Take a virtual vacation to the most beautiful bookstores around the world. I’ve realized that what makes these spaces so special is not just their architecture. It’s the artistic beauty of books that makes their homes feel like a museum, and the hope springs from picking up a new book. So many possibilities!
You’ll find some of my personal favorites from my travels, including Tampa’s Oxford Exchange, and some of the most swoonworthy and Instagrammable bookshops in every corner of the globe, such as Portugal’s Livaria Lello, which is said to have inspired Harry Potter. Add them to your travel bucket list and experience the benefits of independent bookstores in person!
The Most Beautiful Bookstores I’ve Visited (Including Hidden Gems)
Blue Bicycle Books in Charleston, South Carolina
The colorful Blue Bicycle Books store is on one end of King Street. With multiple rainbow-themed book displays (and bikes, of course!), this is the most aesthetic independent bookshop to visit!
They carry a lot of rare used books, which are fun to see, as well as books by local authors, spanning nonfiction like cookbooks to the best fiction about Charleston to enjoy.
Beyond events, they are known for hosting YALLFest, an annual young adult book festival that draws dozens of YA authors and thousands of readers each November.
Related Post: Charleson Bookstores
Book Hounds in St. Michaels, Maryland
Book Hounds is a hidden gem in a small American town. Its color-driven design feels fresh and cozy simultaneously, with a different themed room around every corner. They pride themselves on their bookish matchmaking capabilities.
Related Post: Things To Do in St. Michaels, Maryland
Buxton Books in Charleston, South Carolina
Located near the start of all the popular shopping on King Street is Buxton Books, which opened in 2016. It’s a small store offering a selection of bestsellers, classics, and Charleston-themed books. A black and white floor like theirs gets me every time!
They also host events and tours, including ghost tours and tours about Black Charleston history.
Edgartown Books on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
Edgartown Books is right in the shopping district of upscale Edgartown. They carry new books but also have an exceptional selection of fiction and non-fiction local books.
This two-story shop has stairs with bookish paintings that give it so much charm. It also has a cafe! Behind the Bookstore is located — you guessed it — behind the bookstore and offers a coffee shop, cocktails (at the aptly named Hemingway Bar), and fresh food (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) under the trees and a canopied tent.
Related Post: Martha’s Vineyard Bookstores
Faulkner Books in New Orleans, Louisiana
Tucked in a small alley just off Jackson Square is the small and intimate bookstore Faulkner House Books. I saw lots of rare editions and relics of and about Faulkner there. Its name comes from the fact that Faulkner once lived in the historic building (and wrote his first novel, Soldier’s Pay, there). Talk about literary tourism!
Related Post: Literary New Orleans
Oxford Exchange in Tampa, Florida
My top pick, named one of the 150 most beautiful bookstores in the world
Oxford Exchange is one of my favorite places to visit, and I’ve been lucky enough to go several times. Always bustling, it’s not just a bookstore, but also a restaurant, gift shop, coffee shop, cafe, candle-making shop, coworking space, event venue, and even a champagne bar. Yes, you read that right!
While the bookstore section is small, its “reading rainbows” created by its beveled glass windows get me every time.
If you want to eat there, I highly recommend booking a reservation in advance.
Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee
Parnassus Books may seem like your average bookstore, but it’s, oh, so much more. Author Ann Patchett owns it, and every square inch of it swells with a love of books. The staff and patrons make it feel so alive, and little magical touches in its decor spark joy as you browse.
It’s also a large enough space to hold many great events, which, naturally, it does. This is one bookstore with a lot of character– just like Ann’s books.
Portobello Road on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
Portobello Road is an “eclectic boutique.” It’s the perfect place to spend a rainy or chilly day with a warm beverage. Nestled into a tiny shop is a store that is filled to the brim with a mix of everything from books to art, home decor, stationery, and thoughtful gifts.
Everywhere you look, there is something to see. Look right; a few books are stacked with a cute mug. Look right; there’s a canvas portrait next to some cute greeting cards. And they play the most relaxing music!
You can go back several times and have a different experience on each occasion — kind of like an antique store.
Famous Bookshops Around the World With Unique Character
Albertine Books in New York, New York
Located in the Payne Whitney mansion, Albertine Books is known for its photographable ceiling, a hand-painted mural of constellations, stars, and planets. They sell more than 14,000 contemporary and classic titles from 30 French-speaking countries, as a project for the Cultural Services of the French Embassy.
You’ll also find a replica of Michelangelo’s Young Archer at the entrance. This unique bookstore offers a holistic cultural experience!
Carturesti Carusel in Bucharest, Romania
Carturesti Carusel (“Carousel of Light”) draws attention to the brightness in this former bank’s 10,000 square feet of central skylight, grand white columns, and curved balconies.
They pride themselves on making reading “cool” and even house an award-winning tea shop.
Daunt Books in London, England
Daunt Books is a popular Edwardian bookshop that specializes in travel literature and features oak galleries and skylights. Unique offerings include bespoke wedding lists and library building.
In addition to ten shops, they also own an imprint, publishing both new editions of classics and fresh voices in literature.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Buenos Aires, Argentina
The architectural design of El Ateneo Grand Splendid is, indeed, splendid. A former theater turned bookstore, it houses books among red velvet curtains, theatre lighting, and ornate balconies. You’ll also find a cafe on the former stage.
The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, California
The Last Bookstore is a massive 22,000 square foot former bank with 3D book tunnels, flying books, and dramatic book decor, making it a social media favorite. The second floor features a maze-like arrangement of bookshelves, known as the “Labyrinth Above the Last Bookstore.”
You’re bound to find something for you among its 250,000 new and used books, along with vinyl records, graphic novels, and art pieces.
Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy
Set among Venetian waterways, Libreria Acqua Alta (“High Water Bookstore”) uniquely utilizes gondolas, canoes, and bathtubs as bookshelves to protect its collection from frequent floods. This setup also creates charm and intrigue for visitors.
The quaint aesthetic is further enhanced by its bookstore cats. Last, but definitely not least, it houses a staircase made of old books and views of the canals. It makes you do a double-take!
Related Post: Literary Venice
Livaria Lello in Porto, Portugal
Livaria Lello in Porto, Portugal, is an ornate bookstore that inspired J.K. Rowling’s depictions of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series.
For over 100 years, the cultural landmark Livaria Lello has been a stunning neo-Gothic bookstore with a grand staircase and stained glass ceiling.
Due to its popularity, tickets are required to visit.
Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon
The beauty of Powell’s Books is, in fact, in the books themselves. Since 1971, it’s been the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world, taking up an entire city block with over a million books.
Shakespeare and Company in Paris, France
Shakespeare and Company originally served as a hub for the “Lost Generation” of writers, including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and James Joyce. It later offered free lodging to aspiring writers in exchange for helping around the shop and reading a book a day. It’s a labyrinth of books from floor to ceiling and cozy reading nooks.
Fun fact: See it in the movie Midnight in Paris!
The Strand in New York, New York
Since 1927, The Strand has offered “18 miles of books” — 2.5 million, to be exact. Its beauty is in its size and its fame as one of the most well-known bookstores in the world. Grab one of their iconic totes!
Dujiangyan Zhongshuge in Chongqing, China
Dujiangyan Zhongshuge draws inspiration from the ancient Dujiangyan irrigation system. The interior features mirrored ceilings and black tile floors that reflect towering bookshelves. C-shaped bookcases and archways evoke the region’s topography and historical waterworks, offering visitors a truly special space of wonder.
Recap
Take one more look at these beautiful bookstores:
