Ride the 86 all the way to Northcote's trimmings and stop off at Low Key. This underrated bar is the relaxed vibe you want for reading. Inside, you'll find a choice of olive-green velvet couches to cosy up on, with local artist prints and painting adorning the walls. Outside, the courtyard hosts oodles of light to keep your globular organs happy for when you stray back to your book.

Overhead, hip hop plays — the likes of Mos Def and De La Soul whose grooves offer a trance-like accompaniment to your Steinbeck. Recommendations from your barkeep are to sit with a beer or a wine. We recommend a pint of Bodriggy Draught — just five bucks between 4–6pm — or an orange number sourced from neighbours Samuel Pepys. There's no kitchen but you can order in pizza from Primo across the road. 

Image: Mark Owen.