Shakespeare and Company
Paris
About
On the Left Bank facing Notre-Dame, Shakespeare and Company has been a pilgrimage site for English-speaking book lovers since 1951. Founded by George Whitman and now run by his daughter Sylvia, the shop has a legendary policy of letting broke writers sleep among the stacks in exchange for working a few hours per day and reading one book per day — the "Tumbleweeds" as they're called.
The shop itself is a beautiful labyrinth of cramped rooms and staircases, every wall covered in books. The wishing well in the courtyard, the typewriter in the corner, and the sleeping loft above the stacks are all part of the mythology. The adjacent café opened in 2015 and serves excellent coffee and pastries. Arrive before 11am to avoid the worst crowds.