I stopped into PowerHouse Arena a few weeks ago on my trip to NY looking for a children's book for…read moremy niece here at the recommendation of a friend and there were 2 men at the bar openly yelling obscenities at each other with multiple little kids in the store the whole time I was there. I couldn't stand to stay for more than 10 minutes because of how disturbing and inappropriate this was and even though I found a good book for her I ended up buying it elsewhere because I could not in good conscience give them my money after seeing that. However the staff were very nice and seemed apologetic for this behavior...would not recommend visiting or supporting such an unprofessional and aggressive company!!

PROS: very nicely laid out and the place is clean. The workers are friendly and the variety of…read moregenres was plentiful CONS: the cafe is permanently closed according to the salesperson and now it's just for show. Also no parking so you have to walk to the store OVERALL: if you love reading and you're in the area I do recommend this store. Just don't expect to get a snack while there

Usagi is one of those spots you wander into and end up staying longer than planned. It is part…read moregallery, part bookstore, part café, and the whole space feels open, calm, and thoughtfully put together. I went during the week and it was not too busy, which made it easy to take my time, look around at the artwork, and just settle in for a bit. I grabbed a hot matcha latte and kept it simple. It was great, no complaints. This feels like the kind of place you come back to when you want a slower pace and a change of scenery. I would definitely return.

I got the Onigiri Bento , 1pc of the Salmon. The vegetables were nicely seasoned and light. It was…read morea good balance with the Onigiri which has a salty salmon filling. I liked how the rice was warming and that the seaweed also had seasoning. I'd like to try their other menu items. The interior is calming and has many interesting books, as well as different products being sold.

I was looking for a bookstore walking distance from my hotel and this store popped up. The area…read morewhere this bookstore is quaint and cute. I walked in and I was first pleasantly surprised I saw so many black authors and new releases right off the bat. I say this as someone that reads all authors but it is important to see diversity of books in my bookstores. I visit bookstores often and make it my business in every city I visit. Now this bookstore is HUGE. Way bigger than expected. I thought the bottom level was the entire bookstore and boy was I wrong. Turns out there is a big first level and 2 more levels from there. I was in book heaven. Great selection of books, lot of of themes. They also had a section for blank journals/crafts and a coffee/drink bar. The staff were super friendly in helping me find the books I was looking for. Also the cashier was nice enough to give me a tote for being a visitor to NY which was nice of him. I will definitely be putting this bookstore on my list of repeats when I visit NYC, the vibe was just so comfy and cozy.

Love the vibes of this place. Three floors of books of every topic. They also sell stationaries,…read morewriting materials & cute knick knacks. There are lots of seating, fairly quiet & store keepers appears friendly. I would definitely come back on the summer months when i'm visiting the nearby piers.

I was visiting Brooklyn and knew I wanted to come in for the Incardi mini print vending machine,…read morebut once I was there, I was just loving the vibes of the store. Everyone was so kind and there was a lot of things to browse! I am not even a physical book girlie but I really enjoyed the selection they had and if I lived in the area, I would be coming back often to continue to support. It was a short walk from the Brooklyn Bridge and allowed me to explore more of the area, which was a huge plus for me!

I visited this Brooklyn Heights location of Books Are Magic this past weekend with some friends…read more I'd been to the shop's first location (Carroll Gardens) before - it opened in 2017, but I hadn't realized that this location opened in 2022! But we were wandering around and just came upon it. The store is a good size; you can definitely lose time exploring and browsing. It doesn't feel as tight as many independent bookstores can either. Founded by author Emma Straub, both Books Are Magic locations have some really wonderful touches: lots of recommendations by booksellers on the shelves, a large section of translated fiction, and merch for bibliophiles. I had to be dragged out - but not before I picked up a book that I hadn't seen on/in any tables, endcaps, pyramids in any other bookstore in the last few months. If you love to read, Books Are Magic is well worth a stop to browse and get inspired by a new read!

I came here for a photo and book release party. I love the spare space and deep attention to…read morebeautiful books. The layout is simple, making sure not to distract from the important topic of the store. Shop keeper was really nice, as well.

No other space in the city caters to this crowd, or has a comparable selection. The owners are…read moreawesome, the events are great. If you are a reader of poetry, this is your joint. I can't visit without buying something amazing.

Great local book shop, wedged in between such an iconic neighborhood of NYC and amazing food, a…read moreliterary oasis. The room is cozy and warm, staff recommended books are quirky and fun in their explanation of why to read. Thirsty? Head over to the cafe for an espresso or an IPA. Their is no wrong beverage to consume while you're reading! So happy we stepped into this gem, hope y'all visit soon!

Okay... a bookstore that features Asian authors, cute stickers/pins/cards, reading nook, and a…read morecoffee & beer bar?????? Yea. I'm all in. Books are all genres, kids board books, even sale or pre-owned books for less than $10. Employee picks, etc. Beer has to be finished on premises, tho so just fyi. There's also a downstairs and bathroom if you need. What a happy find!!

A beautiful independent bookstore with a fantastic offering of worthwhile books. The atmosphere is…read morefriendly, the staff knowledgeable. This branch is in the heart of Soho; there's another I believe at the Seaport. Highly recommended for browsing and buying. Visiting, I feel a little smarter just being there.

McNally Jackson was started in 2004 by Sarah Jackson. It has branched out in New York as an…read moreindependent bookstore. It offers book club, events, a young readers program, summer reading program, and merchandise. The store offers more obscure literature.

I can't believe I've never reviewed the Strand. I guess I haven't visited in years?! Well, I…read morecorrected that oversight last Sunday, and I still love it as much as I did when I was in college. I love bookstores, and NYC has lots of great ones. But the Strand Bookstore might be the best? It's a classic. It's the largest independent bookstore in the city, carrying 2.5 million used, new, and rare books (their tag line - "18 Miles of Books" refers to the fact that the shelf space in the store supposedly stretches over 18 miles)! Plenty of people just shop front their discount racks outside the sidewalk (where all books are $3-7) and then pop in just to pay. But the inside is incredible. More books than almost any bookstore I've ever been to. Still family-owned, over 100 years old, and with an emphasis on bookseller recommendations, it's just an excellent bookstore. When I stopped by on Sunday, I made it past about four tables and end displays - new fiction, signed books, and employee recommendations - about 50 feet into the store. I already had six books in my hands and decided I better leave quickly before I had a problem! Despite the size of the store and the number of shoppers, the line to check out was short and quick. With friendly customer service to boot. It's simply one of the best bookstores in the city. Maybe in the country, too?! Definitely check it out.

I was so surprised to see I have not written a review for Strand even though I have visited several…read moretimes. Strand Book Store is a landmark family owned bookstore famous for its "18 miles of books" and a massive inventory of over 2.5 million new, used, and rare titles. There are four floors - the first floor which is usually very busy and chaotic features a vast collection of new releases and best-sellers, and a wide variety of Strand themed merchandise The lower level is mainly non-fiction and music and travel section. The second floor has art, photography, architecture and children's books. The third floor is rare books. The store is packed with books and if you cannot find a book here it may not exist. It is easy to spend hours browsing through the aisles.

I read sbout this bookstore recently when the author was celebrating small independent booksellers…read morewho have managed to stand out snd actually thrive when thee are many ways to purchase books without leaving one's home! AlthoughI live over fifty blocks north, I decided to visit Three Lives & Company on West 10th Street and i immediately fell in love with their beautifully curated selection of books. They have an inviting children's section and an impressive areay of travel books. And while they don't have the largest selection of every novel rver written, they do hsve n excellent fiction section with my favorite authors. And they also have all the newest best sellers. Three Lives & Company is reminiscent of the wonderful small bookstores that used to exist in Manhattan but were mostly put out of business by the huge booksellers and they obliterated by the Internet. Fortunately, a few booksellers have not only survived but thrived by offering readers and browsers a chsrming and inviting bookstore that actually makes customers like myself, feel good about paying full price for the luxury of being a customer of Three Lives & Company.

Such a cute bookshop to pop in while visiting nyc! They have all of the bestsellers and new…read morereleases you'd probably be looking for plus it was great browsing through the fiction shelves. Very nice people working there too

Best bookstore in all of NYC. Highly curated selection of books. Art, literature, philosophy, small…read morepress, etc. Good music too. They buy used books and records. This bookstore is on regular rotation, a must-stop if I'm in this part of Chinatown. I like to have lunch in the neighborhood, buy a few things at Aeon, then hit the East Broadway mall under the Manhattan Bridge down the street where James Veloria is.

So excellent that I kind of want to move in there. It has that secret vibe, and the store is…read morebeautifully curated. And vinyl as well. The store takes no prisoners so fall in love here and likely you will find that Surrealist anti-classic as well.