Three Amazing Indie Bookstores to Visit in NYC this summer.
New York City has a lot of bookstores. I have visited many of them while spending time with my daughter who lives there. In this vast city there are three that I absolutely LOVE and return to again and again. That’s not to say that I won’t visit others or perhaps add others to this “favorites” list, its just that these are the ones that I love now.
#3 The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn
We found The Center for Fiction quite by accident as we were following our google map from one bookstore to another in Brooklyn. I saw it from across the street and knew we had to make a detour (a bookstore detour, the best kind!) The giant wall of books lured me in. I could stand in front of it all day. The store is bright and airy and it’s easy it is to find what you need, but should you need help, the staff are helpful and knowledgable. There is a cool vibe percolating from little coffee bar which adds to the comfort and love of this beautiful book space.
#2 Books Are Magic
Tucked on the corner of a quaint tree lined street in Brooklyn people line up to selfie in front of a mural that reads Books are Magic along the outside wall. Inside is where the real magic happens in a store that’s much bigger than it looks with gorgeous shelves and cozy nooks. Maybe you will be lucky enough to see the owner and NYT best-selling author, Emma Straub, who opened the store on Smith in 2017 and then a second location on Montague in 2022. But rest assured if you visit either location you are certainly lucky enough!
#1 McNally Jackson (Seaport)
This is the bookstore that is closest to where my daughter lives in NYC and is the one I have visited the most, HOWEVER, I would return again and again even if it was across town, even in rush hour traffic, even in the rain or snow. Why? Well, it’s possibly the coziest bookstore I’ve ever been to in my life. The upstairs has curved archways, creaky wood floors, comfy chairs, lofty full bookcases, and book draped tables. It feels like a book home, and I could live there. On the main floor there is a bar serving coffees, teas, seasonal wines and beer. It’s also where the new releases in a variety of genres are shelved and where you will find a bookstore fan favorite -the McNally Jackson Best Seller Wall. I love to just pop in sometimes to see what’s there. It feels like a sort of literary validation to see if what I’m reading is among the chosen one hundred plus books on that gorgeous wall of favorites.
Other bookstores I visited and loved in New York City are listed here:
I have many more that I plan to see soon and will update this list when I do. If you have a NYC favorite or a recommendation let me know. Visiting Indie bookstores is one of my favorite things to do. To read more about why I love Indie bookstores click here.