Bookshops
100 Best Bookshops Around the World
Bookshops keep the written word alive in this modern digital age. The wonder books take us on enchanting trips transporting us through lands and time, educating and entertaining us. These 100 best bookshops are remarkable in their variety and individuality. There are so many unique bookstores around the world this list should be much longer! We would love for you to share your favorite bookstores via the "submit a shop" link at the bottom of our home page.
1. Hatchards
London's oldest bookshop established in Piccadilly in 1797.
London Store187 Piccadilly, St. James's, London, W1J 9LE, UK
2. Word on the Water
A 100 year old Dutch barge is home a unique bookshop, also known as The London Bookbarge.
London StoreRegent's Canal Towpath, London, N1C 4PQ, UK
3. Cecil Court
London's new Booksellers Row is a charming Victorian pedestrian alley.
Cecil CourtCecil Court, London, WC2N 4HE, United Kingdom
4. Watkins Books
London's oldest and largest esoteric bookshop established in 1893.
London Store19-21 Cecil Court, London, WC2N 4EZ, UK
5. Marchpane
London's premier specialist in rare children's and illustrated books.
London Store16 Cecil Court, London, WC2N 4HE, UK
6. The Notting Hill Bookshop
The iconic bookshop made famous by the romantic comedy Notting Hill.
London Store13 Blenheim Crescent, London, W11 2EE, UK
7. Daunt Books
Historic London bookstore with bookshelves lining long oak galleries and a walk-in safe.
Marylebone Store83 Marylebone High Street, Marylebone, London, W1U 4QW, UK
8. John Sandoe Books
Iconic bookshop occupying three adjoining eighteenth century shops established in 1957.
London Store 10 - 12 Blacklands Terrace, Chelsea, London, SW3 2SR, UK
9. Hurlingham Books
One of London's oldest independent secondhand bookshops.
London StoreRanelagh Gardens, 91 Fulham High Street, London, SW6 3JS, UK
10. Persephone Books
Bookshop and publisher specializing in mid-20th century women writers.
Bath Store8 Edgar Buildings, Bath, BA1 2EE, UK
11. Scrivener's Books & Bookbinding
Victorian building housing over 40,000 second-hand titles.
Buxton Store42 High Street, Buxton, SK17 6HB, UK
12. Honesty Bookshop
A 24-hour second-hand open-air bookshop tucked into historic Hay Castle walls.
Hay-on-Wye StoreHay Castle, Oxford Road, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5DG, UK
13. Armchair Books
A family-run secondhand and antiquarian book shop in Edinburgh's West Port
Edinburgh Store72 - 74 West Port, Edinburgh, EH1 2LE, UK
14. McNaughtan’s Bookshop
Edinburgh's oldest second-hand and antiquarian bookshop.
Edinburgh Store3a & 4a Haddington Place, Edinburgh, EH7 4AE, UK
15. Golden Hare Books
Award-winning design-led indie bookshop with new titles for kids and adults.
Edinburgh Store68 St Stephen Street, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 5AQ, UK
16. Leakey's Bookshop, Scotland
Second-hand bookshop in a converted 17th Century Gaelic church.
Inverness StoreChurch Street, Inverness, IV1 1EY, United Kingdom
17. The Mainstreet Trading Company
Award-winning bookshop, cafe, delicatessen, and home store.
Scottish Borders StoreMain Street, St Boswells, Melrose, TD6 0AT, UK
18. Librarie Jousseaume
Historic bookshop located in the spectacular Galerie Vivienne.
Paris Store45-46-47 Galerie Vivienne, Paris, 75002, FR
19. Bouquinistes
Historic bookseller's stalls along the banks of the River Seine.
Paris StallsQuai des Grands Augustins, Paris , 75006, FR
20. Shakespeare and Company
World-famous English-language bookshop on the Seine in Paris' Latin Quarter.
Paris Bookstore37 Rue de la Bûcherie, Paris, 75005, FR
21. Atlantis Books
A bookshop with one of the most beautiful sea views in the world.
Santorini StoreNomikos Street, Oía, Santorini, GR
22. New Mags
A thoughtfully curated lifestyle books, magazines, and accessories.
Copenhagen StoreNy Østergade 28, Copenhagen, 1110, Denmark
23. Boekhandel Dominicanen
A former 13th century Dominican church repurposed as a bookshop.
Maastricht StoreDominicanerkerkstraat 1, Maastricht, 6211 CZ, NL
24. Boekhandel Den Boer
Bookstore established in 1887 in a gorgeous Art Nouveau building.
Baarn StoreLaanstraat 67-69, BC Baarn, 3743, Netherlands
25. Zabriskie
Books and magazines on nature, ecology, countercultures and magazines.
Berlin StoreReichenberger Straße 150, Berlin, 10999, Germany
26. She Said
A female and queer authors bookstore and specialty coffee shop.
Berlin StoreKottbusser Damm 79, Am Krögel 2, Berlin, 10967 Berlin, Germany
27. Livraria Lello
Stunning bookshop boasting intricate architectural features and a sweeping red staircase.
Porto StoreRua das Carmelitas 144, Porto, 4050-161, Portugal
28. Grande Livraria de Santiago
An eighteenth century church serves as a bookshop in Portugal's Literary Town.
Óbidos StoreLargo de São Tiago do Castelo, Óbidos, 2510-006, Portugal
29. Livraria Ler Devagar
A bookshop in a former printing factory is home to one of the world's tallest bookcase.
Lisbon StoreRua Rodrigues de Faria 103, Lisbon, 1300-501, PT
30. Cook and Book
A vast bookshop with various different sections and restaurants.
Brussels StorePlace du Temps Libre 1, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Brussels, 1200, Belgium
31. Tropismes
An impressive French language bookshop in one of the oldest arcades in Europe.
Brussels Store11 Galerie des Princes, Brussels, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
32. Librería Miguel Miranda
Third-generation antiquarian bookshop in Madrid's Literary Quarter.
Madrid StoreCalle Lope de Vega 19, Centro, Madrid, 28014, Spain
33. Antica Libreria Cascianelli
One of Rome's oldest bookshops is a treasure chest of rare books & objets d'art.
Rome StoreLargo Febo, 15, Rome, 00186, IT
34. Libreria Acqua Alta
A unique bookshop on a Venetian canal that houses its inventory in boats and bathtubs.
Venice StoreCalle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa, 5176b, Venice, 30122, IT
35. Libreria Palazzo Roberti
A seventeenth-century Italian Palazzo is home to this elegant bookstore.
Bassano del Grappa StoreVia Jacopo da Ponte, 34, Bassano del Grappa , 36061, Italy
36. Cuesta de Moyano
A pedestrian book market established in 1925 featuring 30 booksellers.
Madrid ShopsCalle Claudio Moyano, Madrid, 28014, Spain
37. Cărtureşti Carusel
A stunning six-storey bookshop in a renovated former bank headquarters building.
Bucharest StoreStrada Lipscani 55, Bucharest, 030167, RO
38. The Winding Stair
Established in 1970, a bookstore with an iconic view of the Ha'penny bridge.
Dublin Store40 Ormond Quay Lower, Dublin , D01 R9Y5, IE
39. Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop
More than 10,000 new, bargain, secondhand and antiquarian books.
Galway StoreThe Cornstore, Middle Street, Galway, IE
40. The Bookshop at the American Colony Hotel
Iconic bookshop at American Colony Hotel with a focus on the region's history & culture.
Jerusalem StoreLouis Vincent Street 1, Jerusalem, Israel
41. Librairie des Colonnes
Founded in 1949, Librairie des Colonnes is the oldest bookshop in Tangier.
Tangier Store54 Boulevard Pasteur , Tangier, MA
42. A Novel Idea
Book and gift shop founded in 1992 with a view of the Indian Ocean.
Dar es Salaam StoreThe Msasani Slipway, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of"
43. Clarke's Bookshop
A bookshop specializing in Africana on Cape Town's famous Long Street.
Cape Town Store199 Long Street, Scotsche Kloof, Cape Town, 8000, ZA
44. Page One
Contemporary bookstore with a minimalist interior featuring international titles.
Beijing Store19 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100600, China
45. Librairie Avant-Garde
A bookstore located in a repurposed underground car park.
Nanjing Store173 Guang zhou Lu, Gulou, Nanjing, 210024, China
46. ARC N BOOK
Arched book displays symbolize the connection between books and people.
Seoul StoreOlympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
47. The Booksmith
Charming bookstore offering a selection of titles in Thai and English.
Chiang Mai Store5, 7 Nimmana Haeminda Road, Tambon Su Thep, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
48. Jetlag Books
A modern bookshop featuring international books and magazines.
Beijing StoreW1-5, Taikoo Li Sanlitun West, Chaoyang, Beijing, 100600, CN
49. Hirakata T-Site
Bookshop featuring an awe-inspiring seven-meter high bookcase.
Osaka Store12-２ Okahigashicho, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-0032, JP
50. Higginbothams, Chenai
India's oldest bookstore established by an English librarian in 1844
Chennai Store116 Anna Salai, Chennai, 600113, India
51. Champaca
A tree-house like bookshop and café that blends nature with books.
Bengaluru Store7/1 Edward Road, Off Queens Road, Bengaluru, 560051, IN
52. Little Bookshop
Bookshop founded on the principles of diversity, acceptance, and multiculturalism.
Squamish Store38041 2 Avenue, Squamish, V8B 0C3, CA
53. Munro's Books
A bookstore housed in a neoclassical building formerly a bank building.
Victoria Store1108 Government Street, Victoria, V8W 1Y2, Canada
54. Strand Bookstore
New York City's biggest bookstore with 18 miles of books established in 1927.
New York Store828 Broadway, New York, 10003, US
55. Bart's Books
The world’s largest outdoor bookshop set in pretty Ojai Valley.
Ojai Store302 W Matillija Street, Ojai, 93023, US
56. City Lights
A literary landmark founded on classics of modern literature and progressive politics.
San Francisco Store261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, 94133, US
57. Pillow-Cat Books
The first and only animal-themed bookshop in New York City.
New York Store328 East 9th Street, New York, 10003, US
58. Three Lives & Company
An iconic West Village corner bookshop established in 1978.
New York Store154 West 10th Street, West Village, New York, 10014, US
59. Albertine
A French and English language bookstore in a landmark gilded-age mansion.
New York Store972 Fifth Avenue, New York, 10075, US
60. The Mysterious Bookshop
Founded in 1979 the world's oldest mystery specialty bookstore.
New York Store58 Warren Street, Tribeca, New York, 10007, US
61. Brattle Book Shop
A giant No.2 pencil marks the entrance to one of the oldest antiquarian bookshops in the US.
Boston Store9 West Street, Boston, 02111, United States
62. Rodgers Book Barn
A book barn with more than 20,000 second hand titles in upstate New York.
Hillsdale Store467 Rodman Road, Hillsdale, 12529, US
63. McNally Jackson
An independent bookstore with five New York City locations.
Seaport Store4 Fulton Street, New York , 10038,
64. Beacon Hill Books
Beautifully designed charming bookstore on an historic Boston Street.
Boston Store71 Charles Street, Boston, 02114, United States
65. La Increíble
A beautifully designed art and cultural bookshop in Mexico City.
Juan de la Barrera StoreJuan de la Barrera 112, Condesa, Mexico City, 06140 , Mexico
66. Cafebrería El Péndulo
Popular combined coffee shops and bookstores with striking architecture.
Polanco StoreAlejandro Dumas 81, Polanco, Mexico City, 11550, Mexico
67. Liberia Puro Verso
A bookstore located on the the ground floor of a 19th century mansion.
Montevideo StoreAvenida 18 de Julio 1199, Montevideo, Uruguay
68. E. Shaver
Savannah's oldest bookshop specializing in new and regional books.
Savannah Store326 Bull Street, Savannah, 31401, US
69. Old Town Books
Independent general interest bookshop with an eye-catching mural.
Alexandria Store130 South Royal Street, Alexandria, 22314, US
70. Argosy
New York's oldest, family-run bookstore founded in 1925.
New York Store116 E 59th Street, New York, 10022, US
71. Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks
Bookstore specializing in out-of-print and antiquarian cookbooks.
New York Store28 East 2nd Street, East Village, New York, 10003, US
72. Talk Story Bookstore
The westernmost bookstore of the United States founded in 2004.
Hawaii Store3785 Hanapepe Road, Hanapepe, 96716, US
73. Dashwood
An independent bookstore in specializing in photography books.
New York Store33 Bond Street, New York, 10012, US
74. El Ateneo Grand Splendid
A former 1919 opulent theatre, complete with ceiling frescoes, converted into a bookshop.
Buenos Aires StoreAv. Santa Fe 1860, Buenos Aires, AR
75. Antiquariaat Brinkman
A beautiful antiquarian bookshop in the heart of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam StoreSingel 319, Amsterdam, 1012 WJ, NL
76. La Bancarella dei Libri
A vintage bookseller's cart stock with secondhand books in the heart of Florence.
Florence StoreVia de' Martelli, 41, Florence, 50129, IT
77. Libreria Brac
A bookstore for lovers of contemporary cuisine and art.
Florence StoreVia dei Vagellai 18r, Florence, 50122, Italy
78. Lutyens & Rubinstein
Notting Hill bookshop with an overhead suspended installation of flying books.
London Store21 Kensington Park Road, London, W11 2EU, UK
79. Sweet Pickle Books
A Lower East Side bookshop that sells secondhand books and pickles.
New York Store47 Orchard Street, New York, 10002, US
80. Shreeji
Modern newsagent with a diverse selection of magazines, newspapers, and editions.
London Store6 Chiltern Street, London, W1U 7PT, UK
81. Casa Magazines
A specialty magazine shop with more than 2,500 titles from glossies to niche periodicals.
New York Store22 8th Avenue, West Village, New York, 10014, US
82. Murder & Mayhem
A bookshop specializing in detective fiction in the UK's town of books.
Hay-on-Wye Store5 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5AA, UK
83. Addyman Books
A labyrinth of nine rooms filled with new and used books.
Hay-on-Wye Store39 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5AA, US
84. The Old Bookstore
Fourth generation family bookstore established in 1914.
Flateyri Store3 Hafnarstræti, Flateyri , 425 Flateyri, Iceland
85. Books for Cooks, Melbourne
Award-winning culinary bookshop run by cooks and lovers of good food.
Melbourne StoreQueen Victoria Market, 115-121 Victoria Street, Melbourne, 3000, Australia
86. The Paperback Bookshop
New release and backlist titles covering a wide range of genres.
Melbourne Store60 Bourke Street, Melbourne, 3000, Australia
87. Hordern House
A beautiful, modern space showcasing antiquarian books, manuscripts and paintings.
Surry Hills StoreLevel 2, 255 Riley Street, Surry Hills, 2010, AU
88. Berkelouw Books
Australia's largest and oldest new, second-hand and rare bookseller.
Paddington Store19 Oxford Street, Paddington, 2021, Australia
89. GOOD BOOKS
A bookstore with a focus on the joy of reading and discovery.
2/16 Jessie Street, Te Aro, Wellington, 6011, NZ
90. The Corner Bookstore
A selection of current fiction and non-fiction books housed in a restored 1920's interior.
New York Store1313 Madison Avenue, New York, 10128, US
91. Kitchen Arts & Letters
A bookshop specializing in books on food and drink, cookbooks, food history and culture.
New York Store1435 Lexington Avenue, Upper East Side, New York, 10128, US
92. The Center For Fiction
Independent bookshop offering writer's workshops, reading groups, story time, and events.
Brooklyn Store15 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, 11217, US
93. Sweny's
A former pharmacy turned bookshop dedicated to James Joyce's Ulysses.
Dublin Store1 Lincoln Place, Dublin, D02 VP65, IE
94. San Francisco Books
Paris bookstore specializing in English-language secondhand books.
Paris Store17 Rue Monsieur le Prince, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris, 75006, FR
95. Housing Works Bookstore
Non-profit bookshop raising funds and support for those living with AIDS/HIV.
New York Store126 Crosby Street, SoHo, New York, 10012, US
96. Elliott Bay Book Company
Independently owned bookstore since 1973 with over 150,000 titles.
Seattle Store1521 10th Avenue, Seattle, 98122, United States
97. Minoa Books, Istanbul
Award-winning lifestyle bookshop in the historic 1896 Union Française building.
Akaretler StoreVişnezade, Süleyman Seba Cd. 52/A , Beşiktaş, 34357, Turkey
98. Books for Cooks
An international cookbook shop with a test kitchen that serves lunch.
London Store4 Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill, London, W11 1NN, UK
99. Books Are Magic
Best-selling author owned independent bookshop with two Brooklyn locations.
Cobble Hill Store225 Smith Street, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, 11231, US
100. Luddites
Bookshop and wine bar in an historic building in the center of Antwerp.
Antwerp StoreHopland 34, Antwerp, 2000, Belgium