This was worth the visit for some quirky and amazing folk art. There is an exhibit in a dark room…read morethat had so many fabulous pieces of art, that I thought we had seen the whole museum. But wait! Up some windy stairs is a sunlit room with about the same amount of art. Some things were creepy, some were a level of obsessive detail that required long minutes of marveling, and some were inspiring. 2 hours is a sufficient visit, and you will want to reserve time to peruse the bookstore and get a snack, lunch, or beverage at the café. The museum is in the garment district, and the art may inspire you to pick up some fabric to make a collage.

A stunning cyclorama with two feature exhibits, a bright and airy bookstore, and a crazy busy cafe…read morefor an accessible 9€. We popped in for the Jeunet/Caro exhibit, because when in Paris, you Amélie. The design of the exhibit space is in a wagon wheel, with fixtures from the duos filmography segmented by "pie piece." An intriguing blend of movie props, original script notes, stills and videography paint a brilliant behind-the-scenes for The City of Lost Children, Delicatessen, MicMacs, Alien: Resurrection and more. A floor up, sunlight floods a year-long showcase residency called Turbulence in the Balkans, featuring Eastern European works but unfortunately, no brass bands. Sad dance party loss. Anyhoodle, the space open, well-designed and easy to get through in an hour or so. If the exhibits catch your fancy, pop in for an afternoon delight.

We looked up this place as an alternative to the over-crowded Shakespeare Book Store in Paris &…read morewere NOT disappointed! It's definitely VERY cozy inside, so best to watch out as you turn around in close quarters - especially if carrying a backpack or shoulder bag! The cellar is very cool, too and lots of books out on the sidewalk for anyone who doesn't appreciate the tight fit inside. ; ) As a former bookstore worker, this was a little slice of heaven for me - I had to be dragged out LOL

Such a fun English bookstore to stop by. It's every book lovers dream! They have all the different…read moregenres available and I could spent hours in there just exploring. The used books are definitely a bit cheaper. Must visit spot!

An open air book fair held every weekend Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6pm…read more I came here on a Sunday morning in February and found a lot of nice books in my collecting area (bande dessinee). The prices were better than in the stores and I was impressed with the condition as well. It was much much better than the bouquinistes along the seine who are mostly flea marketers selling to tourists. I enjoyed myself here amongst the booksellers and bookshoppers. The market is a short walk from the Porte de Vaves Metro station. The market opens before most stores, so you can take full advantage of your time in Paris by starting here. The dealers only take cash, so come prepared.

From the owner: Créé en 1987, le marché du livre ancien et d'occasion a lieu chaque week end de 9h à 18h à l'entrée…read moredu Parc George Brassens. Il regroupe un peu moins d'une centaine de bouquinistes, qui proposent tous les types de livres, des ouvrages très anciens aux livres de poche à 1 euros.

I could (and did) spend hours here. There are so many books to look at and it's absolutely amazing…read more They've got quite a selection of first editions. Just incredible. The shop opened in the 50s by an American called George Whitman and he initially named it Le Mistral. I believe the name changed in the 60s to what we know it as today. As a fan of literature, Shakespeare and Company is like Mecca. The Holy Grail, if you will. Whether you stick downstairs where it gets busy or upstairs where it's for more of a library feel, it's simply a magical experience. An experience that transcends you into the pages of your favorite novel or book of poetry. A timeless, nostalgic, and electric adventure awaits you.

This family-owned bookstore has been around through generations. It's cute inside and packed from…read morefloor to ceiling with books. I'm docking a star since this place has gotten so incredibly popular. On the day that I visited, there was a giant line just to get inside. It does move quickly, but it was pretty crazy inside to navigate with so many people. I spent most of my time with my kids, reading them books. They had a nice selection in the back and a place to sit down. I didn't really get much of a chance to explore the full space. They ended up closing early the day I visited, and they start by closing the top floor first. So I mainly explored the ground level. I'd love to come back. But would prefer to find a day or time that wasn't so hectic. My partner bought a book and the line stretched through the entire store.

A very helpful, generous woman runs the store - she was talking to another customer about readings,…read moremaking recommendations, and she charged me less than half price for my book. Merci beaucoup!! Vous etes tres gentille et je suis tres contente. ; ) Great selection too - I mean, there aren't as many books as San Francisco or Shakespeare, but the quality and the uniqueness of the books she has surprises you.

Berkeley Books is fantastic! Phyllis is an absolute gem and and works so, so hard to keep the…read morebookstore alive. The store is not only stocked with a fantastically curated collection of used books, it also hosts an incredible array of cultural events-- poetry readings, concerts, and so much more. Even though I live in New York, I end up stocking up here on English-language books every time I'm in Paris. Berkeley Books, and Phyllis herself, are Parisian cultural institutions that are well worth the trip. Wander through the alleyways of Odeon, take in that delicious bookstore smell, pay your respects to your bookkeeper, and most importantly, buy a book!

Being a brit in Paris, I was delighted to see a Big British brand in WH Smith, this is one of the…read morefew British Bookstores in the city, I must reiterate the comments in a few other reviews that the self-proclaimed first British Book Store nearby which "is never open" was... not actually open. It had an old book store vibe to it, they also had a small range of drinks which were overpriced but where isn't in Paris? They had books mainly in English, I think they had a few French ones too. The store wasn't as modern inside and it didn't have the typical WHSmith experience which one would get in the UK, but it was a decent store nonetheless. They really do need to work on the entrances though, the only entrance due to COVID is up steps which wouldn't be disabled friendly, meanwhile, the front entrance is used as an exit - surely they should just use one door each for the front to accommodate everybody? 3* - Not a bad book store overall, a familiar brand which I like, service impersonal and prices a little high though.

Very cute British bookstore in Paris. They have a lot of English options, but then also options in…read moreFrench. What was really great about it was the British snacks, and drinks. Was able to snag some Cadbury creme eggs, and other delicacies. Cute souvenirs as well. Good prices on books, and a really cute space. Highly recommend if you're in the neighborhood

I collect books from wherever we travel to so a bookstore is always on our itinerary when we are in…read morea new city. Mona Lisait- Grands Boulevards is conveniently located and has a large selection though some of the books look a bit worn and used (I'm not sure if it's a second hand store or not). There are two spaces located next to one another- the left one is much smaller and houses children's books and cookbooks. The register/check out counter is in the right hand side of the store and there are also many books displayed outside in racks and bins to peruse through. The shop owner was a bit taciturn at my bumbling French but gave me a smile when I waved a cheery "Merci, monsieur- au revoir!" and headed out with my newly acquired booty to add to my treasure pile.

Great library, lots of art Books and really cheap!read more

This store is on the outskirts of Paris, is a donation center and volunteer thrift store…read more If you're thinking of donating or shopping here please reconsider, they don't seem all too interested in receiving either. The hours are improperly displayed and it's caused a line of people half a block long waiting from 9a, the staff can be both kind and dismissive from the reviews I've read, but considering my experience thus far I don't imagine it's wonderful. They've left a line of people outside waiting without regard to announce hours at the store front leaving people waiting until when? It's 10:15a and their hours day they open at 9a, 12:00p, and 13:30. Clarification would be nice.

It's hard to criticize a charity institution like Emmaus and I take no pleasure in this, but their…read moreterrible communication really screwed me over in July this year. I wanted to donate (basically) half my appartment (furniture, appliences, clothes - really a lot) to them before moving away and tried to get them to pick it up. So 3rd week of July I went to the website, uploaded a list of things, picked a free, available (!) pick-up date in the second week of August. Then, nothing. Some days before the date I wanted to check if they could tell me when exactly they would come that day and could not reach them. Tried calling them, was greeted with a message saying they were closed during the christmas holidays (in August). Tried e-mailing - no response. Tried contacting their twitter account (which was retweeting stuff at the time) - nothing. In the End I had to throw away everything becauce it was too late to organize something else. A real shame. Found out they closed in August. A Infomation I could have used when I made the appointment in July. I shouldn't have been able to get an appointment for August in the first place, but they could have still contacted me in july before their vacation to tell me it wasn't possible - but didn't. Afterwards I recieved a message basically saying 'sorry but not sorry', stating this wasn't their fault. Since the only two parties involved here were Emmaus defi and me - that means they are blaming me for this as the cherry on top of everything. Tl/dr? One Word: unprofessional.

A highlight during any visit to Paris: enjoying the atmosphere of the left bank of the Seine,…read moreambling along the book stalls, browsing and buying. Never easy to restrict my catch to an amount compatible with the size of my wallet or the airplane carry-on limit. How vivid the memory of my first visit to this magical place still is. Instead of using the subway exit right next to the stalls, I emerged several hundred yards away. But after hours of meetings, a breath of fresh air and a short walk was more than welcome. The first micro-shop I approached carried a line of music-related books and almost immediately I stumbled upon Nathan Milstein's autobiography. Chance or fate (hasard ou destinée)? Anyway, I had found the ideal gift for my violin teacher who used to teach for some years at the French-German high school in nearby Buc. Also, he composed a piece by the name "hasard ou destinée".

You may be tempted to duck into the little chotchke shops littered among the maze of of rues in…read moreParis; try to resist. Instead take a long, leisurely stroll along the Seine near St. Michel and St. Germain and visit the various bouquinistes for truly delightful souvenirs to take home with you. The prices are better, the atmosphere is markedly better (Hello, Louvre!), and you'll find - amidst le junque - some true French treasures.