How to find English language books in Madrid

If you really can’t stand (or speak) Spanish and just need a break : a run down of your English language literature options in Madrid, Spain.

I know, you feel guilty about it. You’re in a foreign country, you’re supposed to immerse yourself in the culture. But what you really want is a day to curl up with a bad (or even a good) novel and effortlessly enjoy the sight of your mother tongue. It’s ok, we won’t judge you. Besides, if you’re just passing through, chances are you haven’t mastered the language. And sometimes, after days of struggling with the three phrases you remember from 9th grade Spanish and endless pantomiming, you just want to lay your eyes on some English.

Luckily, Madrid being the cosmopolitan place it is, and thanks to it’s growing British and Irish population, you’ve got many places to go to get something to read. Avoid new books if you’re on a budget, English lit in Spain is expensive (the average paperback running from €10-20), second-hand stores are your best budget option (usually between 4 and 8 €).

THE BIGGIES

I will be frank, these will probably not be your best options, but if you want a quick novel and money is no object, they’ll do in a pinch. And if you’re in Madrid long-term they will usually order you a title if they don’t have it in stock.

• FNAC

Located in Plaza Callao, this mega-store is Europe’s answer to Borders or Barnes & Noble. Look for “Idiomas” on the 2nd floor, amble past the grammar books and travel guides and you’ll find a decent but pricey selection of classics and some new titles, mostly fiction. And after you’re done you can load up on DVDs and music as well. They’ve also got a silent reading nook so you can browse as long as you like before you buy.

• Casa Del Libro

Another biggie, but all dedicated to books. The largest central store is only a stone’s throw from FNAC at Calle Gran Via, 29. Similar selection of classics, and some new titles, hidden in the back on the ground floor.

THE INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLERS

Not one of the mega-stores, but it is entirely dedicated to foreign language books, a big favorite of English teachers in Madrid (well, those with steady income, cuz as the books are new, they’re still pricey). But for the budget traveler, worry not! There are more and more used book stores popping up all the time! These two specialize in English books and combine reading with drinking, with a bar/café upstairs and the bookstore below!

• J&J’s Books and Coffee

This little store was opened in 2003 by Jamie, an American expat, and her Spanish husband Javi (hence the two J’s). The bar’s just been remodeled to fit a few more café-sipping expats into it’s cozy interior, the bar-staff are always bilingual and book-savvy. In addition to a good selection of fiction (and the classics, which are priced super cheap!) there are activities, like language exchange nights and a Trivia Quiz on Fridays. And free WIFI!

J&J’s Books and Coffee shop
C/ Espiritu Santo 47
Metro Noviciado

• Bacchus

Bacchus is Madrid’s newest hangout for bookish expat types. There’s slightly more room to spread out in Bachhus’ upstairs café and always good company and friendly helpful bar staff. They too have a quiz night (on Wednesdays), language exchanges, and free WIFI. It’s easy to spend quite a while sipping one of their many teas, and browsing their collection, again, mainly strong on fiction.

Bacchus bookstore
C/Melendez Valdez, 52
Metros Moncloa or Arguelles

There are also book stores that have a variety of foreign language books, some with a good English selection.

• Pasajes International Bookshop

Don’t let this store’s relatively modest facade mislead you. Venture inside, walk past the heavy-looking Spanish philosophy books, go downstairs, past the French lit and you will be pleasantly surprised by the fantastic selection of (new) English books. There’s the regular selection of classic literature, but a much better selection of contemporary fiction and non-fiction than you’ll find at FNAC or Casa del Libro. Any bookstore carrying a book about all things Big Lebowski prominently displayed next to an alternative history of Britain is at the top of my list!

Pasajes International Bookshop
C/ Génova Nº 3.
Metro Alonso Martinez

• La Libreria de Lavapiés

This little shop in the quirky multicultural neighborhood of Lavapiés has a small selection of English language fiction tucked into it’s back room along with a couple of other languages. If you just need something for that next train ride, it’ll certainly do. Also good for book-lover presents like journals.

La Libreria de Lavapiés book shop
C/Argumosa, 39
Metro Lavapiés

• Petra’s: The International Bookshop

This is one of the more well-established second-hand bookshops, dealing with various languages. It’s selection isn’t as good as some of the afore-mentioned places, and a lot of their stuff is hardback, which most other stores don’t bother buying. But again, it’s worth a browse for airplane ride literature and if you need a pick-me-up, they offer free coffee and tea while you peruse.

Petr’as book store
C/ Campoamanes Nº 13.
Metro Opera

PRESS

If you’ve been traveling for a while and really just want to catch up on current events, you can also easily find English language newspapers and magazines.

• VIPS

This massive chain of restaurants and food & gift shops have a selection of press as well. In the larger shops (such as on Gran Via or C/ Fuencarral) there will be English Language newspapers, usually British, such as the Guardian, as well as magazines like Time, Newsweek, the Economist, People, or Wired.

• Your Local Kiosk

Most of the street corner news agents won’t have international press, but there are exceptions at major central locations, such as on Plaza Puerta del Sol, or one near Metro Bilbao (outside the Cafe Comercial), another near Plaza Callao, etc… The selection varies, and you may not have many choices. They are often disappointingly full of British tabloids like the Sun, but you can usually get the International Herald Tribune.

• Local Press

And of course if you want to pick up something to read in English about Madrid, there are a couple of English language mags. In Madrid, and The Broadsheet, are both monthly publications. In Madrid is available for free in expat hangouts, like most Irish Bars and some of the bookstores listed above, and caters more to the study abroad, young expat demographic. The Broadsheet’s a glossy mag, costs a couple euros and caters more to the older somewhat British crowd.

Photo of old books in Almoneda, Madrid originally posted by zsita

Topic:  How to Tuesday | 2 Comments
Tags:  Madrid, shopping

Share this article:

About the author

Karina came to Madrid from Berkeley, California to teach English for a year...that was four years ago! After finishing her degree in Political Theory (which prepared her perfectly for a career in...ummm....reading?) she had decided to improve her Spanish and see a bit of the world. Teaching English didn't pan out so she worked in a bar, then translated for sketchy businessmen, worked in a bookstore, and presented an online television news program before she decided to strike out on her own and try some freelancing (which she had the bad judgment to decide to do in the month of July, which meant she did very little writing and quite a lot of poolside lounging). She's lived all over this great city - the silver lining to the otherwise bleak storm cloud of having had 9 apartments in less than 4 years - and is now settled smack in the center. She's mainly interested in politics-specifically immigration policy and her country's recent foreign policy decisions. Other current activities and interests include: reading gut wrenchingly depressing novels, cooking for large groups of hungry people, occasionally writing on her blog, interning for CNN's Madrid bureau, learning a bit about video production, and improving her French.