Travel Diaries: Seven Bookshops To Visit in (& around) Boston

Hey everyone!  Sorry to have been a bit M.I.A. as of recent.  I'm currently enjoying my last few weeks of summer vacation traveling the East Coast.  

While in Boston, I stopped by as many bookshops as my limited time in the city allotted.  In just a few days, I was able to visit a total of seven awesome bookshops both in and around Boston.  All bookshops listed are easily accessible by the "T" (Boston Subway).

Today I thought I'd share these with you.  Come browse with me:

1. TRIDENT BOOKSELLERS & CAFE

Location: 

338 Newbury Street

Boston, MA 02115

Hours:
Open everyday from 8am to midnight!

This was the first bookshop I visited while in the city, and I loved it!  Located on (my favorite) Newbury Street, Trident Booksellers & Cafe occupies an extremely central and accessible location.

Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to peruse the shelves or grab a sip of coffee at the cafe, but I did pick up a book for some recreational reading: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir!

Definitely make sure to stop by if you ever find yourself on Newbury Street.

2. PORTER SQUARE BOOKS

Location:

25 White Street

Cambridge, MA 02140

Hours:

Monday - Friday: 7am - 9pm

Saturday: 8am - 7pm

Sunday: 8am - 7pm

Porter Square Books was definitely one of my favorite bookshop stops on the trip.  The staff was EXTREMELY nice, friendly, and more than eager to chat books!

These cute bookish pins caught my eye at the checkout counter and I had to pick up a few.  The indie bookstore pin was a freebie.

Support indie bookstores!

3. RODNEY'S BOOKSTORE

Location:

698 Massachusetts Avenue

Central Square, Cambridge

Hours:

Monday - Saturday: 9:30am - 9:00pm

Sunday: Noon - 8:00pm

Rodney's Bookstore was unlike the other bookshops I visited in the sense that the store sold used books as opposed to new books.  And although Rodney's was not my favorite bookshop on the trip, I had fun perusing the store's whimsical selection of books, posters, and other trinkets.

4. THE HARVARD COOP

Location:

1400 Massachusetts Avenue

Cambridge, MA 02138

Hours: 

Monday - Saturday: 9am - 9pm

Sunday: 10am - 7pm

The Harvard Coop is a must-stop while in Cambridge.  Unfortunately, I was (once again) pressed for time and DIDN'T have the opportunity to purchase a book I'd set my sights on!

Nevertheless, I'm glad I was still able to stop in the store for a few brief minutes.

5. HARVARD BOOK STORE

Location:

1256 Massachusetts Avenue

Cambridge, MA 02138

Hours:

Monday - Saturday: 9am - 11pm

Sunday: 10am - 10pm

Funny story . . . I actually came across Harvard Book Store when I was looking for The Coop.  I had no previous knowledge of this bookstore.  Lucky find!

6. GROLIER POETRY BOOK SHOP

Location:

6 Plympton Street

Cambridge, MA 02138

Hours:

Tuesday & Wednesday: 11am - 7pm

Thursday - Sunday: 11am - 6pm

Just around the corner from Harvard Book Store is a cute little place known as Grolier Poetry Book Shop.  As you can deduce from the name, Grolier Poetry is dedicated solely to selling poetry.

I definitely had interest in purchasing a poetry book, but rather unfortunately, the shop owner had to duck out early due to an emergency.

7. BRATTLE BOOK SHOP

Location:

9 West Street

Downtown Boston, MA 02111

Hours: 

Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5:30pm

I'm so happy I was able to visit Brattle Book Shop before leaving Boston!  Since Brattle closes relatively early, it was a bit difficult to make the trip before closing time.

Inside the shop.

Brattle Book Shop has a collection of rare used books.  Posted on the shop walls are records of some previously sold rare books.

Outside the shop.

However, since I came in around 5:00pm, the book shop workers were already closing up the outside shelves.

I ended up purchasing this $10 book in great condition.

Although I only spent about twenty minutes browsing the Brattle Book Shop shelves, I quite honestly could have easily spent the entire afternoon.

What cool bookstores have you visited lately?

(Or want to?)

Thanks for reading!