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The 10 Best Bookstores In Athens, Greece

Bookstore
Bookstore | © Kristin Klein/Flickr
Ethel Dilouambaka

There is no better feeling than settling in to a comfy chair or sofa, a cup of coffee nearby, to read a new book you cannot wait to dive into; and sometimes, you don’t even want to wait to get home to read it. In those cases, the second-best feeling is finding a bookstore café where peace and quiet reign. Are you on the hunt for the best thriller or novel to read during fall? Head to one of Athens’ best bookshops to find what you are looking for. You might get lucky and even score a cozy corner in the store to escape to the beautiful universe of books.

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Lexikopoleio

Bookstore

Lexikopoleio is a cute bookshop where you can spend hours browsing the shelves. Located in Pagrati, near the Panathenaic marble stadium, Lexikopoleio specializes in dictionaries and language books. Besides dictionaries in a huge variety of languages, such as Spanish, English, French, Chinese and Japanese, it also has unique lexicons on Yoruba, Urdu or Tamil. But don’t expect to only find dictionaries; the bookstore also features comics, children’s books and volumes of French, Greek, English, German and Spanish literature, as well as stationery and magazines from local and foreign presses. The bookshop also hosts book presentations and literary events all year long.

Booktique

Bookstore, Store

Booktique is a unique little bookstore in Kolonaki that showcases a wide collection of interesting Greek and foreign editions, as well as journals and accessories such as tote bags, games and even minimalist jewelry. All these items are made by Greek artists and aim to showcase local expertise. Drop by to browse the store’s colorful book collection and maybe score a souvenir or two.

Little Tree Books & Coffee

Cafe, Coffee Shop, Pastry Shop, Greek

On the lookout for a quiet place to buy or read books downtown? Head to Little Tree Books & Coffee, just behind the Acropolis Museum. This cute bookstore is a little paradise on earth. The aroma of books and coffee blends together to lure you in, and once you’re seated on a comfy little sofa, all you want to do is read or browse the shelves looking for your next literary crush. Order a coffee and a delicious cake, open the book to the first page and enter a new universe. Pure Bliss.

Poems & Crimes Art Bar

Bar, Cafe, Greek

The residence of Gavriilidis editions, Poems & Crimes is a charming bookstore located near bustling Monastiraki square. Serving as a bookstore, a printing office, a café-bar and the company’s offices, the multifaceted complex provides many quiet corners to read and enjoy a good cup of joe. The café counts artists, poets and intellectuals as its regulars and includes an interesting menu featuring wine and Greek dishes cooked in a modern and innovative way. The place also hosts various events such as poetry readings, book presentations, exhibitions and small music performances. But probably the bestbonus point is their hidden backyard, where weekly live music gigs are organized.

Bookshop Lemoni

Bookstore

Lemoni is a bookstore where you can find an excellent selection of specialized books on art, Japanese poetry, and mythology, as well as a variety of novels, postcards, Moleskines and table books. And since everyone knows a good book requires a warm beverage, at Lemoni you can also have a coffee if you ask for it. Once you’ve found an interesting tome to read, just know that you might spend the whole afternoon there without being interrupted. On warm days, head to the backyard, find a good seat and sink unapologetically into your book.

Politeia

Bookstore

With seven departments and over 10,000 books available, Politeia is one of the largest bookstores in the city. Offering books at affordable and competitive prices, it is one of the few survivors of the wave of closures striking the book industry in Greece, and one of the favorites of Athenians due to its wide selection.

Le Livre Ouvert

Bookstore

Dis-moi ce que tu lis, je te dirai qui tu es (Tell me what you enjoy reading, and I will tell you who you are)! At Le Livre Ouvert, you can find the latest releases, best sellers and classics of French and foreign literature (in French). You can also find French language books and dictionaries. Le Livre Ouvert is the place where French-speaking residents of Athens go when a feeling of nostalgia strikes. The bookstore also organizes various events, book presentations and seminars oriented to adults and to children.

Evripidis

Bookstore, Shop, Store

Evripidis is a bookstore located in the northern suburb of Chalandri. Covering four floors, the store carries English and Greek books, as well as a wide variety of children’s books. It also features a small stationery shop adjacent, where brands such as Mont Blanc, Moleskine, Clairfontaine and Waterman are represented. Even better, Evripidis also has a friendly and inviting coffee shop where you can enjoy some coffee while reading your favorite book.

Booktalks

Cafe, Coffee Shop, Greek

Booktalks is part bookstore, part coffee shop, just as it should be. Located in Palaio Faliro, the store is a cozy spot where customers come to work, chat and read books while enjoying a drink. Featuring a vast selection of new and used books, the shop also organizes events and book presentations where discussion takes center stage. Need a good break? Drop by Booktalks to rest, read, escape, eat and drink.

Free Thinking Zone

Bookstore

Free Thinking Zone is not your average bookstore. Functioning as an inviting and warm place where sharing ideas and opinions is the motto, the place hosts permanent book collections as well as periodic ones, usually based on a hot publicity topic, and organizes related debates. Come for an afternoon of reading, meeting new people and taking part in a discussion while having a coffee. Check their Facebook page to find out about the various events happening on the premises.
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