Atlantis Books, Santorini, Greece
Cafebrería el Péndulo, Mexico City, Mexico
Munro’s Books, Victoria, Canada
In 1963, exactly a half-century before she won the Nobel Prize in literature, Alice Munro co-founded a bookstore with her then-husband, Jim. Munro’s has since moved into a magnificent, neoclassical former bank, decorated with gorgeous fabrics.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina
El Ateneo’s magnificent Buenos Aires home used to serve as a performing arts theater, and it shows: The Grand Splendid has retained the ornate trappings, including frescoed ceilings and red stage curtains.
Powell’s City of Books, Portland, Oregon
Prairie Lights, Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, home to the renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop, is drenched in literary life. Prairie Lights is arguably the hub of it all, with readings by star writers and up-and-comers and staffed by famed bookseller Paul Ingram.
Shakespeare and Company, Paris, France
With its 17th-century facade and rustic decorations, Shakespeare and Company of Paris is a font of old-world charm. It also has a vibrant history.
Gertrude & Alice, Sydney, Australia
In 1998, two new friends, inspired by the partnership of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, decided to open a bookstore. Gertrude & Alice, a cozy shop that’s also home to a café, is now a neighborhood fixture in Sydney.
Librairie Avant-Garde, Nanjing, China
Housed in a former underground parking garage and bomb shelter, Librairie Avant-Garde has been transformed into the most beautiful bookstore in China.
Cook & Book, Brussels, Belgium
Per its name, Cook & Book is a combination restaurant and bookstore near the Metro in Brussels. Nine different spaces offer their own distinct vibes, from a whimsical kids’ area to a room with books suspended from the ceiling.
