The 9 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World
These extraordinary bookshops are both a bibliophile and design lover’s dream
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For the bibliophile, perhaps the most pressing to-dos are digging into the titles on their “to be read” lists. But a close second should be visiting the most beautiful bookstores in the world—and a new book from Lanoo Publishers has arrived to help them do that. Hitting shelves on June 20, 150 Bookstores You Need to Visit Before You Die by Elizabeth Stamp chronicles over 12 dozen fascinating bookstores around the world worthy of a visit. Spanning countries and continents, the outposts featured represent some of the most impressive bookstores around the world chosen for their aesthetics, unique back stories, or noteworthy collections. Below, check out a number of the incredible stores featured in the book—as well as a few notable AD favorites—that should be immediately added to a “to read in” list.
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Photo: Su Shengliang1/9Yanjiyou Capsule Bookstore (Zhejiang Province, China)
According to Stamp, a visit to YanjiYou Capsule Bookstore is worth the trip because of its setting in an “architectural wonder.” Secluded among mountains and the forest in Tonglu, Atelier TAO+C repurposed an existing mud-and-wood house into a capsule hotel, library, and bookstore. The all-glass eastern wall and sunken reading pit are among the many standout design features of the building.
Photo: Costfoto/Future Publishing/Getty Images2/9Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore (Chengdu, China)
When Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore opened in 2020, it was hard to escape news coverage of the surreal masterpiece. The company is known for its maximalist bookstores, and this location—with its tower book spirals and sculptural shelves—was no exception. In her book, Stamp recommends a visit to a similarly extravagent sister store, the Taizhou City branch.
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Photo: Mauro Roll3/9El Ateneo Grand Splendid (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
“It’s no wonder that El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Buenos Aires’s Recoleta neighborhood has repeatedly been named one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores,” Stamp writes of this historic beauty. The bibliophile heaven is set within an old theater that once hosted tango legends, opera performances, and movie screenings. The original building was designed in 1919 by Peró and Torres Armengol.
Photo: James Martinez4/9The Last Bookstore (Los Angeles, California)
Spanning 22,000 square feet, the Last Bookstore in Los Angeles is located inside a former bank building. With over 250,000 books, the spot is now California’s largest shop for new and used books. Other notable features of the expansive space include a mural and tunnel made out of books.
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Photo: Michelle Rose5/9The Center for Fiction (Brooklyn, New York)
Located in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, the Center for Fiction is part of a 200-year-old nonprofit that first started as the Mercantile Library of New York. In addition to a well-stocked bookstore, the literary hub includes a café, bar, and members-only library.
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Photo: Ben Vulkers6/9Van der Velde in de Broeren (Zwolle, Netherlands)
The vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows are among the most obviously eye-catching features patrons will find when visiting this Dutch bookstore. However, the history of the building is certainly worth a deeper look as well. First built as a church between 1466 and 1512 by the Dominicans, the structure was transformed into a bookstore in 2013. “Mystery fans will be intrigued by the ancient cold case that was discovered in the church’s crypts and can see a replica of the human skeleton, named Herman, that archeologists unearthed in 2010,” Stamp adds.
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Photo: Naki Kouyioumtzis/Getty Images7/9Daunt Books (London, England)
Arguably the most beautiful branch of the London-based bookshop, this store is set within a stunning Edwardian building in Marylebone. Though Daunt has an impressive fiction collection, it’s its expansive travel section that makes it stand out. Of course, the stunning architectural elements, like skylights, oak balconies, and a stained-glass window, are also notable.
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Photo: Camila Cossio8/9La Increíble (México City, México)
For minimalism-loving readers, La Increíble in México City is a must-visit. Floor to ceiling shelves line the cozy space, which also hosts poetry open-mic nights and book readings with authors. It’s a notable hot spot for design lovers, since much of the store’s merchandise is made up of design books.
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Photo: Courtesy of Lannoo Publishers9/9Libreria Palazzo Roberti (Bassano del Grappa, Italy)
Owned by a local family, this independent bookstore first opened in 1998. Stamp writes, “As locations go, it’s hard to beat that of Libreria Palazzo Roberti, which is set in a 17th-century noble palace in Bassano del Grappa.” Inside, visitors will find three floors of explorable history including stunning restored frescoes.
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