Watermark Books & Cafe

While out of town I stopped to check out the bookshop and I was so happy I did. It was charming, the coffee was great, and the store was a gem. The thoughtfulness of the currated items that accompany each section shows the love and interest of the staff. The hand written book reviews are very helpful and one of my favorite things when choosing books. I was lucky as an author was there to promote her book, and I was able to listen to other authors and readers Q&A while I browsed. Looks like they have frequent events.

Being here made me so happy! This is one of the best independent bookstores I’ve ever been to. The selection here is broad and diverse, there are a lot of up-to-date new releases, local gems, and I was also able to find books that I really haven’t anywhere else! The staff was super helpful and friendly; I got to talk to Shane who gave me some great book recs. The bookstore does a lot of events and author visits so definitely visit their calendar and social media to stay updated. The coffee shop is excellent and the baristas are very nice! I got an iced Othello latte and iced regular latte and both were delicious. The environment is great for browsing books and gifts, and also sitting and working. If I lived in Wichita, this would for sure be my go-to spot! I hope to be back again when I make my typical drive up!

Needing a place to host my parents’ anniversary get-together, this was just right! We reserved the “Starry Night” room and it was a good size for 16 people plus room for food table and memory/photograph table. They were flexible in allowing us to use an extra table for photos and checked on us regularly to refill water or anything else we needed! Joe from the cafe was especially helpful in planning as I was planning it from another state and had plenty of questions. Food was nice and I can’t wait to go back and explore the bookstore side in the future!

This is one of my favorite places! I love going here to browse through books, but they have great selections of puzzles, cards, and other types of items as well. They have a fantastic children's section too! Also, I wanted to mention that I love their emailed newsletter- one of the emails I always open and read. Whether it is book reviews and recommendations, or information about author events- I just always enjoy these newsletters. We are really lucky to have such a gem in Wichita!

One of Wichita’s finest bookstores that doubles as a great food and coffee spot for College Hill, right at Douglas and Oliver. The book side looks wonderfully presented and inviting as ever, and has a very engaging and courteous staff. Tons of new releases and classics found here in a huge selection for all readers. The cafe side is a dependable place for sandwiches, salads, and definitely coffee. I’m thrilled that Watermark continues to be a success and I recommend it highly.

I haven’t been inside Watermark since the ownership change and this is one of my new favorite places to be!! The staff is friendly, coffee is good, and has great selection of books. What else does a girl need! 🤩 this place is the perfect Saturday morning vibe

This is an absolutely adorable local bookstore. Loved the vide as well as the sheer amount of books, journal, and just various knick knacks they have along with a small cafe. The staff were welcoming as well as super sweet and helpful. Loved everything and found some of the books that my husband has been unable to find but wanting for months. 10/10 definitely recommend and can't wait for our next visit!

What a lovely environment to shop for books! The staff was helpful, and I love the vibe!

Excellent selection of books and sundries, good coffee, nice staff. Plenty of parking.

This is a go to place to stop any time we are In Wichita. Helpful staff. Great selection. Welcome and affirming.

The grouchy older guy working in the cafe was extremely rude to my Mom who was trying to pick up her chicken salad sandwich she had ordered today, 2/26/25. He pulled the bag out of her hand after the person in the back who made it called her name. He then asked the other staff and they confirmed it was for her. No apology or nice words from him, just stares and glares. Everybody else is so great at WaterMark but he doesn't appear to enjoy his job or customer service.

A wonderful small cafe with a great menu! Service was good, and we enjoyed seeing all the unique items in book store. I highly recommend this sweet spot for a Saturday/Sunday luncheon.

Easily my absolute favorite bookstore! Such wonderful books with such knowledgeable and kind staff! If you're in the area and love reading I can't recommend Watermark enough! 10 million stars!

My wife and I love visiting independent bookstores, making a point to visit at least one whenever we travel. Fortunately, we have Watermark here in our city. The staff is incredibly helpful and friendly, never failing to help me find the book I'm looking for or making recommendations for new authors or books to try. Selection is excellent, covering all genres that I'm interested in. An outstanding part of Watermark are the author events they host! Because of Watermark, I've listened to and met: David Sedaris, Rebecca Makkai, Armor Towles, Gabrielle Zevins, John Darnielle, Megan Phelps-Roper and many more authors. What great opportunities provided to us by this fantastic independent bookstore!

Very limited selection of books compared to the chain store. The coffee is OK. Not enough to bring back.

Watermark books is a great place to go to find a new read and or to eat a fresh salad! They have a great menu of salads, soups, and sandwiches! This is the type of place that is a gem in Wichita! For those of you, like me, that prefer their books to be written on real paper, this is the place for you! Join there monthly newsletter list to find out what the author is currently reading at the shop! For those that long for how things were in the 60s, check it out!

This sandwich has been my favorite since the late 90's! On special occasions I would surprise my girls with a lunch date when they were little and we would and still do.. order the Great Expectations! Turkey perfection with their special apricot, curry, walnut mayo.. served on the softest focaccia bread you will ever bite into. On this trip back to Wichita I had to savor this most delicious sandwich and the warmth of all the sweet memories rush over me... The care these folks have for their cafe and store is so dear.. a rarity these days.

This is a really neat book store. My husband and I ordered 2 drinks from the cafe. My three star rating is because it took so long for us to get those drinks. I had to go back up to the counter to ask where our drinks were. People who were in line after us had already gotten their order. The girls answer was "they had a rush" and we would have our order shortly. We did get our order about five minutes later.

The workers were rude. The actual place is pleasing to the eye, but I can't get past the poor service.

Nice aesthetic upon entering. Good selection of books and gifts. If it's a popular browsing time, it can feel crowded. I think they have a cafe but I didn't get something from that. The workers are helpful if you're looking for something specific.

Awesome customer service from the minute you walk at the door. Where do i begin with the food... it is Delicious. Not sure which sandwich I got but we tried two different kinds and it was great. Tomato bisque soup is good, u gotta try it for a side. Bread is good. Had to try their vanilla malt shake which had it's on flavor which was amazing. Went around the bookstore which was comfy. A lil pricey but overall good food. Miss this kind of small cafe with bookstore setting with all the technology around us. Nice setting. Will definitely check it out again.

What a delight this store and staff are. Great for families, open and friendly with a fantastic selection of books and bites from the cafe. It has become a regular Saturday morning stop for us, and books are hand picked the selection feels alive not churned out of the corporate machine. Strongly recommend.

Amazing book store, definitely my favorite. It's convenient location helps! They are always able to help if your are looking for certain books, authors, and point you in any direction. And they have an amazing and cute cafe inside. I've had everything from bruschetta to muffins! It's all awesome! They different soups ALL the time! I absolutely love it here, and I could spend hours upon hours here.

I used to come here for children's books frequently. Unfortunately, the staff discusses politics openly so all can hear. Made me very uncomfortable and I did not feel welcome. I am a Christian and I don't appreciate being labeled. Just because someone goes to church does not inform their political opinions necessarily. Saying that church goers "vote differently behind closed doors" was not very kind. We are all hypocrites, this is true. Whether someone does or does not go to a church- I don't judge them. Anyway, I was going to buy several children's books for my child's daycare center, but I'll take my business elsewhere.

Stopped by Watermark Books and Cafe for my first visit and enjoyed a Delicious Cappuccino.. I recommend everyone visit to shop and enjoy delicious cappuccinos.

We arrived early when the cafe just opened. The service was friendly and the place was clean. The food was fresh and the drinks made with the right amount of flavor. The only thing I would recommend is more breakfast choices or rotating options. Overall it was a good experience.

I ordered online, with a special request in the order notes. I received an email the next day that they were able to honor the special request, and the prompt communication was especially impressive. They also carefully wrapped and quickly shipped the books, and I couldn't be more happy with my purchase and the customer service! While I live several states away, I will continue to patronize this store.

First, the person at the counter made me feel like I was a nuisance. That was unpleasant. Then I ordered the house turkey sandwich that they forgot to put walnuts on, it was ok, nothing to write home about. THEN they also didn't give me my chips. This was an unpleasant experience and it was overpriced. Will not be going back.

My stepdad (71) went weekly and looked for "The Economist" magazine and kept being told they don't have it yet, please come back next week. Today, apparently he said a lady walked by and said, very rudely, that they will never carry that magazine again. Why didn't they just tell him that the first time vs leading him on? He eats at a restaurant nearby frequently and was a frequent shopper at this bookstore, but he said after today he will no longer continue. I guess her rudeness cost them a valued customer. Just because he reads "The Economist" doesn't make him less of a person or be treaded rudely. I have never read this magazine, but I can guess this is a political magazine. It almost seemed she had hatred towards this magazine by her tone. It's fine if you no longer want to carry, but please don't take out your anger/aggression from the magazine out on customers. If you no longer plan on carrying, just be honest instead of him coming back and asking weekly. Thank you for being honest today about it, but you might want to improve your customer service skills. He has always tried to support small business owners but ended up at "the" large bookstore this afternoon. Dear very rude lady, don't judge a book by it's cover because he is (one of the few) that has stuck by my side after I "came out" 20 years ago. Watermark books was his favorite place for books and he referred a lot of friends, but now lost a valued customer today.

What a fantastic bookstore. A million years ago, I was one of Watermark's sales reps but they have moved since then and I had never seen this store before (even though it's about 20 years old....) Robin recommended a book to me (which I bought) and then I had a lunch of their also-recommended gluten-free egg bake and a side salad. The gluten-free cookies were tempting but I passed. On a trip with painfully few gluten-free options, it was nice to see a few things on their menu. By the time I had bought a second book and was ready to leave, it was pouring rain. Robin offered to walk me out to my car under the store umbrella which was a wonderful added touch after an already great experience. (I should have said yes....)

Watermark is an adorable independent bookstore and cafe. I ate a tasty Egg Salad Sandwich at the cafe, which has plenty of vegetarian choices, and offeres sandwiches, salads, and soups, as well as baked goods and coffee. The sandwiches are named after fictional characters, and the coffee drinks (if I remember correctly) are named after books. I also had a tasty Peach Nutmeg scone, and a fantastic coffee drink (The Oddesy?) with Irish Cream, espresso and milk. Yum. The bookstore has lots of reading groups, and seems to frequently bring in authors. I saw Lisa See speak this past Tuesday, and the staff was friendly and did a great job of organizing the crowd. If I lived in Wichita this place would be a regular hangout for me.

This is my favorite bookstore in Wichita. While it's not expensive by any means, it is has a very inviting layout - perfect for browsing - and is packed with both books and charm. The employees are always very helpful and relish any opportunities to provide suggestions or recommendations. Also has a small deli area with solid food options.

This place gets my top mark, not something i give casually. I recently opened a second office less than a block from here. Since then i have eaten at the cafe twice a week. The first time was due to convienance, every time since has been by choice. They get five stars because i believe they are the best in Wichita at what they do and they do it with impeccable consistency. Try the Great Expectations sandwich or the I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The first is cold, the latter hot. Both are on the in house made focaccia bread that is delicious alone, and both add excellently paired toppings. To finish, try the oat, pecan and dark chocolate cookie, what i consider to be the best cookie in town. They often sale out of sandwiches and cookies. Skip the chains offering sandwiches, drive an extra few blocks and enjoy a local treasure.

I have had iced coffee and several of their sandwiches. All were really tasty. Their service is terrific not only do they have great food but they even bring it out to you. Very friendly staff!

Delicious coffee! They offer discounts to teachers too! I have had the chicken salad and it's amazing! Anything you grab is a good choice! I also love all the Wichita apparel!

Holy tomato. Their tomato bisque soup is DE-LI-CIOUS. Came with delicious bread to dip and it may honestly be the best tomato bisque I've ever had. Wasn't super hungry, but when I come back I'll be sure to order more off the menu. Also wasn't feeling too adventurous today, so I ordered a double shot over ice. Nice selection of books along with a calendar of book club meetings and children's story times. Place is decorated with a lot of character! There's a basement here too, dare I see what's down there? Lol maybe next time. Will definitely come back for a second visit.

They always have a good gluten free soup available when I go. The coffee is always delicious. And the are quick to get your order out. Love going here and escaping a little bit!

Watermark is that rare thing, a beautifully curated local bookstore with a firm grasp on pleasing, serving, and challenging the horizons of the customer. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the the store brings in nationally prominent authors for book events and chats. E-newsletters keep you informed of new offerings and categories of literature, so sign up; there's a particularly strong children's section and young adult section. This intimate store is good enough to warrant a detour on any trip through Wichita - it takes about 15 minutes to get there from I-35 - and is a great refuge if you're staying in town for any length of time.

If you haven't had the tomato soup here you are missing out... It's one of my all-time favorites. Even if this wasn't walking distance from my house I would still make a weekly trip for sure! And now they finally have local kansas coffee that blows away the old corporate coffee! If you go for lunch, try the great expectations with tomato soup... you can thank me later.

Always a huge supporter of local bookstores. Great place for books and cafe. I've been going to this shop for years and will continue my yearly visits. The staff is great and helpful as well and easy to talk to.

Simple food, love the atmosphere of the place. The noise of this place is definitely an asmr trigger for me, so please check this place out if you are into that. It is very relaxing to listen to the sounds of the kitchen with the smell of soup and coffee. Great for meeting people and lunch dates. Also great place to work by yourself if you're like me and work better with background noises and conversation.

I've never had less than exemplary service at Watermark. They're courteous, attentive, and do all they can to meet my needs. They carry clever and interesting gifts, office items, cards, shirts, journals, etc. Their cafe offers delicous pastries and desserts, soups, salads, and drinks. In addition, they bring popular and talented authors to our community, host writing and book clubs, and more. Watermark is an asset to our city.

A gem of an independent bookstore. We "Yelped" into it on a recent trip to Wichita. If you live nearby, please frequent it! Their coffee is good too.

Need a nice quiet place to relax and enjoy a snack, drink, or quick bite to eat? Check this place out along with a friend or a good book you have been meaning to finish. The staff is friendly and helpful and the service is always good. Glad Wichita has been able to support this fantastic local place.

Watermark is the perfect spot to sip tea, write poetry (or proof read essays), watch hipsters pull up their jeans whilst browsing the eclectic fiction section and join old ladies in a game of Bridge. If you're looking for something unique, something fabulous and a feather boa is out of the question, Watermark Books will have just the non-Kindle, non-electronic book, toy or otherwise quirky item for your giving pleasure.

A quintessential independent bookstore and then some. What's not to love? Despite its size, Watermark somehow manages to have exactly what readers need and want. There's no shortage of inventory, style, or author events in this little bookstore, part of a company that originally sold only collectible and coffee table books, operated a children's bookstore for a time, and has now settled in as the local bookstore of choice for many Wichitans. For Yelpers familiar with Denver's Tattered Cover bookstores, you'll feel right at home at Watermark. it's very similar, but smaller and with its own personality. For those who don't have a Tattered Cover experience to rely on, you may find Watermark resembles your idea of a neighborhood bookstore on the east coast, or maybe a cozy small library, lovingly furnished with overstuffed chairs and library tables that hold stacks of books begging to be read. There are two meeting rooms downstairs in the basement, used for both author events and community meetings. The one directly under the cafe features autographs and drawings or visiting authors, much like the backstage halls at House of Blues. Sign up for the shop's newsletter to learn about readings, live music, Watermark sponsored community events, and to be turned on to new books by a team of booksellers who are always reading. The aforementioned cafe generally operates at a leisurely pace, forgivable because the food offerings (mostly soups, salads, and sandwiches) and sweet treats are so incredibly good. It's busy at lunch time, for good reason. It's important to me and may be to you that Watermark generously supports public radio.

Technologically, I'm pretty forward-thinking. It's been two years since I cut physical CDs and DVDs out of my life, and since getting my Kindle a year ago, my for-pleasure book collection has been whittled down to the single digits (I don't see my cookbooks or magazines getting replaced any time in the near future, though). I think it's the way of the future, and I think the big box retailers like Borders and Barnes and Noble are getting their comeuppance for forcing me to buy $25 hard cover books for the past two decades. Borders, like Blockbuster, failed to evolve in a changing marketplace, and they are now bankrupt as a result. Quite frankly, I'm glad they're gone. I think Barnes and Noble will reach a time when the Nook will be the primary money-making venture, too, but at least B&N had the foresight to do something to stop hemorrhaging money. Bookstores will still be around for many years to come, of course, though I believe they will live on in the independent neighborhood bookshop, where service and niche appeal will continue to keep some folks interested in physical pieces of paper. More power to them, especially when it's a local business that has an interest in sharing their wares with other book lovers. Me? I've just about exhausted any need for places like that, though my need for a great place to find a soup and sandwich can never be quenched. If the crowd was any indication during the Sunday of my visit, Watermark's cafe is equally good - if not better - than the bookstore itself. Any time a place bakes its own bread automatically scores points with me, and when that focaccia used for the Iliad chicken salad sandwich, it was very good. The mayo was conservatively used, though I don't know if it could have helped with the large chunks of chicken, which were a little dry, but with the tarragon, walnuts, and green onion, the flavor was definitely there. Any dryness was offset with a cup of their standard tomato bisque, which was large, sweet and flavorful. More impressive was their willingness to experiment, with every day bringing a new soup and baked goods, usually from a monthly rotation of cookbooks that they offer for sale. It's a fun concept, and its a guarantee that there's always something new to discover. I'm excited to go back and try a pastry and coffee. Even if you're like me and over the whole "physical book" thing, they are registered with Google ebooks, so you can go to Watermark's website, buy books for your smartphone or e-reader and still support local businesses. This is probably going to be how a lot of independent bookstores are going to conduct business in the future, and even if the book business eventually goes the way of the dodo, there's no doubt the cafe will still be around for years to come.

This place is one of the things that keeps this FL girl sane living on the prairie! The coffee and food in the cafe are delicious and moderately priced. The staff is very helpful, they have both a zeal for books and a willingness to accomodate their customers. Plus there is a book club here for everyone, even those that would like to read in French or Spanish. They give 20% off book club books which may still be a bit more than Amazon but its nice to support a local business.

Watermark is more than a cafe, though the food is WONDERFUL. It is more than a bookstore, though you can spend hours browsing new delights off the shelves, and what they don't have they will be happy to order in for you. Check out their First Edition section. Bibliophiles will not be disappointed. It is more than an art crawl hot spot, though they've exhibited some of the region's best talent since long before Wichita had its own Final Friday roster. Watermark is more than a hot spot for author events, though it regularly hosts America's best writers for lectures and signings, and is nationally known by authors and the publishing world at large. Watermark is College Hill, and the surrounding area's hangout, our "kick back" cafe, community and action center. Watermark hosts book clubs, music events, reader's groups, literary feasts, and loads of kid friendly fun like book readings and meet and greets with Sedgwick County Zoo's furry, crawly friends. Watermark is home. It is friendship and fellowship. It is family. We have visited weekly since before my little girl could crawl, which she did quite a lot of between the bookshelves! I have the Watermark seasoned reader discount card but I rarely use it. I pay retail because I can't imagine our neighborhood and our city without it.

What an amazing book store, they are really nice and helpful, it is so beautiful in the inside and had the best latest books. I completely recommend them and am happy I decided to go there!

I used to come here in high school all the time for writer's meetings, and the last time I was there, I was glad to see it hadn't changed! Good selection, cozy atmosphere, interesting clientele, and friendly staff. I haven't eaten there in about 9 years, so I can't comment much on the food, although I imagine it's just as good as it used to be.

What to say about this place? The biggest problem with Watermark is that I can only give it 5 stars. This is the bookstore that all of the Hollywood movies try to imitate. Sure they are small but don't let that fool you. If it isn't upstairs chances are what you need can be pulled up from the large storage area in the base. And if it needs to be ordered for you it can be there in just a few days. The staff is incredible and there are plenty of them. Sometimes there are so many you don't recognize who is there as a customer and who is there working. The prices are competitive. Sure you might pay $2 or $3 more for a book at times but that is well worth it to me so that I can keep businesses local. And they are always bringing in guest authors. I don't know how such a little place can get that many authors to come to Wichita. The one flaw that I see is that they are closed on Sundays. I know that people need a work break so it is understandable. Sometimes we do all of our shopping on Sunday so that is an issue if we need a book. But we manage through it. Go to Watermark before you go anywhere else!!! There isn't anything better then a mom and pop bookstore.

Came for lunch, and to browse around the store. The chicken salad sandwich was very good, and the bread tasted homemade. I got the cream of asparagus soup, and I didn't care for it. Not creamy at all, it had chunks of white things (maybe the cream?) floating in it. The roll that came with it was delicious, and obviously homemade. The store was delightful, and the staff was very helpful. I will return to try other menu items, and purchase more books.

The helpful staff at Watermark always has great reading suggestions. They pull in authors from around the world for entertaining events and the store features everything from cookbooks to children's reading materials. Online shopping and a delightful cafe round out a great five-star experience.

Kitschy book store, quaint cafe. Location is fun and the facility is a navigate-able size. Book prices are high but it's shopping local. They periodically offer book signings. A cozy place overall.

I was showing my foreign exchange student friend from Germany local stores around Wichita and we stopped by Watermark Books & Cafe because we were curious. Me and my two friends started to walk around with our masks on and I noticed the staff was watching us very closely. Then all three of us bought drinks from the cafe and walked around again. There was a chair in the corner of the store and so me and my friends decided to make a pit stop and sit down. We talked for a good 20 minutes while looking at books and making sure we were not interrupting the customers. A worker came up to us and told us to get up and leave, we said sorry and she looked at us and rolled her eyes. After talking to us she went and whispered to her coworker and watched us walkout and didn't say a word. We were quiet, respected the mask mandate, and even gave them business by buying drinks. You will not be seeing me there anymore. Karma is real:D

one of my favorite quaint book stores to go. it has that "bookstore" smell right when you walk in #iykyk lolol. and if your a student you can get a discount on books!! The cafe is great always love it can sometimes get a bit busy or slow so I would expect fast service unless your just getting a pastry. I love their mac and cheese its awesome and is shell pasta which is a higher bonus but if you dont eat it fast enough I have to say it will go bad quick and just harden up. The quiches I used to like A LOT but lately have to say im not as much of a fan just way too much cheese and greasy/soggy. The muffins tend to be pretttttyy good but nothing like wow best muffin ever more sweet than anything has that nice sugary top to it. They have an AMAZING banana cake some days so definitely get that if your lucky enough to see it in the pastry shelves. Also think milkshakes!! I would have to say for a cafe in a bookstore they have some wide variety going on.