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In 1945, in the centre of Esch-sur-Alzette, independent bookshop Librairie Diderich, was opened by the grandmother of the current owner, Anne Diderich. Today, it’s not only stationery and educational toys that you can pick up here… You can now also enjoy a gourmet tea-and-cake break. Five years ago this bookshop took a gamble and reinvented itself by opening a café. A very smart move.
The café – simply named “Um Eck” (meaning “around the corner”) due to its location which is literally on the corner of Rue Victor Hugo – was dreamed up by Anne Diderich as a haven for customers and passersby to take their time over a sweet or savoury delicacy. “When I was at university, I used to love spending time in a bookshop café in Germany and, since then, I’ve always had this idea in the back of my mind,” she explains with a smile.
This bright café is the perfect place to start the day where you can settle into a Scandinavian-style chair and enjoy the sunshine streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Open Monday to Saturday from 8am, regulars, stay-at-home parents and students alike flock here for a coffee and a generous helping of granola served with natural yoghurt, fresh fruit and peanut butter. Those with a sweet tooth can indulge in a slice of carrot cake or cheesecake baked by the owner herself. “I’ve always loved to cook, so it was only natural for me to get involved and bake for our customers!”
All the staff threw themselves wholeheartedly into the new project. The three people in charge of the café are not actually chefs by trade and yet, every day, they prepare freshly made soups, quiches, sandwiches and bagels in their small kitchen. “Our menu is small, but everything we do, we do well” explains Anne. “Over the years, we’ve been refining our recipes, adding a culinary twist here and there that can make all the difference.”
Locals are huge fans of this popular café which is always busy — especially on Saturdays thanks to a very tasty brunch. In addition to readings and book presentations, arts and crafts workshops for children are also regularly held here.
Imagine sipping your tea with a delicious cake or pastry before getting lost in a world of books… In Librairie Diderich, pure happiness is around every corner.
CAFÉ UM ECK & BRUNCH
2, rue Victor Hugo — L-4140 Esch-sur-Alzette
Tel. +352 / 55 40 83 21