Hafi Books + Coffee
A Design-Forward Bookstore Café in Vienna’s Fifth District
Nestled in Vienna’s vibrant fifth district, Hafi Books + Coffee is a space where design, literature and memory meet. With warm design elements — no white walls, comfortable dimmed lighting and a bright yellow La Marzocco coffee machine — Hafi invites guests to linger, discover and enjoy conversation and comfort.
Social designer Clara Roth and her partner, cinematographer and designer Valentin Lilgenau, opened Hafi in September 2024. After moving to Vienna from Berlin, they noticed that there was only one independent bookstore in Vienna specializing in English-language books. The concept for Hafi was born, and the pair designed the space by hand — building, painting and curating its interior features and book selection.
Located just off the well-worn paths of Vienna’s city center, Hafi offers a rare blend of warmth and character — serving up expertly brewed specialty coffee alongside a thoughtful selection of English-language books. The book selection features fiction from around the world, international non-fiction on topics ranging from feminism and racism to ecology and a unique collection of design and photography books from independent publishers such as MACK — all sourced through distributors that specialize in English-language literature.
Alongside running the bookstore, Clara also teaches in the M.A. program “Social Design and Sustainable Innovation” at a university in Berlin. She and Valentin share office space in the back of the store, from which they work on other projects and host meetings with fellow creatives.
“Hafi” was the nickname of Clara’s late mother and pays tribute to their shared dream of opening a bookstore. Today, that dream has become reality, shaping a space where stories, community and creativity come together. It’s a reminder to follow your creative instincts, to build something with soul and to not wait too long to do the things you love.
We are happy to partner with Hafi and share that they now carry SOULBASE’s print editions. If you find yourself in Vienna, be sure to stop by this beautiful store and grab a copy for yourself. @hafibooks
