Brussels, the capital of Belgium, has a vibrant literary scene—both in French and English.
Tropismes
If you want elegance, Tropismes has it in spades. From its high ceilings and intricate molding to its strategically-placed mirrors giving the inside a sense of limitless space, this store is a marvel to walk into. Its detailed interior design also makes it one of the most beautiful bookstores in Europe.
Located in the historic Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert, you can find a curated selection in both French and English. Locals particularly enjoy the illustrated books it offers, both for children and adults.
Address: 11 Galerie des Princes, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 10AM - 6:30PM
- Saturday: 10:30AM - 7PM
- Sunday: 1:30PM -6:30PM
Filigranes
Now that we’ve looked at Brussels’ most beautiful, let’s take a look at its biggest. While London’s largest booksellers tend to stack story on top of story to create towering mansions, Filigranes is spread out. It covers 2,600 square meters of floor space, with its 180,000-title collection all on one floor. As you might expect, it has books of every sort and genre on its shelves. That includes a wide selection of comic books and loads of foreign-language books, from Dutch to English.
When you inevitably get sore feet from exploring its endless shelves, you can kick back at the in-house café with a nice, hot drink. Alternatively, the store provides quite a few reading areas, so you can sample your books before you decide to buy.
Address: Bd de Waterloo 25, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 10:30AM - 6:30PM
- Saturday: 10:30AM - 6:50PM
- Sunday: 10:30AM - 5:50PM
Passa Porta
Passa Porta is geared toward an international audience, attracting both locals and expats. The store features a multilingual selection of books and frequently hosts literary events. These include not only the more-expected author meet-and-greets and book signings but also writing workshops.
This bookstore even arranges a biennial literary festival called the Passa Porta Festival. It’s a huge event, attracting both Belgian and international writers and artists. It centers around a theme and holds writer meetings, performances, debates, and more.
Address: Rue Antoine Dansaert 46, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Opening hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 11AM - 7PM
- Sunday: 12PM - 6PM
Librebook
Passa Porta isn’t the only bookstore courting the multilingual community. Librebook stocks titles in over 30 languages centered around European fiction, art, and politics. It makes a lot of sense when you consider it’s just a 10-minute walk from the European Parliament.
Though it welcomes international clients, it prides itself on embodying what it calls the “Brussels state of mind”: chaotic, curious, open, and odd, among other things. It’s relatively small, but makes up for what it lacks in size with its warm and friendly atmosphere. Librebook regularly hosts events like readings and jazz poetry sessions, and is a great place to find the pulse of the local cultural scene.
Address: Chau. de Wavre 128, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium
Opening hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday: 12PM - 7PM
- Sunday & Monday: Closed
Cook & Book
A unique blend of bookstore and restaurant, Cook & Book offers themed sections for browsing while enjoying delicious meals. And when I say “sections,” I mean you get a wildly different design depending on which room you go to. From the plushy and colorful kids section to a room whose ceiling is covered in books, this store keeps you on your toes in all the best ways.
While some reviews are mixed on how good the food is, with some saying it’s just “okay,” it still offers a unique experience for visitors and is well worth a visit.
Address: Pl. du Temps Libre 1, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
Opening hours:
- Monday to Sunday: 10AM - 10PM
Peinture Fraîche
This art-focused bookstore specializes in the visual arts. Its collection includes subjects on photography, design, art history, architecture, and volumes about artists. One section in particular highlights Japanese architecture and culture. It also has a decent selection of textbooks at reduced prices, making it a magnet for students from local art schools.
Its storefront is a work of art as well, featuring wood-panel windows inspired by the Art Nouveau style. These are flanked by delicate designs that add a touch of grace and elegance.
Address: Rue Lesbroussart 9, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium
Opening hours:
- Sunday & Monday: 11AM - 5PM
- Tuesday to Saturday: 11AM - 7PM
Le Wolf: La Maison de la Litterature de Jeunesse
This is one place where you don’t have to be afraid of the big bad wolf. This children’s bookstore looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale, complete with tree trunks shooting up through the shelves. The creative interior is sure to delight children, and even includes a café with menu items for kids and adults alike.
Address: Rue de la Violette 20, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Tulibris
Peter De Meersman opened Tulibris in 2015, naming the store by combining the words “Tulipe” (from the street it’s located on) and “libris” (Latin for “books”). Some visitors have described the bookstore as feeling like the owner’s living room. It certainly has a homey feel, decorated with an eclectic mix of vintage furniture and design pieces against warm orange walls and a distinct patterned carpet.
Its collection specializes in secondhand English-language books, all in very good condition despite being used.
Address: Rue de la Tulipe 25, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium
Opening hours:
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: 11AM - 7PM
- Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Closed
Saint-Martin Bookshop
Saint-Martin is so chic, you might mistake it for an art museum when you first walk in. It offers mainly art books, exhibition catalogs, and rare editions. Most of its clientele are collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts, so it makes sense that its displayed collection is fairly limited. If you have any inclinations in that direction, this is a place you don’t want to miss.
Address: Rue de Flandre 114, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Opening hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 11AM - 7PM
- Sunday: Closed
Galerie Bortier
We’re going to cheat with this last one, because Galerie Bortier isn’t a bookshop by itself. Instead, this historic gallery hosts several secondhand bookshops and art sellers. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, it’s worth a visit just to feast your eyes on the neo-Renaissance architecture, which dates back to 1848. It has undergone renovations in recent years, but still maintains much of its historic character.
Address: Rue de la Madeleine 55, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Opening hours:
- Sunday: 9AM - 6PM
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday to Saturday: 9AM - 10:30PM
