By Jeremy Liddle, Managing Director of Third Hemisphere, a full service marketing, PR, and public affairs agency with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, HK, the US, EU, and UK
A massive international voting campaign has concluded with the announcement of the world's most beautiful libraries, bookstores and book cafés, showcasing how literary institutions are evolving to remain relevant in an increasingly digital world. The competition, organized by the 1000 Libraries Awards, recorded 200,000 votes over 60 days from readers, café enthusiasts, urban planners and community advocates worldwide.
The results, announced after voting that ran from May 15 to July 15, 2025, highlight a global trend toward transforming traditional book spaces into community gathering places that serve as vital social infrastructure. Winners span six continents, from a converted 13th-century church in the Netherlands to floating bookshops on European canals.
"These spaces have solved one of modern society's greatest challenges: the disappearance of the 'third place', those crucial social spaces between home and work where communities are born, ideas flourish, and human connections thrive," according to the 1000 Libraries Awards team, which nominated 54 exceptional venues across the three categories.
Historic architecture finds new purpose in literary tourism
Boekhandel Dominicanen in Maastricht, Netherlands, claimed the top spot for most beautiful bookstore by operating within a restored 13th-century Gothic church. The multi-level bookshop features soaring vaulted ceilings, original frescoes, and a monumental steel bookcase, creating what organizers describe as a "religious house of literature." The venue sells books in multiple languages and hosts cultural events including readings and live music performances.
Trinity College Dublin's library secured first place among the world's libraries, with its famous Long Room stretching 65 meters and lined with busts of literary figures. The library houses Ireland's largest collection of books and rare manuscripts, including the renowned 9th-century Book of Kells. Operating seven days a week, it attracts visitors who often compare its atmosphere to the Hogwarts library from Harry Potter.
Several other winners demonstrate successful adaptive reuse of historic buildings. El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Buenos Aires, which ranked third among bookstores, operates within a 1919 theater where former viewing boxes now serve as reading nooks and the main stage functions as a café. The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, ranking tenth, occupies a historic former bank building and houses over 250,000 books across two floors.
Book cafés emerge as community social anchors
The book café category, won by Minoa Pera in Istanbul, Turkey, represents what organizers call the evolution from simple retail to essential social infrastructure. Minoa Pera features sleek modern design across multiple floors connected by stairs embedded with books in every step. The establishment sells over 45,000 Turkish and English books while operating full café service and retail offerings including stationery and home décor.
The Used Book Café at Merci in Paris took second place, offering customers thousands of books to browse while dining on items ranging from breakfast croissants to pumpkin soup. Most books are in French, though English titles are available for international visitors. The café operates daily from 10AM to 6PM within a larger lifestyle retail concept.
Innovative approaches to book café operations appear throughout the rankings. Péniche L'Eau et les Rêves, ranking fourth, operates as a floating bookshop and café-restaurant on a barge moored on Paris's Canal de l'Ourcq. Specializing in botanical and gardening publications, the interior resembles a lush greenhouse with glass walls providing canal views.
International participation demonstrates global literary renaissance
Competition results reveal strong international participation, with winning venues representing diverse cultural approaches to literary space design. European locations dominated the library category, claiming seven of ten positions, while book cafés and bookstores showed more geographic diversity.
Asian representation includes Dujiangyan Zhongshuge in China, which ranked sixth among bookstores with its surreal design featuring high arches, curved bookcases, and mirrored ceilings creating the impression of infinitely reaching shelves. Located on the second floor of a shopping mall, the store operates daily from 10AM to 9PM.
Australian venues performed strongly across categories. State Library Victoria, established in 1854 as one of the world's first free libraries, ranked seventh among libraries while occupying an entire city block in Melbourne across 23 interconnected buildings. Ampersand Café & Bookstore in Sydney, ranking sixth among book cafés, houses over 30,000 used books across three stories while offering distinctive menu items.
South American destinations also achieved recognition. Cafebrería El Péndulo Polanco in Mexico City ranked fifth among book cafés,
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