Parisian Independent Bookstores to Checkout
1. The Legendary:
Shakespeare & Company
There’s a reason why crowds of tourists gather in this small bookstore: Shakespeare & Company is legendary among book lovers, writers, or anyone who has a passion to create. This location isn’t actually the original, since the founder Sylvia Beach closed it during the Nazi Occupation. Still, Shakespeare & Company has one of the best collection of new books and really helpful staff that give you great book recommendations. My personal favorite is the Poetry Section up on the second floor (careful with the narrow steps!). Aside from coming for the Tumbleweeds program, Many writers also come to talk about their latest books. To the left of the bookstore is the rare collections, but of course they cost an arm and a leg with good reason, and beside that is the cafe. It’s not the best cafe in Paris but all the trays come with Shakespeare & Co.’s version of Proust Questions and that’s a whole lot of fun to answer as you sip your cup of coffee.
37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris
2. The Eclectic:
Abbey Bookshop
Kind of sick of the tourist crowd in Shakespeare & Co.? Try going there later at night (they close late), or checkout Abbey Bookshop. Founded by a Canadian expat, this bookstore is a good source of English books and books by Canadian authors. This place definitely has that authentic, library-like feel and it’s tightly packed with books.
29 Rue de la Parcheminerie, 75006 Paris
3. The Community:
San Francisco book company
You definitely can get your fix of English books in Paris, and San Francisco Book Company is another great place to check out. The staff in this little shop is extremely helpful and kind, and the best thing is that they accept your preloved books and will give you cash or score credit. That’s really useful if you’re the typical bibliophile that has a pile of books you’re only willing to part with if you give it to a fellow book lover. Drop by this book store after your morning stroll at Jardin du Luxembourg.
17 rue Monsieur le Prince, 75006 Paris
4. The Artsy:
Le Monte en L’air
Not only could you browse through books here, you could also enjoy and appreciate different forms of art in this uniquely named place, Le Monte en L’air (which translates to Ride It in The Air if my French doesn’t fail me). This bookstore also functions as an art gallery so expect paintings and art installations. On top of a literary and art space, Le Monte en L’air is also a theatre so you could catch live performances too.
2 rue de La Mare, 75020 Paris
5. The Food Spot:
Used Book Café
So you’ve spent hours in the cool concept store, Merci, and probably bought a cute home decor piece or an accessory for yourself that, well, you don’t really need. It’s like Merci has a magic spell over us! Now, time for a break at the Used Book Cafe which is part of the concept store. You can enjoy a delicious brunch, or a hot beverage in this cafe while browsing and reading books. They have about 10,000 books in the shelves!
111 Boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003 Paris
6. The Trendy:
0fr.
This trendy bookshop-gallery is the also trendy Le Marais is loved by Kanye West, and he can’t be wrong… right? If you’re an art lover, you would enjoy browsing through their collection of art and coffee table books. They also have black and white postcards scribbled with French phrases, which is a cute affordable souvenir to bring home.
20 Rue Dupetit-Thouars, 75003 Paris
7. The One Hiding in Plain Sight:
Un Regard Moderne
Located not far from Fontaine Saint-Michel, Un Regard Moderne is a tiny shop that could hold at most five people at a time, and has a unique collection of art books and essays. The book topics are nowhere near typical and definitely subversive, like about censored works, fetishism, and so on. This place is loved by many independent publishers, underground artists and musicians.
10 Rue Gît-le-Cœur, 75006 Paris
8. The Reliable:
Gibert Jeune
Can’t go wrong with a classic...and a deal! You can't miss Gibert Jeune when you’re at the Latin Quarter. This bookstore loved by Parisian students is quite massive and spread out, and you could spot it from its fluorescent yellow window awnings. This is a good place to find your secondhand romans or any book, really, but most are in French. Damon from Damon and Jo loved to check out this librairie when he was on exchange in Paris and bought secondhand books for 20 cents. A good way to practice your French!
5 Place Saint-Michel, 75005 Paris