Foreign language books stores in NYC! Find books in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi, Hebrew, Russian, and more!
Have a little free time on your hands? One of the best ways to fully immerse yourself in a second, third, fourth... language (besides Lexody) is to expose yourself to it through various mediums. Music and literature happen to be some of our favorites!
Here is a list of our top five foreign language bookstores in the New York City:
1. IdleWild Books 170 7th Ave S, New York, NY 10014, 249 Warren St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
On your way to the Chelsea Market, or if you're in Brooklyn, you might want to stop in to this little 'trip to Europe.' This bookstore has work books and travel books, especially for learners of Romance languages. They even offer classes, to supplement your Lexes (language experiences) in French, Spanish, Italian, and German.
2. Kinokuniya New York 1073 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018
Stepping into this shop, you will feel transported to Japan! This store houses aisles upon aisles of both Japanese and Mandarin books. Check out their calendar for fun events- they host manga release parties, fun 'Meet and Greets' with authors, as well as children's 'Story Times.'
3. The Strand 828 Broadway, Manhattan, NY 10003-4805
This store is, by now, a New York landmark. Known for its '18 miles of books,' The Strand truly does have a book for everyone. On the lowest level, behind the stairs, there is a whole section devoted to foreign languages. There are full walls of books in French and Spanish, as well as books for learning many other languages (Italian, Hindi, Hebrew, Russian...). There are even fun books about English slang!
4. Albertine 972 5th Ave, New York, NY 10075
Partnered with the French Embassy, this gorgeous one-of-a-kind shop is the place to come for both French and English books. Here, you can browse through their livres, or attend one of their nightly lectures. This would be a great way to brush up on your French before going on a Lex encounter!
5. Rizzoli Bookstore 1133 Broadway, New York, NY 10010
Europe has been brought to our door! Come inside and read European newspapers, magazines, and books in Spanish, French, and Italian! The store itself is beautiful, and just like in Europe, it'll be hard to leave without a souvenir!
It is oftentimes forgotten that reading things on paper is a different experience than on the internet. Buying a book in the language you're learning allows you to make notes and highlight, which are integral to language learning!
Don't forget that these bookstores would also make great places for meeting new people on a Lex 'language experience'!
When you're ready to practice your speaking skills, sign up for free on Lexody! Find native speakers in NYC, and meet up to have a real conversation.
And make sure you check out our Book Search and see what your fellow learners are reading and share your own recommendations!