9 Rome Bookshops Readers Will Love

Rome is famous for its food and its ruins, but there is much here to entertain traveling book lovers, too! I think popping into some gorgeous and well-curated bookshops is a great way to break up the typical, sometimes exhausting, Rome sightseeing. 

Literary travel is kind of my whole thing, so I make a point of tracking down the very best bookstores everywhere I go. Multiple trips to Rome in recent years have given me ample opportunity to explore the best Rome bookstores and share my findings with my fellow wandering bibliophiles. 

Because I speak and read primarily in English, this list focuses on Rome bookshops where you can buy English language titles. I’ll let you know which stores carry the biggest selection of English titles, and which have more limited supply but are still absolutely worth the visit.

I’ll also tell you about two Rome bookstores that are open late at night and serve alcohol along with their books. Let’s dive in so I can tell you all about these great finds. 

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Whenever possible, I recommend buying books at local bookshops or through Bookshop.org, because shopping there puts the profits right into the hands of indie bookstores all over the country.

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Open Door Bookshop

The Open Door Bookshop is one of my absolute favorite Rome bookshops. It’s tucked away in the artsy Trastavere district, across the river from Rome’s major tourist center. And the Open Door Bookshop itself is a work of art that must be seen in person. 

This women-owned bookshop has been open since 1976, and it’s as inviting as the name implies. The basket of free books at the front door, the iconic brick archway, and the cozy, eclectic decor make this a very desirable place to pass the time in Rome. And that’s before we even get to the book selection. 

The Open Door Bookshop sells all secondhand books, and they intentionally seek out “unusual and even bizarre” titles when curating their stock. So you’ll likely find some real gems here that you may not have ever heard of. Most of the book selection is in English, but you’ll also find titles in Italian and French. 

Plus, you’re likely to find a decent section of books by Italian authors in translation. Books are priced well, with most paperback titles being sold for around 5 euros. 

The Open Door Bookshop is open from Monday-Saturday and sometimes on Sunday. 

Tip: Even if Google Maps says they are closed mid-afternoon, feel free to stop by and check. Though Maps said it would be closed when I was in the neighborhood, I decided to swing by just in case. Low and behold, they were still open. 

However, know that the bookshop is closed during month of August (this is not uncommon in Europe. I encountered this a lot when visiting Paris bookshops during August). 

Location: Via della Lungaretta, 23, 00153 Roma RM, Italy

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Related: Traveling to Italy soon? Check out my recommendations for the best books set in Italy before your trip.

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Almost Corner Bookshop

The Almost Corner Bookshop is another gem in the Trastavere neighborhood (which happens to be one of my favorite places to eat while in Rome). They sell all English language books, both used and new titles. 

There’s a great diversity of titles available here, and you can take home your finds in one of their cute tote bags (for a surcharge). I came away with a couple of books that I was really excited about, including a new book set in Italy I can’t wait to read. 

If you’re lucky, you might even be able to catch an author event or signing. They don’t have a website that I can find, but they do keep their social media updated, so follow them there if you want to find out about upcoming events. 

Location: Via del Moro, 45, 00153 Roma RM, Italy

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Libreria Caffe Bohemien 

Here’s another unique bookstore in Rome to check out: the Libreria Caffe Bohemian is part bookstore, part café, part cocktail bar. That means you can escape to this cute, quiet, book lover’s paradise to finish out your day of sightseeing (it’s open most nights until 2 am!).  

Libreria Caffe Bohemian is found in the Monti quarter of Rome, and it has a perfect “hole in the wall” feel to get you away from some of the more touristy spots. You can make yourself comfy on the velvet upholstered furniture and enjoy the moody lighting and ambience. 

The books are well-chosen and gorgeously displayed, the vibes are right, and the cocktails are delicious. All in all, one of the best Rome bookshops to add to your itinerary. 

Location: Via degli Zingari, 36, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

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Libreria Farenheit 451

Tourists flock to the popular Campo de Fiori in Rome, a large market center full of food vendors of all sorts. But it’s easy to overlook the small, independent bookshop hiding amongst all the vendors and street cafes. If you know where to look, you can discover one of the best Rome bookshops, Libreria Farenheit 451. 

It’s a beautiful bookshop with a great retro vibe, with tables piled high with books, high shelves topped with eclectic framed art, and antique typewriters scattered throughout the shop. The shelves are full of used, rare, and antiquarian titles, though mostly in Italian (despite the name inspired by the famous English language book) .

Go all the way to the back of the shop, and you’ll find a shelf with some used books in English, priced well. 

Location: Campo de’ Fiori, 44, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

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Borri Books

This next stop on our tour of Rome’s best bookshops is conveniently located right inside the main train station, Roma Termini. That makes it the perfect stop before or after catching a train elsewhere in this beautiful country — to say, check out the famous Acqua Alta bookstore in Venice. 

Borri Books is actually a family-owned bookstore and has been for generations. It opened up in the 1990s, just as many Rome bookshops were closing down. Borri Books has managed to thrive, spread out over two floors of the train station. 

Borri Books sells new books, including a small but notable selection of books in English and other European languages. They are all arranged in a way that stimulates your curiosity and leads you to discover new titles you might not otherwise hear of. 

This is a great place to stop for a new read, such as one of the many great books set in Rome. And as a bonus, it’s open 365 days a year, so you’re all but guaranteed to find it open. 

Location: Ticket Hall Termini Station 00185 Rome

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Otherwise Bookshop

Otherwise Bookshop is one of my favorite Rome bookstores, especially for English readers. It’s located right in the center of Rome, so it’s easy to pop in between other sightseeing. Plus, it sells books in English, almost exclusively. 

One of the best things about Otherwise Bookshop is the fantastic selection of Italian authors in translation. I firmly uphold that reading books by local authors is one of the very best ways to experience the culture of a place you’re traveling, especially considering how tourist-driven many destinations are becoming. Reading a local Italian author’s works will give you insight that visiting the tourist hot spots simply won’t. It deepens your appreciation and understanding of what you are seeing, and what it means to the people who grew up there. 

Most of the book selection here is new, with a small section of used books as well. It’s also the place if you love to buy gorgeous editions of the classics — like the clothbound classics and Chiltern editions. There’s also some fun bookish gifts to discover (Jane Austen tarot cards, anyone?). 

Location: Via del Governo Vecchio, 80, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

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Related: Headed to Venice next? Hear my thoughts on the famous Acqua Alta bookstore there as well as my recommendations for other Venice bookshops you should check out.

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Altoquando Libreria e Pub

Directly across the road from Otherwise Bookshop, it’s worth popping in to check out Altoquando Libreria e Pub. I happened upon these sister bookstores right when a downpour started, and the two of them together made for a perfect escape from the rain. 

While Otherwise specializes in books in English, Altoquando sells primarily in Italian. Still, even if you don’t read in Italian, it’s an adorable shop to poke around in, and there is a small shelf of English language books. 

If you come to this Rome bookstore at night, you can check out the underground pub located beneath the bookshop. The pub bookstore combo is open until midnight most nights. They specialize in beer but also offer wine, cocktails, and other drinks. You might even be able to catch a live music performance or an author event down here. 

Location: Via del Governo Vecchio, 82, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

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anglo american bookshop 

The Anglo American Bookshop in Rome might not be what it was at its prime, but it’s still worth a stop by if you’ve got the time in Rome. They sell all English and American books and magazines across all genres. 

The shop has been around since 1953. Though most of their location moves were to expand, they moved premises again in 2022, this time to a smaller and less convenient location. That means it’s a little harder to find (it’s on the first floor, not the ground floor), and they don’t carry as much in-store stock as they once did. 

That said, if you’re in Rome for longer, they are happy to special order any titles you might wish to purchase that they don’t have on hand. Books are primarily sold new, with a few that are sold used. And while the prices might seem a little high here, consider it the cost of keeping around another indie bookseller and fighting the Zon monopoly. 

Plus, the staff here clearly love books and are enthusiastic to chat about books and give their recommendations. 

The Anglo American Bookstore is located just a couple of blocks from the famous Spanish Steps and the Keats-Shelley house, another Rome destination for book lovers.

Tip: You’ll have to catch this bookstore on a weekday, because they are currently closed on weekends. 

Location: Via della Vite, 27, 00187 Roma RM, Italy (first floor, not ground floor)

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laFeltrinelli 

laFeltrinelli is an Italian chain of bookstores, much like Barnes & Noble in the US or Waterstones in the UK. You can find one in just about every major city in Italy, and Rome is no exception. 

The Rome branch is centrally located between the Roman Forum and the Pantheon, so any book lover can pop inside without going out of their way. There’s a good amount of English language books at laFeltrinelli. Make sure you check for the section of books set in Italy. 

You can also find stationary, planners, and other similar items for sale here. All books are new. 

Location: Largo di Torre Argentina, 5/A, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

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Hopefully this helps you plan your next trip to Rome to include some book shopping to break up all the touristy activities. Which of these looks the most enticing to you?

Make sure you pin this for later, and share it with your book loving friends.