Mount Mitchell last spring. My son and I started out with some pastries and coffee and then we began browsing the enormous selection of books. The shop had cozy room after room full of books, crafts, art, and other interesting odds and ends. I could have spent hours searching around the shop for treasures. The restaurant or general store were not open, maybe because of the busy season not starting up yet, but we enjoyed our stop and will try to get back some day. The staff were friendly and helpful and the ride out was beautiful. This is a special place and now a favorite of mine. We were very close to Crabtree Falls, around 12 miles, and made that hike after we left.

This is a wonderful book store! There are so many books and crannies to explore. There are a selection of used books and also new books, comic books, kids books, etc. Such a neat place to explore. Coffee bar with awesome desserts on display. I wanted to try one of everything. I got their regular coffee and it was very good. No need for cream. There are public restrooms and they were clean. There is not wifi available. The staff were very friendly and helpful. There are tables outside to enjoy your beverage and snacks.

Fun shop with something for everyone! 2 floors of rooms filled with books and the top floor dedicated to artists, this is a treasure to visit. I didn't test out the coffee-- saving that for the next trip-- but I did find some great used books to bring home. Fun atmosphere and definitely a place to find gifts and hidden treasures!

One of the best experiences. Came down from Miami and it was the best service food and hospitality. Thank you for having us! Will love to be back!

I would give this place a zero if I could. We asked the girl at the counter (dark hair) if they had oat milk and she loudly and rudely said NO. I chose not to order because of her attitude. My husband ordered and he hated his latte. The customers after us asked if they had oat milk and the same rude cashier said "no one reads the sign." The customer said where's the sign? Both ladies behind the counter point to a hand made sign that offers some milk alternatives. It doesn't say no oat milk and honestly it's 2024 who doesn't have oat milk?!! Besides, what does it hurt to say, I'm sorry we don't but we do offer x,y,z. Get some customer service skills!! After reading all the stuff on the windows it explained a lot. Lots of intolerant, angry liberal crap. We love books and never once looked at them because of the horrible customer service.

great place to browse around for random book finds, good coffee, and nice staff. It's in a fun row of stores, "Downtown Little Switzerland", with a great BBQ place on one end and a collection of artists with paintings, photos, and crafts at the other. Nice way to relax!

Lots of energy greeted us when we walked in the door. Great decaf latte to sip while we checked out all of the books. Old and new alike. Felt warm and cozy. Little nook where we sat and finished out lattes was perfect. A must stop if you are traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Nice selection of interesting book. It has a coffee and pastry shop inside for snacks. Fun little trinkets and cards for sale. Worth checking out.

As we drove up Route 226A to Mount Mitchell, we stopped in a quaint little mountain town called Little Switzerland, which felt like we had transported to the actual country due to the scenic mountain landscapes that recalled my experiences traveling there as a kid. The sharp-angled and curvy slopes making up Route 226A and the surrounding roads was quite an experience to start, before finding yourself smack dab in this cute, little town and the bookstore and coffee house that is Little Switzerland Books and Beans. If you look up quaint bookstores in the dictionary, Little Switzerland would pop up as one of the examples -- and a splendid one. The three-story building that encompasses Little Switzerland Books and Beans fits the vision of an old-fashioned bookstore: loads and loads of bookshelves overflowing with books. These bookshelves look like they have stood against these walls for decades. They feel part of the house as much as the fireplace and the staircases when the original owners first built the house. We seemed to go down the rabbit hole as we explored the various rooms of books and artisan crafts on the three floors. With every nook and cranny, there seemed to appear one fascinating book after another for one genre or another. Fiction, non-fiction, the classics, history, sci-fi, cookbooks, religious text: the bookstore had a lot of finds. We enjoyed our experience at Little Switzerland Books and Beans while sipping on hot espresso drinks from the full-service coffee bar (mine had caramel in it and was quite magical). The bookstore keeps fairly reasonable hours at 9 AM to 5 PM, open seven days a week, which can allow those who work a typical schedule to stop by on the weekends, or those traveling to stop in the morning or early afternoon on any given day. The literary treasures you may find in any part of the store is a fun and wonderful way to kill some time if you need a break from all the mountain driving.

Had a wonderful afternoon here a few days! It is like a a really cool book store mixed in with an artful array of museum pieces! The place goes on forever like a wonderful maze! I don't drink coffee however my hubby loved it! We enjoyed a huge pastry outside at one of the cute tables there, and bought two for the next day! Loved finding the "Trader Vics" cookbook! It was a restaurant my parents used to go to while dating back in the 40's. Somewhere along in years her cookbook like this one was lost, I felt my mother's sprit with me when I found the book! We purchased a sweet magnifying glass too. This is a must stop while there in Little Switzerland NC... and remember... BUY something! Support this small amazing business.

If I had the time, I could spend hours in here! Great selection of classic books! I even found one written in 1892! There are many other things as well. The store is appropriately named, make sure you get a cup of java and by all means, try the double chocolate chip muffins and the double chocolate chip brownies!

Expresso was very burnt tasting, and staff was unwelcoming. I should have gotten the hint when I read their plethora of signs on the door announcing they are intolerant.

We needed our caffeine for the afternoon and as I walked up to the door I saw that the sign said CLOSED. I asked the guy coming out with drinks if they were open and he said yes. So I went in and they took my order. I then asked if they were open and they said they were actually closed but made my order anyway, which was very sweet of them. I got a mocha and hubby wanted a cafe au lait. I asked them to make it extra hot and they did! Yay! This was the first mocha I've enjoyed for a long time! I wish I had come when they were annually open so I could browse the books. Coffee and books go very well together!

This book store is huge. It meandered in and out of a few different buildings and included a part downstairs. There was a fireplace and 2 people were sitting there reading. How cozy. There was some stained glass pieces hanging up and they were very nice. There was a coffee (some shakes) bar with interesting coffee drinks. Upstairs were local crafts for sale. There were 'Little Switzerland' tea shirts and jackets for sale and other trinkets.

Charming Little Store! It is a nice book and art store that sells great coffee. I spent 20 minutes enjoying the store. There are crafts from local artist. You will find old books that you probably will no longer find in a bookstore. The store is inviting. You need to visit this store and enjoy.

Great surprise find while driving the Blue Ridge Pkwy and looking for coffee before a hike! Super friendly, great latte, amazing collection of books. I could have spent lots more time.....but the mountains were calling. Definitely will make another visit .

Very unique, quirky, relaxing and fun bookstore. You can find lots of treasures and get lost in a good sense. The people are friendly. The drinks are tasty. The town is really cool- some good hiking close-by, beauty scenery- prime time for an adventure!!

If you're passing through Lil Swizzy you can't miss this adorable little bookstore! It offers three floors full of books and other curiosities, and tons of character! There's a cool, quirky, antique-store-ish vibe throughout the store--even in the bathrooms, and they've got tons of new, used, and rare books! I only wish I would've gotten some coffee to complete the experience! And if you need one more reason to check this place out...they've got the biggest magnifying glass selection I've ever seen!

I was dying to check this coffee shop out as I love little Switzerland and love coffee! The store is really neat with lots of books and crafts of sorts. It's connected on a strip with another small tourist shop and a restaurant. I'm unhappy to review that the coffee just wasn't it. :( I'm not one to get sugary drinks when I want to judge a coffee shop on how their drinks taste, I value the craftsmanship and quality of the espresso and everything that goes into it. The cappuccino was just meh, the espresso had a burnt taste and the foam did not taste good. lmao I really hope it was just a fluke or something- I might try again next time I come up here but I didn't have a great experience. The barista mentioned they could put cinnamon on top or something else, and mentioned they also had sugar and other condiments to add... to mask the taste of it or something? It shouldn't need all that..

This place is so precious and a must-stop. Their collection is beautiful and all of the little gifts are too cute to pass up.

Step back into time as soon as you set foot in this bookstore! Seriously. GO. HERE. It's one of the best places I went when I spent 6 weeks in Western NC this summer. It was three stories. There were places for reading and TONS of books. There was coffee and they even sold the brand they carry. Upstairs from the main entrance was an art gallery where you could check out artwork from local artists. The decorations are beautiful and feel old and antique. The views are amazing. They also have unique gifts so if you have a list of people you need things for before you go home-go here! The woman at the counter was super nice and friendly. Before I left told her I wanted to work there

What a gem. Just around the turn close to the blue ridge parkway and without a view but with a functioning wood burning fireplace you can order a coffee and snack (these were surprisingly fresh even off season in Late November) and sit on the sofa and pick up a book (many many books for sale) and relax. Don't expect the highest quality caffeinated drinks but you can expect a cute, cozy, unique experience very friendly service and cute souvenirs if you want.

Adorable book shop, a thing out of the movies. The coffee was incredible as well and the service was top notch! Don't forget to check out the art upstairs!

Yes, they have terrific sweets.... but you go for the Espressos, Macchiatos, and Cappuccinos... Real Pros that know their coffee drinks! Relaxing front porch.... and books don't forget the books!

Loved this little store!! What an unexpected surprise!! There are so many eclectic and fun things to shop. Love walking around books, books and more books. Amazing coffee and delicious treats!! Lovely owner and coffee barista! Loved stopping here on the Blue ridge parkway.

We stopped here on our road trip through the Blue Ridge Parkway and it was honestly one of our favorite stops. The service was excellent and they were super helpful and the coffee was the best of our entire trip. I would tell anyone to stop in Little Switzerland but I would make a specific note to stop at this store after you drove the loop of 226-A. I just wish we had more time to stay and relax but we had to get back on the road. I look forward to coming back here again when we stop on another future road trip.

From the shelf upon shelf of used books (which are in themselves, artistically appealing), to the ladies' book club meeting in the back room, to aroma of fresh brewed coffee wafting throughout, to the cozy little reading nooks, this little business is indeed unique in its quaintness. It is worth a walk through and a must see if you're a book lover.

Love this place! Coffee is great, wonderful desserts and plenty of books to browse. We stop here every time we are near Little Switzerland!

Great coffee, infinite books, great prices, & friendly service. A must stop destination. I ordered the snickers frappe and it was delicious and beautiful. Maybe the best frappe I've ever had.

It looks small from the outside, but this place has room after room of books, including some fascinating first editions. Coffee, baked goods, and some comfortable and cozy places to sit and read. If you love books, and your travels take you anywhere near the Little Switzerland area, you won't want to miss it.

Cute store with books and gift items. We got a coffee and a couple Ron Hinkle glass pieces. The woman at the counter who made coffee and checked us out had the personality of a corpse. No hello no thank you. We felt like we were bothering her.

We went to this sweet little bookshop today, and ordered some drinks as well. This is the type of book store where you might find a little treasure. It's got the feel that it's been there forever and it has used books, antique books and some newer titles too. I love places like this where you're sort of walking from little room to little room with some quirkiness. They also had some North Carolina related gifts, some maps and trinkets. Really nice selection of pastries too, in addition to coffee/tea selections. Can't wait to go back could have spent more time there for sure. Please note most places in the mountains do not require masks, but this place does so be sure to have yours ready to visit this little gem.

This place is a whole aesthetic that I didn't even know I needed in my life - three story bookstore in the middle of the mountains! When you walk in, you get hit with the strong smell of coffee (yum!). Then there's the books - floor to ceiling shelves everywhere, fun little novelty gifts mixed in where they can fit in, and ultimately three whole stories of it. It was a really fun experience, and I highly recommend anybody going through Little Switzerland to check it out

Cute place next to restaurant and general store. We didn't get any coffee, but it smelled fantastic. Nice variety of Danish and sweets. There are sitting areas to read and drink your coffee in comfortable chairs.

Stopped in for morning hot chocolate and a blueberry muffin - my wife had a Danish and the blood orange mocha latte. Best we've had in a long time, several notches better than Starbucks. And the bookstore is a treasure -- we spent over an hour browsing. Also great and unusual gifts.

I ordered an Americano and it was TERRIBLE! I should have just walked out when, as soon as I ordered, the counter person pulled out a tupperware and started spooning coffee grounds out of it into the espresso device. There was a grinder on the counter but it was just for show, apparently. I don't know whether those old grounds were Maxwell House or yesterday's espresso beans, but whatever they were they made a godawful drink. I drank only a few sips and tossed it. Bleh.

It's a few little shops off the Blue Ridge. However, on a fall Sunday drive, this coffee shop book store fit the bill. We stumbled in and Colin browsed the books. A lot of odd books you don't see around. There is a bunch to look at. I grabbed a latte. It was warm, strong and sweet. Nice little pit stop on the way back to Charlotte. Don't expect LS to blow your socks off, but if you're looking for a snack on the Blue Ridge pull on in for a 20 minute rest.

Go! Such a sweet spot to take a break. Great atmosphere and delicious bakery goods/ coffee. Buy a book and enjoy yourself!

Great book store with little crafts and prints from local artists. They offer Almond milk for a substitute so that automatically gets them a star. The pumpkin roll seems a little dry but it was in a fridge case, overall it had good flavor. My favorite part about this place was seeing all the old books. I really need to come out here on a Saturday and just flip through the books all day!

We stopped in our way down the Parkway -- and this place was the only thing open in LS (off season). The barista (owner?) was super friendly, and the multiple levels of books ensure that there is something for the entire family. We will be back for sure.

Went for a scenic drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and stopped by here for a break. Lovely little town and interesting stores. This place was my favorite. A nice little store with VERY unique items. It's not just books and coffee. There are handmade knit hats and scarves, sweets, coffee and tea, gag gifts, a few toys, model boat kits, art and jewelry. There are a ton of interesting books and behind the glass counter there are some collectors books and a few antique items that are interesting, like a pair of gold opera glasses from the late 19th century. There are many places in North Carolina that are very touristy that sell a ton of worthless and run-of-the-mill stuff. Almost all of the gift shops in Cherokee, for instance. Books & Beans is not like that. And the lady whol runs the shop was very friendly and we had a nice conversation. I have no idea why the person who gave the previous review rated it at 3 stars. I don't know what they were expecting. Maybe a juggling act may have satisfied them more.

This bookstore is housed in what looked to be an old (maybe historic?) home. There are countless, super tall bookshelves filled to the brim with antique, collector, and used books (probably a few new ones in there too). The fireplace room is very cozy and warm, with fire and wood smoke smell adding to the ambiance - perfectly comfortable area for reading (decorations make it quite charming too). Upstairs has a local arts and crafts gallery. There are also baked sweets on the first floor. Employee was extra nice. Take a visit!