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The Last Bookstore To Visit in Los Angeles And Other Gorgeous Indie Bookstores Around ​The World 

​by Lyn Goldstad  | Jan 23 2020
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​The Last Bookstore is quite a sight to behold. An icon in Los Angles, its grandiose interior of marble pillars and high ceilings with towering coloured shelves are nearly as intimidating as they are mesmerising, adorned with art work. Located at Spring Street, the two-level, 22,000 sq ft TLB – formerly a bank –  is stocked with a treasure of used books, rare, vintage titles, in a beautiful disarray to capture your imagination. ​
Photo: The Last Bookstore
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​Founded by Josh Spencer, the Kentucky native was selling merchandise on eBay until he got tired of his apartment looking like a permanent garage sale when he decided to focus on books.  He took over a cheap commercial space from across his apartment in 2009, but the shop soon grew out of space.
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Photo: The Last Bookstore

​Spencer then took on a much larger unit not far away, and it became home to TLB.  Spencer said that he would just "sit there and imagine it: the high ceilings, the columns, the immensity of it. I was enthralled.”  The store has since become a tourist attraction, book fan must-visit, IG dreamscape and a media darling.  And,  it's so, so hard to leave the store without a bag of books. 
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Check Out These Indie Stores
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​El Péndulo, Mexico City

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A cafe and bookstore, it serves everything from breakfast to lunch and dinner.  Here, the bookshelves line the walls and there are plenty of seating areas around it. 

Address: Alejandro Dumas 81, Polanco, Mexico City 11560, Mexico
​Shakespeare and Co, Paris

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The original shop was a library, publisher and boarding house for aspiring writers opened by American Sylvia Beach. It closed during World War II, and  reopened in 1951 by George Whitman, whose daughter, Sylvia, runs it today.  An extensive stock of second-hand books awaits.
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Address: 37 Rue De La Bûcherie, Paris
Lello Irmao, Porto

​Walk through the doors and you’ll see a majestic stairway and wooden walls craved with bookshelves from floor to ceiling. It is believed that this store is J.K. Rowling’s inspiration for Harry Potter,  having lived in Porto for 10 years, and she used to hang out here. Watch out for the long queues to get in during summer.

Address:​R. das Carmelitas 144, 4050-161 Porto
Librairie Ptyx, Brussels

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Opened in 2012, Libraire PTYX is famed for its dictionary-esque facade featuring images and authors whose works the bookstore carries. Expect a good variety of literature including rare titles and new titles.  The indie store welcomes authors to hold talks and book signings.
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Address: Rue Lesbroussart 39, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium
Brattle Bookshop, Boston

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Brattle Bookstore has been attracting the wonderful and weird since 1825. With two floors, one is for general used books, and the other houses rare, signed, and collectible books. There are also US$1, US$3, and US$5 sale carts outside. 
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Address: 9 West St, Boston, Massachusetts