The third Strand book store! They have both new and used books. Absolutely my favorite…read more My two favorite sections are History and Cooking. The number of titles and authors is amazing. A visit to NYC would be complete without visiting all three locations... AND the staff is so helpful!

I like this Strand. It's not huge like the original, but it still has the humble uniqueness of the…read moreStrand brand. Bonus: I have a small child and their downstairs children's section is excellent - curated with just the right amount of classics and new material. I recommend giving it stop when you're in that part of town.

Came here awhile back…read more Great. I like books. I like to read, sometimes. It's a cute bookstore with lots of books. If you like reading, you will like it here. If you're not really into books, then you can people watch.

I stumbled upon this hole-in-the-wall used bookstore while exploring the area. I always make a…read morepoint to visit local bookstores when I travel, so I was excited to try this one out. There is a wide array of books, organized by genre. For the most part, the prices are pretty good, but there were also books that seemed overpriced for their age and condition. You can spend a lot of time perusing the bookshelves and have a great time. Please keep in mind that this store is CASH ONLY. I only had one interaction with the staff. I can't say he was rude, just very to the point. You definitely won't get the warm and fuzzies.

I stopped by this McNally Jackson location when I was in the area a couple of weeks ago. McNally…read moreJackson operates five stores in the city, in addition to three stationary stores (Goods for the Study), and it's been around since 2004. The store isn't huge, but it's incredibly well-stocked and, being on the street level of a Rockefeller Center building, gets incredible light through their windows. The staff were friendly and I had practically picked out a book while window shopping (their inventory is incredible). Since 2021, McNally Jackson is also a publisher, publishing a paperback reprint series devoted to "hidden gems." I had to pick up one of their titles. Great shop for bibliophiles.

This was another bookstore that my wife and I came across randomly during our travels. If you are…read moreunaware of McNally Jackson they are an independent bookstore with 5 locations in New York. My wife and I enjoyed our time browsing here. It's a multi-level store that is separated like most bookstores into genres as expected. They had lots of newer books but still plenty of classics as well. My wife even happened to come across a book she has been looking for and wanting to read for a long while so big win there. Staff were friendly and we did not have a long wait to buy the book, no line. Prices felt quite standard for a book store. This was a fantastic independent book store and one definitely worth visiting for book lovers or those seeking gifts for a book lover in their life.

Please see my review of the Strand for more context. The Strand is a mega store that says they…read morehave 18 miles of books. Nice store. But Mercer Street Books & Records is a place with heart and soul. While the Strand might have tons of new stuff, Mercer has some quirky, delightful, and downright weird stuff. Niche stuff. Magazines that are 20 years old (we are talking about art, music, and culture mags, not Vogue or People). Worn and well-loved used volumes of poetry, film. Languages (huge German and Spanish section). Some records, though nothing recent. Mostly things from the 40s-50s-60s, maaayyyyyybe some a little older. Show tunes. Soundtracks. Patty Duke. Fashion, design, music (Jazz, rock, British Invasion). Was bummed there was no hiphop section, but I'm not sure I should have ever presumed there would be one. Religion, fiction, history, and more. Mostly organized. Loosely may be a better word. Makes it more like a fun treasure hunt, the way things are arranged. Maybe in the design section, you might find a random copy of, "Making Dinosaurs Dance" or a Netter's anatomy coloring book. Both are in some way about art and design, but they are unexpected discoveries. Mercer is smaller than the Strand, but not as busy or as crowded, at least not on the Wednesday night I went. As I said on my review of the Strand, the person I presume to be the owner of this shop was there working the register. I could be wrong about the owner part, but I could tell the guy was old school LES and village. Beatnik hat, scarf, vest, round rimmed glasses, beard. As far as value, a lot to be found here. Good prices and some interesting finds. And loved that they were playing jazz. Whereas other stores might feel commercial and crowded, this felt like a hidden community spot.

I always love a used bookstore that is so full there are piles of books everywhere. There is a…read morelarge selection here, and prices seemed fair. The shelves were so high, though, that the top two shelves were completely inaccessible to me. I also felt like my browsing was getting in the way of the employee, who kept walking back and forth requiring me to constantly move out of his way.

Love. Best selection of art, coffee table and eclectic books I have seen in a while. There are…read morealways a half dozen books I see that I want to buy.

I always walk by this place on my expeditions through the East Village, and frequently note how I…read moreneed to pop in. "I could get a sick coffee table book in there..." But yesterday, I saw a "Sofia Coppola Archive" book in the window and knew that was the good lord screaming at me to come in. Say what you will about nepotism, but Lost in Translation is a top 3 movie of all time for me. I won't go into great detail here, but I will go into minor detail: 1) I am obsessed with Japanese culture and am equally as obsessed with romantic comedies, so put those things together and I am an easy sell. I feel I need to live in Japan for a period of time before it's all said and done. 2) She wrote the script in Japan as she had an obsession with it while she was there working on another project, and would do anything to make it work. It came from her soul, and I truly believe that the best works of art come straight from ones soul. 3) It was shot in 27 days, much of this without permits. She kept a flexible schedule during filming with a small crew and minimal equipment, with a good portion of the script being unfinished. They stayed flowy. Be water. 4) First adult role for Scarlett Johansson!? Speaks for itself. All this to say, I HAD to come in to check this book out. Whoever curates this place is on their SH*T! So many great options. A fantastic place to come and find new artists, authors, or inspirations. Also, I serendipitously ran into my new boss in here who is rad and creative. If you catch Shiva in there you know this is THE place... IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__

This store is not on par with the prime Strand location in terms of selection or value. Even so, it…read moreis a good place to pop in to satisfy one's craving for a read. The service is great as always,

Amazing selection knowledgeable staff amazing deals on art photography books and literature.read more

I stoped in here being new to the world of meditation and crystals and personal power…read more The lady behind the counter was excellent at give it me insight and answered my questions. I felt very comfortable. I'm looking forward to making a return visit. The prices for merchandise looked very reasonable as well.

I've passed by this bookshop a lot without knowing what it was but I was in need for some crystals…read moreso I searched up on google where I could find some in midtown. Quest Bookshop was the only place that popped up. The location is perfect for me because it's super close to the train and in the area I work in. This bookstore really specializes in spiritual things but theres a lot of information plastered everywhere I didn't feel too lost. They have a lot of stones and they tell you which each one is meant for. I saw in the back someone reading tarot cards and they also have other events like knowing your enneagram which I thought was pretty cool. I don't know much about this bookstore but I feel like it's such a nice staple in midtown that I can really see myself as a regular.

Small but super cute bookstore in Greenpoint just down the street from Yoseka. We popped in briefly…read moreto browse the shelves and this note made me laugh a lot. Didn't buy anything myself but a friend had a great experience grabbing some greeting cards and the like!

I popped by WORD when I was exploring Greenpoint last weekend. It's a smallish bookstore but one…read morewith a pretty good selection/inventory considering its size (there is a downstairs, don't miss that when you stop by). I wouldn't say it's the friendliest shop, but I picked up a book for my next read. I didn't even have to walk very far into the shop before I found something I wanted to take home!