5 memorable bookstores in Barcelona

There are several La Central stores across town, but we’re recommending this one because of its pleasant cafe upstairs, with a terrace and excellent pastries. The ground floor has a more than decent English literature section. All the other sections (art, philosophy, science, history...) will have a fair selection of English-language books scattered among the Spanish ones, so do browse: La Central is the most complete bookstore in town.

Three stores for the price of one. From left to right: a store with books on movies plus a collection of black & white and weird movies; a comic book and graphic novel store; and a bookstore about every thinkable kind of design and the art of tattoos.

The city’s French bookstore. Whether you’re looking for a pocket to read on the beach, the latest literary sensation from France, a thriller or a bande dessinée (comic), this is the place to be. Very pleasant staff and a long list of activities -- check the website.

This Gràcia bookstore is located almost right next to Cinema Verdi, which explains why it has so many books about movies and, to a lesser degree, about theatre. There’s a big selection of Spanish-language literature in affordable pockets and a secondhand section in the back. Loveable.

Best English bookstore in town (not that there’s a lot of competition in that field), with literature, art, children’s books, teaching books, dictionaries and board games.