The Best Bookstores In Morocco

With storytelling traditionally recounted orally, bookshops are not a common sight throughout the Kingdom. A small number of bookshops sell novels written by Moroccan authors in French and international bestsellers translated into French, but with the increase of comprehensive coffee-table books highlighting specific topics like riads, local crafts, and culture, bookshops are now becoming more popular.

1. Jardin Majorelle

Museum

The go-to bookshop for beautiful coffee-table books about all things Morocco – carpets, Berber clothing, local trades, and architectural styles – as well as Yves Saint Laurent and his fashion house. Nestled inside the Majorelle Gardens, the museum bookshop is the ideal stop after a tour through Morocco to stock up on the subjects of greatest interest followed by lunch or afternoon tea in the café. A selection of antique photograph reprints are also available for purchase.

2. Fnaque Berbere

Fnaque Berbere

An institution in the Marrakech medina at the junction of Rue Mouassine and Rue Lksour, Fnaque Berbere is merely a stall in the heart of the hustle and bustle. But their collection is complex and includes a variety of coffee-table books about Moroccan décor, design, and crafts, but perhaps has the best collection of Moroccan cookbooks in town, ranging from tajines to pastries. Upstairs there is a café for sipping tea while leafing through new purchases from the rooftop terrace.

Derb Ksour, Medina, Marrakech Morocco, +21 264 958 3165

http://instagram.com/p/BLLd-W8g8RT/?tagged=fnacberbere

3. Librairie des Colonnes

Librairie des Colonnes

An institution in Tangier, Librairie des Colonnes is a haunt of current local authors and international authors writing in Tangier alike. Founded in 1949 with several owners at the helm, and even threats to close up shop, this bookshop underwent renovations and reopened in 2010, and is now managed by Simon-Pierre Hamelin, founder of the publication Nejma. The bookshop has a selection of American and English books in addition to coffee-table books and books published by their in-house printing press.

Avenue Pasteur, Tanger, Morocco +21 253 993 6955

http://instagram.com/p/zgDPYWxFcx/?tagged=librairiedescolonnes

4. Chatr

Library

The must-visit bookshop in Marrakech for the widest selection of novels by international authors and Morocco, as well as coffee-table books, cookbooks, and all things Morocco. Though the bookshop does not have any space to peruse publications before purchasing and books are piled high throughout, the helpful staff are happy to assist customers with finding what they’re looking for. And if they don’t have it in stock, they can usually order it. Chatr is your best option for finding novels written by Moroccan authors, but the selections are often only in French.

5. Librarie La Fibule

Shop

The little hole-in-the-wall Librarie La Fibule is located off the main Place Moulay Hassan and has a great selection of novels, cookbooks, dictionaries, and workbooks for those interested in learning Moroccan Arabic and French, as well as a wide selection of books on Moroccan culture – like textiles, costumes, carpets, and Moroccan crafts – as well as local books about Essaouira. Crammed onto just two rows of bookshelves and with nowhere to sit to flip through the books before making a final selection, this is an ideal bookshop for booklovers who know exactly what they want. The shop also has a fabulous selection of postcards at the entrance.

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