Atlantis Books, Santorini, Greece
A group of friends from Cyprus, England, and the United States founded this bookshop, now in a gorgeous home overlooking the water in Oia, Santorini.
CafebreriĖa el PeĖndulo, Mexico City, Mexico
This beautiful Mexico City bookstore is large, light, and open, with sagging bookshelves flush with volumes in both Spanish and English and a pendulum suspended from the ceiling.
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. Munroâs has since moved into a magnificent, neoclassical former bank, decorated with gorgeous fabrics.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina
El Ateneoâs 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
The flagship of the worldâs largest independent bookstore chain stretches over an entire city block in downtown Portland.
Prairie Lights, Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City, home to the renowned Iowa Writersâ 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 thatâs also home to a cafeĖ, 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 kidsâ area to a room with books suspended from the ceiling.
