The Best Independent Bookstores In San Juan

Book lovers planning a visit to Puerto Rico take note – the island’s capital San Juan is full of fantastic independent bookstores. Two must-know words in Spanish when book shopping are libro, which means book, and librería, which means bookstore – not library! To find out where best to browse and buy in San Juan, read on for our list of the best independent bookstores in the capital.

Librería La Tertulia

Located in Old San Juan, not far from the Plaza de Armas, Librería La Tertulia is the perfect place to go book shopping in the capital’s historic district. As well as books for sale, the store also hosts book presentations – when you’re done browsing the shelves, take a look at the historic district’s architectural treasures or stop by one of the many coffee shops in the area to read your new book.

Casa Norberto

Casa Norberto is a bookstore and café located on the third floor of Plaza Las Americas, a large mall which is one of the many attractions in San Juan. The store opened in 2017 and serves up book presentations as well as delicious desserts and coffees, to name a couple of food options. This bookstore’s location is very convenient for anyone who wants to go shopping and make it a day, since the mall has a variety of stores that include clothes, shoes, and electronics.

The Bookmark

San Patricio Plaza mall is home to The Bookmark, an inviting bookstore with a café offering a varied coffee menu that includes hot and cold beverages alongside its selection of books. The store also hosts a bookclub and offer books reviews on their website for those who want to find out more about the latest releases.

Librería Paulinas

If you’re looking for a bookstore with Christian books, head to Librería Paulinas to one of its two locations in the city. Librería Paulinas’ social media presence allows them to keep their customers informed of the latest events and book releases – check them out on Twitter and Facebook to receive updates.

Institute of Puerto Rican Culture store

The Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña works to preserve Puerto Rican culture. Located in Old San Juan and close to the Cuartel de Ballajá and El Morro Castle, there’s a store on the first floor of the building that sells books for those who want to read up on the island’s cultural heritage.

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