The experience of going into a bookstore is an unparalleled one – and every reader would agree. But this experience is also influenced by how the shop is maintained. If the bookstore is appealing, spending hours amidst books seems nothing, and vice versa. But did you know that there are bookstores that go well and beyond their job description? These shops are located in the unlikeliest of places that are, in turn, situated in quirky corners of the earth.
Want to know about these paradises for readers? Read along to find out the 9 peculiar bookstores around the world!
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Word on the Water – A Bookbarge Floating on the River Thames
Location: London, England.
Starting this list strongly is Word on the Water, also known as the London Bookbarge. It is a small barge moored on Regent’s Canal – but don’t be fooled by how tiny it is. This place is almost a century-old Dutch barge, providing you with a beautiful haven of both new and second-hand books. In fact, this seemingly tiny space is jampacked with books, ranging from classics and nonfiction to children’s books and fantasy.
There are books displayed outside that you can browse through at your pace. Or you can just barge in (pun intended) and sit on the cosy sofas by the stove. You might even catch a glimpse of their beloved dog – maybe even reading sometimes.
But the barge goes well beyond its job! Because it organizes all sorts of fun activities, including poetry slams, book launches, and live acoustic music on the small stage on the roof. It is open every day, from midday to late evening – so you can stroll in to snatch a book whenever you want!
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Bart’s Books – World’s Largest Outdoor Bookstore
Location: Ojai, California.
When Richard Bartinsdale realized his house won’t hold his book collection any more, he built bookshelves on the nearby sidewalks. People were also allowed to browse the books and told to pay with coffee cans instead of actual money. This very-much household library-esque shop is now the largest outdoor independently-owned bookstore in the whole world. Bart’s Books, located in California’s Ojai, now operates both outdoors and indoors, with the latter being Bartinsdale’s old house.
There are more than a hundred thousand books you can browse through. In fact, it houses used and new paperbacks, as well as second-hand books and out-of-print novels. Now though, you must pay for the books instead of trading coffee cans! After you have found your book, you can sit in the beautiful windy courtyard of Bart’s Books to start reading.
The store is open from 10 AM to 6 PM every day, no matter if it’s raining or sunny. While food is not allowed on the premises, you can carry water, coffee, or other beverages!
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Livraria Lello – One of the Oldest Bookstores in Portugal
Location: Porto, Portugal.
Livraria Lello – or Lello Bookstore, as most people call it – is an unusual yet majestic bookstore in Porto. Why is it unusual? Because of its iconic architecture! The exterior displays striking neo-gothic design interspersed with splashes of art nouveau style. Whereas there are subtle Art Deco elements that spread all over the interior. A magnificent forked wooden staircase takes the centre space, while a stained-glass window adorns the space over it. The aura, as you can imagine, is mysterious and thrilling!
It opened to the public in the early 1910s and, ever since, has proved to be a curious sanctuary of hundreds and thousands of books. The place is divided into different sections, such as a room of rare books, The Little Prince theme room, and temporary exhibitions centred around books. But wait, there is another impressive factor about Livraria Lello. Not only is it one of the oldest bookstores in Portugal, but it transports you to Hogwarts and its mysterious spaces!
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Book and Bed – A Unique Bookstore that lets you Live Amidst Books
Location: Shinjuku City, Tokyo.
Which reader wouldn’t like to spend hours in a bookstore, if not an entire day? The Book and Bed is finally here to rescue! It is not exactly a bookstore but a bookshop-themed hostel in Tokyo. The space is decorated with many book-related fixtures, making it a book-lovers paradise. But the best part is definitely the presence of more than 4,000 books tucked away in every corner of the hostel!
The hostel has many rooms; you can opt for a private room or comfortable single beds behind the bookshelves! There is also a quiet book lounge you can take advantage of, open from 1 PM to 8 PM. Readers can read, relax, and even nap on the plush couch.
The services it provides are many, including luggage storage, wi-fi, toiletries, and even earplugs. Paid amenities range from toothbrushes to pyjamas! Book and Bed also offers a café, where you can enjoy a menu of scrumptious food and refreshing drinks.
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La Caverne aux Livres – The Bookstore in a Train
Location: Auvers-sur-Oise, Paris.
La Caverne aux Livres, literally meaning The Cave of Books, is a pretty peculiar bookstore in Auvers-sur-Oise, a small commune on the outskirts of Paris. Why is it peculiar, you may wonder? Well, that’s because it is located on an old postal train! The exteriors look like an ordinary train that is out of use. But the moment you step inside, it transforms into a heaven fit for readers.
You will find each nook and cranny filled with books; from every genre you can think of. Books crammed on shelves, on the table, in cardboard boxes, and even outside the entrance! It is an organized mess, with most of the paperbacks being second-hand, but that’s what makes it so special.
You can also sell your books there at a fair price – the staff will buy them at fair prices. If being in a tiny romantic space full of books, you must visit The Cave of Books at least once!
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Cook & Book – Belgium’s One-of-a-kind Restaurant-Bookstore
Location: Brussels, Belgium.
The craze for book-cafés is unrivalled – well, until Cook & Book comes into the picture! This fascinating place is a bookshop thriving in a restaurant in Brussels. It is spread over two buildings, which are further divided into nine rooms. These nine rooms are designed in a specific genre – for example, there is a separate room for travel, music, and fine arts!
The detail that makes this place a hit among readers is that all these little bookshops are open to eating while reading. That means you can still eat, even if you are sitting in the ‘literature’ room or the ‘comics’ room. Apart from these rooms, there is also a quaint little terrace – a great place to eat and read – and a playground for children. This book restaurant also loves to host special events all year round, such as an open stage, literary lectures, conferences, and more.
Cook & Book is an absolutely unique concept that you won’t find anywhere else on the back of this earth!
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The Paddy Field Bookstore – The Bookshop Surrounded by Paddy Fields
Location: Xiadi Village, China.
The 800-years old Xiadi village in China is known for its lush paddy fields – and now, the Paddy Field Bookstore! This building is surrounded by endless paddy fields, dense trees, and blooming nature all around. But once you step inside this three-story restored building, you will find more than 7000 novels of all types of genres. These range from agricultural civilizations and art to social science and rural education.
The place is designed to make the reading experience as comfortable as possible. Thus, you will find a cosy reading room, a rooftop viewing deck, and a theatre room. There are reading nooks all over the building, which also houses a café serving snacks and drinks. This bookstore also has a small display area on the ground floor, designed to hold special events. So, whenever you visit, you may see art exhibitions, live music sessions, and theatre shows.
The Paddy Field Bookstore lets you experience books amidst wild nature. How cool is that?
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Libreria Acqua Alta – The Venice Bookshop that Puts Books in Bathtubs
Location: Venice, Italy.
Venice has always had a little water problem – and that in itself is an understatement. You may wonder, then, how a bookstore will function in a flood-prone area? Well, Libreria Acqua Alta has the answer! The name literally means Book Store of High Water, but they have found a way to save their books from the water.
The collection of antique, second-hand, and classic novels is stored in a place filled with bins, bathtubs, and a gondola. You will find wall-touching stacks of books standing tall in this waterproof décor – but be careful while yanking your desired title out. Interestingly enough, the furniture of this shop is also made from books, including the stairs that reach this place. Don’t worry though, those books are damaged and would’ve gone in the bin otherwise, but now help make the shop aesthetic!
Apart from books, this whimsical place also sells prints, souvenirs, and pictures. Libreria Acqua Alta will welcome you with loving arms whenever you visit, but avoid weekends if you don’t want a crowd around.
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Boekhandel Dominicanen – The Bookstore in a Church
Location: Maastricht, Netherlands.
A bookstore in a church immediately paints a picture of shelves full of classics and religious novels that not all will like. But that is not the case with Boekhandel Dominicanen! The bookstore is in a centuries-old former Catholic Church in Maastricht, Netherlands. This church, rumoured to be closed down by Napoleon Bonaparte, has been home to many things – from a warehouse to ornate bicycle storage. It is now a humble abode of thousands of books, ever since 2005!
This three-story building has all the usual church fixtures, ornate frescoes on the ceiling, overarching stone pillars, and rose windows. But adding a unique charm to this place are the rows of black bookshelves spread all around. The alcoves are modified into cosy reading corners, where you can spend hours perusing your stack of books.
If you want to grab a bite, you don’t even have to step outside! The bookshop also offers a little café in the same space where the choir sang. The curved walls are lined with little tables, while a cross-shaped table occupies the centre!
From a bookshop floating in the water to a hostel that lets you stay amidst books, there is no shortage of bizarre bookstores in the world. All you must do is pack your bags and explore these fascinating places – and maybe buy a book or two to expand your collection!
