Paris's best bookstores 📖
Paris's best bookstores 📖
Cousine Germaine
Available for hire
If for you, a town isn't a town without a bookshop, you're in the right place! Welcome to the ultimate Parisian bookstores map, where I give you all my favorite adresses to buy your next favorite book, leaf through novels for hour, talk about literature with a nice nice bookseller, and read, above all 😇
From the very pretty ones to the little peaceful cafes where you'll have the perfect reading date, you'll find everything here, and more. Every place is described in details to help you enjoy it at its best.
As I will continue my adventures through Paris's bookstores, I will update this guide, adding adresses and anecdotes, so don't forget to saved it to your library 🌿
About me 👀
I am a French girl that moved on the Left bank 8 years ago... and never left! I adore reading and walking (I like to do both at the same time, much to my mother's apprehension). I studied literature and history and patiently assembled all the details I give you here, by searching and reading a lot.
If you interested in living full-on curious and peaceful literary tours during your Parisian stay, I host private customed tours around Paris. I'll be happy to count you in one of them!
And if you want more help to plan your Parisian trip, I'll be honored to help ;) you can find all my custom services at the end of the map! 🗺
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The most Parisian 🥐
Bouquinistes
@louisebaudouin
The most unique Parisian bookshop 📚
Some 900 book boxes filled with treasured works line the Right Bank, from Pont Marie to Quai du Louvre, and the Left Bank, from Quai de la Tournelle to Quai Voltaire
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The ones you have to see 🤩
Librairie Delamain
@louisebaudouin
Fondée en 1700 par la famille Delamain sous les arcades de la Comédie-Française puis déplacée au 155 rue Saint-Honoré en 1906 avant d'être rachetée par Gallimard en 1986, la librairie Delamain est la plus ancienne librairie de Paris. Attirant chaque jour une faune avertie au cœur du Ier arrondissement, la librairie a vu défiler Léon-Paul Fargue, Jean Cocteau, Colette, Louis Aragon ou encore François Mitterrand. Aujourd'hui, on franchit ses portes pour s'offrir un ouvrage ancien parmi l'exceptionnelle collection de vieux livres comptant plus de 5 000 livres.
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Librairie Jousseaume
@louisebaudouin
A library that you will not want to miss, for it is probably one of the prettiest of Paris. Located in a covered-passage, you can explore the big trays filled with books while appreciating the amazing decoration of this architectural gem.
Opened until 1826, many writers used to buy their books here, including Colette. It is preserved today as an historic monument.
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Librairie Du Passage
@louisebaudouin
Located in one of the prettiest covered-street, this library is specialized in beautiful arts books and ancien collections. Even if you don't end up buying something here, the whole vibe is truly nice and authentic
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Librairie Galignani
@louisebaudouin
This pretty library with high-wooden shelves, is ideally situated under the arches of rue de Rivoli. Before or after a stroll in the Garden of Tuileries, you can pop in, and maybe discover your next favorite book?
First founded in 1801, rue Vivienne, this bookshop is specialized in English books and unique fine arts copies from the US, Great Britain and Italy.
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English speakers only 🇬🇧
Shakespeare and Company
@louisebaudouin
Shakespeare and Co was first a bookstore owned by Sylvia Beach, in the 1920s, where she welcomed all the Lost Generation. It closed at the beginning of WWII.
Later, George Whitman opened another English bookshop under the same name, where you could meet the Beat Generation (Ginsberg, Burroughs). It is still in activity today, the owner being Whitman's daughter.
This very famous library can be crowded (with a line in front), but is worth the visit, for it feels very authentic and nice. There is a very pretty 1st floor where you can play the piano and read in nice sofas.
To avoid the crowd, there is no mystery: try the opening hour, early in the morning, and enjoy the view of Notre-Dame in the morning sun 🌞
little anecdote for the curious ones: the original Shakespeare's and company (the one where Hemingway got his books) wasn't located here, but at 12, rue de l'Odéon, at a 20 min walking distance.
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If you feel like learning more about this place and its role for the Lost generation, take a look at my Ultimate Literary Guide of Paris, the dream guide for every book lover ✨
San-Francisco Book Co
@louisebaudouin
a nice little english library, in a quiet little street. I used to live close by, and spend my evenings there, lost in a book
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The Abbey Bookshop
@louisebaudouin
A very dense Canadian bookshop, whose's nice owner will always help you find what you're looking for. It sells only english books, and is the perfect place to get lost in, dreaming about books
A good alternative to Shakespeare and Company, if you want peace and good english books
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The Red Wheelbarrow Bookstore
@louisebaudouin
this lovely little English bookstore is located right next by the Jardin du Luxembourg. The owner is very friendly person and full of experiences and stories of Paris, and very knowledgeable with the books. You'll find a variety of books here. It's nice and calm and never overcrowded which allows one to spend time and read.
They recently open another bookstore next to the first, dedicated to children's books, with the same friendly atmosphere
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Where you can read and eat
Bokbar
@louisebaudouin
This small and very cute nordic bookshop-coffeeshop is just heaven on earth. Surrounded by new and secondhand books, in Danish, French, English and other languages too, you can enjoy a nice coffee with homemade Swedish patisseries (including cinnamon rolls, of course 😋)
The atmosphere is cosy, with nice music and a good selection of books for kids too.
It is a nice place to go to before/after a wander in the park of Buttes-Chaumont 🌿
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La Belle Hortense
@louisebaudouin
A unique and cosy café restaurant nested in a nice book store - the atmosphere is generous, calm and romantic, helped by a great miroir hanged to the ceiling that show the street spectacle. With a nice music of French crowners from the past, enjoy a café or a drink or a delicious meal among books : the dream 📚
Adding in that the staff is very welcoming and charming, and you'll have yourself a a real authentic atmosphere within these walls packed with books...
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L'eau et les rêves (bookshop and restaurant)
@louisebaudouin
A unique library in Paris, located in a barge on the Saint-Martin's canal. You can enjoy a nice snack with more books than you can dream for, with the nice swing of the water to rock you.
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Bonjour Jacob Saint Germain Coffee I Magazine I Vinyl
@louisebaudouin
A nice coffeeshop to go to grab a nice coffee to go, or sit and enjoy one of the numerous magazines they offer here. Their cookies are a really nice treat too ;)
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La Régulière
@louisebaudouin
This lovely bookshop offers a various selection on different subjects, in a calm and relaxing atmosphere. You might feel like staying in for hours, reading books, drinking chai latte and enjoying patisseries.
You'll be well received, first by the staff, then by a lovely little kitten that lives here 🫖🌻🐈⬛ …
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Bar Perché - Printemps
@louisebaudouin
Probably the classiest of this selection, this little restaurant inside of the mall of the Printemps offers an incredible view on Paris, from a terrasse or inside the warm atmosphere of a little bookstore.
It probably won't be the best coffee and patisseries you can have in Paris though 😉
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Used Book Café
@louisebaudouin
I like this place a lot, even though it is often crowded. A small cafe, with an old library vibe, where you can have a lovely coffee/reading date inside or out. Not the best place for working because of the noise.
A bit pricey for what it is 💸
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BKNK | Book Nook | Paris Coffee Shop
@louisebaudouin
A really lovely gem to know, pretty close to the Lafayette Galery, to rest and read after exploring the neighborhood. It is very nicely decorated and consistent and nothing felt out of place. The staff is lovely and there are quite a lot of seats.
The coffeeshop is also the bookshop for a young independent publishing house. They originality? they print the book on demand, to avoid overproduction and waste 🌿 A good reason to read around !
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Second-hand/ancient books
Le Dilettante
@louisebaudouin
This bookshop has given me the best welcome I've ever received in a bookshop. Everyone there is a true passionate, with great recommandations.
The bookshop sells a lot of second-hand books, but also provide books from authors of their own catalogue, that they publish and support.
A true little treasure, ideally located right next to Odeon theater, on a very peaceful square
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Librairie Monte Cristo
@louisebaudouin
It is hard not to fall in awe when passing by this beautiful bookstore. Opened at the beginning of the XXth century, this bookstore is specialized in beautiful engraved children's books, especially Jules Verne's.
Inside, you'll find so much beyond books, with posters, postcards and little objects. It is a great place to inspire kids to love reading and storytelling.
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Librairie Rieffel
@louisebaudouin
Opened in 1870, this bookstore offers an impressive selection of second-hand books, old manuscripts and engravings. It has kept its authentic charm, with trays of books outside and walls covered with unique finds. Like often in Paris, the bookstore is also a publisher, specialized in literature, history, philosophy and sciences
It is truly a fantastic gem of a bookstore, and the owner will always try his best to help you find something that suits you !
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With a unique selection
Travel and explorations 🗻
Librairie Ulysse
@louisebaudouin
The oldest bookstore specialized in travel books in the world ! 🌏
Opened 40 years ago by the owner, Catherine, who is still here today, it is a tiny bookshop, where one must come with a precise idea of what they are looking for. The collection is vaste and very precise, and it is a nice place to pass by, even if you don't dare come inside.
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Librairie des Alpes
@louisebaudouin
I absolutely adore this place, that perpetuates the soft atmosphere of old bookshops. The owner is the sweetest person, he knows about all his books as if had written them, and decorates his shop with beautiful photographs.
This bookshop's speciality is the mountains, alpinism and explorations of the highest locations on earth 🗻
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LGBTQ+ and feminism ✊🟣
Les Mots à la Bouche
@louisebaudouin
This bookshop is one of the most unique in Paris, with an impressive collection of books (novels, essays, comics,...) about LGBTQ+ themes. It is a delicious haven for bibliophiles in search of diverse voices, a community place where everyone feels welcome. It exists for more than 40 years! 🏳️🌈
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Librairie des femmes
@louisebaudouin
This bookstore is a reference for all books about feminism, in several languages. The staff is lovely and very passionate about their selection. They always try to make you discover new writers and books from their vast and diverse collection, that includes graphic novels and books for children
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Librairie Majo
@louisebaudouin
Located in the Latin Quarter, this wonderful intersectional feminist bookstore offers a wide selection in French ranging from feminist theory, age-appropriate ideas for kids, and comics both with a message and just for fun. Some books are available in English on one shelf, and they can order any book on their shelves with an English translation for you! They also have the cutest intersectional stickers and a little cafe to enjoy tea, espresso, or cookies while you preview a book 📖☕
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To think better
Le Genre urbain - Librairie
@louisebaudouin
Behind this deep blue facade hides a nice little bookshop, in the lively neighborhood of Belleville, with a very precise selection on sociology and urbanism. They organize events, lectures and meetings with authors around these modern topics, and the booksellers are always ready to give you their advices. They also leave lovely little notes on their favorite books, to help you choose !
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Art + books = 🧡
Artazart
@louisebaudouin
Great book/artshop for those who are into illustrations. You can find many illustrated books for kids and adults as well; along with prints and other stuff. There are both French and English ones and the seller is very friendly too! Definitely recommended for all art lovers visiting Paris, and then you can have a small picnic near the canal :)
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Philip the Bookseller
@louisebaudouin
One of the coolest illustration bookstore in Paris, where you can dig out prints and books in all different styles of illustration. In this happy mess, the owner (the famous Philippe, a true passionate), will give you all the best recommandations.
I warn you, it is hard to leave without buying something!
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Palais de Tokyo
@louisebaudouin
Inside of the museum of contemporary art, named Palais de Tokyo, you can find one the most extended bookshop in Paris, on 450 m2. The selection is specialized in visual contemporary arts, especially architecture, design, fashion and cinema, with two great books providers (Walther König & Cahiers d’Art).
It is the perfect place to find elite gifts for you or your artistic friends: magazines, postcards, objects and stationery.
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Azzedine Alaïa Foundation
@louisebaudouin
This place is truly a hidden gem, art gallery, restaurant and bookshop at the same ✨
You'll have an amazing immersive experience in the work and life of the legendary designer Azzedine Alaïa. The first floor has some of the most iconic designs of the créateur with matching photographs, the second floor is an art gallery with an exclusive sneak peek to the designer’s atelier left as is!
On the ground floor, inside a peaceful courtyard, the restaurant and the bookshop nourish beautifully your body and mind. The bookshop has a nice highly-specialized collection of fashion books
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If you enjoyed this map...
You might like my online and in person literary tours!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cousine Germaine
Available for hire
Hi there, your favorite French cousin here, to help you around Paris and have a lovely stress-free experience of the city! I am a Parisian for almost eight years now, and would absolutely consider myself a Left bank fan. I'd be happy to share my knowledge of this neighborhood and help you plan a perfect Parisian trip :)
I'm a historian, a tourist guide and a food lover, so I have a lot a recommandations and stories to tell.
I also love to travel around, so you may find some tips and guides for other countries here and there...
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