7 Stunning Bookstores You Need to See In Person ASAP
1/9Bookstores are magical places. You can discover your next literary obsession, say hi your favorite author at a signing, or meet your next crush between the shelves. While we have nothing against Barnes and Noble, there are so many independent bookstores worth checking out, like the Strand in New York City, the Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, and Book Revue on Long Island. Each of indie shop has its own character, and some of them have gained worldwide renown for their beauty. Located in converted theaters, cathedrals, and caves, these are some of the coolest bookstores across the globe.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram2/9Atlantis Bookstore
Atlantis was started in 2004 by a group of 20-something American and European expats who wanted to open a bookshop similar to Shakespeare and Co. in Paris. Their location of choice? The picturesque Greek island of Santorini. The staff is comprised of a “tiny subculture of neo-bohemian liberal arts graduates,” according to Thodoris Georgakopoulos’ viral Medium essay about the bookstore’s importance. Located in one of the iconic white houses of the island, the shop also features an underground “cave” where authors like David Sedaris have signed books.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram3/9Shakespeare and Co.
Emphasis on the “Co.” This iconic bookstore was modeled after the one built in 1919 by Sylvia Beach, which played host to expat writers like Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, and James Joyce in the 1920s. The current store sponsors the annual FestivalandCo. literary festival and the Tumbleweeds work-study program, which has hosted over 30,000 young writers since its inception. According to the shop’s website, the shelves of Shakespeare and Co. are “crammed with autobiographies and stories of romances played out beneath the beams.” Sigh.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram4/9Libreria Acqua Alta
Meaning “High Water Bookstore” in Italian, Libreria Acqua Alta is an eclectic shop with a distinctly Venetian personality. There’s a gondola full of books, traditional wrought-iron filigree gates, and floors that flood whenever the water line of the canals get too high (hence the name). In fact, the store floods so much, that the books for sale are kept in bathtubs (and the gondola). So maybe visit on a day when the tide is low?
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram5/9City Lights Bookstore
City Lights is one of the few bookstores that still publish their own books. Founded in 1953 by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the company has published groundbreaking poetry collections like Allen Ginsburg’s Howl and Other Poems and Frank O’Hara’s Lunch Poems. The store is closely associated with the Beat Generation, and its publishing arm is responsible for releasing Jack Kerouac’s forays into poetry. Plus, it frequently hosts signings with literary rock stars like Joyce Carol Oates.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram6/9Boekhandel Dominicanen
This breathtaking bookstore is located in a 700-year old church in the Netherlands, which was transformed at the turn of the 21st century by architecture firm Mirkx+Girod, according to the Huffington Post. The second floor houses a collection of used books, and the store hosts events ranging from author Q&A’s to “Printed in Maastricht,” where customers can learn about the history of printing in the Dutch city.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram7/9Livraria Lello
One of the first bookstores in Portugal, Livraria Lello is over 150 years old, boasting Art Nouveau architecture inside and out. We’re obsessing over its carved wood paneling and stained-glass ceiling. Rumor has it J.K. Rowling was a frequent visitor to the shop while she was living in Portugal, and we can see how it inspired Hogwarts’ twisty moving staircases.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram8/9El Ateneo Grand Splendid
This historic theater opened in 1919, and played host to tango, opera, and symphonic performances during the mid-20th century. After changing hands a few times, the building was renovated and most of the auditorium seats were removed. Since 2007, it has served as the flagship store of the El Ateneo publishing company, and receives over a million customers each year.
