Must-See Bookshops of NYC
Big Bad Chains & Small Independents Alike
The Strand
828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
The Strand is the largest independent bookseller in New York, housing over 2.5 million used, new and rare books, with the very appropriate slogan “18 miles of books.” Sitting just two blocks off Union Square, with four floors of books and literature paraphernalia, book-lovers could easily spend an entire day at this one shop alone. Every genre from every age imaginable sits inside these walls, with a mug and a tote to match! In June 2022, Brooklyn Roasting Co. opened a café inside the Strand’s main location on the LES, so now readers can sip on something delicious while they browse. Here’s to an iconic mashup!
Barnes & Noble, Union Square
33 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003
One might not expect to see a chain like Barnes & Noble on this list, but the views from the second floor window over Union Square Park will speak for the selection. This mega bookseller reps four floors and a Starbucks café on the second, with plenty of tables and reading nooks. Customers can find everything from records and magazines to new bestsellers and classics. The perfect Winter day activity: Curl up with a book at the café and watch snow falling in the park.
Codex
1 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012
A favorite among used booksellers in the city, Codex is a tiny shop with a big personality, carefully-curated used and new books with ‘an emphasis on literary fiction and art books’ at reasonable prices. Upon walking in, you’ll be met with a quiet reprieve from the hectic noise bouncing off the corner of Bowery & Bleecker, to find two aisles of bookshelves and an entire wall of encased art texts and periodicals. Mosey to the back and you’ll find a small collection of zines from local creatives. You might have to do some digging if you’re looking for something in particular, but you’re sure to find a gem. Don’t forget to check out their $1 book racks located just outside the front door!
Argosy
116 E 59th St, New York, NY 10022
Welcome to New York City’s oldest independent bookstore, in business since 1925, located in an entire six-story townhouse in Midtown. Known for stocking special editions, out-of-print items and antique maps and prints, this Antiquarian bookseller is a true relic of the city’s literary community. Stop in and you might feel as if you slipped into a scene from Harry Potter on your own little Diagon Alley.
McNally Jackson at the Seaport
4 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038
Out of McNally Jackson’s four New York locations, this Seaport specialty is the most idyllic, not just because it includes a café on the first floor so readers can properly caffeinate before ascending the flight of stairs, entering a bibliophile’s dreamland. With views of the water and cobblestone streets of the Seaport district from every window, readers will feel as if they’re in the clouds while perusing ample shelves of books in any genre they please. Be sure to amble around South Street while you’re here- the Seaport has shops, galleries, markets and restaurants that beg to be explored.
Spoonbill & Sugartown
218 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
A Williamsburg staple, this quirky bookseller has been in business on Bedford Ave since 1999, carrying some of the most unique magazines, current books and modern literature paraphernalia that can be found. Expect knowledgeable staff and equally interesting shop-goers to make your visit worthwhile. The backdoor leads patrons into Bedford’s Mini Mall, a collection of independent shops and art stalls, complete with a tattoo and piercing studio to send home the feel of old-school New York grunge.
Three Lives & Company
154 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014
This Greenwich Village stronghold has a real sense of community that every person feels when they walk through the doors of ‘the little shop around the corner’. Described as “a pocket of civility” by the Greenwich Village Historical Society, Three Lives & Co. remains a haven for readers, writers and humans in general who desire a cozy neighborhood feel. Stop in to have something ordered if it’s not in stock at the moment, or just to chat to your local bibliophiles while perusing the shelves. A favorite remains their intelligently hand-picked section of fiction, nonfiction and picture books dedicated to New York City throughout history. (Bonus tip: there’s a Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee a few doors down for those of us who crave the coffee/bookshop combo).
The Albertine in the French Embassy
972 5th Ave, New York, NY 10075
A true hidden gem of bookstores in New York, located in the beautiful building that houses the French Embassy on 5th Avenue, The Albertine is hidden in plain sight, yet only the most astute bibliophiles and Francophiles know about this one. Upon walking through the initial security check and possibly waiting in the lobby to enter the bookshop area, readers will be star-struck (literally, by the ceiling mural on the top floor). Majority of the novels on display will be in French, though English copies can be found interspersed throughout, waiting for the dedicated searchers.
Happy Hunting!
