13 Must-Visit Independent Bookstores in New York City
If you’re planning a trip to NYC soon or simply looking for a neighborhood shop close to home, these 13 must-visit independent bookstores in New York City are well worth adding to your list, especially if you love books.
New York City has long been known as a great place for readers, writers, and anyone who appreciates a vibrant and inspiring place to live or visit. So it’s not surprising that it’s home to countless places to buy books. There are a number of independent bookstores sprinkled throughout the city that offer a thoughtful range of books and topics, inviting atmospheres, and a sense of community that’s impossible to replicate online.
Fun fact: Portland, OR, is the city with the most independent bookstores in the U.S., followed by New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Boston. Interestingly, Vermont, Maine, and Wyoming have the largest concentration of independent bookstores per capita.
The Best Independent Bookstores in NYC to Visit Right Now
If you live in, just outside of, or visit New York City and spend plenty of time exploring its neighborhoods and all there is to see, it’s easy to overlook some of the city’s best independent bookstores. Hopefully, this list of our favorite NYC bookstores will help you discover a new go-to spot for browsing, reading, and finding your next great book.
The Corner Bookstore
This little bookstore has served the Upper East Side community for decades. It has a selection of fiction, non-fiction, biographies, and cookbooks. It also has an impressive children’s section.
The charming storefront and cozy interior give the shop a real neighborhood feel, and the staff is known for offering thoughtful reading recommendations. It’s the perfect place to stop in while strolling or shopping along Madison Avenue.
1313 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10128
Book Culture
Book Culture has two locations in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of New York City. We visited both locations. The 112th street store is right next to Columbia University, which is why it had a very academic vibe with lots of students diligently finding books for their classes.
The flagship store on Broadway is a cozy, two-story space where you can lose yourself browsing well-organized shelves. The new releases and periodicals were on the first floor, and an extensive collection of backlist titles, used books, and academic texts was upstairs. Book Culture also hosts frequent author events, readings, and book clubs.
Across the street and down two blocks is their location on Broadway. While you could still feel the academic influence, this one felt more like a neighborhood bookstore.
2915 Broadway, New York, NY 10025, and 536 W 112th St, New York, NY 10025
Westsider Rare & Used Books
Located on the Upper West Side, Westsider Books is one of New York City’s best-known used bookstores. The small shop is packed floor to ceiling with secondhand titles covering just about every genre imaginable, from classic literature and history to art, philosophy, and travel. Seeing and browsing this shop is an experience in itself. And who knows what interesting book you might discover tucked among the shelves.
The store also maintains a collection of rare and out-of-print books, making it ideal for collectors. As a casual reader myself, I also found things that interested me. So if you enjoy the charm of old-school bookstores filled with character, Westsider Books is well worth a visit while exploring the Upper West Side.
2246 Broadway
New York, NY 10024
Argosy Book Store
Arogosy Book Store is the oldest independent book store in New York City. It occupies all six floors of a townhouse in Midtown Manhattan. Today it’s managed by the founder’s daughters and grandson.
The bookstore specializes in rare books, prints, and antique maps. A visit here feels like a unique New York experience and a tour through history.
116 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022
Albertine Books
Housed in the historic Payne Whitney Mansion on Fifth Avenue, Albertine Books is a French-English bookstore offering a curated selection of literature, including books from both cultures. Not only will you find French literature, but you’ll also find a selection of English titles in this one-of-a-kind bookstore.
The mansion is named Villa Albertine and also hosts the Cultural Services of the French Embassy.
As you step into the building, you can’t help but be in awe of the grand marbled entryway. And the interior of the bookstore is equally stunning. On the second floor, you feel more like you’re in a museum or a grand library from royal heritage. The ceiling alone is worth the visit. Called the celestial ceiling, it’s a Renaissance-style fresco, featuring gilded zodiac signs against a deep blue-green backdrop.
So if you find yourself near Central Park and Museum Mile, it’s a lovely literary stop to include while exploring all that this area of the city has to offer.
972 5th Ave, New York, NY 10075
Books of Wonder
Books of Wonder is one of New York City’s most beloved children’s bookstores. Located in Chelsea, the shop features an impressive children’s selection of picture books, middle-grade titles, and young adult fiction, along with a dedicated space for storytime and author events.
They also have glass cases lining the back wall filled with rare, antique, out-of-print, and hard-to-find children’s books.
It’s a really fun place to stop in, especially if you’re visiting with kids who love books.
42 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011
Strand Bookstore
Founded in 1927, Strand Bookstore is one of the few remaining independent bookstores that once populated a six-block stretch that was home to 48 bookstores, known as “Book Row”. The flagship store is now located at Union Square. They also have other locations, including kiosks in Central Park and stores on the Upper West Side and Lincoln Center.
The owners named Strand Bookstore after London’s Strand, a street associated with many of the great writers like Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, and George Eliot.
Strand carries 2.5 million new releases, classics, rare and hard-to-find, and out-of-print books. They claim the shelves in their flagship store alone stretch more than 18 miles. What I can say is that it’s big. Really big. It’s big enough to easily get lost among the shelves and books.
828 Broadway, New York, NY 80003
Three Lives & Company
If you find yourself wandering the streets of the West Village (which is one of my favorite things to do in NYC), Three Lives & Company is worth a visit. This independent shop has been a fixture in the neighborhood since 1978 and is known for its selection of literary fiction, memoirs, and children’s books. It’s on the small side when it comes to bookstores, but that’s what makes it so cozy.
154 West 10th Street, New York, NY 10014
Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks
Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks is a must-visit for anyone who likes cooking or collecting vintage cookbooks. Located in the East Village, this specialty bookstore focuses exclusively on food books, offering everything from classic out-of-print titles to contemporary culinary favorites.
But what I find most interesting is that tucked in among the books, you’ll also find vintage tart tins and pans, old coffee containers, crystal trays, and teapots. This well-organized shop feels more like a personal library than a traditional bookstore. It’s truly a unique destination for people who love cooking and food.
And since you’re in the neighborhood, just down the block, you’ll also find The John Derian Company shop, full of artisan designs and crafts and new and vintage products. And this year, the company is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
28 E 2nd St, New York, NY 10003
Sweet Pickle Books
Located on the Lower East Side, Sweet Pickle Books is one of New York City’s most unique and unconventional independent bookstores that I’ve ever come across. The shop buys and sells used books. You can actually exchange books for store credit or even jars of pickles.
Obviously, the store specializes in secondhand books across a wide range of topics and even has a fun, unique selection of merch. So if you’re exploring or visiting downtown, stop in and visit them. You might even walk away with a jar of sweet pickles.
47 Orchard St., New York, NY 10002
McNally Jackson Books
With several locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, McNally Jackson has become one of the city’s most recognizable independent bookstores. Each shop offers a thoughtful selection of new releases alongside a strong collection of fiction, nonfiction, and beautifully designed international magazines.
Many locations also feature in-store cafés, making it an ideal stop for an afternoon of browsing and reading. Whether you visit the original SoHo shop or one of its newer locations, McNally Jackson remains a favorite among both locals and visitors.
Soho, South Street Seaport, Rockefeller Center, Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg
Greenlight Bookstore
Greenlight is an independent bookstore in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, whose mission is to create welcoming spaces for discovery, conversation, and connection around books. It feels like it’s the perfect fit for the neighborhood. The old wooden floors are beautiful and add to the store’s overall charm.
The shop frequently hosts author readings, book launches, and community events, making it an active part of the community and local literary scene. It’s a wonderful place to browse for new releases while exploring one of Brooklyn’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
686 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Books Are Magic
Books Are Magic has two locations in Brooklyn: Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens and Brooklyn Heights. It’s owned by local author Emma Straub, who opened the store shortly after the only bookstore in the neighborhood closed.
She created the bookstore as a space where children could feel comfortable, young readers could fall in love with reading, and adults could find a wide range of titles to suit their interests.
The store also hosts author events almost every night of the week.
225 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231 and 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
The Best Independent Bookstores in NYC to Visit
One of the things I love most about independent bookstores is that no two are exactly alike. Some specialize in rare books or children’s literature, while others feel like quiet neighborhood gathering places where you can browse for hours. Exploring these independent bookstores in New York City is also a great way to discover different neighborhoods throughout the city, from the Upper West Side and the East Village to Brooklyn’s Williamsburg and Cobble Hill. We hope you stumble upon some lovely discoveries while exploring some of these neighborhood bookstores. I think there’s something here for everyone, no matter where your interests lie.
