Visiting bookstores and libraries is one of my favorite things to do when visiting a new city. It’s the perfect way to get a sense of what the locals are in o while also finding familiar titles from back home. Browsing through the different selections can also be a great free activity in the city or a go-to if it rains during your trip. As the center of it all, New York City has no shortage of gorgeous spaces for browsing through countless selections and stories.
Libraries
1. New York Public Library (NYPL)
Location: 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018
Starting off the list strong, the New York Public Library is an architectural marvel and an icon of the city. Most notably known for its Rose Room, the reading room is complete with chandeliers, painted mural ceilings, and ornate gildings lining the walls. It’s the perfect place to curl up to a good book or settle down and get some work done.
2. Morgan Library & Museum
Location: 225 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
What once was the private library of financier J. Pierpont Morgan (aka “JP Morgan”) has lived out its years as a museum, library, landmark, historical site, and music venue before being gifted to the city in 1910 and renovated in 2006. It’s a jaw dropping location filled with iconic, historical works like the music of Beethovan and an early copy of Frankenstein.
3. New York Academy of Medicine
Location: 1216 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029
As the name suggests, the New York Academy of Medicine is home to the one of the most significant medicine and public health libraries in the world. Having been open to the public for over 140 years, there are quite a number of historical health documents and artifacts to browse through. If you’re interested in health-focused events, the academy also hosts those too.
4. The Library at The NoMad Hotel
Location: 1170 Broadway, New York, NY 10001
Why not try The Library at the NoMad Hotel for your next Saturday night out? Doubling as a café by day and bar at night, this library bar is the perfect balance of cozy and classy. For a quieter evening, settle down at one of the mahogany tables for a relaxed cocktail and good books.
Independent Bookstores
5. Strand Bookstore
Location: 828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
Iconic for its “18 Miles of Books” slogan and as the sole survivor of the once vibrant Book Row district, the Strand houses more than 2.5 million new and used titles amongst its high-ceilinged rooms. Since it’s opening in the 1920s, the Strand has been satisfying readers’ curiosities with its wide selection of books across a variety of topics and has quickly become a staple in the East Village neighborhood it resides in.
6. McNally Jackson Books
Location: 134 Prince St, New York, NY 10012
Owned and operated by former editor Sarah McNally, this independent bookstore offers a wide variety of selections to browse from and an in-house café to pick up a treat as you roam its shelves. As a staple of the NoLita neighborhood, it has quickly become a space for the local community to gather and enjoy literary works.
7. Housing Works Bookstore
Location: 126 Crosby St, New York, NY 10012
For Taylor Swift fans, you might recognize this bookstore from her All Too Well music video. Right in Soho, you’ll find a great selection of second hand books to browse through as you walk along the dark wooden bookcases and stairs. What’s unique about the Housing Works Bookstore is that it’s a non-profit organization run by volunteers. All profit from the store goes to lifesaving services for homeless and low-income New Yorkers affected by HIV/AIDS. And the cherry on top is that it’s also a café too!
8. Three Lives & Company
Location: 154 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014
At first glance it may look like like a pub from its exterior, but inside you’ll find a bookshop that has attracted writers and artists since 1978. Tucked on the corner of Waverly Place and 10th Street in charming Greenwich village, Three Lives & Company brims with books on its shelves, long tables, and front desk. With its long history and many unique visitors, the shop has built up quite the reputation as a gathering spot for artists, writers, and, of course, readers.
9. Book Culture
Location: 536 W 112th St, New York, NY 10025
As the sister store to the Book Culture store in Long Island City, this one slightly differs because it caters to the population of Columbia students surrounding the neighborhood. Situated between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, Book Culture was actually once called Labyrinth Books not too long ago and is a key part of Columbia University’s student culture.
As the place where many humanities students will pick up their next assigned readings, Book Culture can get quite busy as the semester begins and students pick up their books. It’s a key part of the community and a mom & pop operation not to be missed.
10. Greenlight Bookstore
Location: 686 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
An independent bookstore right in the heart of Brooklyn, Greenlight Bookstore holds all types of interesting titles from local authors. Outside of browsing its shelves of diverse titles, the shop also regularly hosts events for the community including author meet and greets and kids’ story times.
Specialty Bookstores
11. Rizzoli Bookstore
Location: 1133 Broadway, New York, NY 10010
Rizzoli’s may just be one of the most gorgeous bookstores in New York, if not the world. The store spans 500 sqft. and is located on the ground floor of The St. James Building. It’s an elegant space that features dark wooden shelves, 18-foot ceilings, and rich neoclassical designs. Within its shelves, it houses books both new and old, specifically specializing in art and design-focused works as well as literature and European magazines.
12. Kinokuniya Bookstore
Location: 1073 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018
For manga lovers, Kinokuniya is the perfect place for you. With an extensive collection of Japanese books and manga as well as stationery and plushies, you’ll have plenty to explore. Right in the heart of Manhattan across from Bryant Park, this flagship store gives you a taste of Japanese culture with its 3 floors of books and merchandise. Kinokuniya also has collections of English and Chinese titles as well for those interested in exploring.
13. Albertine Books
Location: 972 5th Ave, New York, NY 10075
Tucked within Villa Albertine’s headquarters, Albertine Books offers one of the largest collections of translated French works and French-language books in the United States. The bookshop plays an integral part in Cultural Services of the French Embassy acting as a liaison from French-American intellectual exchange.
Stepping into the shop and its main reading room feels as if it were something out of a fairytale. With a starry night sky sprawling across its ceilings and leather couches to curl up to a good book on, a visit to Albertine’s is not only a great place to snap some Instagram pictures but is also sure to satisfy anyone’s inner child.
14. Books Are Magic
Location: 225 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Owned by author Emma Straub, Books are Magic is an independent Brooklyn bookstore with a wide selection of books from young adult, cookbooks, fiction, and graphic novels. It’s a warm and welcoming space with books scattered throughout the store in shelves and by the fireplace. After visiting the store, wander around the vibrant neighborhood surrounding the store to find cafés, bars, shops, and restaurants.
15. Mast Books
Location: 72 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
Part bookstore and part gallery space, Mast Books is the perfect place for artists and design lovers. The store features a rotating selection of rare and out-of-print titles on a variety of topics. Outside of being a bookstore, Mast Books has also developed exhibitions and cultural programming and events.
Rare and Vintage
16. The Center for Fiction
Location: 15 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Originally called the New York Mercantile Library, the Center for Fiction is a non-profit organization that has become a home for readers and writers in the heart of Brooklyn’s cultural district. With a bookstore, café/bar, writers studio, and reading rooms for members, the space is a haven for readers and authors. The Center for Fiction is also one of the only organization dedicated to the art of fiction and provides free reading and writing programs for NYC public schools.
17. Argosy Book Store
Location: 116 E 59th St, New York, NY 10022
A family owned bookstore now in its third generation of family ownership, Argosy selection of antique and out-of-print works spans six floors in their midtown Manhattan building and a large warehouse in Brooklyn. It’s one of the oldest independent bookstores in all of NYC and has been known for its collection of rare and used books since its opening in 1925. Stepping into the store feels as if you’ve been transported to another century.
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