5 Best Bookstores in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Talise Sterling, Goods and Shopping · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

Finding a specific out-of-print title in New York means something very different from browsing a curated SoHo shop on a rainy afternoon, and the bookstores on this page split cleanly between those two errands. Between them these have logged over 31,000 Google reviews, and Strand Bookstore alone accounts for more than half of that total, so scale is not the same thing as fit here.

Short answer: Strand Bookstore is New York's most-reviewed bookstore by far, at 4.8 stars across 16,785 Google reviews, known for its three floors of new, used and rare titles. McNally Jackson Books SoHo ties Strand's rating at 4.8 (1,911 reviews) as a curated independent shop, and Kinokuniya New York (4.7, 9,520 reviews) specialises in Japanese books and manga near Bryant Park.

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1. Strand Bookstore
2. Kinokuniya New York
3. McNally Jackson Books…
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How New York's top bookstores compare

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Strand Bookstore	4.8 ★	16,785	Massive selection, new and used	View ›
2	Kinokuniya New York	4.7 ★	9,520	Japanese books, manga and stationery	View ›
3	McNally Jackson Books SoHo	4.8 ★	1,911	Curated independent shop in SoHo	View ›
4	Housing Works Bookstore	4.6 ★	1,791	Used books with a cafe, SoHo	View ›
5	Greenlight Bookstore (Fulton Street)	4.7 ★	1,027	Independent shop in Brooklyn	View ›

Our top picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days

Strand Bookstore

4.816,785 Google reviews

Strand Bookstore is a Broadway landmark spanning three floors of new, used and rare books, along with a record store, event venue and even wedding hosting. It's the kind of shop where customers describe losing track of time, with shelves covering nearly every genre plus a cafe for coffee and baked goods. It is the most-reviewed bookstore in New York on this page, and by a wide margin.

What people praise

Reviewers consistently describe it as a must-visit, multi-hour browsing destination
Staff described as knowledgeable and willing to help track down specific titles
Wide range of merchandise beyond books, including tote bags and NYC souvenirs
In-house cafe for coffee and baked goods while browsing

Worth knowing

A few reviewers note souvenir and sticker prices run higher than expected
Gets crowded, especially on weekends

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume16,785 · 97th

Confidencevery high

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown84% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The most-reviewed bookstore in New York by far, and the safe default whether you're hunting a specific used title or just want to spend an afternoon browsing three floors of shelves.

Website +1212-473-1452 Directions

828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

#2🕑 Open 7 days

Kinokuniya New York

4.79,520 Google reviews

Kinokuniya New York is a Japanese-based retailer on Sixth Avenue near Bryant Park, specialising in Japanese and English books, manga, stationery and gifts, with a dedicated café upstairs overlooking the park. It's part of a larger international chain, and the New York branch stocks both current manga releases and a broad English-language section. It holds the second-highest review count on this page.

What people praise

Large, frequently updated manga selection in both English and Japanese
Reviewers highlight the upstairs cafe and park view as a nice break from browsing
Good stationery and gift selection alongside books
Well organised across floors, per multiple reviewers

Worth knowing

One reviewer notes the in-store collectibles selection is smaller than the online catalogue
Lines can get long during busy periods

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume9,520 · 92th

Confidencevery high

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown79% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The clear pick in New York for manga, Japanese-language books or anime merchandise, backed by nearly 10,000 reviews and a rating just behind the top of this list.

Website +1212-869-1700 Directions

1073 6th Ave 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10018

#3🕑 Open 7 days

McNally Jackson Books SoHo

4.81,911 Google reviews

McNally Jackson Books SoHo is an independent bookstore on Prince Street offering a curated mix of fiction, non-fiction, art, design and travel titles, alongside a children's library section. Reviewers describe it as calm and welcoming, a deliberate contrast to the pace of the city outside, with staff who are knowledgeable without being pushy. It ties for the highest rating on this page.

What people praise

Reviewers describe the selection as thoughtfully curated rather than exhaustive
Calm, unhurried atmosphere repeatedly praised
Staff helpful without being intrusive, per multiple reviews
Strong paper goods and gift section alongside books

Worth knowing

A few reviewers note prices run higher than ordering online
Smaller footprint than Strand or Kinokuniya, so selection is narrower by design

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume1,911 · 86th

Confidencevery high

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown84% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The best pick here if you want a quieter, curated browsing experience rather than a massive selection, and it ties for the highest rating on this page.

Website +1212-274-1160 Directions

134 Prince St, New York, NY 10012

#4🕑 Open 7 days

Housing Works Bookstore

4.61,791 Google reviews

Housing Works Bookstore is a used bookstore and cafe on Crosby Street in SoHo, where proceeds support Housing Works, a nonprofit serving people affected by homelessness and HIV/AIDS. The shop sells donated and secondhand books across genres alongside coffee, records and regular events, and also accepts book donations on-site.

What people praise

Reviewers highlight reasonable prices on secondhand titles
Small in-store cafe makes it a comfortable spot to linger
Purchases and donations support a stated nonprofit cause
High-ceilinged, welcoming space, per multiple reviewers

Worth knowing

As a used bookstore, specific new releases won't always be in stock

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume1,791 · 81th

Confidencevery high

Recency5 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown74% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong choice if you want a secondhand find at a fair price and like knowing the purchase supports a cause, with a cafe that makes it easy to spend a rainy afternoon there.

Website +1212-334-3324 Directions

126 Crosby St, New York, NY 10012

#5🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Greenlight Bookstore (Fulton Street)

4.71,027 Google reviews

Greenlight Bookstore on Fulton Street in Brooklyn is an independently owned bookstore known for supporting local writers and hosting regular author talks and book signings. Reviewers describe it as a genuine community space with curated shelves covering both adult and children's titles, run with an owner reviewers repeatedly name directly.

What people praise

Reviewers highlight regular author events and book signings
Owner and staff praised by name for community involvement
Good children's section alongside adult titles
Long hours, open until 10pm most nights

Worth knowing

One reviewer notes it's best suited to locals given its Brooklyn location, less convenient if you're staying in Manhattan

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume1,027 · 69th

Confidencevery high

Recency8 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown82% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The strongest pick for a genuine independent bookstore experience with real community ties, especially if you're already in Brooklyn or want to support local writers directly.

Website +1718-246-0200 Directions

686 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

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Watch: 5 Best Bookstores in New York (2026)

How we score

Every number on this page comes from public Google data on the date shown, not opinion or payment. Rating is the business’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many customers have rated them, ranked against other New York bookstores. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.8 from nearly 17,000 people carries more weight than a 4.8 from under 2,000. Recency reflects how recently people are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

What do books cost at New York bookstores? (2026)

Pricing depends heavily on whether a book is new or used, and specialty items like manga or rare finds carry their own pricing entirely. None of the businesses on this page publish a fixed price list we could verify, and prices vary too widely by title to give a meaningful range, so browse each shop’s stock directly for current pricing.

Serving all of New York

The bookstores above cover Manhattan and Brooklyn, including the East Village, near Bryant Park, SoHo and downtown Brooklyn. Searching for a bookstore near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and address so you can find the closest option fast.

What to ask before you visit a New York bookstore

Does the store buy or accept donated used books, and what’s the process?
Can staff help track down a specific out-of-print or rare title?
Does the store host author events or signings, and how do I find the schedule?
Is there a cafe or seating area to browse comfortably?
Are online orders available for pickup or local delivery?
What are the current hours, especially on weekends?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these bookstores?

We started from every bookstore in New York with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Which New York bookstore is best for used or secondhand books?

Strand Bookstore and Housing Works Bookstore both specialise in used and secondhand titles, with Housing Works also accepting book donations on-site.

Is there a bookstore in New York that specialises in manga or Japanese books?

Kinokuniya New York, near Bryant Park, focuses specifically on Japanese and English books, manga and related merchandise.

The bottom line

Strand Bookstore is the safe default given its sheer scale and review volume, while McNally Jackson SoHo matches its rating for a quieter, curated visit. If manga or Japanese titles are the goal, Kinokuniya is the clear specialist pick.

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