23 Book Stores in NEW YORK (Charming, Cozy & Quiet)
In a bustling and hustling city like New York, nothing is better than finding a cozy corner in a bookstore and getting lost in the books.
Although the world is now digital, and e-readers find it easier to scroll through their phone and tablets, nothing beats flipping through the pages of the physical copy of a book and finding a comfortable place to read.
From world-famous spots to charming, quaint stores, you can find a bookstore packed with new and rare finds.
These stores provide readers with a chance to disconnect from daily technology life.
The winding aisles of magazines, novels, comic books, and bibliographies can provide a deep feeling of unmatched inspiration and relaxation.
All you need is a cup of coffee and a comfortable spot to enjoy alone time with your books.
Check out the list of must-visit bookstores in New York below and pick up your next read.
And by the way, you may also want to check out the best Museums in New York.
Book Stores in Buffalo, New York
1. Talking Leaves…Books
If your interest in books is beyond the ordinary, you can search for a book here.
This bookstore has been providing the reading public with a unique selection of books for 40 years now.
The books here would transport you to a new world, illuminate your mind, and expand your knowledge.
You will enjoy browsing the books if you have a curious, critical, independent mind.
The store also provides a safe space for conversations and community discussions on the books.
If you want to enjoy a book from the comfort of your home, you can browse the website, order, and pick it up.
You can also ship books to your reader-friends anywhere in the world.
Browse the website or stop by the Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo store and find the perfect book.
Address: 951 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222, United States
2. Alice, Ever After Books
Prepare to enter into the wonderland of books!
There is something for everyone here, both young and old ages.
It is a perfect place to bring your children and enjoy the specially curated children’s literature just for them.
You can find books of diverse areas and high quality that will surely leave a spark of creativity and wonder in your kids’ minds.
The best part about this bookstore is that it is across from Buffalo Zoo!
So after a day at the zoo, you can bring your kids to find stories about any animal that excites them.
The store uses stories and crafts to allow visitors to explore a new world and learn about many things.
Visit the bookstore, find your favorite stories, and discover ones you never imagined.
Address: 295 Parkside Ave, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States
3. Burning Books
Get in here if you are a radical reader; this is where you can find the perfect read!
With a wide selection of titles on activism, feminism, queer studies, capitalism, disability, race, disability class, and more, you can find a book to read and enjoy.
Other book lovers are not left out as there are books for children, middle ages, and young adults.
You can find books on fiction, history, art, photography, poetry, food, farming, plants, music, etc.
The store focuses on social justice issues and supports individuals and movements against domination and oppression.
Burning Books also organizes various speaker series where you can see different authors’ perspectives and activities on issues affecting the world.
Visit this bookstore if you want something to get your mind wandering and satisfy your critical mind.
Address: 420 Connecticut St, Buffalo, NY 14213, United States
4. Rust Belt Books
Check out this bookstore for amazing discoveries and true happiness with books.
The independent bookstore specializes in providing used books for every wandering soul.
You can also sell your books and find new favorites at the store.
The shelves hold books of different categories, from fiction to sci-fi, philosophy, history, fantasy, science, poetry, and more.
There is also a section for children to find interesting and intriguing stories to read.
Each title is specially hand-picked to satisfy avid readers and book lovers.
The bookstore is also comfortable for community events like reading, art, and performances.
Although Kristi’s owner has put the store for sale, you can still stop by, connect with the books and gain knowledge.
The prices of the books are fair, and the atmosphere is comfortable.
What’s stopping your visit?
Address: 415 Grant St, Buffalo, NY 14213, United States
5. Fitz Books & Waffles
Find any book that interests you here, both used and brand new.
The books help you to gain a connection between literature, art, and liberation.
Check out the books on fiction theories, poetries, memoirs, science, architecture, art, photography, music, indigenous studies, and more.
Books on internationalism, LBGBTQ studies, and hip-hop culture are also available.
Your visit is only complete after trying the liege waffles at the store.
What makes them so good is that they are made with dough, not batter, and they have a delicious caramel flavor.
Try it out, whether the original Liege flavor or the new chocolate flavor.
They also serve tea, coffee, and four different Perry’s Ice Cream flavors.
Check out Fitz and Waffles and browse the selection to find an intriguing book.
Address: 433 Ellicott St, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States
Also see our article on Furniture Stores in New York.
Book Stores in Brooklyn, New York
1. Greenlight Bookstore (Fulton Street)
This spot is an independent bookstore with two beautiful locations in Brooklyn, one on Fulton Street and the other on Flatbush Avenue.
It also has a stationery store, a theater kiosk, and many pop-up locations at partner events all over the city.
Greenlight has a reputation for being the go-to destination for literature and carefully curated book selections.
You will find titles across all fictional and nonfiction genres, bibliographies, poetry, and children’s books.
The store creates a welcoming and inviting space for people to discover and connect around books.
It also encourages conversations and connects with other book lovers through programs and services that highlight creative works.
Check the website, find new titles to order, and be the first to receive them.
If you can’t wait, stop by the store and get a clean copy of any genre you wish to read.
Address: 686 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217, United States
2. Quimby’s Bookstore NYC
A visit to this bookstore on the edge of Union and Metropolitan Avenue is a must for any zone and art lover.
Describing the collection here in two words will be unusual and intriguing.
The atmosphere might even scare you if you are not used to visiting indie bookstores.
Besides the wide selection of books, the store is also home to other publications like small press books, comics, and artist-created gifts.
The specialty of this place is the zine books on anything you can imagine.
Every wall in the store has a wide array of unconventional butterfly posters and ornaments of planets.
You can also find greeting cards, astrology-themed cards, and feminist literature.
The store also displays many artsy treasures and art designs.
Visit this local treasure in Brooklyn and enjoy its amazing collection of books.
Address: 536 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211, United States
3. Books Are Magic
The books here are indeed magical and one of the best book spots you can find in Brooklyn.
Best-selling author Emma Straub and her husband, Michael Straub, own this pink store on one corner of Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.
It has two locations in Brooklyn, providing an inclusive space for all.
You will find many interesting stories and titles when you browse through the shelves.
The store is a welcoming space for everyone to stop by, pick up a book, and read to their heart’s content.
Young readers can find books to develop their minds, and children can find books that interest and entertain them.
Life-long readers can also find new vibrant books to read and enjoy.
The store hosts free and affordable events with new writers and long-established authors.
Familiarize yourself with vibrant and intriguing books at the Smith Street, Brooklyn store.
Address: 225 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231, United States
4. POWERHOUSE on 8th
Powerhouse is more than just a charming and cozy bookstore.
The spot provides a book store, a gallery, a reading club, and a space for Park Slope community members.
It provides the best fiction, nonfiction, picture books, novelty, cooking, decorating, stationery, and more.
Children can also have a full day browsing through the collection of children’s books and stuffed animals on the shelf.
The shop also hosts events like book launches, Sunday Story Time series, readings, and community discussions.
Sunday Story Time series has amazing authors reading their books to children.
Author appearances, drawing activities, and family events are also regular here.
The store is also an ideal place to find a perfect gift for a book lover.
Book lovers of all ages and levels are welcome here, so stop by once and see what the store is all about.
Address: 1111 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215, United States
5. Unnameable Books
This cute independent bookstore is on Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, New York.
The store has a reputation for being the go-to spot for poetry and an electric collection of both new and used books.
You can also find smaller publications and comic books.
Other genres include fiction, nonfiction, spoken words, philosophy, art, and music.
You can sell your old books and find new favorites at the store.
Buying hours are between 12 and 5 pm on weekdays, 1 and 6 pm on weekends.
If you want to sell more than two tote bags of books, call ahead of time.
The store also organizes events on performance, reading, and spoken words.
If you are on a budget but love to enjoy good books, stop by this hidden gem on Prospect Heights.
Address: 615 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238, United States
6. Community Bookstores
The store has two locations in Brooklyn, one in Park Slope and the other on Cobble Hill.
Susan and John Scioli jointly owned it until they separated.
Now, Susan owns the store on Park Slope and is doing a great job satisfying book readers in the neighborhood.
This three-story brownstone holds between 60,000 and 100,000 hard-copy books.
With its neatly arranged stack of books, this spot has been providing the community with quality books since the 1970s
Besides many shelves containing stacked books, you can also find vintage records and toys in the store.
Cookbooks, kids’ and baby books, and novels of all kinds, from romance, adventure, thrillers, and tragedy, are some of the books you can find here.
You will also find books on music, art, photography, history, etc.
The store holds many virtual and physical events featuring new writers and established authors.
Visit this charming spot on Park Slope with a killer collection of books.
Address: 143 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215, United States
Also see our article on Thrift Stores in New York.
Book Stores in Soho, New York
1. McNally Jackson Books Prince Street
McNally holds an important position in the neighborhood as one of the leading bookstores.
Its Nolita tote bag is instantly recognizable anywhere you go around Soho.
Despite the digital times everyone now lives in, McNally is a good spot to hold on to.
After a long day of reading, stop by one of the numerous restaurants and sidewalk cafes for a yummy bite.
The store uniquely arranges books by geography, uncommon in other stores.
You will find books from Italian to Spanish, Portuguese, Irish, and British on the shelves.
Grab a coffee from any cafe, walk through the bookstore doors, pick a book, and find a comfortable spot to read.
Does the thought of it not excite you?
Make sure to stop by the bookstore as soon as you can!
Address: 134 Prince St, New York, NY 10012, United States
2. Housing Works Bookstore
This place would prove that physical copies of books are still very much in vogue!
Despite these times when everyone would rather pick up their phones and browse online, Housing Works remains a local institution and tourist destination.
Every stock here is donated, and volunteers work there as staff.
You can find many books, movies, and music at the store.
Housing Works is a perfect place to get away from a boring day at home, meet friends, relax, and unwind.
If you are a writer, you can stop by to gain inspiration from other writers.
There are free and affordable events every other week for book lovers to unite and relax.
Immerse yourself in a cozy and comfortable atmosphere away from the bustle and hustle of New York City.
Address: 126 Crosby St, New York, NY 10012, United States
Also see our article on Pet Stores in New York.
Book Stores in Saratoga Springs, New York
1. Northshire Bookstore
This family-owned independent bookstore dedicates its time to providing top-notch services and high-quality books.
Apart from the location in Saratoga Springs, the store has locations in Manchester and Vermont.
It offers some of the most impressive collections of books, new, old, and rare to find.
Besides its over 300 000 titles, it also offers a selection of vinyl records, home goods, stationers, and gifts.
If you want more varieties, check out the website for exclusive access to over 10 million titles across different subjects.
Anyone can come here, young and old, local and tourist, to find a book that interests them.
Check out the website if you want to be a part of book events like story times with best-selling authors, book launches, and many more.
Address: 424 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, United States
2. Barnes & Noble
If you reside in New York, you may have heard this name before.
Barnes & Noble is a bookseller blockchain with locations across the United States.
They have vast warehouses nationwide that stock over 1 million titles ready for delivery.
The website is a marketplace for millions of new and used book titles.
A special collection of Rare & Collectible Books offers out-of-print books, first and signed editions of books.
The store also has a children’s books, music, and videos site.
Barnes & Noble is also a web destination for every book lover.
There is more than enough to explore, from books to magazines, e-books, toys, music, video games, DVD, etc.
You can shop in-store or order online and pick it up at your convenience.
Visit the branch in Saratoga Springs and see what the rave about the store is all about.
Address: Wilton Square 3029, NY-50, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, United States
3. Lyrical Ballad Bookstore
Locate this store in Downtown Saratoga Springs and find old, new, and rare to find books.
This hidden gem in Saratoga has been in business since 1971, providing visitors with every book’s needs.
The brick-and-mortar bookstore has eight rooms with over 200 000 books, antique maps, and prints.
Rooms open into other rooms and corridors, so it is impossible to be precise about the vast collections of books here.
You can even find books as old as you are inside this store.
Some specialties include books and postcards on New York’s history, architecture, arts, children’s and illustration books, horse racing books, and many more.
Explore the winding aisles of the bookstore, and what you find will excite and amaze you.
Pick up the books, breathe them in, and handle them with care and love.
Address: 7 Phila St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, United States
4. Cosmic Capes Comics
Are you a lover of comic books, animations, and collectibles?
This bookstore in Saratoga Springs is your best bet.
They got them all, from comics to graphic novels to misc, card, and board games!
The store provides a comfortable and welcoming space where everyone can come together, share their love for comics, and enjoy reading them.
They offer a wide variety of collectible covers and graded comics.
You can find many of your favorite comic figures, statues, and toys in the collectible section.
The owner is super friendly and ready to help you find whatever you want and make great recommendations you will love.
There is something for every comic and graphic novel lover at this store, both young and adults.
Don’t miss out on the varieties; stop by and grab a copy for yourself!
Address: 9 Hampstead Pl Suite 101, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, United States
Also see our article on Coffee Shops in New York.
Book Stores in Manhattan, New York.
1. Rizzoli Bookstore
Find this store three blocks north of Madison Square Park in Manhattan, New York.
Rizzoli is a go-to destination for all book lovers and authors worldwide.
It is one of the best independent stores in New York, specializing in virtually all kinds of books.
Some of them include illustrated books on history, architecture, photography, arts, cooking, interior design, literature, and foreign language books.
You can also find a selection of magazines and newspapers on various subjects.
The interior design provides a classic and charming atmosphere with iron chandeliers, ornate decorations, and luminous windows.
All you need to do is find a book, sit on the comfortable sofa, and read away.
The store is close to many restaurants and eatery spots on Madison Square.
So when you are done reading to your heart’s content, find a restaurant and treat yourself to a tasty meal.
What could be better for a solo getaway time?
Address: 1133 Broadway, New York, NY 10010, United States
2. Argosy Book Store
You can find over a thousand books across all fields of interest at this family-owned bookstore on 59th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York.
The six-story building specializes in Americana, art, maps, autographs, history, science, and medicine.
Find old, new, rare, and out-of-print books across all subjects at the store.
You will also find first, signed, and limited editions of books you can’t find anywhere else.
If you would love to explore the world through the lines on a map, check out the antique atlas and map covering every part of the world.
You can also check out inscribed books, letters, manuscripts, and photographs of celebrated figures from all walks of life.
Check out the prints, drawings, and posters on nearly every subject.
Everything you need is here, so what stops you from visiting this charming spot?
Address: 116 E 59th St, New York, NY 10022, United States
3. The Corner Bookstore
This bookstore is a mecca for every book lover!
It has been satisfying the book desires of the Madison Avenue neighborhood for over three decades.
The store is committed to providing the best of both on and nonfiction titles.
You can find different sections to explore, from history to travel, photography, art, music, biography, cookbooks, poetry, and mysteries.
Books are available for all reading levels, from young to adult.
The store also dedicates many children’s books to a book nook with various titles.
Regardless of what book interests you, there are staffs to answer your questions or offer good book recommendations.
First-time local writers can celebrate their publishing success with loved ones in the cozy and intimate bookstore.
Visit this bookstore on Carnegie Hill once, and you Hill be back for more books.
Address: 1313 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10128, United States
4. Strand Book Store
A book lover and entrepreneur by heart started this store in 1927, and it is now a family business.
Today, the store holds over 2.5 million books, new, used, and rare to find, covering different topics worldwide.
Merely walking through the store doors, you can feel the love and care put into the books by the owner.
The store allows lovers to unite and share their love for books.
You can find books on topics like philosophy, history, and finance.
Every staff here is knowledgeable and passionate about books.
So, if you are unsure of what you want, describe your taste to the staff, and they will recommend something you might love.
Writers can converge here, sell their books, and find new gems to buy.
Locate this bookstore near Union Square Park and see why it is a treasure.
Address: 828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, United States
Also see our article on High Tea in New York.
Book Stores in Albany, New York
1. Urban Aftermath Books
They say variety is the spice of life, and this bookstore has everything you need as a book lover.
It has about 30,000 items for sale, from books to art pieces.
One thing that would capture your attention is this place’s design, aesthetics, vibe, and how it all flows together.
The owner Hassan creates a world where you can explore vinyl records, arts, signage, vintage toys, and antique supplies.
Apart from the general area is a main room with an impressive collection of hardcovers, art, home decorations, and records.
If you are unsure what to get a book lover, consider the Urban Aftermath gift cards.
Visit this cozy little shop on Hamilton Street in Albany and enjoy a quiet time away from work and responsibilities.
Address: 295 Hamilton St, Albany, NY 12210, United States
2. Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza
This independent bookstore has served the Capital District for over 37 years.
Its cozy, intimate, and one-of-a-kind space is distinct and full of character.
Book House is more than just a bookstore; it is a haven for those looking to escape from New York’s crazy life.
The staff put a lot of dedication and commitment to the books and satisfying customers with them.
Check out The Little Book House, a children’s store next door for your kids’ books and stories.
You can search the website for hardcover books and e-books to ship or pick up at the store.
The store also hosts outreaches, charity events, readings by local and international authors, and volunteer programs.
You should check out this bookstore if you are a bookaholic seeking satisfaction in the pages of a book.
Address: 1475 Western Ave #62, Albany, NY 12203, United States
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