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There are few pleasures in life equal to a great book: that sense of discovery, of individual achievement, of personal gain in that uniquely personal way. One of those equal pleasures, we might argue, comes from dining at a restaurant by yourself, book in hand. It’s a unique experience — perhaps an acquired taste to some — but something we should all give a try at least once. So, whether you’re a voracious reader who’s new to the solo dining game or a seasoned vet, we’ve got the perfect guide for you. Allow us to share our favorite bookstores in the city, paired alongside the very best places to eat and read by yourself within walking distance. See you there.
Newly added: Sweet Pickle, Double Chicken Please, Vanessa’s Dumpling House, The Ripped Bodice, Haenyeo, Al di là, Freebird Books, Alma, Swoony’s, Oti, Golden Hof Korean Bar & Grill, and Bibliotheque.
The Bookstore: Sweet Pickle
Lower East Side
There’s no shame in being in this for the food more than the books, or even the bookstore merch more than the books. Sweet Pickle, in both of those cases, might just be for you. You can trade in your old books for jars of, you guessed it, pickles, and pick up one of their baseball caps seen often on the heads of celebrities. If you’re willing to pick through the masses, there are gems to be found in their towering shelves.
Where to Dine with Your Book:
Keep your day of popular hot-spots going by moseying over to Double Chicken Please with the goal of scoring a bar seat (they don’t take reservations for one, but your chances for the bar might be better solo). From there, enjoy a Cold Pizza or Mango Sticky Rice cocktail that will leave you feeling confused about whether or not you just had dinner. Want somewhere a little less scene-y but still a little scene-y? Head to Vanessa’s Dumpling House and stock up on sesame pancake sandwiches and boiled dumplings (and napkins).
The Bookstore: Freebird Books
Columbia Street Waterfront
Freebird is one of the few used bookstores in the city we don’t feel overly intimidated by. That doesn’t mean it isn’t cool, it definitely is, but the owner (or whoever it is that’s at the counter most often) is friendly and helpful and willing to answer even the stupidest of queries for a recommendation. Also, it smells amazing in here. Bonus.
Where to Dine with Your Book:
If the weather is nice, there’s nowhere else to go but Alma, a rooftop Mexican spot with good margaritas and views of the city and none of the overpriced hype of a usual rooftop spot. Order the shrimp tacos. If the weather is less nice, try your luck for a bar seat at Swoony’s for one of our favorite burgers in the borough and some perfectly McDonalds-y fries. Oh, and a martini. Or two. They both take Resys for one.
The Bookstore: The Ripped Bodice
Park Slope
Haven’t you heard? Romance novels are back in a big way, people. The Ripped Bodice is a shop that carries pretty much only that genre, originally founded in LA and now also conveniently located in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The vibes here are nothing short of perfection — the booksellers are helpful and friendly, whether you’re a genre pro or just overheard your coworkers talking about ACOTAR and wondered what the deal was with that.
Where to Dine with Your Book:
Walk a few blocks down Fifth Avenue to Haenyeo, where (if you’re lucky), you can score a bar seat and some of their supremely good grilled oysters. If you’re planning ahead, one of the borough’s best and perpetually booked Italian restaurants, al di là, takes reservations for one. This is a romance, remember, so cozy up to your stranger neighbor at one of their communal tables and nudge a meatball towards them with your nose. Or, don’t do that. Either way, get an espresso martini.
The Bookstore: Books Are Magic
Cobble Hill
Books are magic, and so is this bookstore. Owned by author Emma Straub (“All Adults Here,” “This Time Tomorrow,” etc., etc., etc.), it’s located on a lovely corner spot with big front windows and an excellent selection of the newest and hottest reads. No matter how your tastes run, the booksellers are friendly and happy to recommend something that will fit you perfectly. Pro tip: All of the merch pretty much qualifies as Brooklyn’s hottest accessory. You’ll probably see several people carrying Books Are Magic bags on your (short) walk down to the restaurant.
Where to Dine with Your Book:
A few short blocks down from Books Are Magic lies one of our absolute favorite restaurants in the city, Bar Bête. It’s classic inside, with airy windows and a perfect bar that takes reservations for one. Of course, the food speaks for itself, but trust us when we say … trust us. Another favorite of ours is Bee’s Knees Provisions, also right down the block. They’ve got a truly ridiculous happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., with dollar oysters every day from 4 to 6 p.m., and they also take reservations for parties of any size. Go here for the charcuterie boards, which are ideal to snack on without spilling on your new read.
The Bookstore: Yu and Me Books
Chinatown
Yu and Me Books is a special bookstore in a lot of ways. Owned by Lucy Yu, this Chinatown space is sweet and homey, and located next to some of the best food you can find in Manhattan. Their selection runs the gamut, but there’s special care and focus on stories written by immigrants, often ones you might not find as easily elsewhere. If you get there and decide you never want to leave (understandable), they also boast a small cafe, with coffee, wine, and beer. We’ll be moving in next month.
Where to Dine with Your Book:
Like we said, Chinatown has options aplenty. We can’t recommend Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles enough, and if you’ve lived in New York for more than three minutes, you probably understand why. Grab your noodles and walk on over to Columbus Park if the weather is nice. If it’s not, walk over to Dimes on Canal Street for decidedly Los Angeles-healthy vibes — think mugs of mushroom broth, shrimp toast, and black rice with sweet potato and broccoli. They’re open every day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., but only take reservations (including for one) for dinner. It’s bright and airy — perfect to settle in and read between sips of your wheatgrass margarita.
The Bookstore: Greenlight Bookstore
Fort Greene
We can (and have) spend hours inside Greenlight. The selection is what you might call sprawling, with shelves stacked nearly ceiling high and truly inspiring tables of staff picks to choose from when you’re lacking inspiration. You might be rewarded by your boots on the ground with an author sighting — they often hole up in the back section to sign copies of their latest releases.
Where to Dine with Your Book:
Walter’s is a platonic ideal of a Fort Greene restaurant, with its curving metal bar and corner windows. Go for the artichoke dip and a side of fries, a frozen margarita or a crisp mango lemonade, and take advantage of the reservations available for one. If you’re feeling more adventurous, or you have some time to wait in the park for your spot, walk over to Colonia Verde and see if you can grab a seat at the bar or in the back patio if the weather is warm enough. If you score, order whatever the bartender says is good, as well as those clams al pastor.
The Bookstore: Bluestockings Cooperative
Lower East Side
Bluestockings is the favored pick of New School professors (and students), downtown revolutionaries, and anyone who’s looking for a book that will stay with them long after they’ve finished it. They boast being New York’s only queer-, trans-, and sex-worker owned bookstore, and have been a cooperative since 2021. Trust the staff here: Ask them what they think is good and important right now, and they won’t lead you astray.
Where to Dine with Your Book:
The phở at Ginger and Lemongrass is just too good to pass up. Order the beef or spicy coconut and prepare to let your mind be blown double. Or consider walking to Oti for Romanian stuffed peppers, “broken” burrata, and some comforting, housemade polenta. And yes, they take reservations for one.
The Bookstore: Archestratus Books and Food
Greenpoint
Since you’re reading this list, we have to assume that you’re a fan of food and books. Allow us to present heaven, also known as Archestratus Books and Food in Greenpoint. They’ve got a general store and a huge selection of groceries and dry goods. If you’ve been looking for a new cookbook for a while, you’ll find it here, along with three others that you have to have. Grab one of their many food-writing or food-adjacent-writing picks on the side and walk away knowing dinner is about to be great at your house for the next month. Bonus? Walk over to Big Night afterwards for the cutest accessories for the dinner party you’re already planning in your head.
Where to Dine with Your Book:
Flip through your new cookbook down the road at Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co., a convivial, happy spot with plenty of room to spread out (and reserve for one). Order the flaky fish sandwich and a clamato michelada and settle in. Craving a cocktail? Try Bar Americano instead, for a list that would impress anyone. Pair it with the aperitivo assortment that comes with Manzanilla olives and the Marcona almonds, please.
The Bookstore: McNally Jackson at Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center
You know you’ve just been looking for an excuse to go check out Rockefeller Center in all of its revamped, buzzy restaurant glory. Start with McNally Jackson, a publisher (union!) bookstore that has such a large collection you could get lost there for hours. Go during weird times to avoid tourists (and be more likely to score a good table nearby).
Where to Dine with Your Book:
A seat at the bar at Jupiter, from the wonderful team behind King in Soho, is pretty ideal. Luckily, they still take reservations for one, and the space is perfect for enjoying your book. It’s cozy, classy, and beautiful, and the staff is professional and warm. Order whatever they say. Can’t get a spot there? Wander across the street directly over to Golden Hof – Korean Bar & Grill nearby for a Melona Milk Punch and some seriously good Korean fried chicken (don’t worry, they’ll give you hand wipes) to ease your heartache.
The Bookstore: Three Lives and Company
West Village
If you’re looking for a nice way to spend a classic New York City day, we always recommend the West Village. There’s just something about the hidden streets and bustling cafes that make us feel like we’re in a movie about the city instead of texting our landlord that the hot water still isn’t working. Three Lives and Company feeds into our delusions, with its vaguely Shakespearean facade, snug stacks of books, and big selection of nonfiction.
Where to Dine with Your Book:
Continue the romantic comedy you’re starring in about your fabulous life in New York by heading over the Waverly Diner with your bounty. There, you’ll stir coffee absentmindedly among college kids and neighborhood old-timers, ordering fries once you realize the book is too good to get up for a while. Ready to meet the love of your life? We make no promises, but Canto is where we’d go next. Make your reservation for one and order one of the seasonal cocktail specials and the fried artichokes; they will come, and even if they don’t, the artichokes will make you forget all about them.
The Bookstore: Revolution Books
Harlem
Revolution remains one of the only bookstores centrally located in Harlem. They host regular author events, rallies, and the politics lean communist with the reading selection to match. It’s a community bookstore in a way that is rare these days, with used, new, and highly selective picks inside. You’ll definitely find a flier for a rally or new cause to get behind on the table inside. It’s totally volunteer run, and nonprofit to boot.
Where to Dine with Your Book:
Take your bounty and your new manifesto over to Sylvia’s for the famed Sylvia’s down home Southern fried chicken and the baked macaroni and cheese. Or take breaks between turning the pages and order the sleeper hit: the barbecued short ribs. Or try Chez Jacob for Senegalese fare that’s become a neighborhood staple in a casual, friendly setting.
The Bookstore: Book Culture
Long Island City
New, used, and everything in between can be found at Book Culture. We’re partial to the Long Island City location for its proximity to great food, the long glass staircase, and the stationery selection.
Where to Dine with Your Book:
Michelin-starred Mexican cuisine? Don’t mind if we do. Casa Enrique is famous for a reason, and that reason includes the chile relleno and the flan from chef Cosme Aguilar. It’s a sleek, sweet spot that fits the bill whether you’re looking to go all out on dinner for yourself or just grab a quick snack and a drink — they take reservations for one. If you don’t mind asking your server for extra (extra, extra) napkins, you also can’t go wrong with the soy-marinated seafood at Rice Thief. You’ll have to work a little hard to keep your pages clean, but those shrimp are worth it.
The Bookstore: Powerhouse Books
DUMBO
Powerhouse is there for all your art and art book needs. It’s a publisher bookstore right under the bridge in Dumbo, with plenty of room to spread out and browse, which we can guarantee you’ll want to do. They also have a very nice selection of New York photo books that we could look through all day.
Where to Dine with Your Book:
Go ahead, you know you want to buy the photo book. Take it over to The Binc on Henry Street, order a signature cocktail and the burger, and make sure to keep your hands clean while you flip. Or try Hildur, the newcomer Scandinavian spot in the former Gran Electrica space (from the same team!) complete with that gorgeous backyard. Sit at the bar at either one without feeling like they’re trying to push you out.
Bonus: Bibliotheque
Bibliotheque is one-stop shopping for those of us who obsess over books and food in equal measure. Here, you can snag your latest read from their shelves and enjoy it over an overflowing charcuterie and cheese board, all without ever stepping out the front door. It’s a coffee shop by day, wine bar by night, bookstore by always, so no matter what your hankering is, there’s a time for you.
Ellie Plass is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter. Follow Resy, too.
