Prairie Lights Books and Cafe — Restaurant in Iowa City

Prairie Lights is a genuine bookstore. We typically go to stores to buy stuff. We walk the aisles until we find the right brand and size of green beans or clothing, checkout and go on our way. If this were an ad for a new book selling concept, some marketing hack would tell you that this is a place where you can "experience" literature. Fortunately, Prairie Lights is not some marketer's get rich quick scheme. (nobody but Bezos ever got rich quick selling books) For 45 years, Jim Harris, and now, Jan Weissmiller and the staff at PL have brought readers, books, writers and the literary community together. They host readings by authors everyone's heard of and those you wish you had. Wonderful staff who will gladly make a recommendation after they find out what you enjoy reading. Books, coffee, wine, beer and pastries. Experience a genuine bookstore. Just browse or engage with people who love literature, Prairie Lights is an Iowa City institution and a nationally renowned literary landmark. If you like books, you're in for a treat. Also, a dedicated children's section on the lower...

Owner berated me and my client for being confused about the time this is open!! I was shopping for a journal to help document SEIZURES! So we wanted to try and support local. Mind you ALL I did was pull on the locked door LIGHTLY! After which, we read the orange sign explaining open hours and the cafe hours. Didn’t even know there was a cafe. We went to look at the cafe, but that wasn’t our intention. So we turn around to go back to my vehicle, when we pass this store with an open door. Then this man had to audacity to tell me off, like I had pissed him off some how! Incredibly rude, talking to my like I’m stupid for being unaware of the hours. I explained that online it said 9. He raised his voice over me and told me I was WRONG, and then repeated the hours. I again tried to explain it had said it online, And again was rude. I was not instigating or even rude, but baffled at the egregious over reaction on his part. I will be highly recommending everyone avoid this place. God forbid a customer have a question, and this is how you treat them. Shameful! Photo to show that it did in...

Everything about Prairie Lights is perfect. Their cafe is incredibly cozy—with window seats, an array of tables, and aesthetically pleasing decor. Also! Their pain au chocolate is absolutely delicious. Their coffee is also quite good which is something you don’t always get from a cafe + bookstore.

Prairie lights hosts a variety of author readings and other literary events, shining light on renowned and upcoming authors!

Their book selection is also top tier. They always line the shelves with recently released books—and not just those by popular authors (like what is seen in chain bookstores). You can tell that the employees genuinely love reading and stay up to date with all of the recent additions to the literary world.

Also!!! They have one of the best collections of poetry I’ve come across. A lot of bookstores don’t carry a lot of poetry, but this isn’t the case for...