Discovering the world’s most enchanting bookstores isn’t just an aspiration for book lovers; it’s a delightful adventure waiting to unfold. A captivating guide titled “150 Bookstores You Need to Visit Before You Die” by Elizabeth Stamp, published by Lanoo Publishers, offers a global tour of these literary havens. Set to release on June 20, this book takes readers on a journey through more than 120 unique bookstores that span across diverse countries and cultures. From the aesthetically stunning to those with intriguing histories and remarkable collections, these bookstores have been carefully selected for their allure. Below, we present a selection of these extraordinary bookshops, along with a few beloved choices favored by AD, that deserve a place on your must-visit list.
Yanjiyou Capsule Bookstore (Zhejiang Province, China)
Stamp highlights the YanjiYou Capsule Bookstore as an essential destination, praising its location within an “architectural marvel.” Nestled amidst mountains and forests in Tonglu, this unique establishment was crafted by Atelier TAO+C. The design ingeniously transformed a mud-and-wood house into a fusion of a capsule hotel, library, and bookstore. The structure boasts remarkable elements like an all-glass eastern wall and a sunken reading pit, contributing to its distinct and captivating design.
Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore (Chengdu, China)
The grand unveiling of the Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Bookstore in 2020 garnered widespread attention for its captivating and surreal design. The company has gained renown for its elaborate and immersive bookstores, and this particular establishment, with its tower book spirals and artistic shelves, upheld that reputation. Within her book, Stamp suggests exploring a comparable and equally extravagant sibling store: the Taizhou City branch.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Stamp aptly describes El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Buenos Aires’s Recoleta neighborhood as a perennial entrant on lists of the world’s most stunning bookstores. This enchanting destination for book lovers is housed within a converted old theater, which once resonated with the echoes of tango maestros, operatic spectacles, and cinematic presentations. Originally designed by Peró and Torres Armengol in 1919, the historic building now stands as a testament to the fusion of literature and the arts.
The Last Bookstore (Los Angeles, California)
Encompassing a vast expanse of 22,000 square feet, the Last Bookstore in Los Angeles occupies the premises of a former bank edifice. Boasting an impressive inventory exceeding 250,000 books, this establishment holds the distinction of being California’s largest emporium for both new and secondhand books. Among its notable attractions are a captivating mural and an enchanting tunnel ingeniously constructed from books themselves.
The Center for Fiction (Brooklyn, New York)
Situated in the Fort Greene district of Brooklyn, the Center for Fiction is an integral component of a two-century-old nonprofit organization that initially originated as the Mercantile Library of New York. Beyond housing a meticulously curated bookstore, this literary enclave encompasses a café, bar, and a private library exclusively accessible to its members.
