Through Four Seasons' Eyes Budapest - IMEX America

Books & Music
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106
Books
Alexandra Könyvesház
(VI. Andrássy út 39; www.alexandra.hu)
Housed in the beautifully
refurbished Secessionist Párizsi
Nagyáruház, Alexandra features a
large atrium several stories high
and about 2,000 titles in English,
from classic, contemporary
and popular literature to large
picture books, CDs and DVDs.
But this branch of the Hungarian
chain offers much more. There’s
Hungarian wine for sale by the
entrance and an opulent café on
the upper level bedecked with
beautiful ceiling frescoes by
Károly Lotz, ornate chandeliers
and a grand piano.
Bestsellers
(V. Október 6. utca 11;
www.bestsellers.hu)
In business for two decades,
Bestsellers has a reputation as the
expats’ favorite, and with about
10,000 titles on the shelves, it’s
easy to see why. Apart from an
excellent collection of fiction,
it also stocks professional and
academic publications – and
whatever you can’t find they’ll
happily order. New arrivals from
the UK and the USA every week
as well as English, French and
German periodicals.
Book Station
(XIII. Katona József utca 13;
www.bookstation.hu)
This under-appreciated gem
carries one of the city’s largest
collections of English-language
fiction with over 5,000 works
of contemporary and pop lit.
You’ll also find the latest from
top authors and special orders
can be filled relatively quickly.
Their range of non-fiction covers
topics such as politics, history,
languages as well as books for
children. Used books in English,
French and German can be found
in the cellar.
Írók Boltja
(VI. Andrássy út 45; www.irokboltja.hu)
Once home to a renowned literary
coffee house from the turn of
the previous century, the Írók
Boltja followed in its literary
footsteps and opened at the site
of the café over two decades ago.
They stock several Hungarian
books in translation as well as
a decent selection of bestsellers
and publications on philosophy,
travel and art. The makeshift
café on-site is put to good use
for regularly scheduled book
launches and readings usually
held in Hungarian.
Massolit
(VII. Nagydiófa utca 30-32;
www.massolit.hu)
This lovely shop in the heart of
the Jewish Quarter is the local
branch of a popular bookstore
in Krakow. Massolit stocks titles
on Jewish culture in Central and
Eastern Europe, as well as politics
and history of the region, gender
studies plus a number of works
by Central and Eastern European
writers in English. What’s most
unique about Massolit is its
regularly scheduled Englishlanguage
readings and wonderful
café where you’ll find Americanstyle
cakes, quiche and great
coffee – a reason alone to come
here.