Mitte's Best Bookshops For Presents To Wow Your Friends

Gift-giving is an art, no doubt. But when you’re tasked with finding a gift for a tricky friend, inspiration can run a little short. A book as a present might sound a little bit boring; but these bookshops in Berlin’s Mitte have publications that will prove you wrong. They all have fantastic selections of well-known and not-so-well-known books, magazines and beautiful coffee table publications. Also, all shops have an inviting and cozy atmosphere and some of them even have an extravagant interior design and a coffee shop to relax and read in. They are definitely worth visiting, even if you are not looking for a special present but something to spoil yourself with.

1. Soda.

Bookstore, Shop

The Colorful Library of an Interaction Designer (Juhan Sonin)

This Mitte-based bookshop is an interior design masterpiece and has an outstanding selection of national and international magazines and coffee table books, ideal for fashion fiends and art or film buffs. The selection covers the subjects of art, design, interior design, travel and culture. All books are presented cover-to-front, giving the shop a distinct feeling of a gallery. Find fancy hardbacks, smart travel guides and cute trinkets here.

2. Do you read me?!

Bookstore

Another gem of Mitte is the ‘Do you read me?!’ bookshop. Just like Soda., this store has an all-black interior design and also seems like an art gallery. They offer a very well-chosen selection of international contemporary magazines and reading material from 20 different countries. The selection covers topics raging from art, photography, design, fashion, architecture, culture, literature and music.

3. Westberlin

Cafe, Coffee Shop, Contemporary, Healthy, Coffee

Westberlin just opened its doors this year. It is not only a media shop with great publications, but it’s also a café. You can browse through the magazines and enjoy a coffee or snack while reading your newly-bought read, which provides a little bit of respite from hectic Mitte buzzing outside. Westberlin is located at busy Friedrichstrasse, close to Checkpoint Charlie, and is also a great hideaway after a stressful shopping day.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.