With most places closed during these months, there is really very little we can do these days, not even going shopping. It’s been an interesting time for us not really being able to give you the guides we are used to compiling. But there is one last type of place that has not yet closed during the lockdown: Book shops! We already have a guide about book shops, but we noticed some places have closed and some are new, so it’s time for a new one!
With the rise of the digital and our attention span shrinking by the minute, it’s actually a miracle that so many cool book shops still exist and have not been killed by online mega shops. We’re glad that there are so many people out there still appreciating physical books and we hope it stays like that. Berlin has a lot to offer in terms of book shops, from big to small, from mixed to super-specialized. We picked some of our favorite book shops that offer a variety of different books. We hope they give you a place to head out to when you wanna leave your house for a change. Happy reading!
Dussmann Kulturkaufhaus
This one is the bookshop of all bookshops. It’s the KaDeWe of bookshops. And it’s a paradise for book lovers. Over several floors, you have everything from the mainstream to the super-specific. Their Berlin section is great, so is their music section. And they have a whole English book store in the back which also has several floors! Another great thing about it: They’re open until midnight!
Dussmann Kulturkaufhaus, Friedrichstraße 90, 10117 Berlin-Mitte
photo: Dussmann Kulturkaufhaus
Urban Spree Book Store
Urban Spree is a very special place for us because it embodied the Berlin creative wild spirit like nothing else. It’s also not just one thing: It is a book store specialized in urban art and graffiti, but it’s also a gallery for urban art, an artist residency, a beer garden and it has a club/concert space. We love their book store because they have so many visually stunning and inspiring books!
Urban Spree Book Store, Revaler Str. 99, 10245 Berlin-Friedrichshain
photo: Urban Spree
She Said
She Said is a quite new bookstore on Kottbusser Damm that could not be more perfect for us: It’s dedicated to books by female authors and queer authors, so you’ll find a lot on feminism, as well as LGBTQ+ and trans topics. It’s a wonderful addition to the book store scene of Berlin and we can’t wait to browse their latest selection of books.
She Said, Kottbusser Damm 79, 10967 Berlin-Neukölln
BÜCHERBOGEN SAVIGNYPLATZ
Considering the unique location, the Bücherbogen Savignyplatz is special. It is also special because of its wide-ranging selection of good film books, architecture reads, and photography literature. Shop a good book in an exceptional atmosphere right at Savignyplatz under the S-Bahn.
Bücherbogen Savignyplatz, Stadtbahnbogen 593, 10623 Berlin-Charlottenburg
photo: Alicia Kassebohm
SHAKESPEARE & SONS
Books & bagels could be the best combination ever. Both of which you can get at Shakespeare & Sons, where allegedly Shakespeare’s sons themselves sell secondhand and brand new books. Ok, we’re not sure about the last statement. We are sure though that there is a wide range of German, English and French books displayed in a nice atmosphere, accompanied with a good bagel.
Shakespeare & Sons, Warschauer Str. 74, 10245 Berlin-Friedrichshain
photo: Alicia Kassebohm
MOTTO
Motto has a motto. With its dedication to books, magazines, and artists’ publications the store in the backyard at Schlesisches Tor has a profile, and not only that – it has many beautiful books in a lovely atmosphere. Several exhibitions are also taking place over the year.
Skalitzer Straße 68, 10997 Berlin-Kreuzberg
photo: iHeartBerlin
OCELOT
“Not just another bookstore” is the slogan of Ocelot. And it fits. In a nice and warm atmosphere where reading enthusiasts can feast on world literature and have a nice coffee while doing that.
Brunnenstraße 181, 10119 Berlin-Mitte
photo: iHeartBerlin
PEQUOD BOOKS
Pequod Books is a gem in the midst of Neukölln. It’s a secondhand bookshop that specializes in international literature. From Hebrew to Swedish – Pequod has books in over 15 languages and we’re sure you will find yours too.
Pequod Books, Selchower Straße 33, 12049 Berlin-Neukölln
photo: Pequod Books
Text: Frank Schröder & Yasmin Polat
