A local’s guide to the best bookstores in Paris, from places to buy cheap used books to beautiful bookshop cafes, and some of the oldest shops in town!
I think part of the legendary French romantic melancholy is due to the fact that we love reading; you’ll often see Parisians reading on the metro, lost between intoxicating pages.
Paris is a moving library, a place to observe and dream.
I’m not talking only about its secret gardens, photo spots like the Colonnes de Buren, or the Art Nouveau places like the Lavirotte building.
Writing Your Own Chapter: The 15 Best Bookstores in Paris
From the aesthetic streets of the Latin Quarter and Le Marais to dreamy Montmartre and secret glass-roofed passages, bookstores in Paris are not just stores.
Some have survived revolutions and the digital age, and are inherently part of Parisian intellectual life – these are the ones you have to visit when in Paris.
Beautiful Bookstores in Paris: Librairie du Passage, Passage Jouffroy
Located in the 9th arrondissement, close to Bonne-Nouvelle on the Grands Boulevards, the Passage Jouffroy represents 19th-century Parisian elegance.
Inside, you’ll find the Librairie du Passage, with its striking 30,000+ title collection; it’s a must-visit for fine art books, from jewelry to fashion and design.
Address: 48 Passage Jouffroy, 75009 Paris
Website: Librairie du Passage
Most Beautiful Bookstores in Paris: Shakespeare and Company, 5th Arrondissement
In the 5th arrondissement, directly across the Seine from Notre-Dame, is located Shakespeare and Company, the Parisian bookshop you may have seen on Pinterest, TikTok and Instagram.
The original Shakespeare and Company bookshop was founded in 1919 by Sylvia Beach at 12 rue de l’Odéon; the one we can see near the Seine was opened by George Whitman as Le Mistral at 37 rue de la Bûcherie.
It was renamed Shakespeare and Company in 1964, on the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth.
It’s forbidden to take pictures inside, but this is truly, amazingly, one of the most beautiful bookstores in Paris.
Address: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris
Website: Shakespeare and Company
Best Used Bookstores in Paris: Book Off, Châtelet (and Other Branches)
Book Off has several branches in Paris, but my favorite (and one of the biggest) is located on Rue Saint-Martin, near Les Halles and close to Rue de Rivoli.
This is one of my go-to places to buy used books in Paris.
I recently found quite a few amazing titles priced from 1 euro, and you’ll find it easy to budget since Book Off uses a color-coded sticker system.
There’s another one of their bookstores around Quatre-Septembre near the Opéra area, and another great spot at Bastille on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine.
Address: 9 Rue Saint-Martin, 75004 Paris
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Most Beautiful Bookstores in Paris: Halle Saint-Pierre, Montmartre (18th Arrondissement)
Located in the gorgeous Montmartre area, the Halle Saint-Pierre is surely a bookstore, but its offering goes beyond that, as it also serves as a museum, a gallery, and has a hidden cafe inside.
Housed in a 19th century marketplace, the Halle Saint-Pierre was originally a market for food an design, and the Baltard style is one of the most beautiful you’ll find in the city.
Address: 2 Rue Ronsard, 75018 Paris
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Best Bookstores in Paris: Boulinier, Châtelet and Saint-Michel
My favorite branches of the Boulinier bookstore are located in Saint Michel, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, and in Châtelet, just off the Place des Innocents with its beautiful fountain.
I recently decided I wanted to read the entirety of Zola’s Rougon-Macquart collection, and bought (once again) a copy of Au Bonheur des Dames for just one euro.
It’s one of my favorite books, and since I’ve been living in Paris, I’ve had a strong attraction to the city’s covered passages and other historical department stores.
You can never go wrong with a visit to Boulinier, family-run since 1845, it allows me to treat myself to anything from art books to French literature, and even English titles even when I’m on a budget.
Address: 2 Rue des Innocents (on Place des Innocents)
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Best Bookstores in Paris: Gibert, Boulevard Saint-Michel (and Other Locations)
Gibert has quite a few bookshops around Paris, but the most famous ones are located on Boulevard Saint-Michel.
The name historically represented two sibling-rival companies, Gibert Joseph and Gibert Jeune.
We’re in the heart of the wonderful Latin Quarter, with its winding streets and many bookstores, alongside landmarks like the Pantheon and the Cour du Commerce Saint-André.
In the various Gibert shops dotting the Boulevard Saint-Michel, you’ll find new and used books, stationery, vinyls, CDs, DVDs, and anything bookworms may love to find in Paris.
Address: 26 Boulevard Saint-Michel, 75006 Paris
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Best Bookstores in Paris: Tram Librairie Cafe, 5th Arrondissement
Tram Librairie Cafe is located really close to the Pantheon and the secret Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, both situated in the intellectual, student-crowded 5th arrondissement.
Originally opened in 2021, Tram was inspired by the City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, and mainly a cafe/restaurant with a small selection of books.
Emily in Paris fans will love to visit Tram, as it was famously used as a filming location for season 2 of the Netflix show.
Address: 47 Rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, 75005 Paris
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Best Bookstores in Paris: Pippa
Librairie Pippa is located in the 5th arrondissement, and makes for one of the best indie bookshops in the city, focusing on literary art, from travel essays to poetry.
At Pippa, you’ll often come across temporary exhibitions that dress the basement and the walls – a really aesthetic spot, quiet, that makes you want to discover all there is inside the shop.
Facing Librairie Pippa is one of the best hidden gems in Paris; 3 Rue Le Goff, a beautiful building with a highly detailed facade.
Address: 6 Rue Le Goff, 75005 Paris
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Best Bookstores in Paris: Smith and Son, Rue des Rosiers, Le Marais
On the picturesque Rue des Rosiers in Le Marais neighborhood, you’ll find Smith & Son, with its vintage shopfront – since we’re in the Jewish Quarter, it’s closed on Saturdays, but open on Sundays.
Smith & Son is one of the go-to bookstores to have on your bucket list for English-language books, like Shakespeare and Company.
From coffee table books on Parisian life, architecture or fashion to bestsellers and classics, Smith & Son has it all, in addition to unique stationery bits.
When you’re done shopping, why not have a walk to nearby secret Jardin des Rosiers Joseph Migneret, and the even more secret garden right behind it?
Address: 20 Rue des Rosiers, 75004 Paris
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Best Bookstores in Paris: Librairie Le Phénix
Established in 1965, Librairie Le Phénix is located close to the Réaumur-Sébastopol station (the entrance is one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau spots in Paris).
Le Phénix focuses exclusively on the history, languages and literature of Asia, including Japan, Korea and China, but also Vietnam or Thailand.
Not only will you find learning materials there, but also high-end coffee table books, manga and stationery: rice paper, ink stones, and professional brushes.
When you’re done, take a walk down to the station to admire one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris; the former F. Potin department store, now with a Monoprix store at its base.
Address: 72 Boulevard de Sébastopol, 75003 Paris
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Best Bookstores in Paris: Sur le Fil de Paris, Saint-Paul
If you’re interested in books about the history of Paris, you’ll find Sur le Fil de Paris close to Saint-Paul station and the secret Village Saint-Paul.
From literature to photography and books about the hidden gems of Paris, Sur le Fil de Paris is filled with anything you might need for research and pleasure.
Adress: 2 Rue de l’Ave Maria, 75004 Paris
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Beautiful Bookstores in Paris: Librairie des Abbesses, Montmartre
The Librairie des Abbesses is located on the historic Butte Montmartre, and makes for one of the most famous bookstores in Paris, with its cozy old world interior.
We’re close to the beautiful Abbesses station and the hidden Jardin des Abbesses, and you’ll find plenty of books from independent publishers inside, alongside stationery and gifts.
A short walk away from the Librairie des Abbesses, you’ll find at 18 Rue Yvonne le Tac a historical, aesthetic building that makes for definite eye candy.
Address: 30 Rue Yvonne le Tac, 75018 Paris
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Other Beautiful Bookstores in Paris
Taschen, 5th Arrondissement
Located in Saint Germain des Prés in the 6th arrondissement, the Taschen bookstore is one of my favorite spots to go shopping in Paris after coffee at Maison Sauvage.
We’re on Rue de Buci, in a store designed by the legendary French designer Philippe Starck, with racks upon racks of art, architecture, photography, fashion and even pop culture titles.
Address: 2 Rue de Buci, 75006 Paris
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Eyrolles, 5th Arrondissement
Librairie Eyrolles is located on Boulevard Saint-Germain in the 5th arrondissement, and makes for another one of my favorite bookstores in Paris.
You’ll find lots of technical and professional books there, from lifestyle to graphic design, arts, architecture, and even management.
Adresse : 55-61 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75005 Paris
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Gallimard, 7th Arrondissement (near Rue du Bac)
Librairie Gallimard is situated in the 7th arrondissement near Rue du Bac, and like Eyrolles and Taschen, is one of the most important editing houses in Paris.
We’re on Boulevard Raspail here, and beyond a simple bookstore, Gallimard feels a like a gallery, with wooden bookshelves, archive documents and important figures of French literature like Malraux, Proust, and Gide.
Adresse : 15 Boulevard Raspail, 75007 Paris
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Writing Your Own Chapter: The 15 Best Bookstores in Paris
I think I love Paris for its diversity and elegance – what makes the Parisian book scene extraordinary is, in my opinion, is plethora of secret bookstores.
If you’d like to marvel even more at wonderful collections, do check out the two Assouline bookstores on Rue Bonaparte, Brentano’s on Avenue de l’Opéra, or Couleur du Temps in the 6th arrondissement.
You can find huge book department stores like Gibert, places to buy super cheap secondhand books like Boulinier and Book Off, and vintage-looking shops like Smith & Son.
You’ll basically find anything and everything you need in these, and hopefully, your next favorite reads!