Smith & Son Paris Bookshop

Since 1903, a rose has been blooming at 248 Rue de Rivoli. It is here, in the neighbourhood of the Louvre Museum, that the Smith & Son bookshop welcomes lovers of the language of Shakespeare.

The most British of bookshops

Sitting on a floral-print bench, you leaf through a new bestseller from across the Channel. Although visitors crowd around the shelves, the atmosphere in the bookshop remains calm. Conversation gives way to reading. The place looks new. However, the period staircase harks back to a history older than the birth of Elizabeth II. The bookshop, renovated in 2021, blends past and present while highlighting what is most important: books.

At Smith & Son, English-language books take centre stage. All genres are represented, from classic novels to the latest popular manga. Like the décor, the books combine literature from centuries past with more contemporary works.

In this bookshop, different colours delineate the spaces. The grocery area, which resembles a kitchen, is a pretty green. Black corresponds to the international press area. The rest of the bookshop, dedicated to English literature, features pastel colours enhanced by the very noble blue of the shop front.

Tea with or without sugar?

Although paper doesn't appreciate getting wet, Earl Grey is the perfect accompaniment to reading. Head up to the first floor of the bookshop to devour not books, but rather a few English treats. From the windows of Smith & Son's café, you will certainly see the Jeu de Paume and the Tuileries Garden.

The café menu has something to delight fans of English breakfast and tea time. The specialities, such as sweet or savoury pies, have been given a modern twist. The décor transports guests to Great Britain for the duration of their meal, or welcomes readers into its cosy space. To accompany the overwhelming choice of teas available, we can only recommend the traditional scones.

Do you read English?

We thought digital was all-powerful. But books haven't had their final say yet. Just like TV series and films, which we watch in their original language to appreciate them better, books in their original English version are on the rise. Bookshops such as Shakespeare and Company and Smith & Son, which were in doubt just yesterday, are now very popular.

To meet demand, Smith & Son has even moved into the Marais. The annex of the main bookshop is located not far from the BHV Marais, at 20 rue des Rosiers. It's the perfect location for such a British bookshop.