Best Independent Bookstores in and around Boston, Part 2
Two years ago, I posted my list of the five best independent bookstores in the Boston area. Since then, I have visited a number of other bookstores in and around Boston – some new, some old – and I have come to the realization that one list is insufficient. A single five-item list simply cannot capture Boston’s bountiful bookstore scene, so with this post, I am turning my original list into a series. With each new installment, I will introduce you to another handful of delightful Boston-area bookshops.
Are you ready to meet the next five?
Book Rack
This almost 50-year-old bookstore is packed cheek by jowl with books. Looking for used books? They have them in spades, including an impressive collection of mass-market romance novels. They also have a curated selection of new books, and if they don’t have the title you’re looking for, you can order it on their website.
Info:
13 Medford St
Arlington, MA 02474
Belmont Books
This cute and cozy bookshop is located in the historic (and beautiful) Belmont Center. Spanning two floors, Belmont Books carries a wide array of books as well as non-bookish items, including board games, puzzles, and journals. The store’s best feature, however, is its in-store café, Black Bear Café. Is there a better pairing than books and coffee?
Info:
79 Leonard St
Belmont, MA 02478
Newtonville Books
Although more petite than some of the other bookshops on this list, Newtonville Books boasts a respectable inventory and a warm, welcoming interior replete with a rolling book ladder and comfy chairs. Their staff is friendly, and they are also ideally situated in a walkable area near trendy restaurants and cafés.
Info:
10 Langley Rd
Newton, MA 02459
Beacon Hill Books and Café
Located in a historic brick townhouse in the picturesque Beacon Hill neighborhood, Beacon Hill Books and Café is undoubtedly the city’s prettiest bookstore. Its rooms are gorgeously decorated, with tasteful light fixtures and accents, as well as built-in, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with benches nestled in amongst them. Their children’s section, which spans an entire floor, is adorable and features a child-sized door (which my nieces are obsessed with) and a toy train that traverses the room’s perimeter. The bottom floor of the five-story building houses a café, which serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner.
Info:
71 Charles St
Boston, MA 02114
Hummingbird Books
Chicly decorated and peppered with well-curated displays, Hummingbird Birds is a small but stylish purveyor of books. It is conveniently located in the Street at Chestnut Hill, an open-air shopping center with restaurants, stores, and even a theater. So, you can follow up (or precede) a visit to Hummingbird Books with shopping and/or a movie.
Info:
55 Boylston St, Suite 5510
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
And that’s a wrap for this list! Let me know if you have been to or plan on going to any of these bookshops.
