There are so many beautiful, quirky, incredible bookstores out there. I swear thanks to the internet I find new ones I want to visit every single day.
I thought today I’d share some of the bookstores I’d love to visit someday.
El Ataneo in Buenos Aires – In 2000 this hundred year old theatre was converted into a bookstore. Boasting over a million visitors each year, the El Ataneo is one of Buenos Aires’ most popular bookstores. There are still chairs throughout the building and even a cafe installed where the stage stands. It looks gorgeous in the photos I’ve seen and I love the idea of re-purposing a beautiful old theatre whilst still maintaining the grandeur of the classic architecture. (photos from Wikipedia)
Abbey Bookstore, Paris – This store is located in a heritage listed townhouse and owned by an Canadian ex-pat. Hosting a great selection of English books, this Parisian bookstore looks like a treasure trove of undiscovered riches. It looks like such organised chaos! If I ever make it to Paris, this store is a place I will definitely visit!
Photo from: myfrenchlife.org
Photo from: Paris dans mon ceil
Shakespeare and Company, Paris – This is one of those places I’ve wanted to visit since I saw it in Before Sunset and Midnight in Paris. A bookstore with a history of defying censorship and being an important meeting place in bohemian Paris, this shop is a must see for me for a few reasons. It’s reputed to have a great range and I love the stores historical significance too.
Photo from: thalo.com
Daunt Books, Marylebone, London – Daunt Books is a chain store specializing in travel books. The interior of the Marylebone store is so pretty. Built in 1912 this store is apparently the first custom built bookstore in the world. The store even has a vault where extremely rare books are housed.
Photo from: urban75.org
It seems like I could list bookstores I want to visit all day! Are there any bookstores you love that you recommend I add to my list? Any you have on your ultimate bucket list?
El Ataneo is at the top of my list!!! And also a few tiny shops around Scotland and Ireland, plus a few in Japan. Frequent flyer miles, here I come!
These look so beautiful I just want to cry looking at them! OMG.
That first picture from Paris looks a little dangerous but still so inviting 🙂
Wow! This is not something I’ve thought about before– my bookstore bucket list. How did you even come up with these? I adore how El Ataneo looks. It’s beautiful!