5 Paris Book Stores You Have To See

There’s no denying that Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There’s so much to see here, but one thing every bibliophile should do is check out their book stores. They have an incredible array of unique stores that have to be seen to be believed. Here’s some of the best in Paris that you’ll want to visit.

San Francisco Book Co.

This book store is perfect for English speakers, as it specialises in English texts. It’s a cosy little store, packed floor to ceiling full of books. It’s so easy to get lost among the shelves and browse titles for an afternoon, that’s for sure.

The staff here are very knowledgeable too, and ready to help. Ask them for their recommendations, and you’ll find something new to enjoy on your trip to Paris.

2. Librairie Jousseaume

This quaint book store is located in the stunning Galerie Vivienne, and has almost everything you could want as a book lover. It has a real old world feel, and you’ll love browsing through their books. Their outdoor selection is sorted alphabetically, so you’re going to find titles with ease. You can also pick through their postcards if you want to send one home.

Want to be a real Parisian? “Treat yourself to a book here, and read it at the next door Legrand wine cellar” says Leslie Peterson, a travel writer at Elite Assignment Help and Revieweal. “What’s better than a glass of wine and a good book?”

3. Shakespeare And Company

Tucked away in a corner, you’ll find the Shakespeare and Company book shop. It’s a haven for French speakers, as they have a massive array of used books. It has real old school charm, with the shelves packed floor to ceiling with books. It’s no wonder why it’s so popular with the locals.

The best part about it is that the books are so cheap. You can take a book home for just €1 or €2 each. You’ll be walking away with armfuls of books, without a doubt.

4. The Abbey Bookshop

This is another bookshop that’s perfect for the English speaker looking for a good read. It was opened by Brian Spence in 1989, when he brought his bookshop across the pond from Canada. Now it’s a popular hang out for Anglophones who visit, as there’s a great selection of English titles that cover all genres.

Browsing through the books here is always a fun experience, and you’ll be sure to find something that interests you. It’s certainly popular with lots of English speaking residents, expats, and tourists in Paris.

5. Smith And Son Paris

This book store manages to blend past and present seamlessly, making it a unique book browsing experience. The store has been in business since 1903, but was renovated by the Lonsdale agency recently. Now, you’ll find lots of touches of the past along with pale woods and shelves and shelves of books.

“One of the best things to do is take a seat on their plush benches and read” says David Anderson, an editor at State Of Writing and OXEssays. “You can lose hours enjoying a book here, and it’s one of the most relaxing book stores you’ll find in Paris.”

These are just a selection of some of the most popular book stores that you can find in Paris. They’re well known for having amazing stores that you can browse through for hours, so make some time on your next trip to visit them. Who knows what books you may find when you’re there?

Madeline Miller is an assignment writer at Lia Help. She writes about travel in Paris, and blogs for Assignment Writing Service.

Header Photo Credit: Pexels

About the Author

Isabelle Karamooz, Founder of FQM is originally from Versailles, France. She always wanted to see the world, which she did starting at 17 when she had the fortunate opportunity to study abroad in Rhonda, Spain. She traveled the world from Hong Kong to Taiwan, from Ireland to Austria, to Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and Monaco, and discovered the entire countries of Italy and Morocco. She really feels like a citizen of the world. She finally settled several years in Los Angeles where she worked at the French Consulate of Los Angeles. Passionate about the Arts and History, she earned a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of California Berkeley and have studied for a Master program in teaching at the University of Southern California, then she went on to teach French to aspiring UNLV and CSN students in Nevada. She is the founder and Editor in chief of French Quarter Magazine, in which she writes, interviews people in a wide range of circumstances, pitches story ideas to writers and journalists, takes photos, and is currently writing her first work in English, which spans the life of Coco Chanel and is filled with adventure, intrigue, history and love.