When the temperature drops and the days get shorter, there’s nothing like finding a warm spot to settle in with a good book. Whether you prefer the comfortable hum of a coffee shop, the quiet stillness of a library, or the company of bookstore cats, the area around our Hershey bed and breakfast offers plenty of places to lose yourself in a story this winter.
From Harrisburg’s award-winning Midtown Scholar bookstore to cozy local spots like Book Bar in Palmyra, this guide will help you find your next favorite reading spot. And of course, we’ll share some of the comfortable, quiet corners right here at the Inn on Church Road where our guests love to read, sip tea, and slow down for a few chapters.
Bookstores Near Hershey: Where Book Lovers Gather
Midtown Scholar Bookstore
1302 N 3rd St, Harrisburg
Voted “Simply the Best Independent Bookstore” in the region since 2004, Midtown Scholar Bookstore houses over one million books online and 200,000 new, used, rare, and discount books in two dramatically renovated 1920s theater buildings. Located just five blocks north of Pennsylvania’s State Capitol at Third and Verbeke Streets in Harrisburg, this is the kind of place where you can spend hours browsing.
The famous Reading Café serves exceptional organic, fair-trade coffees and espressos imported by Counter Culture Coffee, plus a selection of teas and baked goods from their in-store bakery. The Yellow Wall Gallery features works by local artists, and the lower level houses Robinson’s Rare Books and Fine Art prints.
Weekly programming includes live acoustic music, author talks, book signings, free lectures, community events, poetry readings, and book clubs.
Book Bar
50 N. Railroad St. Suite 1, Palmyra
Just minutes from downtown Hershey and Hersheypark, Book Bar is a locally owned indie bookstore offering both new and gently used books focused on genres like romance, fantasy, magical realism, horror, thriller, mystery, and literary fiction.
What makes Book Bar special is the dark academia-inspired space with a beverage bar offering coffee, tea, and mocktails. It’s warm, welcoming, and perfect for browsing or settling in with your current read. Open Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Underground Yarn and Books
203 W Caracas Ave in Hershey
Underground Yarn and Books combines books, yarn, coffee, and community in one cozy shop. If you’re a reader who also loves fiber arts, this is your place. Browse books, pick up supplies for your next project, and enjoy the calm, creative atmosphere.They also host author events, classes, and workshops throughout the winter. Open Wednesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cupboard Maker Books
157 North Enola Road, Enola
With approximately 125,000 previously loved paperbacks and hardbacks organized into over 50 genres, plus an embedded new bookstore with over 5,000 hand-curated new titles, Cupboard Maker Books is a treasure hunt for readers. It’s the cats, though, that readers remember most.
Not only does the store have resident bookstore cats who live there full-time, they also partner with Loving Care Cat Rescue to foster cats available for adoption. Since 2011, they’ve helped almost 300 cats find their forever homes. Visitors can interact with both the resident cats (some prefer to be left alone, though, so check with staff before petting) and the adoptable foster cats while browsing the shelves.
The colorful mural-covered building is easy to spot, and the store draws visitors from as far as Europe, South America, and Canada. Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Coffee Shops for Winter Reading Near Hershey
Sometimes the best winter reading happens in a comfortable chair with a good cup of coffee and a little background noise. Here are some local favorites:
The Caffeination Station
707 E Broad St, Palmyra
The Caffeination Station is a local favorite with a welcoming vibe and quality coffee. It’s the kind of place where you can settle in for an hour or three with your book and no one will rush you.
St. Thomas Roasters
5951 Linglestown Rd, Harrisburg
St. Thomas Roasters is known for their carefully roasted coffee and comfortable seating. It’s a great spot to bring your current read and enjoy a well-made latte or pour-over on a cold winter afternoon.
Mellow Minded Cafe
5943 Linglestown Rd, Harrisburg
Mellow Minded Cafe lives up to its name with a relaxed atmosphere perfect for reading. Good coffee, friendly staff, and a comfortable environment make it easy to lose track of time with a good book.
Folklore Coffee & Company
1 N Market St, Elizabethtown
Located just a short drive from the Inn, Folklore Coffee & Co. is a cozy, reader-friendly café with plenty of seating options. Choose a spot by the window, curl up on the couch, or settle into a two-top table with your current read and a warm seasonal latte.
Libraries: Classic Winter Reading Spaces
McCormick Riverfront Library
101 Walnut St, Harrisburg
The historic McCormick Riverfront Library offers a beautiful setting for readers, with views overlooking the Susquehanna River. Part of the Dauphin County Library System, it’s open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hershey Public Library
701 Cocoa Ave, Hershey
A sun-drenched entry opens into what visitors have described as “a vast oasis of quiet.” The Hershey Public Library offers comfortable seating throughout, including cushiony couches, high-backed chairs, a quiet newspaper and magazine area, and a quiet study area with individual carrels where you can plug in your laptop.
Reading Spots at Our Hershey Bed and Breakfast
Of course, you don’t need to leave our bed and breakfast to find a wonderful place to read on a winter day. Here are some winter favorites:
In Your Suite
The Wilson Room features a wood-burning fireplace that’s perfect for settling in with a book on a cold winter evening. Pull up a chair, let the fire crackle, and lose yourself in your story while the snow falls outside.
The Pecan Room offers a clawfoot soaking tub where you can enjoy a long, hot soak with a good book on a chilly winter afternoon. It’s one of those simple luxuries that turns reading into a true escape.
The Brookside Room invites you to cozy up in bed with your current read, plush linens pulled up, and nothing on the agenda but the next chapter. The heated floors add an extra layer of comfort on cold mornings.
The Arthur Fishburn Suite has a private porch where you can bundle up with a blanket, sit with morning coffee or afternoon tea, and enjoy the quiet of winter in the historic neighborhood while you read.
The Church Road Executive Suite offers a comfortable sitting area where you can settle in with hot tea from your in-room beverage station and spend an hour or three with a good book while the winter wind blows outside.
Common Spaces
The sitting room is the perfect place to settle in with your own book or browse the collection on our shelves while the fireplace crackles beside you.
The screened-in porch is wonderful on those warmer winter days when the sun breaks through. Bundle up with a blanket, enjoy the fresh air, and read for as long as you like.
The bar seating is perfect for readers who like to snack while they read. Settle in with a book, help yourself to snacks from the guest pantry, or pour a glass of wine, and enjoy a few chapters among the other guests.
Plan Your Book Lovers’ Getaway
Whether you’re exploring indie bookstores, meeting the resident cats at Cupboard Maker Books, warming up with coffee at a local café, or curling up by the fireplace in your suite, the area around our Hershey bed and breakfast offers wonderful places for book lovers this winter. Pack your reading list, and we’ll make sure you have a warm spot to enjoy it.
Ready to plan your winter reading retreat? Book your stay and bring your book list. We’ll have the tea ready and the fire lit.
