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Get your literary fix at one of these biblio boltholes. Luxe City Guides tracks down the world’s most beautiful bookshops
01
Livraria Lello, Porto
You can certainly judge this bookstore by its cover – a neo-gothic facade featuring ornate reliefs and painted figures representing Science and Art. And the inside of 100-year-old Livraria Lello is just as magical, with a stained-glass ceiling, arched shelves and intricate curled staircase.
02
Libreria Acqua Alta, Venice
With rambling rooms, steps made from old opuses and an oh-so charming canalside locale, Libreria Acqua Alta (pictured above) is certainly one of the most enchanting book nooks to be found anywhere. But its position just inches above sea level means the vast stash of new and used English and Italian titles is at risk of being washed away as the water rises each winter. Owner Luigi Frizzo came up with an, ahem, novel solution – store the works in gondolas and bathtubs, so when the acqua really gets alta, the libros stay dry.
03
Maison Assouline, London
This luxury, limited edition bibliotheque on bustling Piccadilly (set in a Grade II-listed former bank, no less) boasts not only a back catalogue of 1,400 plus cultural and coffee table tomes, but also a room devoted to sumptuous furnishings for your at-home library, and the suave Swan Bar, serving coffee and classic cocktails to sip while you scan the shelves. C’est chic!
04
The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles
Situ’d in Downtown’s historic core, the last word on opus emporiums stocks best sellers and records on its stately, columned first floor… But it’s the mezzanine level that’s the true treasure, an uncategorised literary labyrinth with tunnels constructed from outdated encyclopedias, storybook sculptures and hidden alcoves. Best of all: everything up here is only one dollar.
05
L’eau et les Rêves, Paris
Sure, Shakespeare and Company is quaint and Galignani grand, but how can you skip a bookshop on a boat? Bobbing atop a serene stretch of the Seine in the Ourcq, L’eau et les Rêves (Water and Dreams) is a lovely lil’ library within a black barge; a river-reader specialising in all books nautical, plus a pirate-heavy selection for the kiddies. Barge in!
06
Robinson Crusoe, Istanbul
Perched above shopping strip Istiklal Caddesi is this local literary institution, lined floor-to-double-ceiling with fiction, fine art, history and travel titles. With rolling ladders, a reading table and piano, it exudes a warm library atmos, and patrons are positively encouraged to park their bots in cushy armchairs – or better yet, on the sunny rooftop terrace – and browse before buying.
07
Rizzoli, New York
It has been a fairy-tale ending for this Manhattan stalwart. Evicted from her original abode in 2014, it has now reopened in a historic NoMad building complete with molded cherrywood shelves, brass chandeliers and custom wallpaper. An upsized 5,000 sq ft space = more room for page-turner fiction, philosophy works and foodie cookbooks.
08
Topics, Berlin
One for the minimalists, this white-walled, bare-bulbed Neukölln Bibliothek divides its curated collection not by genre but by – you guessed it – topic. Each of the 80+ cubes contain a separate selection on subjects ranging from time machines to the femme detective.
09
Livraria da Vila, São Paulo
While most of the shops on this list boast walls covered with tomes, the central store of São Paulo chain Livraria de Vila also heaps its hardcovers along ceiling cut outs and the swiveling doors of its front facade, giving the illusion that it is literally built from books.
10
Tsutaya Books Daikanyama, Tokyo
The tri-level, mid-century mod-styled Tsutaya flagship is stocked with every kind of reading, listening and watching pleasure. Peruse for page-turners in the extensive selection of English merch, then saunter upstairs to the Anjin lounge and take an artisan brew while you fall into the first chapter.
11
Brattle Book Shop, Boston
In summer readers revel in the outdoor lot of Brattle Book Shop, one of America’s oldest and largest paperback pushers. It holds three stories of general, used and antiquarian works, plus the open air sale section sided by an urbane scene of street art and fire escapes.
12
BooksActually, Singapore
Nestled in the arty Tiong Bahru neighbourhood, this curio-crammed cutie is packed with fiction, classic literature, local works and poetry. But it holds more than just books actually: the back room showcases an adorable assemblage of hand-stitched notebooks and stationery.
Suggested Itineraries
From Cultural Sri Lanka to Paradise in the Maldives
Hill Country Galle Fort Southern Beaches Maldives Indian Subcontinent
- Enjoy a scenic train ride between Colombo and the Central Highlands
- Learn the age-old tea-making process at Tea Trails plantation
- Go whale and dolphin watching from Mirissa in southern Sri Lanka
- Explore the underwater world of the Maldives
- Relax on the pristine beaches of the Maldives
ideal length
11 nights
Highlights of Uzbekistan
- Explore the majestic architecture of the ancient Silk Road towns from Emir’s Summer Palace in Bukhara to the stunning turquoise domes of Khiva
- Drive through the dunes of the Kyzyk Kum Desert
- Shuffle past local vendors and baskets overflowing with colourful spices in the bazaars
- Experience the splendour of the towering Mausoleums and Mosques dating back to the12th century which are adorned with glazed coloured tiles which glow in the sunlight
ideal length
8 nights
Untouched Bali
-
Explore Bali’s vibrant and beautiful temples
-
Browse local markets and bathe in hot springs
-
Marvel at lush rice paddies in the Munduk Highlands
-
Discover Bali’s exotic flora, fauna and birdlife at the West Bali National Park
-
Savour freshly roasted coffee at the Luwak coffee plantation
ideal length
8 nights
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