City of Books: Buenos Aires

I had no idea prior to coming here that Buenos Aires is dubbed the “City of Books”.  Rightfully so – everywhere I turn there are bookstores on what seems to be every corner, people reading in the parks, book readings, Jorge Luis Borges splashed across the likes of street names, metro stops and restaurants.

Two of my favorite places to read, peruse books and study my Spanish are:

El Ateneo: a theater-turned bookstore 

Pros:  Beautiful architecture and books gallore

Cons:  Touristy and loud, expensive coffee and bites

Libros del Pasaje: Cafe / bookstore combo

Pros:  Much quieter than El Ateneo, more easily accessible from Palermo, great food/coffee, bookshelves and ladders that remind me of the opening scene of Beauty and the Beast

Cons:  None, really