The Librairie Du Canal is a very thoughtful, intimate bookshop located just a short walk from the Canal Saint-Martin. It's got a very good selection of books across many genres and from various geographic regions. Many of the shelves are arranged alphabetically by author, but when I visited in December 2019, there were also special sections for travel, Japanese literature, and American literature, among others. Outside of books, they also sell some cute cards, notebooks, and other stationary.
The thing I most appreciated about the shop was the short, handwritten reviews that were clipped to several books throughout the shop. These definitely enhanced the browsing experience, and if you're stopping by without a specific goal or book in mind, they're a great way to decide on what books to check out more deeply. The shop was very calm and peaceful when I was visiting on a Monday around 1 PM.
Although the bookshop is much smaller than a big chain store, it's actually not that small and has a very wide variety of books. If you're looking for a classic or a bestseller, you'll most likely be able to locate it here, along with many lesser-known titles. I'd definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area and looking for French reading materials! Credit/debit cards accepted; I had no trouble paying with an American MasterCard. read more