NYC Notes #1: My 5 Favorite New York City Bookstores
And why you should visit them!
NYC Notes is my new series for sharing my favorite spots across New York City, with a mix of literary and culinary destinations. I always tell you a little bit about the vibes and why they’re worth a visit.
One of my favorite parts about living in New York City is the access to so many incredible independent bookstores! When I was growing up, my town didn’t really have any local bookstores other than a Barnes & Noble location, so I was shocked to find so many when I moved to New York and determined to visit as many as possible.
When I’m exploring an indie bookstore for the first time, I focus a lot on the vibes and how I feel in the space. Is it dark and cozy or bright and airy? Is this a space I could curl up in for hours with my book or am I here for their specific book collection instead? Do they serve drinks and food or are they known for their impressive events calendar? I’m very lucky to live in a city where most of the bookstores have impeccably curated book selections, beautiful aesthetics, and an emphasis on building community, so it was almost impossible to narrow down my favorites for this list!
But there’s something special about these five bookstores that sets them apart for me, and I always recommend them to out-of-town guests and regularly visit them myself. What bookstores would you add to the list? Which indie bookstores do you love to visit in your hometown or in another city? I’d love to hear about your favorites in the comments!
I recently contributed to a roundup of the coolest NYC bookstores, compiled by Constance at A Well-Read Wanderer. If you want even more bookstore recs, check out the list here!
1. The Center for Fiction
15 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217
The vibes:
With floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, colorful tables, and an emphasis on fiction, The Center for Fiction is impressive as soon as you walk in the door. It’s a bright, open space, and there’s also a café and bar on site for your preferred reading drink (I especially love their literary-themed cocktails). The Center for Fiction also offers an annual membership, which grants you access to their library collection of over 70k books, the second-floor member-only spaces, and exclusive events. While I haven’t visited their rooftop yet, it’s on my summer wish list to purchase a day pass to their upstairs spaces!
Why you should visit:
For the events! With author events, literary trivia, writing workshops, and more, The Center has something for everyone, and I’ve attended some of my favorite events here, including an evening with one of my favorite authors, Fredrik Backman, and a quiet reading party. Building a sense of community is what The Center for Fiction does best, and I’m hoping to attend one of their wine and book pairing events soon.
2. The Strand (Upper West Side)
450 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10024
The vibes:
While it’s hard to top the miles of books at The Strand’s original downtown location, I have a soft spot in my heart for their Upper West Side outpost. Maybe it’s because I live close by, but I think this store offers the perfect combination of bright, white shelves and colorful tables while still infusing the space with a cozy atmosphere that encourages browsing. I always stop by if I’m in the area, even if I’m not looking for anything specific!
Why you should visit:
For the signed books and bookish merch! The Strand always has a large selection of signed books (especially new releases), and their tote bags and bookish apparel are iconic in their own right.
3. Books Are Magic (Cobble Hill)
225 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
The vibes:
Books Are Magic is a masterclass in branding and beautiful aesthetics, and the bright pink mural outside the store can be seen in pictures across Instagram. When you step into the neighborhood spot, you’re immediately welcomed by impressive book displays, pops of pink throughout, and a thoughtfully curated collection of books. With a separate children’s section that’s also used for an impressive lineup of author events, it’s a small but mighty store. They recently opened another location in Brooklyn Heights, but I will always be partial to the original Smith Street location!
Why you should visit:
For their staff recommendations! I’ve found some incredible reads thanks to the staff’s written reviews scattered throughout the store. Since the store is owned by bestselling novelist Emma Straub, I always expect stellar recs.
4. Book Club Bar
197 East 3rd Street, New York, NY 10009
The vibes:
This bookstore + bar is the epitome of dark and cozy vibes! Walking into the dimly lit space makes you want to curl up in a leather armchair with your book, work on your next novel with a coffee, and catch up with friends over drinks—all at the same time. Since the store is split into both seating areas and bookshelves for browsing, it can get a bit crowded, but if you’re lucky enough to snag a seat, you can enjoy the atmosphere for hours. When it’s nice outside, I’ve also spent time on their back patio and at the tables out front. If I were ever going to open up a bookstore, these are absolutely the vibes I would try to capture.
Why you should visit:
For the atmosphere! This bookstore offers such a unique blend of bookstore, coffeehouse, and wine bar that you don’t often find elsewhere. I recommend weekdays for optimal seating options.
5. Westsider Rare & Used Books
2246 Broadway, New York, NY 10024
The vibes:
This cozy, hole-in-the-wall bookstore on the Upper West Side is what I imagine when I think of a used bookstore and hearkens back to a slower pace of book consumption. This store is for you if you love visiting bookstores for the act of browsing, not to find a very specific new release. I’ve spent hours perusing the shelves here and stumbling across great books I might never have picked up otherwise. While you’ll inevitably bump into fellow readers while rounding the narrow corners of this bookstore, that’s part of its charm, along with a resident cat that curls up alongside the books.
Why you should visit:
For the used book selection! This store has an impressive collection of used and rare books in a wide range of categories, along with art books and albums. There’s always something new to discover on the shelves.
Until next time, thank you for reading and sharing this post with other bookstore lovers!
Wishing you all the five star reads,
Katherine
Thanks for this! I’m going to be in NYC next month and will definitely be visiting a couple of these!
Taking copious notes! I love Book Club Bar but I haven’t been to any of the others yet!