Shakespeare & Co proudly embodies the concept of a “bookish utopia“—a haven for people who’d rather live off of tattered spines and yellowed paper than food. Its inspiration from Sylvia Beach’s famous Parisian bookshop of the same name (1919–1941) is evident from its signage—a portrait of William Shakespeare—to the densely packed stacks of books occupying every inch of space.

One of the few shops in Vienna that carries a wide range of English-language books and publications, Shakespeare & Co offers a varied range of classic and contemporary literature, academia, art books, a choice selection of magazines and books on numerous other subjects.

Located in a hidden corner of Vienna’s 1st district—on a cobbled street in the Ruprechtsviertel—a trip to Shakespeare & Co can be a journey in itself. This trek leads to the oldest section of Vienna (the only section of Vienna to be inhabited since the Roman times in 14 BC). You’ll be in the neighborhood of the Hoher Markt, Ruprechtskirche, and the Jewish Synagogue—so get lost in a world of books and history.