Explore the world’s most exquisite bookshops, where you’ll find rare collections, breathtaking architecture, and charming atmospheres. Each store offers a unique experience, blending literary treasures with stunning design, creating perfect havens for book lovers and cultural enthusiasts alike.
Explore the world’s most exquisite bookshops.
Global destinations
Finding yourself in a gorgeous library or Explore the world’s most exquisite bookshops. whether you’re in your hometown or on vacation, is always a little magical. Maybe the cozy surroundings or eye-catching decor entices you, or perhaps the comfort of being surrounded by books and the endless worlds you can enter as you turn the pages appeals to you. We’ve chosen some of the most exquisite bookshops in the world for you to visit while you’re in the city, ranging from New York City to Seoul.
1. Zhongshuge Bookstore
Dujiangyan, Chengdu, China
You can find this magnificent and inspiring bookshop in Dujiangyan, just a short train journey from Chengdu. This intricately designed area, featuring towering arches, winding staircases, C-shaped bookcases, and book-filled columns, blurs the boundaries between fantasy and future design. The bookshelves appear to stretch endlessly towards the sky and the earth, each row illuminated by separate strips of illumination, thanks to the gloss-black flooring and mirrored ceilings. The oval-shaped tables on the floor resemble boats on a lake. In particular, the store’s irrigation system drew inspiration from the Dujiangyan terrain, thanks to Shanghai-based architecture and design firm X+Living. If you can drag yourself away from staring at your bizarre surroundings, you can sit on the balcony, get a coffee at the ground floor café, or choose a book from one of the shelves that are within reach.
2. El Ateneo Grand Splendid
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The El Ateneo Grand Splendid is the ideal school for book lovers. Packed into a historic structure that has had its amazing architecture painstakingly maintained are over 100,000 books. Constructed in 1919, the structure served as a theater and a movie theater until reopening as the main El Ateneo bookstore in the 2000s. This place is full of wonders, such the domed ceiling painted by Argentine-Italian muralist Nazareno Orlandi, the magnificent theater boxes preserved, the gilded balcony, and the auditorium crammed with shelf after shelf of books. The El Ateneo café is currently located on the stage, which is the ideal spot to observe its old-world splendor. Stay for the live piano performances, which bring an additional layer of drama to the entire experience.
3. Livraria Lello
Porto, Portugal
One of Porto’s most well-known neo-gothic façades, Livraria Lello serves as a fitting entry to the venerable bookstore and literary institution that has been located on Rua de Carmelita for more than a century, having opened its doors in 1906. It took two years to build and was designed by Francisco Xavier Esteves. It is well known for its diverse decor. There is something remarkable in every nook of the two-story area. Erroneously painted red during restorations in 1996, the opulent grand staircase, with its curved bridge and archways, towering bookcases, majestic columns, finely carved ornamentation, and an eight-meter-long stained glass skylight, all contribute to the grandeur of the expansive area.
You can find books in Portuguese and English here, along with exquisitely crafted book covers for classics made in-house. Apply the price of a ticket voucher, required for entry, toward the purchase of a book. While admiring the stained glass ceiling, look for a happy face installed in 2018 as a playful tribute to the modern era.
4. Arc N Book, Lotte World Tower
Seoul, Korea
One of the most iconic locations of the well-known Korean lifestyle and bookshop company Arc N Book is in Jamsil. The store has a decidedly retro aesthetic. The name implies that the store has several arches, such as the one constructed of books at the entryway, illuminated tunnels between the book search kiosks located in British telephone boxes, and an Art Deco font that pays homage to 1920s splendor throughout. Because it is open late (10.30 am–10 pm), you will have plenty of time to peruse the well-stocked shelves. Our recommendation? Enjoy a pleasant view of Seokchon Lake while perching on the plush bench beside the window.
5. The Ripped Bodice
New York, USA
Sisters Bea and Leah Koch co-own The Ripped Bodice, an independent romance-only bookstore with two locations in the US. They are also avid romance readers. It nearly feels like you’re in the pages of a vintage romance story as you walk through the pink storefront of their newest location in Brooklyn, New York City. Moreover, the charming nuances that accentuate this lovely setting will win over even the most pessimistic readers. For instance, the walls and ceilings feature an abundance of open books and book pages, with some including window frames and birdcages, or flowers and leaves tucked between the pages. Furthermore, Leah completed the entire makeover, including the laborious hand painting of the elaborate pattern on the floor. Romance books in a variety of inclusive and varied subgenres, such as science fiction, paranormal, young adult, historical, LGBTQI, and classics, are available on the shelves.
6. Gertrude & Alice
Sydney, Australia
It’s difficult to miss Gertrude & Alice because, even if the bookshelves don’t draw your attention, the aroma of coffee and the bustling activity from the café in front will undoubtedly stop you cold. Loved by both locals and visitors, this bookstore is a Bondi institution and a haven for writers and bookworms. With more than 25,000 volumes in a variety of genres, including children’s books, fiction, non-fiction, collectibles, and classics, the store is well-stocked. You might browse the floor to ceiling shelves for hours on end, or you could just ask one of the helpful employees for a suggestion. Cozy up in one of their recliners or score a table to read your most recent book while enjoying freshly produced pastries and coffee from nearby roasters Will & Co. It also doesn’t hurt that the well-known Bondi Beach is just a short distance away.
7. Daunt Books Marylebone
London, England
It’s difficult to pick just one bookshop in one of the greatest literary cities in the world, but if you had to visit just one in London, make it Daunt Books Marylebone, which is among the most well-known in the area. The room, which is housed in an Edwardian building, has a lot of charm, from the arching stained glass window as the background to the oak galleries and William Morris posters. This is the place to go if you’re searching for a wide selection of travel literature, but it’s not just about travel literature; the store also sells a wide range of fiction and non-fiction and hosts literary events. This is an excellent place to take refuge and pass a day perusing the shelves when the weather turns, as it certainly will in England.
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