Kerbside pickup
Yes
Strand Book Store in New York
Categories
Location on the map
New York, New York County, New York, US
Service options
Delivery
Yes
In-store pick-up
Yes
In-store shopping
Yes
Health and safety
Safety dividers at checkout
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible car park
No
Planning
Quick visit
Yes
Payments
NFC mobile payments
Yes
Phone: +1 212-473-1452
Site: http://www.strandbooks.com/
Site: http://www.strandbooks.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:10AM–8PM
- Tuesday:10AM–8PM
- Wednesday:10AM–8PM
- Thursday:10AM–8PM
- Friday:10AM–8PM
- Saturday:10AM–8PM
- Sunday:10AM–8PM
Comments (199)
The legendary Strand Bookstore, which was founded in 1927, is definitely the best independent bookstore I’ve ever been in. It’s also the largest, by far! The Strand claims to have 18 miles of books, which has become its slogan on tote bags, t-shirts, messenger bags, and backpacks. You can literally get lost in the Strand’s stacks for hours. The Strand is definitely worth a trip! It’s conveniently located in the East Village near NYU and the trendy Washington Square and Union Square parks.
Always a great place to spend a few hours (or just jump in and grab that book youve been wanting!)On this trip I spend more time in the Childrens Book section than I have in the past, which was a lot of fun!I also found a new knitting book that I am looking forward to reviewing and making some items from.
I could seriously spend an entire day here. Amazing books for anyone in the family and beautiful reusable bags and gifts for everyone. A bit overwhelming but a truly wonderful place!
A great place to explore a wide selection of books, price wise might not be the most competitive, but still got its charm
Tons and tons of books! Plus other assorted items like socks and magnets and rare books. And you can get used books too. Great value, but needs to compete with Amazon better by competing with price.
I can’t tell you how much I love Strand Books. I want to pay them rent so that I can sleep in it. Best book store in New York!
AMAZING selection and inventory, great people who work there, and a fun experience for any book lover. The tables are split up with fun, interested genres as well as typical bookstore categorization so it can seem like a fun treasure hunt to find something unique. A must see for any bibliophile
A magical place filled with stories upon stories: Old treasures and new best sellers. The tables and displays are well curated, frequently updated and well organized. I always find something (or more often many things) that spark my interest. If youre a book lover this is the place for you. Dont bother with the karts outside there are 3 floors inside and its rare to find something of value out there.
My favorite book store! This gem of an independent book store has a huge variety of books, including one of the best rare book selections I have ever seen.Im an avid reader, and love getting lost in a bookstore. This is must visit stop for any book lover. Trust me. They also have a great selection of totes, tees, bags, magnets and other things to help you ever the good time you had there.
A staple in New York, they stay open late and have a friendly and knowledgeable staff that has been consistent over the years. A haven for new, hard to find, rare and out of print books. A must see place if you are visiting NY, buy from a local bookstore!
An amazing book store, five stories high.You can find here great variety of books, from politics, history, sci-fi to art and what not.And if you need it, they have a restroom as well.Great place.
18 miles of books and a really cool space. I especially liked browsing the health and music collections in the basement, and my toddler loved the kids section on the 3rd floor. Picked up a bunch of cute gently used kids books from the shelves outside, with prices ranging from $3 to 50 cents.Up the street is the comic store Forbidden Planet which is super fun for all ages.
A nice large book store. They have all the big topics and the sections are fairly big so you will find a wide range of books within your chosen topic. The store was very busy and has a well organized layout. There is an elevator for those worried about accessibility.
Amazing variety of books, easy to get lost & lose track of time.
Focused specifically of Photography and Fashion, Strand carries more used content than any bookstore Ive visited across the nation. Great diversity. My only complaint is that Strand bring so well known, books on the open shelves get abused but they do a good job of curating and isolating the more valuable and rare tomes in areas that not in high traffic/access shelves and cases. Staff is very nice.
They only take old books on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 2PM! Remember this or you will end up carrying all the weight for nothing because they wont care and only show you this sign board.
Stopped by to see if they had Howls Moving Castle, a favorite book of mine, and they did - almost no one carries this book anymore. The Strand has a great selection of gifts for anyone, and tons of books to choose from. Its definitely a unique, fun experience and I heard tons of people exclaiming that they could spend their entire NYC trip in here.
Come on, its the Strand. Its got more books than one person could read in a lifetime and a good quarter of them are used. Its got three main floors plus a rare book room, which is admittedly not open much, and these creaky wooden floors than make you feel like youre walking through a library. Theres a mid-sized comic section full of fun, older bind-ups if youre willing to put in the work to find them. The only thing with the Strand is how crowded it is; the layout makes it hard for big crowds to navigate.
Such a large selection of books. Unfortunately, I did not see a metaphysical/body, mind & spirit section and no staff available that I could ask. I went around 2pm & this place was PACKED! So many people. I will definitely be going back in the morning.
LOVE IT! The bookstore is HUGE. With clear introduction of each categories of the floor! The environment is clean and comfortable to stroll around and explore different books. Also it covers sooo many categories of books, def a nice choice to spend 2-4 hours hanging around. Other than books, they also have a beverage section and the other items (canvas bags, stickers, stationary, plush toys…etc.) they sell are super cute
Inspiring and great hang-out even though it was super crowded all 4 times I went in there all at different hours of the day. I love going through books at bookstores. I do audiobooks but love to browse. Great selection and a clever way of categorizing each table.
A real delight. Im from Portland, Oregon, so I measure every bookstore against Powells. This place was smaller than I thought it would be, but truly huge for New York. The shop feels magical! I also got to browse their Central Park pop-up shop, which was a wonderful surprise to stumble across.
What a great place! I love the smell of books. Plus you can get a new calendar right now.This place is a must for any reader. Even if you swear by your kindle. Just go in and browse. Who knows what you might find! I find it more rewarding to sit and read an actual book.Love it. Please go.
My go-to book store in NY (and favourite in the US in general). Great selection of books across several floors, from modern to classic, and with many special and signed copies. It can get busy at the weekends -- especially the ground floor -- but its always worth a visit
Not only books on 2 floors - but also comics, super nice/funny socks and lots of goodies! The textile/reusable bags are super nice!
Amazing! Simply wonderful book shopping! Everyone is so nice!
This was an amazing bookstore. Visited this bookstore while vacationing in New York and was absolutely delighted by this amazing find. Has an amazing selection of books, cute totes, and was super well organized. I could’ve spent hours in there but unfortunately I had to move on😅 When I visit New York again, I WILL be making a stop back. I wish a store as cool as this was located in Memphis lol!!
You must visit this place if you are a book lover.. it’s great. I started with the stands outside and there are so many good bargains (books from $2-7) and inside the range of books is amazing. I have a particular interest in plays and was not disappointed!
Placed an order online to make sure I got the book I was looking for. Highly recommend going online if you’re looking for a particular book and reserve it. Nice walk to bookstore, passed through several beautiful parks along the way. Inside Strands you’ll be inundated by the mass amounts of books and accoutrements just on the first floor, but wait, there’s more! You have 2 additional floors up and 1 down. You can easily get lost in here for hours and if you’re a book lover, you won’t be leaving without something. Outside they have bargain shelves with most books only being $1-2 each. 3rd floor has rare and autographed books. Nice to take a peak, but a little to rich for my taste. Overall highly recommended even if just for the nostalgia and saying you went to Strands!!
This place is so New York. Its got a classic NYC vibe - old oak floors, winding shelves, places to get lost. I love the rows and rows and rows of books, and all the genres. The discount cart outside is a wonder and fun to browse. I love New York so much.
Amazingly large collection of the newest books and some older gems. If you are after a signed copy there is a chance you will find it here. There is a complete section for pre-owned books too. Worth visiting although just know that this is not the place to get the best price on a book, there is definitely a markup due to the location, but it is undoubtedly cool to own a book with the strand tab on it as a sort of NYC souvenir.
Oh mah gah I loved this store. I didn’t even get to explore the whole thing but it was fabulous!I got the coolest dinosaurs reading books tote there and a reasonably priced beanie for my cold head. Lots of fun souvenirs as well.The cashier we had was a doll and very patient and kind. Thank you, Strand!
Awesome place would go again. Helpful employees and a large selection of books
This is one if not my favorite book store ever. Each level has a different feel, and the floor that has the vintage and rare books is so cool to take a look at. Definitely a must see if you are in the city.
Between the above-and-beyond customer service, the incredibly diverse book variety (the broadest I have ever encountered in any physical book store location), product affordability, the orderly store layout and overall tidiness of the environment, and the safe, welcoming and like-minded vibe that has been cultivated, I cannot fault The Strand even if you paid me to. This is an absolute must visit experience for book/reading lovers everywhere; if it werent for my tight travellers schedule, I couldve easily (and happily!) spent far longer browsing and shopping in the store.
Fantastic! I could spend hours here. So much selection. In-house coffee bar with some unique creations. Several floors chock-a-block full of every book genre you could want, plus branded merch and other book-related goodies. Pop out for a bite nearby and come back for more. Theres plenty to occupy you for the whole day if you just let it happen.
Strand Book Store is a legendary book store and for good reason: it is the type of place where one can spend a good amount of time rummaging through the narrow shelves in search for that one book you werent even aware of youd find, let alone purchase, when you entered the store.One star reduction for the overly woke selection (even when taking into consideration the stores location) and the corresponding absence of titles that most likely failed to make it through the stores woke filter. For those of us who seek exposure to as rich array of thoughts, experiences and ideas as possible, I cant help but think about what books serendipity was denied to put in front of me. This is a pity, even though Strand is neither better nor worse in this regard than any of the other fine book stores New York has to offer (whatever solace that is).
You can find some good books and postcards at here, I can spend all day!
This bookstore is very large and has an extensive collection of used books. What a gem!
Big pretty bookstore. It’s got all the books you may want. There’s 4 floors (including basement) but the third (which is rare books) is closed right now, probably due to COVID so I didn’t get to see. Definitely check Amazon beforehand because it’s cheaper on there (if you don’t support Amazon though, this is a great place to lend your money to instead!) but aside from that, it’s just a nice place to be at. I don’t regret coming here at all.
All the books you can imagine are in this store. Strand Books is a must when visiting New York!
I love to visit this book store but I can never actually shop too much because I end up wanting to buy way more than I can afford. Definitely a place to take yourself on the way to your trip home.
The employee I spoke with at Strand was very knowledgeable. Gave him an authors name and he knew exactly whom I was speaking of. He guided me directly to the correct section. Felt great to have that kind of resource available to me. People make the place. Wish I had more time to see all 3 floors.
Had an allergy attack when I first walked in but then I double masked and it went away and lucky me, found a rare book in my field for a good price! What a magnificent place! Books and tchotchkes as many as the heart desires (very, very many!)
The Strand manages to pull off its iconic relaxed feel despite the incredible amount of hustle and stress outside its doors. Ive never failed to find the book Im looking for, though often I end up finding a few more than I came in for.
They are not kidding when they say 18 miles of books. Theres nothing they dont have. Beautiful set up in such a nostalgic building. Other than books, theres great gift items for those book lovers.
The n.y.c. treasure is a Must-visit for any traveller or resident.. So many high- quality offerings jump out at you upon entering the store, & at great prices. The Bass family ranks as Manhattan nobility for their century-long dedication to city book-lovers.
An awesome used and new bookstore. Rare finds and find something you love. Book lovers this is your home ! Merch and books all reasonable. A must visit if your in NYC. Chefs! This is a great place for cook books!-SousChefApproved👨🍳💯-
You can found there any kind of book do you want. The most interesting for me they have a sale section where you can get a book for even five dollars.
If I could give this place zero stars, I would. My visit to this book store was going good, until I went to pay. The guy with the black, puffy ponytail at the register was very rude, had a very bad attitude and even growled, yes, literally growled in anger because I wanted to add a $2 bag to my purchase. I have never been to this place before, this was my first and last time coming here.
I really really really wanted to love this bookstore and I tried really hard. It’s obviously rich with history of books and New York so there’s a lot of wonderful surroundings but randomly I found the romance section very much lacking and disorganized, it turned me off. I couldn’t find anything recent or past that I would buy, almost sending a message that this section and the books here that represent so much to so many aren’t important.
Ive been going to The Strand for at least 20 years, but on my recent trip I was saddened that the number of used books priced fairly had dwindled substantially. The only affordable books are those located outside the shop on 12th Street. It seems everything inside––used or new––is priced at retail, or maybe $1 less, which is certainly not The Strand I grew up with in the 90s and early 2000s.
They buy books from people and they have tons of used textbooks which are overpriced. I found some I could use for school but the prices were even higher than Amazon. I still thought I could sell the textbooks I dont need from school. I talked to the manager and she said they dont buy textbooks. I said, But you have a huge inventory of textbooks. She said,The textbooks are not selling and sitting on the shelves. Me: Its because of the high prices. Lower the prices and they will sell. The manager: This has been discussed in our board before and we wont lower the prices. The other day a diplomat bought 6000 dollar worth textbooks. I thought their target customers are random diplomats and rich people of New York city not students like me. The manager was so rude and aggressive. If you are a diplomat or a well-off resident of New York, the textbooks are yours. If youre a student and short in cash, dont bother visiting this store.
This place is very nice! I went here around 2 months ago in November due to a friend being interested. You could be in this store forever, theres so many things to look at. They also have vinyls, tarot cards, and occult books which are some of my interests.
Wonderful book shop on Broadway ! 18 Miles of book they claim
Huge bookstore. Very busy but worth a look there are thousands of books to choose
One of the few big independent bookstores left. It has both new titles and used books. I love sharing my love of reading with my kids.
We all know that it’s impossible to count the strands of our hair, and that’s how much books they got here!! And a lot of other stuff too, especially this branch! 4 floors guys! If you’re a bookworm and wouldn’t mind spending on tons of books, oh this place shall leave you broke hahaha. Lots of restaurants and cafés nearby. I think they shot Lily and Dash here? Can somebody confirm?
Great selection of new and used books, as well rare books. You can spend quite awhile browsing 18 miles of books. Used books can range from 2-7$, and the new books, while not cheap, are competitive with standard new book values.
Have been going to the Strand for many years, its an NYC institution. I always find gems from the staff picks and hope they keep it running as long as possible. If you are just visiting the city please consider stopping by and supporting them, it is a vital place for NY.
The book choice is incredible, but the staff is pretty rude.
Lots of really cool things to find, if you have the time to sort through all the stacks. I overheard some teenagers in the bathroom criticizing the store for not having gender neutral bathrooms, however, and I couldnt agree more.
I love visiting this bookstore. It has a wonderful variety of books and cool items but the only downfall is that there arent any chairs unfortunately.
I finally got a chance to experience the rare books section on the top floor and oh my, what a lovely treat to see old, iconic books. They have rare signed books to large vintage numbered art books. It is a a real treat if you are a book lover. Its also a place to take a seat on one of the comfy chairs. You can end up here after perusing the collection of books at the lower levels, relax and take in the space. Another tip is you can avoid the long line downstairs and hop on the elevator or walk up 3 flights to purchase your items at this floor. Ive gone to the rare book section twice to do this and there is hardly a line. The return policy is a bit strict, but rightfully so. They give you store credit if you pass the 3 day return policy. I would at least a give a little bit of a leeway for boxed holiday cards or other items that are not books. Avoid the hassle and purchase an item you truly want.
A fun spot with fair prices. Many of the books were bent or in positions that would eventually bend the paperbacks, however. Unfortunately the rare books section was closed during our visit due to COVID, but there’s still plenty to check out on the other floors. Would definitely recommend a visit!
Cool bookstore been going there for years they got lots of New to Used books, buttons/pins, fun artsy socks and whatever else youll like to find its a neat place.
If you dont love books and just want to browse around, this place is awesome. If you love books and want to discover something new, this place is like a pilgrimage site that one must make the holy journey to. 4 floors, every category under the sun and very helpful staff, theres nothing more to want.
I spent way too much time here. Every section is extensive and theres something for everyone. Definitely check out the art section upstairs.
Huge bookstore!!! Its crowded towards the front but lots of books to browse in the store.
Miles of books on 4 floors, if they dont have it they can get it. The rare books are the thing, rare editions, first editions, autographed...great for collecting or gifts!
It was so much fun to visit this iconic bookstore. Had a great time wandering and browsing good books.
Good store and lots of options to choose from. From some cool swag key chains or tote bags, to nice books, its a rich taste of options. I recommend
Ive never been to a bookstore like Strand before. This massive bookstore is a registered landmark full of countless books, including classics and rare finds. The top floor was my favorite with limited prints and signed books.Even if you dont plan on buying a book, its worth taking a 20 minute walk through the Strand Book Store.
This store has been on my bucket list for a long time! I was so excited to visit The Strand and wander its 18 miles of books. The selection of books was unbeatable, and the other items they had (mugs, stickers, journals, you name it) was also wonderful. The staff were very knowledgable and friendly. Even though the store is huge and overwhelming, it was easy to navigate. I loved my visit and I will always make sure I stop by when Im in the city!
Fun store you should hope to get lost in. They have lots of different sections and subsections to explore and a rare books section at the top. If you arent looking to spend much check out the books on the racks outside their store that sells between $1-5. They also have a half off section in the basement for older books. Interesting staff picks section as well.
Second time here. Picking up online order after we heard the book store probably won’t get though this year.Good luck to strand book store. It’s really a wonderful place.
Loved this book store! A huge selection and such a relaxed vibe, you could easily hang out and browse for hours.
Such a cool bookstore! I like the special selection tables, I could stay here all day looking at books.
Still the best book store in town, although not as impressive as Powells in Portland, Oregon. I love the staff suggestions and find the organization of the place soothing.
I spent half my childhood here. Came back at 40 and it was just as magical. Great selection of books, awesome staff, great Christmas vibe. Def visit if youre in NYC. Great rare book selection on 4th floor.
This is one of those NYC places that fully lives up to the hype. Strand is an amazing bookstore with an endless selection of used and new books and its own iconic merchandise line.There are so many things that make Strand special but I’ll list the biggest ones for me:- The third floor rare book room, where you can find beautiful collectibles but also just get lost in for a while looking at new books- All the themed recommendation tables on the first floor: these go beyond your standard “bestseller” tables and you are very likely to find a table full of books that you’ll love- The stationery section with awesome cards and posters (and poster wrapping paper)- The kids’ section- “Pen” station with a wide array of pens and sketching supplies- Daily book eventsStrand is a book lover’s dream and I’ve yet to find a bookstore that lives up to it. If you love books, this is definitely one for the bucket list.
Strand is maybe one of the biggest bookstores in Manhatten, with 18 miles of bookshelves.The choice is so big, you actually dont know where to start.It is pretty crowded as this store features in many travel magazines and TV shows.Prices are fair, and there is plenty of employees walking around to help you.I specifically liked the cook book section, so much choice with even titles I have not seen before and who are not that popular!
Went in expecting to spend 30 mins and 0 dollars ended up spending 2 hours and over $120. Never knew a bookstore can be so interesting. The collection is VAST. The rare book section is awesome.
Loved the huge selection of new and used books! Great prices too
If youre looking for a wonderful and cozy, more traditional bookstore, Strand is great to go to. Its got multiple floors and dedicated sections, with a wide variety of paperbacks. Like anything in NYC, it can feel a bit expensive, but its nice buying from a store that isnt a chain. Youll definitely bump into a lot of tourists, but who cares since were all there enjoying books :)
Excellent book store with a big variety of topics.I concentrated in on craft and was very pleased.Excellent choices of over run books in as new condition as well as 2nd hand books.Many great book bags, satchels, zippered bags as well as shirts, badges and cups.I really enjoyed my visit and was able to grab some rare classics.
A gem of a bookstore. Several floors. The third floor is the special books, its also a venue where you can rent the space and hold a special gathering for a hundred people comfortably. I enjoyed myself at the gathering I went to. Very nostalgic.
The Strand Bookstore seems to stand like the great Sphinx of Egypt as it has been in New York city for nearly a century! A great and powerful Centenarian, The Strand towers regal and wise as one of the paramount independent bookstores of the modern era.Its nearly nearly 2.5 Million books holds the reader captive to its author as they read through the writings of civilizations wisest sages and travel through time, space, and millenias, each author decoding the great mysteries of life to those who love books and all of wisdoms marrow in each tattered page.The Strands reputation and renown have been written about for years and as a bibliophile, I was like a small school kid, I couldnt wait to walk in the doors of this world-famous bookstore. I was able to buy a book on the science of the movie, Interstellar and had a great conversation with a Jewish man on learning Hebrew. He was in the Judaica section, which was huge! Many of the books were in Hebrew for those that were bilingual.The Strand has three floors and an amazing staff who were very helpful to me in finding various books. I also took in some used books there to exchange and now have an account and credit on file that I can use to purchase books either in person or at a distance.The Strand store was simple and there are signs everywhere to direct the expert and neophyte to the subject of their interest.Enjoy your trip and remember The Journey is Always Better Than The Inn-Cervantes
The best bookstore, if you are in New York is worth to have a look at it, youll be amazed by the large amount and variety of goodies you can find here. You can also find a collection of antique books besides the new ones. The place is pretty cool, big and you can find very original souvenirs.
As one of New York City landmarks, Strand Book Store is the go-to place to discover the hard to find book. My absolute favorite section is their comic book section, a kind of mini bookstore within the store. There are excellent Japanese comic books, independently published graphic novels, as well as a vast selection of popular comics. The Strand’s kids section is also really wonderful, with an excellent range of books for the young ages. Strand also buys used books, if you are ready to let go of some of your own. They prefer buying hardcover books in good condition, but the occasional rare softcover novel will be bought, too. Go visit!
Total reviews rating 4.8
199 Reviews for Strand Book Store 2023:
Review №1
2022-04-30If youre a book lover, you need to get to The Strand... fast!!! 4 floors of books, and awesome merchandise await you. My girlfriend and I attended a book signing here, and it was very well organized. Masks and proof of vax were required. The only downside was that the store closed at 8pm, and the book signing ended just after 8. So, no opportunity to browse the millions of aisles of books. Oh well, that just means well have to go back again. Ive been to The Strand in the past, and its heaven on earth. You can spend hours upon hours here. This is a NYC institution, and is a must visit. Youll walk in empty handed, and I guarantee youll leave with more than you can carry. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, theyll help you find whatever youre looking for. Be sure to check out the third floor rare book room.
Review №2
2022-03-18Even better than what I remember! I went back to buy a tote because I had lost the one I bought in 2015. The old tote had cute owls on it. I love the totes they have with cats and bought a couple but would have loved to see ones with owls. I bought a couple of books as well and might go back to get more if my luggage can handle it. The Strand bookstore is definitely a must see for bibliophiles!
Review №3
2022-03-28Little slice of heaven for a book lover! So many great displays - giving unique perspectives on book recommendations. Getting lost in the rows-upon-rows of shelves is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. And of course it’s always a joy to be able to support an independent bookstore!!
Review №4
2022-04-04The Strand is a bookstore institution offering something for everyone. They have new, used, rare, and author signed books of all genres. They’ve also expanded to offer book nerd themed items like mugs, tote bags, and magnets.Take the time to explore all their floors, they have tons to choose from!
Review №5
2021-12-29Located near union square park, this can be easily called a book lovers paradise. Dating back to 1927, this independent bookstore has its own charm and appeal.There is a huge collection of books from every genre along with old books on sale at a bargain price. You can also find cool strand collectibles like magnets, bookmarks, mugs, tote bags, stationery, etc.
Review №6
2021-12-29Cool bookstore with lots of variety!! Has two floors so there’s a lot to look through. A bit crowded but - it’s expected. Cashiers were quick and staff was helpful in answering my questions :)
Review №7
2022-06-15I loved strand bookstore. As a foreigner, i found it easy to find and walk to from the subway. Such a lovely bookstore and with helpful people. The event I went was for the launch of Meant to be Mine from Hanna Orenstein and it was such a fun experience! Totally recommend if you want to wander through lots of different books, Im sure theyll have what you are searching for 😉
Review №8
2022-06-30Would 100% recommend for book lovers. This place is so big and has a really cool selection of books from academic to fiction. They have this cool table of banned books which was kinda shocking and cool. The bookshelves make it so like you feel like you could get lost in them its amazing.
Review №9
2022-05-15They have so many books, so many genres, tote bags, socks, pins, magnets, bookmarks, stationary, and tons of other cool stuff. ive only ever been on the first floor, but i could spend hours there. i love how they display their books.
Review №10
2022-04-21I hadnt been in years and this shop doesnt disappoint. Taking my 11 year old was a great experience. She was in awe. It takes everything in me not to buy ALL of the bags. This is the best place in the world to find gifts for book lovers.