The team behind Gertrude & Alice likes to call it a second-hand bookstore that sells coffee, tea and food. But when you can pair your Campos coffee with a bagel; toasted almond and blueberry scones; or maybe a Moroccan lentil stew, it’s not like the food and drinks are an afterthought.

Owners Jane Turner and author Katerina Cosgrove named their shop after literary greats Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. It’s a real treat for lovers of quality contemporary fiction and esoteric spiritual books. Turner is an expert in finding rarities, such as a 1782 illustrated bible, valued at $250.

Spending a few hours at Gertrude & Alice means slipping beyond space and time. After losing yourself between the shelves or sitting in an armchair to read some obscure publications, you might forget you’re on one of Bondi’s busiest streets.