Iwan Bookshop
New Farm
Iwan Bookshop is a charming, independent, bilingual bookstore in New Farm offering books in English and Persian with an on-site cafe and gift shop.
Nestled on busy Brunswick Street in a quaint cottage with wide veranda, Iwan provides a quiet retreat where book lovers can browse the excellent selection of award-winning and best-selling books, and enjoy a well-brewed coffee, roasted locally on the Sunshine Coast by Signature Roasters, or a pot of Persian saffron tea served with nabāt - saffron-flavoured Persian rock candy - used to sweeten the tea.
The warm and inviting space boasts bookshelves on both sides of the room, with English books for children and young adults on one side, and Persian books for all ages (including Farsi, Kurdish and Dari) on the other.
Children are welcome at Iwan with a small room provided with a table and chairs, where kids can get creative or play boardgames.
Another room at the rear of the bookstore, is filled with a carefully-curated selection of Persian arts and crafts, from clothing and jewellery to home wares.
Nice to know - Iwan supports creative writers and artists via special programs.
By Deb Lidster
