10 Great Barcelona Bookshops: From Classics To Graphics

Since it opened its doors in 1975, Documenta has become something of an institution on Barcelona’s literary and intellectual scene. This shop, which recently relocated from the Barri Gòtic to bright and breezy premises in l’Eixample is the place to come for books on art, history, philosophy and literature in English, Spanish, Catalan and French. There’s also a great selection of cinema texts and plenty of poetry to peruse. In the small seating area at the back of the shop you can take part in readings, literary discussions and debates.

If you thought comics were just for kids, Fatbottom will teach you the error of your ways. This cute store in Raval is dedicated entirely to graphic novels. The tiny space, which looks more like a gallery than a traditional bookshop, is packed floor to ceiling with beautiful comics and the staff is keen to share their favorites with the uninitiated. You can also pick up artwork by local artists at reasonable prices. For die-hard graphic novel fans, Fatbottom also holds regular events, and host workshops and lectures from people in the industry.

‘Vice’ and ‘subculture’ are not two words one normally associates with bookshops. But then Gigamesh is no normal bookshop: specializing in all things friqui, the store stocks all manner of science fiction, terror and fantasy books. You can also find a good range of weird and wonderful comics, fanzines and the obligatory fantasy figurines. Of course, the staff is almost frighteningly knowledgeable about their chosen friqui texts, and you may find yourself spending more time discussing the finer points of Game of Thrones than actually perusing the shelves.

Tiny, higgledy-piggledy La Cova is paradise for collectors, filled to the brim with antiquarian books and memorabilia. Leather-bound tomes in Spanish and Catalan tumble off the shelves, and within the haphazard stacks you’ll find the city’s best collection of vintage movie magazines from the glory days of cinema, perfectly preserved. There are also boxes full of 1920s postcards, and ranks of Modernist posters for sale along the walls. The proprietors have even managed to fit in some collectors’ edition toys from the last century, and a plethora of antique comics. You can spend hours in here hunting for literary and collectable relics of Barcelona’s Modernist heyday.

Laie is one of the most pleasant places to settle down with a good book. With a great selection of literary fiction, critical theory, philosophy and art books spread over two floors, you’re spoiled for choice on what to browse first. There’s a reasonable selection of English language contemporary and classic fiction, from Martin Amis to Chaucer, and a whole wall of anglosajón literature: English classics translated into Spanish. Laie also stocks a wide range of literary magazines from around the world including copies of Granta. But perhaps the most pleasant part of the store is the upstairs café, a haven from the bustle of nearby Passeig de Gracia, serving delicious cakes, tarts and lunches. Have a glass of wine and peruse the newspaper on the terrace.

Stepping into Librería Anticuaria Farré feels a little like stepping back in time. The tiny one room shop resembles a Victorian study with Persian rugs, antiquarian maps and leather bound books rising from the floor to the ceiling. Specializing in rare and out-of-print texts, Anticuaria Farré stocks some of the most beautiful books in the city. Don’t be afraid to browse the first editions, which include engraved monographs over 100 years old, tomes on Spanish history and ancient pamphlets on philosophy. If you’re looking for a turn of the century edition of Dante’s Inferno bound in buttery soft kid leather, this is the place to go to.

Although a relative newcomer on the Barcelona bookstore scene, Re-Read has nonetheless made a splash thanks to its stellar collection of ‘almost new’ books. Even more enticing, you can sell or trade your old books, a great way to recycle and share your favorites. The shops themselves (there are several in the city) are organized into English, Spanish and Catalan sections, and staff is on hand to advise, or you can just settle down in a quiet corner while soft jazz music plays and flick through the hundreds of titles on display. Part of a small, independent chain also found in Madrid and Malaga, Re-Read’s biggest selling point is it’s reasonable prices—one book for €3 , or five books for €10.