20 STUNNING bookstores of the world

2. The Bookabar Bookshop, Rome

The Bookabar Bookshop is located in the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, the largest inter-disciplinary exhibition area in central Rome: over 10,000 square metres on three floors.

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3. Plural Bookshop, Bratislava, Slovakia

The formed vokruk wooden staircase allows one to double the area of ​​informal audience.

These short wooden steps provide a place for those who like to browse books.

During the conferences and cultural events, stage can be filled with rows of spectators.

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4. Livraria Lello, Porto, Portugal

This neo-gothic bookstore was opened in 1906.

Designed by Xavier Esteves, the bookstore's architecture and interior design are stunning.

There is the curvaceous red stairway connecting the two levels (inspired on the Parisian Galleries Lafayette).

The walls and ceilings are heavily decorated and the stained-glass skylight has Lello's motto vecus in labore.

The pillars are ornamented with bronze bas-reliefs of Portuguese literature figures.

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5. Cook & Book, Brussels, Belgium

This restaurant-coffee shop-cum bookstore is definitely worth a visit.

In an interesting decor, the books are suspended from the ceiling.

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6. Bookworm, Beijing

This sleek lending library and bookshop has the best selection of English language books and magazines in town.

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7. Libreria El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina

This bookstore evolved out of a 1920s movie palace.

Theatre boxes are used for reading rooms.

It draws thousands of tourists every year.

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8. Poplar Kid's Republic, Beijing

The store aims to provide children and parents with a great collection of children's books as well as a relaxing reading environment.

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9. Livraria da Vila, Sao Paulo, Brazil

This is a bookstore that seems to be made almost entirely out of books -- down to its dramatic front doors.

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10. Cafebreria El Pendulo, Mexico City

It is a must-see for those who like their green spaces (and coffee shops) to invade their bookstores Leading Mexican singer-songwriters play at this cafe-bookstore.

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11. Shakespeare & Company, Paris

Shakespeare and Company is the name of two independent bookstores on Paris's Left Bank.

It is meant for browsers not as impressed by architecture as they are by the beauty of books upon books upon books in narrow hallways.

The bookstore also has a place to nap.

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12. The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles

The huge space, high ceilings and stately pillars make for a lovely reading experience.

Here, one can buy, trade, and sell used and new books.

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13. Atlantis Books, Santorini, Greece

Atlantis Books was started by Craig Walzer and Oliver Wise, two 25-year-old Americans, who were vacationing on Santorini in 2002.

Craig and Oliver became intoxicated by Santorini's savage beauty and decided to open a shop modelled on Shakespeare & Company, the English-language bookstore in Paris.

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14. Bart's Books, Ojai, California

This is the biggest outdoor bookstore in the world.

It was founded by Richard Bartinsdale in 1964.

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15. Corso Como Bookshop, Milan, Italy

Founded in 1990 by gallerist and publisher Carla Sozzani, Corso Como is dedicated to art, fashion and design.

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16. Barter Books

It is located in a listed Victorian railway station within 5 minutes' walk of the town centre.

It is one of the largest secondhand bookshops in Britain.

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17. The American Book Center, Amsterdam

This beautifully designed space has surprising shapes, cleverly constructed nooks and crannies and even a tree or two.

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18. VVG Something, Taipei, Taiwan

Almost utilitarian but filled with simple old-world grace, this store is a little like what we might imagine our ideal ship's main cabin to look like.

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19. Ler Devagar, Lisbon

This store has a flying bike and books to the ceiling.

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20. Daikanyama T-Site, Tokyo

This slick, super-modern store benefits from clean design and charming flourishes of light and mirrors.