Although there wasn't a huge selection of books, it was fun finding new books I had never heard of before (including translated books). The staff was very friendly when I had asked some questions and while I was checking out. I had been meaning to stop by, so Indie Bookstore Day was a great excuse. There was a large selection of free enamel pins, stickers, and bookmarks. It was nice to see that they allowed dogs as well! The (free) blind date with an advanced reader copy was such a cute idea. I found an ARC description that was down my alley, so I'm looking forward to unwrapping it! read more

Shakespeare & Co. - Advanced Reader Coffee shelf - Bookstores Near Me - New York, New York

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The customer service is efficient. The vibe is so relaxing! They have coffee (expensive), but good! There are seating options for dining and conversing. Furthermore, there is an intimate selection of books. This is a must see in NYC! Enjoy a great book! read more

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I loved this place! I spent a short time browsing through their books on the higher floor and they seem to have all the popular books as well as some other interesting ones. They had a good variety for such a small location and I was pretty impressed by their collection. Unfortunately, there was not a single seat available to work and it was definitely a little too loud to take calls or anything. But then again, that's a known peril of working from a coffee shop. I loved the coffee and all of their holiday flavors. I got the gingerbread latte and it was delicious. Super creamy and so well flavored. I would definitely come back! read more

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It's so nice having local bookstores. They have a nice selection even though they are small and they have a machine which can print many books if they don't have them in stock. The cafe is great but people tend to sit there a while so it's hard to grab a table a lot of the time. read more

This is on a smaller scale book store. They do have a wide range of selection and they have a children's section as well. On the bottom floor ( its only like 2-3 steps from top to bottom) there is a seating area and on other side is a coffee shop area with pastries. I don't come here often as it is no where near where I usually hang out but If I am in the area and want a coffee or a hot drink I have stopped in before as I am not really much of a reader. read more

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Shakespeare and Company is so classy and cool. It's full of people inside near the cafe. The selection of food and drinks is great. I already ate but I definitely will return early one day so I can get a seat. There's enough books and cool merchandise for me to enjoy. I've got lots of ideas for gifts and things to buy just for fun. I'm a little disappointed in the customer service. I didn't get a smile from the one employee I spoke with. It may have been a bad day as there was a workman on a ladder up into the ceiling. He showed up by accident in my photo! The bookstore section is organized and well supplied to me. There's an employee upstairs in the books keeping things tidy. I didn't need assistance or I would have approached her. I'm recommending you visit. I enjoyed the experience and I will get there earlier in my day next time. read more

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Super rude customer service at the bookstore. I sat on the floor for a moment to look through a book I was considering buying. A white person with glasses, short brown hair, and a middle part was so incredibly rude in the way they told me I could't be on the floor. They hovered over me and made me hurry up off the floor. They reacted as if I had drawn in a book or something. There are so many people in the city who would love this person's job. Maybe consider hiring people who are patient and kind. If you see bookstores as an oasis where you can browse books in peace this is not the place. Go somewhere else. I will not be returning. read more

Shakespeare & Co. - This customer service employee was so rude. - Bookstores Near Me - New York, New York

I have bought many books at 2020 broadway location. Today after being in the store I felt dizzy and went to sit in a chair for a few moments outside. A young woman from the store came out and told me she had someone for my small table - there were two others open and ironically a third where a Man was on the phoning Amazon about his book delivery. She was rude. I got up and she sat another woman and then joined her. I had been there less than 5 minutes . I too am in my upper 70s. I will never return. read more

Small book store. Super cute w a cafe. Didn't get anything but I feel like I could come back here and hang w a coffee and my laptop for sure

This is a review for the cafe, not the bookstore. Normally this place is stellar for pastries. However, today I was served a raw muffin (as in, the inside was uncooked DOUGH). I am not sure if they do the baking on-premises, but this is super dangerous and can make someone really sick. Disappointed, considering it was 4 bucks and tipping with a credit card wasn't optional. Originally, this was a 2-star review, but after trying to get a refund, I knocked another star off. The counter people (one short girl and a tall guy) were SO rude, telling me it was actually chunks of banana and not raw dough. The guy insisted that "banana pudding" actually looks like raw dough and pointed to the strips of banana (shown in brown), as if that would cancel out the raw dough surrounding it. Y'all, I have eaten bananas like every other human being on the planet. I've had banana pudding (English and American). I tried to point out that there was raw dough surrounding the banana, and that I bake so I know what "raw" looks like. They continued to give me attitude and tell me I was wrong and that "they didn't know it would look like that." (Obviously, since you wouldn't have served raw food if you had checked.) I had to fight my way to a refund while they scoffed and sneered at me, openly rolling their eyes and telling me I didn't know what I was talking about. Gross! Never going back here. read more

Shakespeare & Co. - Took a huge bite, muffin was good until I tasted raw dough. Not worth the 5 bucks (4 bucks + 1 dollar tip minimum). - Bookstores Near Me - New York, New York

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IF YOU HATE READING AND BOOKS, THIS PLACE IS FOR YOU! I believe bookstores are more than stores... that happen to sell... books... like any other store. If you don't believe the same, disregard. But there is a tradition that unlike, say a perfume store, a hat store, a bookstore can be a refuge, where you can relax, meditate, reset your mind, inspired by the literature around you, and then - often - walk out with a lighter wallet. This place though.... The cafe is full of signs forbidding you from bringing books with you to browse. And the staff WILL enforce this. And they will also yell at you or your kids if you're sitting and reading. Almost all the books on display are braindead IP cases, "coffee table book of historic women who inspired BARBIE" or erotic literature about BABY SHARK, or "famous dynasties like those guys on SUCCESSION" or garbage like that. If you're hoping to stumble upon something new or to expand or deepen your contact with the infinite literary works across the eras and regions, this place is not for you. But you can build a pyramid out of the sad Prince Harry book! read more

The bookstore is very decent. Fair selection, although they crowd the middle of the space with toys and puzzles making browsing somewhat unpleasant. The cafe has so much potential, but it overrun with entitled Gen Z, avoid read more

Can't speak to the coffee shop as I've got some buyer beware after reading the other reviews! Reviewing the seating area only. You can't pass this place without seeing a bunch of people on their laptops, so I can't believe nobody has reviewed and mentioned the wifi or outlets! There are a lot of outlets, and the wifi is good - I haven't tried a video conference on it, but the day I went it was too loud to be on a meeting anyway. A lot of places to sit, but often crowded - I think you'd have better luck in the afternoon as I'm writing at 1pm and there are 4 seats available. This morning there was only 1 and I snagged it. read more

One star review coming in hot. For the love of god, HIRE NEW PEOPLE AT THE CAFE. The guy (long Justin Bieber-esque hair circa 2009) who works the cafe is atrocious. He has gotten my coffee order wrong 5x in a row. It is not rocket science to make iced coffee with milk. Not only does he make mistakes, he gets sassy when you tell him and have him make it the correct way. Want a pump of vanilla to spice up your coffee? Good frickin' luck. You're essentially playing roulette and might get a pump of caramel, pumpkin, or god knows what. Coffee is great, but fire your staff and hire competent people. read more

One of my favorite places to read on the UWS! Cafe is good and has a pretty standard offering of drinks/pastries. Was there on a Sunday and the cafe area was pretty full but I eventually got a seat. Cafe closes at 5pm on Sundays and 6pm every other day of the week. Also fun to peruse their book section! read more

Coffee is mediocre and you won't find a table to study , but it does have a wonderful book selection!

A nice little cozy bookstore and a cafe shop. This place caught my attention when I was walking around Broadway area. I stop by for a coffee and to get a present for someone. This bookstore reminds me of my local library back in my hometown. read more

Enjoyed working and having coffee at this amazing spot. While you're here, don't miss their fantastic selection of books!

Shakespeare & Co. is a cute neighborhood bookstore with another location in UES. I grew up going to the location in UES, so I was a bit surprised to find its UWS counterpart is much smaller in size. As such, the book selection isn't the largest, but they still have a good variety. One thing I've noticed is that the store is divided into two sections: Cafe is on the entrance level, and the book section is on an elevated level (by a few stairs). I personally could not find any ramps to get to the book section, making it difficult for me as I was shopping with a stroller. Although it's only a few steps and I simply carried my stroller up and down the steps, I imagine accessibility may be an issue for some patrons. The employees have been friendly and helpful every time I've went in. They have a few tables near the cafe area, as well as outside. read more

Walking around Lincoln Square neighborhood and stumbled across this cute bookshop and cafe. The front part is a small cafe where you can buy coffee and some pastries, set up at a table to read. The back 3/4 of the store is bookshop. They had it organized in easy to discern sections-- fiction, young adult, children, non-fiction, biography. My girls loved the Children section (they are 1 and 3) and the 1 year old kept dragging me back over to point at a set of books that came with stuffed animals. My favorite part of the bookstore was their blind recommendations. They have books gift wrapped with notes like "if you enjoyed xxx, try this one!" We bought one based on a book we recently finished and I am excited to see about the recommendation. read more

I visited NYC for the first time when I was 10 years old. What I loved were the bookshops where I could just get lost (had the most vivid imagination as a kid haha). A few years later, When Harry Met Sally came out, and a pivotal scene was in a S&Co. Well by the time I moved to the UWS as an adult, it was long gone, relaxed by "big box" booksellers and many indies in general went out of business. So when I heard they'd be opening another Shakespeare & Co, I was thrilled! I was so excited to see it again in my NYC. But...I go here and I'm underwhelmed. Not sure if it's location (tourist central #Sorrynotsorry), the natural light (didn't the old one just not get a lot of natural sunlight? I dunno indie bookstores need to be darker haha), but it's just a'ight I suppose. The cafe looks cute. I don't really get the idea you're encouraged to sit there with your laptop for hours to do work. Not exactly the NYC vibe. It has potential though. I'll swing by when I'm in their neck of the woods and have time. I don't go when I'm free just because. read more

I think the same person who was described in the other reviews also did her fair share to me. She has no concept of customer service or a business 101 - customers are the most important component in retail - they pay your salary. I believe the company runs like a socialist coop where employees are empowered to act like with an attitude to treat customers as someone who needs directions from employees. There are other options in the city and I strongly discourage any other customers from supporting this store. I believe they may break even at best but I doubt it does even cover cost - so I expect the market will take care of this business soon by providing bad experience to customers. read more

This is a review based on a weekend in May 2021. They have a decent selection of assorted English books. However, I was truly embarrassed to have taken my mother here with me because as soon as we entered the store, a white young woman yelled "We're at capacity! Go out and wait!" I was so struck by her abrasive and loud tone. There was not sign or anything indicating that the store was at full capacity (CDC regulations) and so I was genuinely confused. I tried to empathize with the staff as it was a weekend and perhaps she had nasty customers yell at her before I entered the store? Anyways, my mom and I wait beneath the stairs waiting.... then other customers approached the cashier and the same woman yelled at them... and I just cringed at the lack of basic customer service or manners from this woman. I don't know if it's short-staffing or terrible workplace but I will not return. I felt regretful that I brought my mother here to visit during Mother's Day weekend and left such a sour memory from the visit. read more

Nice place to spend the morning at. The selection of books isn't the most expansive but you are bound to find books you like. The cafe was also nice with a nice selection of baked goods. I got one of the muffins which was freshly baked from a local bakery and tasted great. There is good seating in the cafe to get a few hours of work done which was great. read more

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I was in the neighborhood for a new book and I had been to their other location near Hunter College. They have a good selection of books from nonfiction to fiction to children's and young adult. I browsed for a while and bought my new book. Overall it is a small store and I want to support the smaller stores as well as go to larger stores like Barnes and Noble. Their hours are good for early risers like myself and although I didn't stop at the café that they have when you first enter the store, I will check it out next time. read more

I really like this place. Shakespeare & Company is a nice bookstore with a small cafe when you enter. Its also a great spot to work/study. They have tables and plenty of outlets and the place is well lit. I find that it is always clean and the noise level is perfect (not too loud, but not completely quiet). It's the perfect atmosphere. I think that they have a nice selection of books but I find this place most interesting because they have in-house print services. You can personalize your very own book and they will print it for you. There is a restroom inside which is convenient if you are there working and having a cup of coffee. As for the cafe, they offer a good variety of items. They sell coffees ($2.50/small & $2.75/large), same price for teas--there are other beverage options and some bottled drinks. Sandwiches are about $8 each and the pasties are about $4. I'm looking forward to going back! read more

Shakespeare & Co. - Cafe area of the shop - Bookstores Near Me - New York, New York

Great bookstore with a nice cafe. Good selection of books and nicely laid out store.

love the bookstore. great selection great vibe. Did love the cafe. I got a delicious rhubarb scone, so returned for another scone. This time I got an oat cherry scone. It was stale.... and I was told it was two days old....after I had eaten some. Beware of what you order and make sure it is fresh that day. read more

The cafe has great coffee, bakery items and sandwiches and the bookstore is very cute. The bookstore has lots of good options and it's easy to spend some time browsing the stacks. For the cafe, people tend to linger in the indoor seating but there is almost always outdoor seating available. read more

Shakespeare & Co. - Black & white cookie - Bookstores Near Me - New York, New York

Recently bought a book here. I was enjoying it, but halfway through realized it was missing a bunch of pages. Unfortunately I threw out the receipt as I initially believed I was keeping the book. Brought back to the store to see if they could replace with another copy. Store clerk took a look and saw the error, but said without a receipt there was nothing she could do. Didn't matter that book still had their free bookmark inside or that they had another copy out on display. I know it's my fault for throwing out the receipt, but used to my old bookstore where they aren't so corporate and would just replace the book without question. I like supporting local bookstores, but not sure why I need to anymore if they don't treat you any better than online retailers. read more

This review is mainly for their cafe as I did not shop for any books. I was happy to see this local bookstore expand with a UWS location. It is a smaller bookstore so don't expect to find the same selection & pricing as Barnes & Noble, Amazon Books, or a big retailer. They also have a printing machine where you can print your own book or literature. I like the cafe in the front with a number of tables and window counter seats. It's bright from all the light that comes in through the big windows. I thought they have a good selection of drinks, pastries, sandwiches, & soup to choose from. It was a nice space to spend a little time in and I'm glad to have this as an option in this neighborhood. Hope it stays around! read more

I ADORE THIS BOOKSTORE. They have an enormous selection of books, all very well chosen, on quite a wide selection of topics. It is a comfy, browsable store with amenities, which I really admire. As the graduate of a small liberal arts college ( Great Books Program) I often find that modern bookstores, particularly in nyc, are not up to snuff. But Shakespeare & Co breaks the mold. It's the real thing. Head on over soon to give your poor weary brain a rest in this furtive haven for the soul. Did I mention that I love this place? read more

Really disappointed in what I thought would be a nice bookstore to visit in my neighborhood. When I went to visit with my girlfriend around the holidays, we found a nice book to give as a gift in a Secret Santa game among our friends later that evening. We saw that there was wrapping paper behind the station, and that a fellow customer was getting their books wrapped by the cashier. As we rung up our items with a different cashier, we asked if he could wrap our book (one, small book) as it was a gift. He told us that the wrapping paper was only available on the weekdays, because weekends are busy and wrapping books can hold up the line. As we looked behind us, there were 0 people in line, and the other cashier was still wrapping up the other patron's gift. Seeing the other patron get their gift wrapped, our cashier said he still cannot make an exception. In the end, we asked him to rip off a piece of wrapping paper and let us borrow tape and scissors so we can do it ourselves. He agreed to that reluctantly. Ridiculous that we even had to go through this charade. Seems like white women (the other patron) get preferential treatment at this establishment, while people of color (my girlfriend) are held to the "strict" rules of the store, and cannot have an exception made for them by a clueless cashier (older white male). I truly hope the store reads this review and works on treating all customers fairly and in a reasonable matter. read more

Every time I come here I get amazing service. I am talking about the book store. I did once get something at the cafe, but the book store is a gem. It's old school service with solid inventory. Even if you want something they don't have you can ask them to get it. Yes, I could easily head to Amazon myself, but the people there make the store. Hoping they can survive Amazon!! read more

RUDEST man working there who insinuated that I was stealing a book when I was flipping through it the cafe area. I was going to purchase it and he said that I shouldn't be reading the book before buying it. Then, he kicked me out of the cafe. I put the book back on the shelf and left. Never went back! read more

Not ADA compliant. No way for me to get to the books with a staircase and me in a wheelchair.

Cute little bookstore with a cafe and indoor/outdoor seating. They serve alcohol too!! :) I liked the selection of gifts and cards too, great if you're in the neighborhood and need a thoughtful gift for a friend. Right now during COVID, there's a small line into the store that starts at the bottom of the stairs. I was so enamored with the cuteness of the bookstore I didn't notice the line of two people. A bouncer/worker with glasses rudely told me to wait my turn. I told him I was sorry and I didn't notice, and he said it's bc you're not paying attention. Excuse me for dreamily floating into your store, Sir, I didn't buy anything, but had I been treated a little nicer, I would've felt inclined. I'd def stop back in again as long as that guy isn't there. read more

Friendly staff and a great selection of books! We went after the cafe closed, so I can't comment on that part

Note to Shakespeare & Co.-- your customers are the people who are keeping you in business, so at the very least you can be genial and polite to them! I was completely taken aback when I saw a woman who worked there behaving in such an APPALLING way. This worker (brown curly hair and glasses) approached an elderly woman who was clearly searching for a book to purchase and taking photos of book covers for gift ideas (something I've done myself). The way this worker was speaking to the elderly woman was so condescending and discourteous, I was in utter disbelief. The elderly woman left shortly afterwards, as did I, deciding to take my business elsewhere. I'm disappointed that I didn't speak up myself in defense of the elderly woman. Please find new book clerks who have a shred of humanity inside of them. Very disheartening! Do better Shakespeare & Co!!! read more

Beautiful bookshop and coffee spot with outdoor seating. I'm so glad I stopped by last week. Perfection. Update, 10 days later: I came back to buy a book and was absolutely delighted by the selection and customer service. Thank you! read more