10 English Bookstores in Paris You Won’t Want to Miss (+ a hidden gem)

If you’re a bookworm like me and love nothing better than exploring the nooks and crannies of a bookshop, I have some good news. Paris is full of quaint little bookshops where you can browse, some of which feature plenty of English books. So if your French isn’t up to reading a novel, you’ll still find plenty of places to keep you occupied.

On one of my recent trips to Paris, I thought it would be fun to visit some of them, and I ended up going to ten in total. It was such a fun thing to do as they all had different stories to tell. But the one thing they all had in common was their appeal. 

From discovering rare vintage books to reading them in an armchair by the fire in one store, I could have lost myself for days, soaking up the atmosphere. So, let me introduce you to the best bookstores in Paris to visit on your next trip.

10 English Bookstores in Paris Waiting To Be Discovered

No. 1 Shakespeare & Company

The first on my list, and probably the most famous, is Shakespeare & Company, just across the road from Notre Dame on Paris’s Left Bank.

The current bookstore was established in 1951 by George Whitman in an old 17th-century monastery in the Latin Quarter.

It was named after Sylvia Beach’s original Shakespeare and Company, founded in 1919 and forced to close in 1941 during the Nazi occupation. 

Sylvia was arrested and imprisoned for six months, and unfortunately, when she was released, ill health prevented her from opening the bookstore again.

However, during her time at the bookshop, she hosted some of the literary greats, including Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Fitzgerald, and James Joyce.

George introduced a unique tradition of allowing aspiring writers, called Tumbleweeds, to stay among its shelves in exchange for a few hours of work each day, reading a book each day, and writing a one-page autobiography.

This tradition has welcomed thousands of guests, including familiar faces such as Ethan Hawke and Geoffrey Rush.

George Whitman’s daughter, Sylvia Whitman, has now taken over and continued the literary legacy by hosting regular events, including writers’ workshops, Sunday Tea Parties, and weekly events featuring a variety of writers. In addition, the bookstore has established initiatives like the Festival and Co literary festival and the Paris Literary Prize for unpublished novellas.

If you’re a movie buff, you’ll have seen the bookshop appear in movies like Julie Julia and Midnight in Paris, two of my favourites. 

🌐 Website📍Address: 37 rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris

No 2. Librairie Jousseaume

Although not strictly speaking an English Bookstore, it does have an extensive English language section, so I’ve added it to the list.

Besides, it’s one of the city’s oldest bookshops, founded in 1826. It’s hidden away in the Galerie Vivienne, a covered passage known for its mosaic-tiled floor, neoclassical statues, and status as a historical monument.

The bookstore’s original name was Librairie Petit-Siroux, which can still be seen above the store’s window.

It was acquired by François Jousseaume’s great-grandfather in 1890 and has been in the family ever since.

Instead of one shop, there are two shops facing each other across the passage. The interior is reminiscent of an old-fashioned study, with shelves brimming with books, worn furniture, and a glowing chandelier adding to the charm. 

A narrow spiral staircase leads to a mezzanine overflowing with an impressive collection of paperbacks, perfect for bookworms like me to sit and get lost in a literary world.

The Jousseaume family has managed the bookstore since 1900, making it the only business in the gallery to have survived the urban renewal efforts of the 19th century, led by Baron Haussmann. 

I’d recommend adding this to your list if you have time in your schedule.

🌐 Website📍Address: 45-46-47 Gal Vivienne, 75002 Paris

No. 3 Librairie Galignani

Another pretty bookstore, Librairie Galignani, also has a long history as the oldest English-language bookstore in mainland Europe, dating back to the early 16th century.

The Galignani family, originally from Italy, was among the first to embrace the printing press, which revolutionized book distribution. 

Their notable publications include a Latin grammar book in 1520 and the highly successful ‘Geografia’ by PTOLEMAUS in 1597.

The bookstore was established in 1801 by Giovanni Antonio Galignani following the family’s relocation to France. 

Originally called Parsons and Galignani, it quickly became a favorite in Paris. It offered international literature and daily newspapers from England, providing expats with a connection to their home country. 

As an Expat living in France, I know how important that is, especially if you’re feeling homesick.

The bookstore moved to its current location at 224 Rue de Rivoli in 1856 and has thrived ever since. 

During World War II and the Nazi occupation, Galignani was banned from selling English books, although it didn’t stop him from doing it in secret. Publicly, though, he shifted his focus to fine art books so he stayed out of trouble.

Today, there is still a heavy focus on English language publications, and it’s the perfect place to spend a few hours of reading away.

🌐 Website📍Address: 224, rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris

No. 4 Smith & Son Paris (Formerly WH Smith)

If you’re looking for the quintessential English cream tea in Paris, come to this bookshop. They have the most gorgeous tearoom, but don’t go on a Monday as it’s closed. 

I whiled away a very happy couple of hours here, and their scones are to die for.

But what about the history of this bookstore?

Well, the store originally opened as Neal’s Library in the 1870s under the ownership of the Neal Brothers before becoming part of the WHSmith chain in 1903. It was the first shop the chain opened overseas, and by 1908, it had become so successful that it had to expand.

It was a favourite amongst Parisians who wanted to indulge in the British teatime ritual. Unfortunately, during World War II, the shop became a Nazi propaganda store, and all the staff were sacked.

However, once Paris was liberated, WHSmith took up the reigns once again, and life started to return to normal in the bookshop, although the tearoom didn’t reopen until 1950.

In 2021, it closed for refurbishment for the first time since 1944 and reopened under its new brand, Smith & Son.

🌐 Website📍Address: 248 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris

No. 5 Brentano’s

Brentano’s started life as a newsstand outside the New York Hotel in 1853, by August Brentano, and was known for being the first to import newspapers from London and other English cities, catering to an upscale hotel clientele.

By 1928, Brentano’s had expanded to become the largest bookstore chain in the U.S., with several stores in New York and individual stores in cities like Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Paris. 

The Paris store, Brentano’s S.A., opened in 1887 on the Avenue de l’Opéra and was a hit with American expats. Like most bookstores selling English language books, it was forced to close during World War II. 

But it was one of the first American-owned businesses to reopen after the Liberation of Paris. 

Unfortunately, the store in Paris closed in 2009. However, Iranian businessman Farock Sharifi later bought and reopened it in 2010, and it is now a bookstore and gift shop.

🌐 Website📍Address: 37 Av. de l’Opéra, 75002 Paris

No 6. The Abbey Bookshop

Founded in 1989 by Canadian Brian Spence in the historic Latin Quarter, Abbey Bookshop quickly became a cultural hub for Canadians, Anglophones, and Anglophiles worldwide. 

Rue de la Parcheminerie, where Abbey Bookshop is situated, is a street historically associated with the book trade in Paris. 

It was originally named Rue des Escrivains, a nod to the scribes and scriveners who were integral to the Parisian book trade until parchment makers replaced them in the late Middle Ages.

The building that Abbey Bookshop calls home is the 18th-century Hotel Dubuisson, known for its picturesque façade, sculptural decoration, and intricately carved doors.

This beautiful setting adds to its charm, and you’ll find yourself whipping out your phone to take photos.

The collection of over 40,000 books is eclectic, ranging from scholarly works to popular literature, with a significant number of Canadian titles, not surprisingly.

🌐 Website📍Address: 29 Rue de la Parcheminerie, 75005 Paris

No. 7 The Red Wheelbarrow

You’ve got to love a bookstore named after a poem, and this one is. The store’s name, “The Red Wheelbarrow,” is inspired by William Carlos Williams’s poem of the same name, reflecting the idea that “so much depends upon” something else. 

The Red Wheelbarrow is an English bookshop established by Penelope Fletcher in 2001, so it’s a newcomer to the list. 

She was involved in bookselling from a young age and, at just 19, owned a secondhand bookshop on Hornby Island until she moved to Paris in 1990. 

Originally located in the Marais at 13 rue Charles V, the Red Wheelbarrow expanded in 2003 to 22 rue Saint Paul. However, due to personal circumstances, Fletcher had to close the shop and return to Canada for two years. 

It was reborn in 2018 and reopened at No. 9, rue de Medicis, near the Luxembourg Garden.

More recently, she opened The Red Balloon, a children’s and young adult bookstore at 11 rue de Medicis, which I haven’t been to yet.

🌐 Website📍Address: 11 rue de Medicis, 75006 Paris

No. 8 San Francisco Book Company

Another relative newbie, founded in 1997, The San Francisco Book Company, is in the Latin Quarter and offers a wide range of genres, from cooking to children’s literature, theatre, cinema, and more.

The shop is known for its vast selection of second-hand English books, although it also features a smaller assortment of new books. 

But if the allure of an old hardback book is too much, you’re likely to find what you’re looking for here. It’s full to the brim with worn titles of classics and books from bygone eras, making it an ideal spot for those seeking hidden literary gems​​.

🌐 Website📍Address: 17 rue Monsieur le Prince, 75006 Paris

No 9 Taschen

Although it’s not your standard bookshop, it’s worth mentioning as it specializes in producing affordable and accessible art books, making them popular as coffee table books. 

Taschen, founded by Benedikt Taschen in Cologne in 1980, began as a small comic book publishing company.

The publisher gained prominence by making lesser-seen art available to mainstream bookstores.

The Taschen bookstore in Paris is in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and is the German publishing house’s first branded store. 

Designed by Philippe Starck, the space is elegant but minimal. It houses diverse publications, including art photography, painting, design, fashion, advertising history, film, and architecture. 

🌐 Website📍Address: 2 rue de Buci, 75006 Paris

No. 10 The Bouquinistes of Paris (The Book Sellers of the Seine)

For our final bookstore on the list, we have The Bouquinistes of Paris, although it isn’t actually a store; it’s a selection of book stalls along the Seine. Some of which have a selection of English language titles.

These iconic book sellers, known for their green stalls, have been a part of Parisian culture for centuries, evolving alongside the city’s rich literary history.

The term “bouquiniste” first appeared in the dictionary of the Académie française in 1762, derived from the Flemish word “boeckin”, meaning “small book”​. 

Their presence along the Seine increased significantly after the opening of Pont-Neuf at the beginning of the 17th century, with booksellers using wheelbarrows to transport their books​​.

In 1859, Parisian authorities formalised the bouquinistes’ trade by allowing them to establish their business at fixed points along the River Seine, allocating each seller 10 metres of railing. 

The dimensions and appearance of the green metal boxes used by the bouquinistes were standardised in 1930​​​​. 

Today, about 220 bouquinistes use around 900 boxes along the Seine, authorized to sell second-hand books, magazines, engravings, and postcards, with limited space devoted to tourist objects​​.

Despite the challenges posed by digital media and the internet, the bouquinistes remain integral to Paris’s cultural landscape. 

Their contribution to cultural history is so significant that UNESCO included the Parisian quays with the bouquinistes in the Memory of the World register​​.

🌐 Website📍Address: Stretching for around 3 kilometres between Pont Marie and Quai du Louvre on the Right Bank and from Quai de la Tournelle to Quai Voltaire on the Left Bank. 

 The Hidden Gem – Librairie L’Eau Et Les Rêves

If you want something a little bit different that many people don’t know about, then pay a visit to Librairie L’Eau Et Les Rêves, housed on a barge. 

What’s not to love about a bookshop on a barge? Although the variety of books isn’t as big as it used to be, it’s ridiculously picturesque and the perfect place to fill your Instagram feed. 

Originally a maritime bookstore, Cyrille, its owner, has transformed it into a botanical library and a cozy café-restaurant.

The bookstore specialises in nature-themed books, covering topics like gardens, ecology, and forests, and even includes DIY topics like natural cosmetics and permaculture. 

It also hosts a variety of events, such as author meetings, book signings, exhibitions, eco-friendly workshops, plant sales, and exchanges​​​​.

🌐 Website📍Address: 9 quai de l’Oise, 75019 Paris

FAQS: English Bookshops in Paris

Final thoughts: Finding an English Bookstore in Paris

Whether you’re coming to Paris for a weekend or a week, visiting some of these famous bookstores should definitely be on your list. It’s the perfect thing to do in the cooler months, such as March.

Paris is one of those cities that just keeps on giving, from its historic and beautiful streets to its fabulous monuments, such as the Iron Lady, the world-famous Louvre Museum, and the stunning Opera Garnier.

My favorite place for bookshops is Saint-Germain-Des-Prés as it’s where the literary greats hung out, plus it’s home to Café des Magots, where Ernest Hemingway spent a lot of his time.