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    Brattle Book Shop

    4.4 (198 reviews)
    InexpensiveBookstores
    Open 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

    Brattle Book Shop Photos

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    Mercedes C.

    This bookstore seriously doesn't ease you in gently at all because Brattle Book Shop starts RIGHT at the curb. Wooden bookshelves all line against brick walls into a narrow space that looks like a back alley. There are plenty of books out here and the prices are fantastic going for $1 or $5. The cold outside felt unreal and thankfully by the time we finished wandering outside, we were ready to head inside where it felt wonderfully warm and cozy. Brattle B. has this comforting smell of old books and wood the second you step inside. The floorboards creak with every step and the banister leading up from the 1st floor to the 2nd is this antique wooden rail- that you know has many stories to tell. Each of the three floors is organized by their genres, making it easy for folks to navigate the inside of Brattle B.. Clear aisle posters guide you as you move through each section, then there are labeled tabs on individual shelves for even more direction. This layout is super smooth throughout the building. Service is nice and they let you be. If you love stories, fashion books, history, nostalgia or crave a bookstore that feels alive, Brattle B. is worth every minute you spend in it.

    Jo S.

    Wow! One of the oldest used bookstore in the country. We stumbled into it while walking from Chinatown, through the Theater District toward Boston Common. Fun find and cool area! They have a huuuge outdoor area full of books, prices start at $1. Happy we came to Boston when weather is still nice so we can take advantage of this area! Lots of browsing. Nice selection and good prices inside, well organized. Pretty good customer service, my husband got a few books, cool finds and nice souvenirs. Great bookstore, like the selection, its history, the nice vibe for bookworms. Too bad it's closed on Sundays, though! Had fun browsing!

    Alexandra A.

    " The Coolest bookstore " This bookstore is cool ; the coolest. The books are outside that are on sale but still great. It's located on a street that is right near the Boston public park. Now that is cool . You feel the whole Boston vibe at this book store , it's the coolest. Take a walk around town and don't forget to stop at the coolest bookstore.

    Outdoor Used Books
    Rian L.

    This is such a unique bookshop in Boston. The outside assortment of used book was fun to look through even in the cold weather. There are three floors of used books in all genres you can think of. I was able to find an early 1900s Fannie Farmer cookbook to add to my collection.

    Kristi B.

    This place is huge! It is literally one of the oldest running antique bookstores. They have huge selections both indoors and outdoor. Inside they do have three levels but the third level is locked and you must have an employee with you in order to enter the room. That level contains all of their antique books. We had a good time exploring the books that were available outside as well as the books on the first and second floor. If we had one to get along and experience other things, we may have spent more time and attempted to go to the third floor.

    Had to get this baby to my Godfather collection!
    Jasmine T.

    This was a gem to find!!! Books on every subject, classics, everything. This was a place you have to immerse yourself and give yourself time to take it in!

    Sydney M.

    A true gem and a book worms dream! A must visit any time I'm in Boston. Could spend hours hunting for new books

    sissy
    Shwe N.

    super hole in the wall find but pretty popular downtown! cute lil book shop and much to browse! very cheap/ affordable all outdoor and within the tiny smol streets hehe

    Chloe F.

    I recently had the chance to stop by the famous Brattle Book Shop. It's very cool that they have an open air section outside to browse, which makes for a great shopping experience and cuts down on congestion inside. There was a good selection of books, many very old.

    Tara C.

    Great place for Lots of old books used. It is a two stories store with the outside having books on a cart, but it's not organized. the outside books are one dollar three dollars five dollars, while Most of the books inside are about twelve dollars.

    Emma G.

    This is my last Boston adventure review in which I can make an NYC comp. When I was in college, one of my favorite places to visit was the Strand, an iconic bookstore on Broadway just south of Union Square. It was very close to campus, and my friends and I would often try to find used books here for our classes instead of paying an egregious amount for a brand new one at the NYU bookstore (they took so much of my money I can't even). I knew so many people who applied to work there - it seemed like the dream part-time job, with books stacked up to the heavens and a $0.48 bin on the sidewalk for the novels that needed a little more love than the average tome. All of those memories flooded in when my top-tier chum who literally went to the school of hospitality and I came over here toward the tail-end of our trip - another place with history, another place where you can grab a super affordable book that someone else had a journey with in a prior decade, another place with personality oozing out of its pores. We stopped by on a dreary Monday morning - dreary enough where there was a bit of concern that the skies would open while we were perusing the outside wares, of which there were many (we actually had to cut that portion of the visit short because the books had to be wheeled off to the side to allow for a truck to come in). You can see from the attached picture that there are wooden bookshelves built into the sides of the outside lot, along with partitions/coverings that are easily placed in front of them after business hours, so the books probably get more fresh air than me. That was my favorite area - also similar to the Strand, it can get claustrophobic inside when you're navigating around narrow piles of books - and it was nice to stroll around and look for a new/old literary classic to add to my own shelves. The interior section was more organized (though I kind of liked the adventure of roaming around not exactly sure what I might stumble across - one of my purchases was a new/old copy of Grapes of Wrath from 1939. My literary expert chum isn't convinced it's a first edition because, "Viking Press used to play fast and loose with that stuff," but if it's not, it's super close) and it was easy to find specific genres that piqued my interest, notably a fun bookshelf for presidential-related books that was in chronological order, exactly how I have it at home. My only nitpick (per the attached picture) was that Obama intruded on my chum Nixon's shelf. Not all of us were allowed to finish two terms, Barack. Brattle boasted a third floor, which apparently had some very edgy first editions, rare books, etc. You needed someone to accompanying you up there, understandably so, but neither of us was so invested in gazing upon an autographed Henry James or whatever was on that floor to initiate a conversation with an employee. (And full disclosure - I was starting to get a hankering for lobster.) Maybe next time. Everyone we interacted with was very nice. I've had some run-ins with the snobby Strand employees who think they're living on a higher plane of existence because they can quote random chunks of Moby Dick, but no such issues were encountered on this visit. I'm trying to curtail my literary hoarding problem, but my chum merely contributed to hers, practically staggering under the weight of her purchases as we left. This was a great find, and had the added benefit of featuring many great finds within it. Definitely stop by if you still enjoying turning ye olde pages with your paws.

    Karla M.

    I've been here a couple times and have loved it each time. I didn't realize there was an indoor store (located adjacent to their outdoor section) until this time--I thought it was just outdoors. There was racks and racks of books. The only downside is that it seems at random outside so you might spend some time closely looking for what you want. The inside is very organized by genre. It was a beautiful day so we spent most of the time at the outdoor section. They have stands with books for $1, $3, and $5 and I'm sure the prices can be higher than that.

    Dafne S.

    Beautiful bookstore! Has so many good rare finds. Please visit if you're in the area.

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    The ability to have an old school book shop in downtown Boston is amazing. Cool selection of books and a great value

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    Ask the Community - Brattle Book Shop

    Review Highlights - Brattle Book Shop

    The Brattle Bookshop is hands down one of the best antiquarian bookstores in the country.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    You might also consider

    Beacon Hill Books & Cafe

    Beacon Hill Books & Cafe

    4.1
    (201 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    This spot was adorable - both for books and food…read more We lucked out as we didn't have a reservation, but called and turns out they had an outdoor table available. We weren't sure how to enter, so we started in the bookstore and found their convenient elevator downstairs! The restaurant is tiny but cozy, which is the perfect atmosphere for a book store! We sat outside in the little courtyard and it's a mix of magical and relaxing! There were only a few tables, so it wasn't overcrowded and with nice weather, it was perfect. I had a salad with salmon on the side which was delicious - and the ginger lemonade - wonderful! From buttered noodles to seafood, everything was executed well. The staff didn't rush us even though they were busy - and they had to give really long wait times to a number of others, but we still weren't rushed. I would highly recommend reservations, but even without we were treated very well. Pricing was in line with city pricing - and the food was extremely high quality and produce was lovely - not a shriveled lettuce leaf in sight. We then went upstairs to the bookstore and perused - each floor has something fun to see (including a tiny kids door - or is it a mouse door for the mouse who stars in the book about the store?!). 100% worth a visit - definitely stop in!

    Beacon Hill Books and Cafe is a three story independent bookstore set inside a townhouse on Beacon…read moreHill, and the physical space does as much work as the inventory in making it worth a visit. We walked into a building with the kind of architectural character that chain bookstores cannot manufacture, with small rooms opening into each other across multiple floors, wallpapered walls, and reading nooks distributed throughout that invite you to slow down rather than move through quickly. The book selection is well curated with staff recommendation cards on the shelves that actually reflect genuine enthusiasm rather than perfunctory notes. We saw limited edition hardcovers and local and regional titles appearing alongside the broader fiction and nonfiction selection. Browsing felt productive rather than overwhelming because the curation kept things focused. The kids section upstairs is one of the more delightful in Boston, with a train running along a track near the ceiling that tends to make a strong impression on younger visitors. There is also an art print vending machine on the second floor that draws its own audience of visitors looking for something small and specific to take home. The cafe occupies the lower level and operates as a separate experience from the bookshop above. We ordered the oat milk cappuccino with Vermont maple syrup, which was worth it. The morning glory scone and the popovers are two other items to consider. The cafe is tiny, around eight tables inside with a small patio, and reservations are recommended for breakfast and afternoon tea service. Pricing at the cafe is on the higher end, and certain fixed price service formats on specific dates push it considerably further, so checking current pricing before booking is worth doing. For a bookshop that doubles as a destination in its own right, Beacon Hill Books and Cafe delivers a cozy, curated experience that rewards lingering. It is the kind of place we would return to just to sit and read with a good coffee.

    Photos
    2nd floor - main floor with the cashier.
    2nd floor - main floor with the cashier.
    Beacon Hill Books & Cafe
    Children's books level

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    Children's books level

    Brattle Book Shop - bookstores - Updated July 2026

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