Are you looking for English bookstores in Paris?
Paris’s literary heritage goes back centuries. The city’s natural beauty has also lured artists and authors from all over the world. The city influenced writers like James Joyce, Henry Miller, Edith Wharton, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. With this rich literary legacy, Paris, unsurprisingly, is full of bookstores.
The following are just ten of the most well-known and visually stunning Parisian bookstores selling works in English.
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10 Amazing English Bookstores in Paris
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1. The Abbey Bookshop
Address: 29, rue de la Parcheminerie 75005 Paris
Although there are many excellent English-language bookstores in Paris, the Abbey Bookshop stands out as a favorite among book lovers. This charming bookstore, opened in 1989 by Canadian Brian Spence, is packed with books.
Even with its shaky layout, it’s a bookworm’s dream come true. New and gently used books in pristine condition are offered at a modest price, and the store also stocks hard-to-find titles.
If you’re in the neighborhood, you should definitely make your way through the bookstore’s narrow aisles. Grab a bag of books, then head to the Seine for a relaxing afternoon of reading.
2. Brentanos
Address: 37 Av. de l’Opéra, 75002 Paris, France
This old bookshop was closed for business in 2009, but it reopened under new ownership in February of the following year. Only forty percent of the store is devoted to selling books written in English; the remaining space is used for selling other items, such as postcards, souvenirs, and so on.
The shop Brentano’s sells a variety of treasures, including hardback coffee table novels written in English, planners, agendas written in English, notebooks, postcards, Parisian Christmas tree ornaments that are available all year), and other one-of-a-kind Parisian mementos.
3. Librairie de la Mode
Address: 118 Rue Réaumur, 75002 Paris, France
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Librairie de la Mode has an incredible selection of fashion and lifestyle books, and any shopper with an eye for style will be delighted by what they find there. In addition, periodicals from all around the globe are included.
Here you may get the latest issues of Wallpaper*, Monocle, and Vogue, as well as information on what’s happening in Singapore and Milan.
This German company, however, publishes a lot more than just periodicals. You can find graphic designs, digital books, forecasts of upcoming fashion seasons, and analyses of seasonal trends reports here.
There are also stunningly large textile sample books and Pantone color charts.
All the fashionistas, journalists, bloggers, and shoppers who travel to Paris in search of authentic French flair will find this an indispensable address.
4. Librairie Galignani
Address: 224, rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris
Librairie Galignani is located on Rue de Rivoli, not far from one of Paris’s most famous buildings, the Palace de la Concorde. It is widely regarded as the city’s oldest English bookstore, having been opened in 1801.
This legendary bookstore may have an Italian name, but it stocks a vast selection of works by both classic and contemporary authors written in English and French.
It has all the hallmarks of a classic Parisian bookstore, from the elegant Haussmanian design to the quaint interior and the charming wooden staircase that leads to the top floors.
You can also find a wide selection of coffee table novels that complement your home’s chic interior design.
5. San Francisco Book Co
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Address: 17, rue Monsieur le Prince
75006 Paris
When it comes to selling used English books, San Francisco Book Company is just like The Abbey Bookshop.
If you’re in the Latin Quarter of Paris, it’s well worth your time to check out all three of these bookstores close to one another. Shakespeare and Co. are just 5-10 minutes away, and The Abbey Bookshop is only a little more.
In contrast to The Abbey Bookshop, it is difficult to find “fresh” books here. Only classics and other books from the bygone ages are sold in this store.
The aisles and rows of books in front of the store draw many customers in, and the bright colors stand out on the typically beige Parisian street.
Many books are stacked on top of each other here, and you might spend hours exploring the back rows. San Francisco Book Company is a must-visit for book lovers who will most likely stumble upon treasures waiting to be discovered.
6. The Red Wheelbarrow
Address: two doors up from 9 rue de Medicis, 75006, 11 Rue de Médicis No. 9, 75006 Paris, France
From 2001 until 2012, Penelope Fletcher’s initial store was located on the Right Bank. However, she has now moved to a new location just across from the Luxembourg Gardens.
In 2018, she reopened her shop in this gorgeous setting, selling only the most carefully curated collection of books. Their topics cover everything from children’s literature to the newest releases.
The Red Wheelbarrow has such a wide variety of fiction novels, non-fiction books, and other types of literature written in the English language.
There are also many parks and natural spaces close by, such as the Jardin de Luxembourg, where you can relax with a book while taking in some fresh air.
7. Librarie Le Rideau Rouge (The Red Curtain)
Address: 42 Rue de Torcy, 75018 Paris, France
The trip out to the 18th arrondissement to visit Librarie Le Rideau Rouge is definitely worth the effort.
The posh location, which was opened in 2012 and is painted entirely white, spans two levels and includes a gallery and event area in the basement.
The admirable raison d’être is to promote literature from around the world and in translation. The great thing about this bookstore is that it sells best-selling books and has a delightful section for children. Plus, you’ll find the titles organized by country, so it’s easier to browse.
8. Shakespeare and Company
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Address: 37 rue de la Bûcherie
75005 Paris, France
Shakespeare & Company is one of the city’s best-loved English-language bookstores. The store’s wide selection of rare and collectible books draws customers from all over.
The nicest part about buying a book here is that it will be stamped with the bookstore’s unique seal, making it a special keepsake to take home.
The bookstore does more than just sell rare books; they also provide a safe haven for struggling authors. In addition, Shakespeare & Company hosts a variety of events, such as readings from renowned authors.
There’s a lovely café inside the independent bookstore where you may meet up with friends or enjoy coffee while you start a new book.
Shakespeare & Company is just a short distance from Notre Dame Cathedral. It also has a long history of notoriety as a hangout for literary greats like Hemingway and Fitzgerald, as well as the most well-known English bookstore in all of Paris.
9. Taschen
Address: 2 Rue de Buci, 75006 Paris, France
The very first Taschen shop was in Paris, on the rue de Buci in the 6th arrondissement. Visit the stunning interior built by the renowned French architect and designer Philippe Starck and peruse the magnificent coffee table books.
Taschen is the place to go for stunning coffee table books. Taschen is not ‘just’ an English language bookstore because it stocks titles in English, German, and French, among others.
Please be aware that, as coffee table books, they may add some extra weight to your bags as you travel back home.
10. Smith and Son (WHSmith)
Address: 248, Rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris
Even though it isn’t a small, independent store like the others on this list, Smith&Son (known as WHSmith until 2021) is still a great place to go if you’re looking for English language books or other goods.
Furthermore, the Parisian bookstore is the largest English-language bookstore in Paris, stocking over 70,000 titles.
The bookstore in Paris offers a one-stop-shop for all the latest UK book releases, as well as a large selection of other British goods.
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.