A bookshop will forever be a paradise for readers. It holds the promise of thousands of imaginary lives that are not only on display but can be taken home as new jewels in your private collection of wonders. And since readers are an eclectic group, bookshops are also a treasure trove of special little objects and accessories that bring us joy, pleasure, or simply comfort.
Ever since the 17th century, bookshops have offered much more than just printed books: useful or small luxury items such as maps and prints, writing paper and music sheets, ink, or even scientific instruments. Yet, most importantly, the people who gathered in these spaces shared common interests and values, quickly transforming bookshops into cultural hubs where intellectuals would exchange laughter or ideas, depending on the era.
Today, when you walk into a historic bookshop, the energy of the place creates an atmosphere you can conjure up whenever you feel like escaping into the past. So, for our literary talk of the week, I wanted to share my favorite Parisian bookshops—the places that, through their unique character and history, serve as my personal time-traveling portals, each in its own way. So, put on some comfortable shoes, a nice hat, and a soft pair of gloves, and let’s take a stroll around Paris.
Oh, and just a quick note: in French, a bookshop is a librairie, while a library is a bibliothèque.
Shall we?
Librairie Delamain : the Oldest Bookshop in Paris
We find ourselves in front of the Comédie Française, the oldest active theater company in the world, standing since 1680 in the heart of the city as part of the Palais Royal, the Royal Palace. Yet we’re not here for the theater—oh no. We turn our back to the famous columns and, right across the street, step into the oldest bookshop still open in Paris: the Librairie Delamain.
Founded in 1708, Delamain has long been a literary institution in Paris, drawing in readers and writers alike. Can you imagine crossing paths with Alexandre Dumas or Guy de Maupassant inside the shop? Or perhaps Colette, Louis Aragon, or Jean Cocteau? This was the place to be.
In just 90m², you’ll find around 25,000 titles spanning literature, art history, science, and the humanities. The richness of this historic place is overwhelming.
But the true treasures of the bookshop are its antique books and rare editions. With nearly 5,000 titles ranging from the 18th to the 20th century, this is a haven for book collectors and curious souls. Standing before their most beautifully engraved first editions, you can’t help but feel that no technological invention could ever replace the value and charm of a physical book. I, for one, believe the two can coexist, but walking inside Librairie Delamain, you are immediately submerged in the powerful energy of the printed word.
Needless to say, I never leave empty-handed. And if you plan a future visit, be sure to pay attention to the details on the shelves—you’ll spot, scattered here and there, one of my favorite scented candles made in France: the literary collection by Zig Zag Island. With fragrances like Marcel Proust’s Madeleine, English Library, Alexandre Dumas, and Agatha Christie, you’ll have a hard time choosing. But trust me, they are wonderful.
If I had to capture the energy of Delamain, I’d say it feels like a Parisian revolutionary headquarters tucked inside an 18th-century print shop. I’ve always found it fascinating that, despite the violence and bloodshed of the French Revolution, its major figures produced remarkable literary works—true embodiments of the literary spirit of the 18th century. And this is how I imagine their meeting place: small and intimate, bustling with people coming and going, climbing ladders to grab books from the upper shelves, discussing ideas, and passionately envisioning the world of tomorrow.
Librairie Galignani : the first English Bookshop on the Continent
Leaving this beehive of French culture and joie de vivre, we take a short walk along the iconic Rue de Rivoli. One of Napoléon’s signature urban transformations, the uniform arcades lining the north façade of the Louvre along Rue de Rivoli are unmistakable.
As we stroll past the Tuileries Gardens, sheltered from the rain under the covered arcades, we marvel at the luxury shops and five-star hotels. We pass the eternal queue outside Angelina, the famed tea room known for its iconic Mont-Blanc chestnut dessert, before arriving at the dark green façade of the Librairie Galignani.
The Galignani family has a long history in publishing, dating back to 16th-century Italy. The earliest known member, Simone Galignani, published a Latin grammar in Venice in 1520. In 1801, Giovanni Antonio Galignani arrived in Paris, where he opened not only a bookshop but also a reading room specializing in the English language on Rue Vivienne. The business survived wars and political upheavals, settling in 1856 on Rue de Rivoli, where it remains today under the ownership of direct Galignani descendants. This long history makes it the first English-language bookshop in continental Europe—a title proudly engraved on its façade and a spirit you recognize the moment you step inside.
The 1930s hardwood shelves and central columns, paired with elegant skylights, create a warm, sophisticated setting for the expertly curated selection by their bilingual staff. Collections of literature, history, art books, and fine editions of English classics make time stand still, allowing you to step, even briefly, into those beautiful universes. I absolutely adore their garden and nature section, in true English tradition, where I discover with every visit a remarkable memoir or a marvelous floral design art book. But you can hardly pull me away from the interior design books, the history of civilizations section, and the ever-so-elegant collector editions of the Penguin Clothbound Classics.
Galignani has the energy of a French hôtel particulier, owned by an English lord in the heart of Paris. The wood paneling lends it the air of a gentlemen’s club, yet there is something unmistakably French about it—the way the selection is presented, like a curated voyage through the bookshop’s labyrinthine mind.
Galignani is both historic and timeless—the epitome of European chic, safeguarding what is most precious in the world of literature.
Smith & Son Paris : an English Cottage in Place de la Concorde
We continue our stroll along Rue de Rivoli towards its western end, and just before stepping into Place de la Concorde, the largest square in Paris, we find ourselves in front of Smith & Son Paris. The bookshop was first opened in 1870 by the Neal brothers, along with a tea room on the first floor. They sold the business to the British group WH Smith & Son in 1903, making it their first international establishment. Occupied by German propaganda forces during World War II, the bookshop reopened in 1950 and remained under the WH Smith & Son banner until 2020, when the group decided to part with its Paris branch. Today, it has returned to its roots as an independent bookshop, just as it was originally intended.
The moment you step inside, you leave behind the bustle of one of Paris’s busiest streets and enter the enchanting world of the English countryside. Though the bookshop is quite spacious, it exudes the charm of a countryside cottage—intimate, welcoming, and filled with character in every corner. The sections are curated both seasonally and thematically around the latest releases, while their international press selection is among the finest in Paris. This is where I reconnect with my favourite magazines, like House Beautiful or Country Living, The English Garden, or The World of Interiors. It’s like a window that opens towards the world.
A cozy space called The Museum traces the history of the bookshop, designed as a sitting room that feels quintessentially Victorian in every detail. The small pantry section offers a selection of British culinary staples, bringing a taste of the English kitchen to the heart of Paris—Yorkshire tea, digestive biscuits, fine marmalade, and oatcakes. This is also where I stock up on my beloved biscuit-flavored tea, a comforting ritual in a cup.
Upstairs, nestled among the cookbooks, lifestyle, and children’s sections, is the tea room—home to the best cream tea in town. This intimate space extends the bookshop’s cottage-like charm, with its cozy fireplace and elegant train-car-style salon—an idyllic pause in an afternoon of literary wandering. You can enjoy a scone on your own (with no one to judge whether you spread the clotted cream first or last), or share a lavish three-tiered cake stand with a friend for an afternoon of cozy, bookish indulgence.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this virtual visit to three of the most charming bookshops in Paris—the places I frequent most often when I say I’m going shopping. Delamain and Galignani offer both French and English books, while Smith & Son is exclusively English. Keep these gems in mind for your next trip to Paris; they’re all centrally located and easy to include in your itinerary.
Until next time, enjoy your reading and your bookshop rituals!
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