Mexico City’s independent bookstores continue to serve as cultural landmarks despite facing challenges from digital formats and changing reading habits. These vintage bookshops, known locally as “librerías de viejo” or “librerías de ocasión,” offer unique literary experiences throughout the capital.
The city hosts several iconic establishments, including Librería Tres Cruces in Coyoacán, which has been recognized by Mexico’s Cultural Information System for its historical significance. The two-floor warehouse contains strategically organized shelves by genre and has spawned a local tradition where visitors bring new patrons to discover its treasures.
In the Del Carmen neighborhood, La Fiera represents Coyoacán’s bohemian spirit, offering independently published works alongside workshops and publishing services. Meanwhile, Donceles Street in the historic center hosts numerous secondhand bookstores, including the century-old El Gran Remate housed in a colonial building.
For English-language readers, Under the Volcano Books near the Citlaltépetl roundabout offers an exclusively English collection. Other notable establishments include Niña Oscura in Santa María la Ribera, which hosts poetry readings and writing workshops, and El Desastre in Colonia Del Valle, which opened during the pandemic and features a garden where readers can enjoy coffee while browsing.
These independent bookstores remain vital cultural spaces in Mexico City, preserving the traditional reading experience while adapting to contemporary challenges.
For more information, visit the source.
- About the Author
- More info
Leave a Reply