Librairie Le Rideau Rouge

A little out of the way for some expat book lovers used to hanging around the Left Bank, Librarie Le Rideau Rouge well rewards the trek out to the 18th arrondissement. Opened in 2012, the chic white-painted space is set over two floors, with a gallery and event space in the basement. The commendable raison d’être is to promote literature from around the world and in translation – so as well bestsellers and a delightful children’s section, you’ll find the titles organised by country rather than by author or genre. There’s a limited selection of original English-language titles (also German, Spanish and Italian) – just a few small shelves’ worth, but with sensible choices across a range of classics, Paris titles and bestsellers. The big boon is that prices are a shade more reasonable than at the big English-language outlets on the Rue de Rivoli, with paperbacks starting at around €9-€13 rather than €20 – and of course, the charming staff are delighted to help you order in whatever you’re looking for.