Technology might have made our life easy, but there are a few things where the proverb ‘Old Is Gold’ fits best. One such thing is – reading a book. No iPad or Kindle could ever substitute the feeling of holding a new book in your hands.
And bookstores are Disneyland to every bookworm. That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of the must-visit stores in the city. You’re welcome.
CMYK
The moment you walk in here, you will be charmed by its warm ambience. Home to some of the best books on design, CMYK offers coffeetable books ranging from Rs 96 to Rs 35,000. Apart from the art and architecture books, people interested in photography, performing arts, monographs, and lifestyle will also find something to their tastes.
Besides books, CMYK stocks stationery items, diaries, journals and funky folders; shower FM radios; calculators, mini binders, memo holders and more. It also holds regular events like book launches, movie nights and writers’ talks.
Don’t forget to check out the CMYK cafe while you’re here - who doesn’t want to sip on a steaming mug of tea, tuck into a yummy omelette all while reading a book?
What We Loved: The art and design book collection including Phaidon, Laurence King, Thames Hudson, Abrams and Skira.
Where: 15-16 Mehar Chand Market, Lodhi Road
Timings: 11 am to 8 pm
Nearest Metro Station: Jungpura
OXFORD BOOKSTORE
When the Statesman House bookstore closed down, readers were hugely let down. Then it reopened – right opposite its old address! As you enter the bookstore, you will see book lovers silently browsing or spot them reading in a quiet corner.
Oxford has a huge section dedicated to books by international authors. There’s also Indian fiction, new releases, translations, references and dictionaries, cookery books and travel books.
Cha Bar, inside the bookstore, is another charm of the place. You can carry your book and read it while sipping on some piping hot tea and relishing some delicious munchies.
What We Loved: The Cha Bar where you can quietly read a book while powering up with a tea or coffee.
Where: N 81, Connaught Place
Timings: 10 am to 10 pm
Nearest Metro Station: Barahkhamba
FACT FICTION
This neatly designed, well-lit and tiny book shop features a great selection of fiction from around the globe. Whether you’re a fan of contemporary fiction or whodunits, it’s all in there.
Enter the bookstore and you will find the owner Ajit Vikram Singh lost in a book. Talk to him about books for hours, and you will never get bored. He also knows the bookstore like the back of his palm so you know whom to ask if you’re a bit confused about what books to get. Name an author and the next minute, the book will be in your hands.
There is a separate graphic novel section and for movie fanatics he has an incredible music and movies book collection.
What We Loved: Contemporary fiction works and whodunits.
Where: 39 Basant Lok (Opposite Priya Cinema)
Timings: 10 am to 7 pm
Nearest Metro Station: Hauz Khas
SPELL BOUND
If you’re at SDA market, you cannot miss Kanika Kapoor and Aseem Vadehra’s Spell Bound. Stocked with more than 17,000 books, this bookstore-cum-cafe has subtle lighting, floor-to-ceiling shelves and a rotating bookcase on the ground level. You will find rare history books and biographies, besides international magazines, philosophy and crime books.
Move a little inside and a striking wall covered with photos of authors like Anton Chekhov, Salman Rushdie, Virginia Woolf, Arundhati Roy, Alice Munro and Jhumpa Lahiri will catch your attention. A spiral staircase that goes up to the café and downstairs to more books sits in the middle of the bookstore. After browsing the books here, don’t miss sampling the cafe’s flavoured milkshake and Kathi Kababs.
What We Loved: You can get the latest editions of books at a good discount.
Where: C-11/2, SDA Market (Opposite IIT main gate)
Timings: 9.30 am to 11 pm
Nearest Metro Station: Hauz Khas
VADEHRA ART GALLERY BOOK|STORE
Vadehra Art Gallery showcases modern and contemporary Indian art through exhibitions and retrospectives. They have a separate bookstore for people who love to read up on art. This space combines the concept of an art book store as well as a reading room and has various types of Indian and international publications focussed on the visual arts.
Apart from books, art-inspired products such as office and home accessories, artist-signed prints and posters are also available.
What We Loved: The art-inspired books and stationeries.
Where: D-42 Defence Colony
Timings: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm (Sunday Closed)
Nearest Metro Station: Lajpat Nagar
EUREKA! BOOKSTORE
Eureka! Bookstore was started with the aim of bringing children closer to books. Initially Eureka! had a full-fledged bookstore, but it was later turned into an online store to cater to every area of the capital. However, they have a warehouse-cum-bookstore in CR Park, where you can sneak in to check out the latest books for kids.
What We Loved: You can browse books online and order.
Where: E-999, CR Park, Basement
Timings: 11 am to 6 (Sunday Closed)
Nearest Metro Station: Nehru Place