Gestalten, the bibliophile paradise
GESTALTEN SPACE, A WAREHOUSE OF IDEAS
The Gestalten Space , the Berlin publisher's store (at Sophienstrasse 21) can be defined as a store of ideas related to international visual culture . They boast of having been advancing trends in the fields of design, illustration, architecture, urban art and typography for almost two decades through their careful selection of books. They are very select and there are barely 400 titles that reach the counters of this establishment that has only been active in the center of Mitte for three years.
Gestalten Space, the store of the Berlin publisher
** DO YOU READ ME? : SMALL BUT BULKY**
Despite its small size, the bookstore catalog Do you read me? is the widest . The book IT, by the British it girl Alexa Chung, or the 2014 calendar of the unmistakable gay magazine printed on pink paper BUTT Magazine are only a few centimeters apart on the shelves of various treatises on civic economics. The varied offer is the unbeatable complement to Auguststrasse, the street in Mitte where it is located, which is full of art galleries. In addition to books, magazines from more than twenty countries in the world. Among them the Spanish outlet MOOD, which combines gastronomy and music with very good design.
Gestalt Space
** PRO QM, THE MOST INTENSIVE**
Much more thoughtful is Pro QM, at Almstadtstrasse 48-50, just a few steps from Rosa Luxemburg Platz. From an aesthetic point of view, the place is an orgy of right angles that house an extensive bibliography focused on themes such as politics, art, economic criticism, pop culture, architecture and design . On this occasion, English is the predominant language among its volumes. So much minimalism since its reopening in 2009 makes the place a haven of peace, an ideal environment to really get lost among the books and not just browse.
Pro QM, the brainiest
** OCELOT , A TRIBUTE TO DALÍ'S MASCOT **
Not far away is Ocelot, which is not just another book store, as the slogan of this bookstore on Brunnenstrasse 181 says. It refers to the curious mascot that Salvador Dalí had, a Colombian ocelot. Yes in narrative, German dominates over other languages , the truth is that photography, design and cookbooks in English are some of the favorite genres of this stylish and spacious place. It is also multifunctional, since incorporates a cafeteria inside . And so, the showcase serves both to show the latest news and as a viewpoint for those who decide to sit down and have a drink. Its offer is so wide that it even works as a gift shop. Saferkorn & Sauerbrey postcards are one of its star products.
Ocelot, a tribute to Dalí in Berlin
**BUCHKANTINE, BREAKFAST WITH DIAMONDS (AND BOOKS)**
Buchkantine goes one step further and, in addition to being a double bookstore for adults and children **it has a restaurant and a kneipe (neighborhood bar) **. In addition to the large selection of breakfasts, the menu is extensive (hamburgers, wraps, salads). In fact, it is a bit strange to eat so close to the books for sale, but it benefits from the neighborhood atmosphere it has. It is located in Moabit, an area close to Tiergarten but not considered the center of the city. At Dortmunder Strasse 1.
Buchkantine: breakfast between books
Two curiosities are the bookstores shakespeare and sons , a branch of the well-known Prague bookstore that has been installed in Prenzlauer Berg for several years and that mixes the essences of its Czech original with those of its Berlin neighborhood (Raumerstrasse 36) . The other is Morgenstern . Although somewhat remote, in the Steglitz neighborhood, it is worth visiting at Schützenstrasse 54 this cafeteria and bookstore whose books are authentic antiquarian pieces.
shakespeare and sons
** ANOTHER COUNTRY , A VIDEO CLUB OF BOOKS **
Another Country in Kreuzberg functions as a video store for books. It offers nearly twenty thousand second-hand titles, almost all in English. and, with them, the possibility of returning them, at a cost of 1.5 euros per use . Sophie Raphaeline, the owner of the place, is a convinced Anglophile and quite a character. It is located at Riemannstrasse 7, in a quiet street parallel to the movement of Bergmanstrasse and its cafes, restaurants and clothing stores.
Another Country, a book video store
THE LADDER AND THE HOPSCOOK: IN SPANISH
As for bookstores in Spanish, two stand out in the city. From Prenzlauer-Berg, Stairs It has a wide selection of used books, from Spanish, Latin American and universal literature (translated into Spanish) at Danzingerstrasse 19. While hopscotch , under the command of Margarita Ruby for almost a decade, is something like a miniature Cervantes Institute at number two Südstern Street in Kreuzberg. Book presentations, flamenco concerts and interesting talks with guests from the world of culture in Spanish are held there.