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Brattle Book Shop
9 West St, Boston, MA 02111, United States
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Brattle Book Shop
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Ja
Review №1

My boyfriend wont let me leave anything less than 5 stars. Its his favorite used bookstore. He can find so many books in his Navy history career specialty. He is limited only by what he can carry. For me, this bookstore is lacking in science books. It have very few astronomy books, none that were of interest to me, except the one Ive already read. If you love history, this is your place! Its also got a great outdoor market for cheaper books.

Mi
Review №2

Fun little place with lots of used books, fair prices. I got an old paperback version of Journey To The Center Of The Earth for the flight home.

Jo
Review №3

If you approach the shop on a day with good weather, do yourself a favor and browse the books they have outside. There are some hidden gems in the $3 or $5 range if youre willing to search.Inside is exactly what youd expect from a used book store: narrow aisles and tall shelves. A great place if youre looking for poetry or history, especially military history.

Je
Review №4

Beautiful and quirky even during a little rain.

Ay
Review №5

Nice cozy book shop with eclectic finds

Sa
Review №6

An awesome book shop just a hop from the Boston commons. If you love books, browsing old titles and visiting a piece of history, this is the place to go! One of the oldest book shops in the US, they had quite a huge selection of titles and the outside portion is full of AMAZING deals! Bookworms dream location!

Je
Review №7

A lovely old school bookstore. Both indoor and outdoor shelves to explore. The outdoor bookshelves feature inexpensive or discounted books ($5!) Inside this quaint and friendly place, books are categorized by genre/by floor. Classic book posters featured on the walls. Love the charm of this place. Every purchase comes with a free store logo magnet. Very cool.

Mi
Review №8

One of the oldest used book stores in the country. Good for those hard to find and rare books.

Ma
Review №9

Great bookstore! Old school cool. Very reasonable prices with a fun atmosphere. Treasure hunting in the city.I was looking for vintage pulp science fiction and found about five great books. It was a ton of fun. I recommend it to anyone that enjoys the bookstore experience!

Ei
Review №10

A book lover could spend all day here. Ive found quite a few first edition or older embossed books. So cool (and exciting!). If you dont mind thrifting, you wont mind sifting. Takes time to find what you want, but worth it in the end.

Aj
Review №11

I love books. This is a must stopover for a visit to Boston and you can spend hours upon hours lost amongst the aisles

Aa
Review №12

Super cool book store. The 3rd floor rare books collection was fascinating and we found several inexpensive books in the alley. Neat place to browse.

Da
Review №13

This might be the best bookshop ever. Books from the 1700s for $5. Awesome.

Ka
Review №14

Good prices. The outdoor bookshop set up is nice and really fun to browse.

Te
Review №15

Beautiful place very friendly staff.

Ce
Review №16

Very nice book store. I love the rare book section on the third floor

Cl
Review №17

This place was pretty cool. As was overheard from another patron in the store: You cant go looking for a book in here... The book will find you. Could definitely get lost in time there at what they have on the shelves, both inside and outside.

Jo
Review №18

Such a great spot, I always bring people here if were in the area. Im always amazed with the selection of books you can find here, and how old those books can be, but Ive never tried finding a specific book. Its a bit random. Def check it out if you have a chance.

Ka
Review №19

Cute bookstore to browse. Has a floor of rare books of that is what youre into as well as an outdoor section of discounted books.

Jo
Review №20

Good selection of books, particularly Islam and Middle East history. Lots of inexpensive books outside.

Sa
Review №21

Not really the most friendly staff for one, also looks like they start shutting down at 5? (Most aisles inside are impassable due to them moving their carts inside) They need to update their hours to say they’re open till 5 and not 5:30. For people with day jobs, this kind of thing is really misleading. Should do better.Edit after their reply - and how does that help me if the books I want happen to be in the 3-4 aisles that you do move stuff into?

Ja
Review №22

A very nice used bookstore with pleasant staff and a large bargain area outside on nice days.The shop is well organised over two floors. It always feels like there is a quick turnover of stock with new items turning up.The Irish section is quite good and on my visit they had a considerable amount of Lit Crit. An ample Civil War section, two shelves of railroad books and two sections of SF. It offers a good variety. The second floor is a rare book level but there are good prices here and do not be put off by a book being rare - some unusual railroad books were $10!Always worth a visit.For comic fans the graphic novel section is always small. A shelf - if that but it does turnover.

Az
Review №23

Really fun place if you adore books, great selection with nice prices and you can find books on various subjects. I would recommend its worth the visit. Also, its near Boston common a land mark, which make very easy to find.

Sa
Review №24

Absolutely delightful. Found some real gems in the outside space, as well as some really amazing topical books about Boston and the area. For a book lover, this is a *must go*. I brought a visiting friend and loved how close it is to downtown.

Ma
Review №25

Bucket list book store you have to findCould have spent hours there, will on our next trip

To
Review №26

A bit pricey but good selection and a nice outdoor marketplace.

Am
Review №27

Huge selection and fun to look through, but we did not have a pleasant experience with staff. I felt embarrassed and that was enough to knock down the rating. I’m not sure why we were the only customers in the entire line that the cashier was rude to, but it wasn’t a great feeling.

Kr
Review №28

Very cool spot in Boston. Definitely worth checking out to see their large collection of books.

Jo
Review №29

We stopped here during our trip to Boston and everyone was able to find books they wanted. We loved it!

Re
Review №30

The book store of itself is lovely. I found a book I was really excited about for $1 but as I approached the register realized you needed a $5 minimum for card purchases and didnt have any cash on me. After the owner realized Id be in Boston again, he let me leave with the book and an IOU which I felt was extremely gracious and said a lot about the establishment. Ill be back with my $1.06 and my bookworm self to gawk over the collections on the third floor!

Wi
Review №31

While they do have quite a selection of books ranging from many decades, they do not appear to have any organization method beyond alphabetical and theme (fiction, biography, non-fiction Ect...) so if your looking for a specific book your not likely to find it here, however if your going here to find a random book you may not have found before Id check it out

da
Review №32

Amazing!! My son and I both agreed this one of our favorite places we found while exploring the city!

Je
Review №33

Historic bookstore with great deals and a unique outdoor browsing experience.

Na
Review №34

Loved it. Wanted to take it all home with me. 😂

Ch
Review №35

This place cannot be compared to other bookstores, it is special with its atmosphere and history. Many different and quite interesting specimens can be found here. A great place to confront your thoughts and look for some good reading, and if youre lucky you might find a very entertaining book.

Pr
Review №36

Books in stands outside the store with a fair price.

Bo
Review №37

Amazing collection of old and out of print books at very affordable prices. Three floor of books and a side yard filled with bargain books. Worth the trip if you are a book lover.

Br
Review №38

Nice store, but dont expect to find a hidden gem within. They know what they have and price according to market value.

Ab
Review №39

Lovely, charming book store of old books. The outdoor area was closed due to rain which I will be sure to check out next time we are here.

Mi
Review №40

Just a few steps from the busy shopping street there is a dreamy oasis of books. This is really one of the most remarkable experience during my trip to Boston. I wish I could spend more time here to dive into their shelves of vintage books.

Ad
Review №41

Cool book store with a vast amount of books. From common, to extremely old and collectable. They have a book section outside due to their overflow. And are already 3 floors inside.

Jo
Review №42

A truly magical bookstore with some amazing offers in old and discontinued books.

Te
Review №43

One of the coolest places to happen upon while walking Boston. Love the outdoor alley shelves. We happened to be there during a great sale, too. (Edited to note that the books outside werent on sale...but ALWAYS priced at $1, $3, and $5...great deals!!) Got a few nice titles to take home. Friendly staff, too.

Ia
Review №44

Gorgeous old book store with a fantastic variety located in the heart of Boston.

El
Review №45

Just went to visit since it was on a list. I can see it being a nice stop to get books.

Jo
Review №46

Its a solid little bookstore and has a really nice concept: beautiful outdoor setting with cheap books ranging from $1 to $5.However, there is no sense of organization, so you have to browse from beginning to end to find what you want. Its an odd mishmash of books. And of course, full of people who are more interested in having a photo op for Instagram than actually look at books.

Ni
Review №47

This is my kind of place! No pointless commercialized autobiographies in your face, no overrated books with less substance on display, and better yet...no overspending!

Ye
Review №48

I love Brattle Book Shop! Ive been coming here for years and Im always looking forward to seeing which new books have been put on display. I never know what to expect when I go there which is exciting to me because I consider myself a bookworm. I love taking my time when I go to Brattle Book Shop beause I always walk out with a book that I never expected to purchase. I hope Brattle Book Shop will always be around because it is a truly a place that boost my motivation to learn more.

Ha
Review №49

This store was so compelling, with its books and history. It’s a book lover’s dream, you never know what you are going to find! Even if you aren’t really a book fan, there’s a book for everyone! Even with all of these books, the store is very organized. They even have a podcast! If you want to try something new and explore, count this as one of your stops!

Ne
Review №50

If you like books then definitely go to this place if only just to see what gems you could find in this urban jungle.

An
Review №51

Wonderful. So many books at a fair price! Very helpful staff, too.I do wish it had little reading nooks around the store to sit down and read a bit before buying. But I understand with covid thats a no go for a lot of businesses right now--more things to try and clean.

Te
Review №52

Used bookseller full of charm and selection.

Sc
Review №53

Excellent service and excellent books 📚

Ha
Review №54

A hidden jam. So happy I discovered this place! Rare books for great prices. Books that have long been out of print but are so valuable or insightful! They sell books for 1 dollar! And these are classics, old prints, and great finds. Could spend the whole day browsing this bookshop!

Gr
Review №55

Absolutely divine place to spend hours!

Cl
Review №56

Nice spot, some bookshelves in the backstreet, you can hang around while browsing through the aisles

Bi
Review №57

Awesome! Lots of old books and knowledgeable staff!

Ch
Review №58

Nice and organized with enough books for any immortal

ba
Review №59

Love independent bookstores and this is one of my favorites. I enjoy browsing the outdoor shelves in the summer

Al
Review №60

Great books, great finds, great prices.

Ha
Review №61

Check out Kens podcast. Never had so much fun with a podcast. Oh the stories.

De
Review №62

Very cute and very interesting set-up! Love their prices on used books.

Ry
Review №63

Its gotta be one of the coolest book stores

Ro
Review №64

Purchased online through AbeBooks,. Brattle perfectly described the condition, book was well packed and arrived safe & secure, will buy from again

Je
Review №65

Loved this place! Perfect bookstore.

Ch
Review №66

Amazing selection. Three stories and outdoor shopping for used books.

Jo
Review №67

Good selection and prices.

J
Review №68

Beautiful location.Has an outdoor area and an indoor area. The indoor area has three floors with detailed and clear categories. The top floor has some rare finds. Explore!!

Ca
Review №69

I love perusing the shelves of this used bookshop for bargain books!

Om
Review №70

Unique attraction in the middle of a cultural capital of the USA.

Ch
Review №71

A lot of books but so many, its was very overwhelming, in a good way, just wish I had more time to explore and find the stuff I wanted.

Bo
Review №72

Love all the books!!

Er
Review №73

Fine selection. Mystery, vintage sci-fi, history, literature, etc.

Mi
Review №74

Could have spent all day here.

Ha
Review №75

Eclectic and exciting - can find random books in languages ranging from Spanish to Japanese here

ri
Review №76

I went there few time nice everything on hard to find to rare books

NR
Review №77

Very cute indoor / outdoor bookshop

Ma
Review №78

A great locally owned used book store. A wide variety of books, both inside and the outdoor section for the discounted ones.I believe they will do their best to to special order specific books.This book store has been run by at least 2 generations of family.I like this shop sometimes just to see whats new.

k
Review №79

Fun place to browse, with an outdoor covid adapted section worth wandering through. Could be more organized, but great surprises await if you have time to hunt and gather.

Ja
Review №80

Great book store.

Ha
Review №81

Great place to find cheap books

St
Review №82

Caught my eye because there was a huge outdoor sale happening. Perfect browsing g bookstore. Get a margarita next door then browse for reading material.

C
Review №83

Dropped in after seeing it listed as a place to visit whilst in Boston. Easy to find after a pleasant walk through Boston Common.Straight away I knew this was the place to get my daughter’s birthday present. As she is a student of all things literature l knew the tome of Milton’s poetry would be just the thing. The translation of “the magic mountain” is also something I know she would love. For myself as an amateur historian of the 19th century Royal Navy, an original copy of the 1805 naval chronicles is something I am already enjoying ownership of. One of the more recent but out of print books I picked up was something I was specifically looking for.If it wasn’t for the helpful staff I might have spent even longer looking for suitable books.Reasonably priced. Even the 3rd floor of rare books.If you want the newest coffee table book, go to amazon. If you want a 200 year old book or an out of print book then go to this bookstore. There is something for every book lover.

Ev
Review №84

Spectacular spot just off the Common for books ranging from ten-thousand-dollar collectibles to bargain-bin, well-loved classics. This quaint shop spills into the alley next door, offering a seemingly endless array of titles. Its just one more hole-in-the-wall stop that adds to the irresistible charm of the city. Plus, there are plenty of spots nearby to grab a drink and enjoy your new reads!

Fe
Review №85

A nice store with a good selection of used books (including some rare ones). I was very tempted to buy half a dozen today realizing, however, that flying cross country would be a little problematic.

Ch
Review №86

Great selection!!

Da
Review №87

Lovely spot in Boston.

Ro
Review №88

Great used book store

Al
Review №89

The best the best the best.

St
Review №90

Great selection of hard to find out of print, and 1st editions.

St
Review №91

My wife is belle from beauty and the beast and everytime I come here I feel like the beast

Ri
Review №92

This is a nice bookstore! Staff is very knowledgeable and friendly.

Sc
Review №93

No better used book store in Boston!

Fr
Review №94

This is a great bookstore! They only carry used books, so you are not going to find the latest releases here. Their selection is not as wide as other bookstores, but their prices are great (most were under $25) and they do carry a lot of rare books. They have outdoor shelves too (pictured below), where everything is $5, $3, ans $1. Great place to go book hunting!

To
Review №95

Cool place, tons of books for prices starting 1 USD.

Ra
Review №96

Such a tiny bookstore but they have a huge collection. Always try and go here if Im in the area and kind ans friendly staff. Need to go check out the rare book room

ca
Review №97

Crazy bookshelves set up in small alley next to store. Everything from old maps to magazines but mostly books. Support this independent bookstore crammed to the rafters with shelves on multiple floors.

Jo
Review №98

Brilliant bookshop! Visited today (while here in the US, were from Melbourne, Australia) and found one of the best collections weve seen in a long time! Something for everyone, lots of unusual stuff and extremely reasonable prices. Great outdoor section full of bargains. We are just disappointed we forgot to check out the top floor!

hi
Review №99

I love the outdoor book room. Everyone was very friendly and willing to help.

He
Review №100

Great selection to browse

Information
100 Photos
100 Comments
4.6 Rating
  • Address:9 West St, Boston, MA 02111, United States
  • Site:http://www.brattlebookshop.com/
  • Phone:+1 617-542-0210
Categories
  • Book store
  • Used book store
Working hours
  • Monday:9AM–5:30PM
  • Tuesday:9AM–5:30PM
  • Wednesday:9AM–5:30PM
  • Thursday:9AM–5:30PM
  • Friday:9AM–5:30PM
  • Saturday:9AM–5:30PM
  • Sunday:Closed
Planning
  • Quick visit:Yes
Payments
  • NFC mobile payments:Yes
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