I stopped in Quimby's the other day and was so very delighted! I love a quirky this shop is. They…read morehave a great selection of books. But, they also have other little unique things as well. I was so happy to find a cute old school flip book to gift my nephew. The guy working was very cool and nice! And honestly, the shop has great pricing all around. It's definitely worth a trip for a gift for you or someone you care about!

What a fun, witchy, weird little find!…read more Quimby's located on Metropolitan Avenue near the new hotspot of Williamsburg, is a very cool stop! Tons of zines on every subject imaginable (composting, gardening, witchcraft, gay/queer subjects, politics, and more). Little booklets, funky cards and books. I picked up several cheeky cards I can't wait to send to friends. They also have records, crystals/stones, tchotchkes, small decor items. I think they also do tarot in the back. And they have a cute shop cat! The store decor is a lot of fun, with mirrors, political posters, a large ram that plays on the ventilation system. There is a lot here you won't find anywhere else.

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!!

I ordered a Deluxe edition book of Mr. Michael Bolton, represented by PowerHouse Books Brooklyn,…read moreNY. After 7 days I ask about shipping, no order number etc. a normal order followup, I left 2 voicemails and emails. Replies were indicating I'm scamming the store, my response was that I do a CC charge back or refund. Well see below, no matter who answered via Square chat, was very professional, not only indication I stole the CC also discrimination because my English is not perfect. Well I replied to the order email. No matter how good your written or spoken English is, you should not be accused, insulted or discriminated at all. Reputation takes years to build and seconds to loose, especially if its not the 1st discriminating indecent The New York Times

Limited size but deep in quality of book selection. Friendly staff and willing to give honest…read moreopinions.

As their own bags say: the best bookstore in France is in New York. This place is really awesome -…read morefrom the building itself to huge variety of books and friendly staff. They're also couches inside if you would like to sit down and read for a bit. The interior is very cozy and has a feel of a very old mansion. I don't speak French but really enjoyed wandering around the store and getting familiar with the French literature. Definitely worth a visit - it's right across from the Met, so you can double down on getting cultured

Gorgeous bookstore with a musuem like entrance. Would highly recommend a visit. Especially for kids.read more

Please see my review of the Strand for more context. The Strand is a mega store that says they…read morehave 18 miles of books. Nice store. But Mercer Street Books & Records is a place with heart and soul. While the Strand might have tons of new stuff, Mercer has some quirky, delightful, and downright weird stuff. Niche stuff. Magazines that are 20 years old (we are talking about art, music, and culture mags, not Vogue or People). Worn and well-loved used volumes of poetry, film. Languages (huge German and Spanish section). Some records, though nothing recent. Mostly things from the 40s-50s-60s, maaayyyyyybe some a little older. Show tunes. Soundtracks. Patty Duke. Fashion, design, music (Jazz, rock, British Invasion). Was bummed there was no hiphop section, but I'm not sure I should have ever presumed there would be one. Religion, fiction, history, and more. Mostly organized. Loosely may be a better word. Makes it more like a fun treasure hunt, the way things are arranged. Maybe in the design section, you might find a random copy of, "Making Dinosaurs Dance" or a Netter's anatomy coloring book. Both are in some way about art and design, but they are unexpected discoveries. Mercer is smaller than the Strand, but not as busy or as crowded, at least not on the Wednesday night I went. As I said on my review of the Strand, the person I presume to be the owner of this shop was there working the register. I could be wrong about the owner part, but I could tell the guy was old school LES and village. Beatnik hat, scarf, vest, round rimmed glasses, beard. As far as value, a lot to be found here. Good prices and some interesting finds. And loved that they were playing jazz. Whereas other stores might feel commercial and crowded, this felt like a hidden community spot.

I always love a used bookstore that is so full there are piles of books everywhere. There is a…read morelarge selection here, and prices seemed fair. The shelves were so high, though, that the top two shelves were completely inaccessible to me. I also felt like my browsing was getting in the way of the employee, who kept walking back and forth requiring me to constantly move out of his way.

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.

First off, please note that the current address for Ursus Books is:…read more 981 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10021 Ursus Books, and their once sister store Archivia, specialize in high end art, architecture, photography, fashion, and interior design. How high end is it: so high end that you will find books here that you will not see at any other bookstore, not even at the Strand, St. Marks, the museum bookstores, or even the other Upper East Side bookstores. It's worth browsing here as they always have some really fascinating photography and art books. I love their photography selection the most and have been introduced to many photographers from browsing Ursus' selection. They ship from around the world to find some of the most interesting books. They used to be located in a larger beautiful space in Chelsea but moved to a smaller space due to realities of running an independent bookstore in New York. If you are interested in finding new photography and art, be prepared to spend lots of money here. The books are just beautiful to look at.

Awesome specialty bookstore located on the second floor of the Carlyle Hotel. Very interesting…read moreselection of art books. Staff can be a bit snooty at times.

What a cute hole in the wall book store! I'm excited to be the first to review. It's themed like…read moreAlice in wonderland and has books in Russian, Ukrainian, Hebrew and English. Tons of kids books and some for adults too!