More of the Tour de librairie! This list has been a joy to make, exploring the beautiful world of books and the many cultures that embrace their wonder.
Here is part II of the Worlds top Bookstores:
Rizzoli Bookstore (New York, NY)
Rizzoli is famed for its art books and foreign fashion magazines. After being forced out of there location by developers, Rizzoli has brought the character of its old space to the new one.
Lavishing the 1896 Beaux-Arts building with tables and chandeliers from the old store, and commissioning a sky-scape mural to run along the 18-foot ceilings.
The new building also has stunning new windows.
Vogue man-about-town André Leon Talley has fashioned them with Vivienne Westwood, Gucci and Manolo Blahnik clothes and shoes, surrounded by Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons art books.
Libreria Acqua Alta (Venice , Italy)
Luigi Frizzo, the eccentric manager speaks English and includes numerous English books in his collection. He has created a shop filled with
ambiance and culture,
if you have a boat, you can enter the bookshop from the Rio. The atmosphere is as quirky and friendly as the owner, and he has created a wonderful little shop. The name means “Library of High Water.”
When the local waterways rise they fill the store inches off the floor, which would normally destroy any stock. However, they have preserved this shop (and created it’s uniqueness) by keeping the books in various basins, boats, and bathtubs. This shop is simply exquisite in it’s in genuinely superb uniqueness.
Livraria Lello (Porto, Portugal)
Livraria Lello & Irmão, also known as Livraria Chardron or simply Livraria Lello is a bookstore located in central Porto, Portugal. Along with Bertrand in Lisbon, it is one of the oldest bookstores in Portugal. It is an exquisite store, with stained glass windows, wooden walls, and an elegant staircase. It is lavish and grand and a sight worth traveling to see, the beauty would stun any book lover.
Cafebreria El Pendulo
(Polanco, Mexico City)
Bookstore, Breakfast Spot, and Coffee Shop all in one. Of course I love a bookshop with a coffee shop in it, a happy combination. I adore the natural elements that drape this lovely store, I find it to be a beautiful book oasis. This is the kind of bookshop that could keep me entrapped and enchanted for days.
Word on the Water
(The canals of London)
A bookshop that floats on a boat just outside Paddington station. The shop started up in the spring of 2012, and survived despite the recession. Thanks to donations and sourcing this adorable little jewel offers quality second-hand books sold at unbelievable prices; £3 for paperbacks and £4 for hardbacks, new editions are also available. When the weather is good, the impressive covers lining the top deck will make even the least of book lovers want to browse and buy. They also feature ad hoc music nights, book launches, and readings. In the chilly winter’s season, they also offer lovely and affordible mulled wine. Need I say more.
Boekhandel Dominicanen (Maastricht, Netherlands)
A regal gem, this bookshop towers with stunning beauty. The cathedral air of this beautiful shop is due to its history as a church: the thirteenth-century Boekhandel Selexyz Dominicanen in Maastricht, Netherlands.
The Last Bookstore (Los Angeles)
This store is more like a magical portal, into the world of the stories and lives tucked in the adorning pages. This airy book & record store offers new & used items in a multilevel space dressed with local art.
It is reminiscent of the enchanted rabbit hole that leads to a book wonderland. The shop is packed with cushiony comfort and beautifully decorated with the simple divinity of the books themselves.
This list was compiled based on research not experience, so of course there is room for error. I may find myself later wishing I had including others, or feeling like I did an injustice to an incredible store. It’s bound to happen considering how big and diverse our wonderful planet is, and I consider this a wonderful thing. If this list was not changeable or extendable it would make me very sad.
That being said, do you know of any other amazing bookstores?
WOW – I really enjoyed those photos! Thanks. Debra
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All of these places are so picturesque!
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Wow, these are some of the most amazing book stores I’ve ever seen! Beautiful photography as well 🙂
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These are absolutely amazing. I want to go to the one in Venice!
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Me too, it is so remarkably beautiful.
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Such creativity! Really enjoying these!
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I’m so glad.
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Leakeys in Inverness in the north of Scotland would be my addition (worth a Google) It is a secondhand bookshop housed in a converted church and has a coffee shop. That said, I loved your selection!
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It sounds like perfection, I will definitely google it. 🙂
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Reblogged this on John's Notes and commented:
Another great list of bookstores to visit.
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Oh wow! I’ve been to the one in Porto 🙂 Felt a little bit like something out of Hogwarts! And I absolutely loved it. Great post.
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Apparently it was the inspirations for a lot of it, but I didn’t include that info because it was speculative. 🙂
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Oh I actually didn’t know it was the inspiration for the movie! Haha. But it truly was a beautiful library. I’ve been enjoying all your lovely book and book related posts 🙂 They’re always so interesting.
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*bookstore, not library
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Thank you, I’m so very glad to hear that. 🙂
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Beautiful and so inspiring! 🙂
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🙂
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I enjoyed reading this post. Thank you for putting it all together:-)
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It was such fun to do, the world of books delights me.
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So many great bookshops to visit. Good post! I’ve only been to Words on Water, love the book barge.
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Such a unique little shop.
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I wish Word on the Water was there when I was at Paddington Station 😉
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That’s unfortunate, hopefully you get another chance.
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Have you heard about El Ateneo in Buenos Aires? A former theatre, it’s amazing. http://wp.me/p1DO2j-da – I only have one pic there, but it’ll give you some idea, I hope.
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It is beautiful!
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Hey! I’ve just completed my Infinity Dreams Award post and I have nominated you for it! For more details see: https://observeandreview.wordpress.com/2016/03/12/the-infinity-dreams-award/ If you’ve done it, sorry. Enjoy and pass it on!
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Thank you.
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These book stores and stories are amazing. I know I will do on my next vacation. I will find a place with an amazing book store. I hope the stores have coffee as well.
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If you find a good one, tell me about it, I’d love to hear. 🙂
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Yes! Love this post! My favorite bookstore is Carturesti Carusel, in my hometown, Bucharest Romania, you should look it up, it’s really stunning!
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Oh wow, you weren’t kidding, that is stunning! Thank you for sharing 🙂
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I love your collection of book stores and cafes. I love City Lights Book Store in San Francesco’s North Beach. It has a rich history and lots of nooks and crannies.
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Sounds like my kind of place! 🙂
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Wow!!! These shops are the things dreams are made of. So beautiful and charming!
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They certainly are 🙂 well said.
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These are all pretty cool! Although some are a bit overwhelming!
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That is true. Sensory overload.
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El Péndulo in Mexico I go to often. It is one of the very last and few bookstores over here. Nice atmosphere. And good selection.
(There would be many more bookstores in Paris to mention. I guess Shakespeare and co, would be very attractive to your english readers. And the place is lovely. 🙂
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Last and few… 😦
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It is a world-wide tendency. Sadly. Some cities in France don’t have one book-shop left. In NY, apart from Barnes & Nobles and a few struggling survivors, there fading away too. 😦
(Where “abouts” do you live? East, West, Midwest, South?)
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A sad thought. I live in the N.W.
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North west? You must have your share of rain. I hope there still are many bookstores in your city. 🙂
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Oh yes we certainly do get our fair share 🙂 and fortunately bookstores are not endangered here. We also have Powell’s, which is a luxury. 🙂
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What is Powell’s? A “local” bookstore?
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Yes a very grand one, I included it in part II: http://cafebookbean.com/2016/03/09/the-worlds-top-bookstores-i/ 🙂
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Just checked it. 4 million books? Wow. Paradise. Larger I think than “La FNAC” in Paris, one of my obligatory stops in Paris. (Next July-August. Yes!)
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It’s pretty massive.
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Can you bring a tent and camp there? 🙂
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I’m sure some have tried.
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The Last Book Store in Los Angeles is amazing! There is so much to see, along with friendly shoppers. I first saw it from a t.v. show so I had to see it myself, so worth it.
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I’m looking forward to getting the chance some day. 🙂
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You will love it! Did you see my pictures of it?
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I did not can you comment a link 🙂
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