New York City’s plethora of bookstores makes it a book lover’s paradise. We’ve highlighted some of our favorite spots that we think deserve a visit next time you’re in the city!

Book Culture (Morningside Heights)

Book Culture has not one but two locations right here in Morningside Heights: one on West 112th & Broadway and one on West 114th and Broadway. The flagship store on West 112th opened its doors in 1997 in a Columbia-owned storefront. Here you can find textbooks for your courses, new releases, and an expansive used-book collection on the second floor. This is a great community spot to stop by for your next read!

The Corner Bookstore (Carnegie Hill)

This quaint shop is located on East 93rd Street and Madison Avenue, where it has sat since 1978. Being in a largely residential and family-oriented neighborhood, The Corner Bookstore boasts a large children’s section in addition to a newsletter specifically written by children for children. Not to worry, there are also plenty of young adult and adult books to choose from! Plus, if there’s something you want that you can’t find, the staff will order it and have it ready for you in just two to three days! 

Albertine (Upper East Side)

Staying on the Upper East Side, Albertine can be found on the corner of East 79th Street and 5th Avenue. This shop is in a rather unusual location — in the historic Payne Whitney Mansion. Albertine is the only bookstore in New York dedicated solely to French and English books — they house over 14,000 contemporary and classic titles from 30 different French-speaking countries. This includes translations, so if you don’t speak French, don’t fret! Albertine is also home to one of the most remarkable ceilings in NYC that depicts the astrological signs on the night sky.

The Strand (East Village)

The Strand is a staple in the NYC literary scene, having been around for almost 100 years. Located on West 12th Street and Broadway, this store houses over 2.5 million new, used, and rare books within its four floors. This is a great place to spend an afternoon, as there are so many things to explore. Not to mention, they have a café in store, so you can grab a coffee as you browse!

Sweet Pickle Books (Lower East Side)

This may be the most interesting store on our list: a used book store that will trade you pickles in exchange for your old books. Sweet Pickle Books opened on the Lower East Side in 2020 during the pandemic. Now almost three years later, they are a thriving local business. Head down their way to trade old reads, find some new ones, or grab a jar of their housemade pickles!

Books Are Magic (Cobble Hill)

We would be remiss if we didn’t include Books Are Magic in this tour of New York bookstores. Located in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, this shop is owned and operated by author Emma Straub and her husband. They sell a variety of new books and host events almost every day, both on-site and off-site, at venues like local libraries. This shop is definitely worth the trip across the river!