Monday, 7 July 2025

10 best Book Stores in Berlin

 



🌟 1. Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus

📍 Friedrichstraße 90, Mitte

🕙 Mon–Sat 9 AM – midnight

Why it’s iconic:

Dussmann is not merely a bookstore—it’s a Berlin institution. Housed on bustling Friedrichstraße, this five-story cultural department store is designed like a temple to books, music, and art. Open until midnight, it becomes a haven for night owls. Locals often say: “If you’re ever lonely, go to Dussmann at 11 PM.”

What makes it special:

  • English-language floor: Almost an entire level is dedicated to English novels, nonfiction, classics, YA and kids’ books—one of the largest selections in Germany.

  • Music & film: They stock vinyls, CDs, DVDs, and a rare trove of classical scores.

  • Green wall: The indoor vertical garden stretches several meters high, making browsing here feel lush and calm.

  • Events: Author readings, signings, and intimate recitals in a dedicated auditorium.

The vibe:

Grand, well-lit, always alive. Students, tourists, and professionals pour in until closing. Evenings are serene—perfect to get lost among books.

☕ 2. Shakespeare and Sons + Fine Bagels

📍 Warschauer Str. 74, Friedrichshain

🕙 Daily 9 AM – 6 PM

Why it’s beloved:

This place is two dreams fused together: a charming English-language bookstore and a Brooklyn-style bagel bakery. Housed in a big, industrial yet cozy space, it’s filled with mismatched chairs, wooden tables, and warm smells of sourdough.

What makes it special:

  • Wide range of English books: Modern fiction, classics, poetry, small press. They focus on carefully chosen titles rather than overwhelming shelves.

  • Jewish literature & culture: A unique strength, reflecting the heritage of the owners.

  • Fine Bagels café: Arguably the best bagels in Berlin—try their lox with dill cream cheese or the decadent cinnamon rolls.

The vibe:

Hipsters, students on laptops, artists sketching. It’s a microcosm of Berlin’s creative expat life. You can spend all day reading, snacking, and people-watching.

📖 3. Saint George’s English Bookshop

📍 Wörther Str. 27, Prenzlauer Berg

🕙 Mon–Sat 11 AM – 7 PM

Why it’s a local gem:

Saint George’s is the quintessential independent bookstore for Berlin’s English-speaking community. Established by expats, it feels like a living room lined with bookcases.

What makes it special:

  • Secondhand treasures: Rare finds, out-of-print gems, and a rotating stock mean every visit is a surprise.

  • New books: Focused on serious literary fiction, philosophy, history, and drama.

  • Friendly expertise: The owners and staff are passionate readers and will talk to you for hours to recommend something tailored to your taste.

The vibe:

Quiet, a little dusty, intellectually rich. Great for writers or thinkers seeking inspiration.

🏛 4. Bücherbogen am Savignyplatz

📍 Stadtbahnbogen 593, Charlottenburg

Why it’s legendary:

Under the old S-Bahn arches by Savignyplatz lies this architectural gem. Since the 1980s, Bücherbogen has been the go-to bookstore for designers, photographers, and architects.

What makes it special:

  • Art & architecture books: Possibly Berlin’s best selection. Rare monographs, glossy coffee-table tomes, new releases from international publishers.

  • Fashion & graphic design: Titles from niche European imprints you won’t find elsewhere.

  • Beautiful setting: Exposed brick, natural light filtering through arched windows.

The vibe:

Sophisticated yet relaxed. You’ll see students sketching, architects browsing portfolios, tourists marveling at oversized photography books.

📚 5. Another Country

📍 Riemannstr. 7, Kreuzberg

Why it’s uniquely Berlin:

This isn’t just a shop—it’s a library, cultural project, and social experiment. Started by British expat owner Alan Twigg, it’s famed for its “trust-based borrowing” system: pay €1 per book, return it whenever you want, or keep it and pay the price.

What makes it special:

  • Massive secondhand English collection: From pulp sci-fi to serious philosophy.

  • Social hub: Weekly film nights, communal dinners, spontaneous debates about everything from anarchism to Chaucer.

  • Labyrinthine shelves: Books piled everywhere—on tables, steps, even chairs.

The vibe:

Utterly Kreuzberg. Anarchic, warm, eccentric, perfect for those who like browsing without a plan.

📖 6. Marga Schoeller Bücherstube

📍 Knesebeckstraße 33, Charlottenburg

Why it’s a cultural survivor:

Opened in 1929, this is one of Berlin’s oldest literary bookshops. During the Nazi era, Marga Schoeller refused to remove “degenerate” books, helping preserve intellectual Berlin.

What makes it special:

  • High-quality literature: Both German and English, with classics and serious contemporary works.

  • Personal service: Staff who take pride in knowing their customers and books by heart.

  • Atmosphere: Elegant wood interiors, cozy corners, and a tangible link to Berlin’s storied literary past.

The vibe:

Old-school, bookish, cultured. A treasure for those who love tradition.

☕ 7. Ocelot, not just another bookstore

📍 Brunnenstraße 181, Mitte

Why it’s a millennial favorite:

A minimalist haven for new literature lovers, Ocelot feels like a blend of a Scandinavian café and a gallery. They stock carefully curated novels, non-fiction, and children’s books—many in English.

What makes it special:

  • Literary café: Gorgeous wooden tables, artisan coffee, and cakes.

  • Book club picks: Regular staff favorites and reading groups.

  • Events: Launches, poetry nights, even workshops for kids.

The vibe:

Trendy, social, bright. Expect to see laptops open, indie magazines on tables, and modern art on the walls.

🎨 8. Modern Graphics

📍 Kastanienallee 79, Prenzlauer Berg & Kreuzberg

Why it’s a paradise for artists:

The ultimate Berlin stop for graphic novels, comics, and manga. From classic Tintin to edgy Berlin underground zines, it’s a visual feast.

What makes it special:

  • Vast selection: US Marvel/DC, French bandes dessinées, Japanese manga, German indies.

  • Posters & art prints: Exclusive prints from comic artists.

  • Staff picks: Knowledgeable crew always recommend brilliant graphic stories beyond the mainstream.

The vibe:

Colorful, playful, energetic. A must for comic collectors and illustrators.

🏙 9. Pro qm

📍 Almstadtstraße 48–50, Mitte

Why it’s radical:

This is Berlin’s intellectual concept store—half bookstore, half cultural research lab. Focuses on urban studies, political theory, critical art, and activism.

What makes it special:

  • Rare academic & art journals: Imported architecture magazines, theory pamphlets, Marxist readers.

  • Talks & panels: Discussions on gentrification, refugee policies, design ethics.

  • Design-forward interior: Almost like a gallery, with installations and posters everywhere.

The vibe:

Serious, avant-garde, a place to find books you didn’t even know existed.

✊ 10. Lovelite’s Book Pop-ups (Neukölln & Friedrichshain)

📍 Location varies – watch Instagram

Why it’s pure Berlin:

Instead of a permanent store, Lovelite organizes mobile bookstores & pop-up stalls at queer events, feminist gatherings, underground markets. Their selection? Radically curated to challenge power structures.

What makes it special:

  • Focus on feminist, queer, anti-racist, and leftist literature.

  • Often paired with poetry slams, live music, workshops.

  • Staff are activists themselves—buying here feels like joining a cause.

The vibe:

Dynamic, political, community-driven. You’ll discover pamphlets from Berlin collectives alongside radical graphic novels.

🗺️ Berlin’s bookstores — your reading adventure

✨ If you have a week in Berlin, you could make a literary circuit:

  • Start in Mitte (Dussmann, Ocelot, Pro qm)

  • Wander to Prenzlauer Berg (Saint George’s, Modern Graphics)

  • Stop in Charlottenburg (Marga Schoeller, Bücherbogen)

  • Finish in Friedrichshain & Kreuzberg (Shakespeare & Sons, Another Country, and find a Lovelite pop-up).
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