10 beautiful libraries and book cafes in the Klang Valley

Located along the bustling Jalan Tun Razak, the National Library is beautiful to behold from the outside, its striking roof tiles resembling the patterns of kain songket, a traditional handwoven fabric. It's also packed with a variety of resources and archives hard to find at many other libraries, from archival copies of newspapers from the 1980s to magazines, literatyre and other periodicals.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am – 5pm (Closed on Mondays and public holidays) 

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A project by the Selangor Public Library Corporation (Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Selangor), this village children's library in Kampung Endah was revamped in 2020 by architectural firm Eleena Jamil Architect from its original flood-damaged structure spanning just 800sf to a bright, modern and cosy space for young readers. 

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You've probably driven past this white corner building along Jalan Beringin in Damansara Heights without realising that it is actually a community library. Opened in March 2013, Bukit Damansara Community Library offers books for kids and adults, a children's corner, reading rooms, a meeting room, an IT corner and a special collection of works by the late Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, the former Chief Secretary to the Government who was hailed for his efforts in preserving the musical legacy of P. Ramlee for future generations.                  

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am – 5pm (Closed on Sunday, Monday and public holidays)

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Known as Perpustakaan Kuala Lumpur, The KL Library is another spacious book lover's haven within walking distance to some of the most popular attractions in the city, including Merdeka Square. Its facilities include a mini auditorium, a multipurpose hall, a conference hall, two exhibition galleries, a children's floor with its own spacious reading area, a cafe and a variety of cosy corners with reading pods to curl up quietly with a good book.     

Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10am – 6.45pm and weekends from 10am – 5pm (Closed on public holidays and the first Saturday and Sunday of the month)

Home to the Little Giraffe Book Club, this rustic space in Cheras's Batu 11 neighbourhood is a local children's library and restaurant serving up local delights at local eatery Always Lapar. The community library hosts movie screenings, weekend storytelling sessions and more. The books and activities at this family-friendly space are curated by co-founder Lee Soon Yong, who transformed it from an abandoned eyesore of a building in 2017 into a beautiful, wide-open area for local children to develop a love of reading.     

Opening Hours: Daily, 10am - 6pm (Always Lapar kitchen closes at 5pm)

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Rustic indoor and outdoor seating, hearty meals, book exchanges and plenty of cakes and coffee to go around—Bukku Café in Setia Alam is a picture-perfect place to unwind with a good book in hand. 

Opening hours: Daily, 10am - 5pm 

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How often does a café let you have some alone time to curl up with a book? Yet that's exactly what this book cafe promises to do. Inspired by Tokyo's unique Book and Bed hospitality concept, Me Time Book Café at The Square in Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, offers books, food, and dedicated privacy pods with bean bags and mini tables to relax with a book or even take a nap. Special meeting rooms like the Rainbow Room, the Pinky Room and shower facilities are also available. 

Opening hours: Daily, 11am - 8pm   

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Books on the Move Malaysia is a non-profit community movement that aims to spread the joy of reading in the nation. From book pop-ups and reading corners to community libraries developed with donated pre-loved books, Books on the Move is responsible for the delightful book corners and shelves that you've probably already seen in various cafes, stationery stores and more in the Klang Valley. 

On Level 2 of The Linc KL, Books on the Move operates a community library, an entire area decked out cosy arm chairs and shelves of books where visitors can donate and exchange pre-loved reads. The Books on the Move community library also opened a colourful book corner at Megah Rise Mall in Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya in 2022.

Opening hours: Daily, 10am - 10pm

For those who prefer light reading (and heavy eating), here's one for your Insta-worthy café-hopping adventures: Ink Library Café is located at Grandeur Labs in Puncak Alam, a library-themed coffee shop that serves up a dizzying array of delightful pasta dishes along with magazines and books.  

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 11am – 10pm (Closed on Mondays)

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