Being the Irish “City of Literature” means that the best bookstores on the Emerald Isle are, of course, the bookstores in Dublin.
The Irish have long been recognised as gifted storytellers, and with some of Dublin’s most famous sons like Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Bram Stoker and WB Yeats continuing this long tradition, it’s not difficult to see why they were deemed a shoo-in.
Long story short, there are many great bookstores in Dublin. But if we absolutely had to choose, the following places would be our picks for procuring the very best printed masterpieces in the city.
But first, a little history…
What’s a “City of Literature,” anyway?
Back in 2010, UNESCO incorporated Ireland’s vibrant capital into its newly founded Creative Cities Network, officially spotlighting it as an important literary location, alongside other European wonderlands of wordsmithery like Milan, Barcelona, Manchester, Prague, Lillehammer, and Odessa.
To gain this designation, cities must hit several strict criteria such as “quality, quantity and diversity of publishing in the city,” “literature, drama and/or poetry playing an important role in the city,” and “existence of libraries, bookstores and public or private cultural centers which preserve, promote and disseminate domestic and foreign literature.”
All of which this naturally creative city excels in. But without further ado, let’s get into the best bookstores in Dublin!
Which are the best bookstores in Dublin?
Hodges Figgis
Kicking off with an oldie but a goodie. And when we say old, we’re talking “oldest bookshop in Ireland” and “third oldest operating bookshop in the world” old.
Opening in 1768, Hodges Figgis has been name-checked by James Joyce, Sally Rooney, and in a poem by Paul Durcan where an anonymous female author signs her novels “with such concentrated flourishes as if the book was the book of Kells”. But more on that particular book later…
A few floors hold an absolute treasure trove of talented writers from Ireland and beyond, with a stellar selection of events throughout the year. The perfect place to start any literary journey in the city.
Chapters
From the oldest to the biggest bookshop in Ireland, Chapters doesn’t follow trends. Whilst it gives space to all sorts of published works, they don’t just sell the guaranteed chart toppers.
Sustainably minded and creatively motivated, among the hundreds of times to explore, there is a never-ending programme of writer’s groups and book clubs, and a focus on helping their customers to uncover the new, the fresh and the different with their “mystery box” collections.
Ulysses Rare Books
Where did they get the striking name from? Keep reading to find out, but you can probably guess what they specialize in.
Winners of the Irish Times “Best Bookshop in Ireland” award, this is your go-to for lovely rare prints, with a particular focus on local literature from the 19th and 20th centuries. Though excitingly, you’re just as likely to find a limited edition of Dr. Seuss or a signed copy of Terry Pratchett among the antiquarian Irish gems.
Founded in Donegal in 1969, it’s been serving that comforting old book smell to the collectors of Dublin for years since.
Gutter
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
In Lady Windermere’s Fan, Oscar Wilde has one of his characters utter one of the most oft-quoted one-liners in Irish literature. It’s gone on to be featured on t-shirts, mugs and motivational social media posts ever since.
But it also served as inspiration for this wonderful pair of Dublin bookshops. With the original on Cow’s Lane opening in 2009 and the later sister store in Dalkey, Gutter is the quirky little independent choice for all ages with readings, book clubs and lovingly curated “Staff Picks” as standard.
The Winding Stair
They sure know how to celebrate their beloved writers in Dublin, and here’s another fantastic bookshop option which does just that.
Named for the iconic poem by WB Yeats, this bookshop boasting enviable views over both the River Liffey and Ha’Penny Bridge was a meeting place for all manner of creative minds through the 70s and 80s.
Nearly disappearing from Dublin’s streets forever in 2005, the very next year The Winding Stair was resurrected by a new restaurant sitting atop it. No fancy frills, just solid, comforting and seasonal Irish dishes like local Striploin beef or milk-poached Smoked Haddock with a choice of unusual books that prove why this independent shop is so important.
Secret Book & Record Store
It’s cozy, it’s loved by locals and it’s (if you haven’t guessed by the name) the place to come if you like culture in all its forms.
Dublin may have birthed some of Europe’s most famous writers, but it certainly hasn’t shirked when it comes to musical output either. It’s this legacy that The Secret Book & Record Store is dedicated to, both new and second-hand.
So if you’re looking to grab a vinyl record of U2’s ‘The Joshua Tree’, while also picking up a well-thumbed copy of Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’, you now know exactly where to head.
Sweny’s
One name that is going to come up time and again on any literary deep dive here is James Joyce, writer of ‘Ulysses’, the humorous yet weighty stream-of-consciousness novel, loosely built on the foundations of Homer’s ‘Odyssey’ but set in early 20th century Dublin.
It eventually got its first proper publishing in Paris in 1922 after being banned in the USA and Britain for being obscene and blasphemous. You can find out more about the man at the fantastic center dedicated to him, but why are we talking specifically about this masterpiece on a list of bookstores in Dublin?
Sweny’s was originally propelled to fame as a key landmark in the novel itself: a pharmacy where the lead character Leopold Bloom procures a lemon-scented soap which becomes his lucky talisman during an eventful day.
“He waited by the counter, inhaling the keen reek of drugs, the dusty dry smell of sponges and loofahs. Lot of time taken up telling your aches and pains.”
And now, this beautiful building is frozen in time, complete with prescriptions still waiting patiently on shelves for customers who never came.
Sweny’s has new customers now, those seeking solace through words rather than pharmaceuticals. Since 2009, it has gotten a new lease of life as a bookshop with a wide selection of works to purchase alongside lemon-scented soap for a lucky day of your own.
This is not your average Dublin bookshop, this is an absolute must-visit on any Joycean pilgrimage to the city.
Honorary Mention: Museum of Literature
We know it’s not a Dublin bookshop.
However, no article about literature in, or publishing pilgrimage to, the Irish capital would be complete without a bit of a spotlight on this excellent museum.
The MoLi on St. Stephen’s Green celebrates ‘the world’s greatest storytellers’ in a modern and accessible way, with a particular focus on James Joyce and great rotating exhibitions.
Oh, and a top tip from us? Try the cafe. It’s run by local sisters Domini and Peaches Kemp, who offer incredible Irish tastes and certainly know their way around a baked treat.
Feeling inspired? Then why not get up close and personal with Dublin’s most important book of all? Join our lovingly curated Dublin in a Day experience to discover the 9th-century Book of Kells as you enter the hallowed halls of Trinity College, hear the enthralling tales of this remarkable city during a walking tour with a local guide, and get a taste of the local libations at a top whiskey distillery and the Guinness Storehouse. Slàinte to that!