1 day · book-lovers · New York City
New York has more bookstores per capita than almost any city in America. Here's a day that hits the best of them.
**10:00 AM — Start at The Strand Book Store (Union Square).** 18 miles of books. The flagship of NYC independent bookstores since 1927. The rare book room on the 3rd floor is a pilgrimage. Spend 60-90 minutes.
**11:30 AM — Walk west to McNally Jackson (SoHo).** A 20-minute stroll through NoHo. McNally is the literary heart of downtown — excellent curation, great café, beautiful space. They host author events almost nightly.
**1:00 PM — Lunch break.** Cafe Habana is right there (Cuban sandwiches, Mexican corn). Or grab a slice at Joe's Pizza.
**2:00 PM — Three Lives & Company (Greenwich Village).** A tiny, wood-lined Village bookshop at the corner of Waverly and 10th. Perfect for literary fiction and thoughtful nonfiction. The staff recommendations are unmatched.
**3:00 PM — Coffee at Caffe Reggio on MacDougal.** 1927, claimed to be the first café in America to serve cappuccino. Read your new book for 30 minutes.
**4:00 PM — Books are Magic (Brooklyn).** Subway to Carroll Gardens (Brooklyn) for this beloved indie opened by writer Emma Straub. Bright, joyful, phenomenal children's section, great author events. Worth the subway ride.
**5:30 PM — Community Bookstore (Park Slope, Brooklyn).** Subway to 7th Ave. Park Slope's literary center for 50+ years. Back garden. Neighborhood regulars. If there's an author event happening, stay.
**7:00 PM — Dinner in Park Slope.** Al Di La Trattoria (no reservations but worth the wait), Buttermilk Channel, or just pizza at Joe's in Park Slope. Sit and read between courses.
**Evening: An author event.** Check the McNally Jackson, Strand, or Community Bookstore websites for nightly events — there's always something. Free or low-cost tickets.
**Other must-visits (for a second bookstore day):** - Rizzoli Bookstore (NoMad) for art and architecture books - 192 Books (Chelsea) for art and small-press - Housing Works Bookstore Cafe (SoHo) for used books + charity mission - Argosy Book Store (East 59th) for rare books and antiquarian maps - Kinokuniya (Bryant Park) for Japanese and manga - Idlewild Books (West Village) for travel and literature in translation
**Tip:** Independent bookstores in NYC often have better new-release inventory than Barnes & Noble. Support them first.