Plaza de Santa Bárbara is one of my favourite corners of Madrid. Just at the Alonso Martínez metro station, in one of the prettiest neighbourhoods in the city, the plaza is constantly buzzing with its great bars and terraces to have a nice, relaxing drink in the sun. I hate to admit that I have sat in and walked through this plaza numerous times before I noticed perhaps the cutest little bookstore – the charming, independently-run Librería Santa Bárbara. 

The small kiosk, fitting in perfectly with the vibe of the area, is home to a beautiful used assortment of books covering many different subjects like history, philosophy, art, and poetry. I especially love their collection of books about Madrid, which contain some incredible photography and stories about the city. But it’s not only old books you can find at Librería Santa Bárbara, they also have some amazing historical city maps for sale which would be so nice on the wall of your home, as well as some gorgeous art prints of the Madrid metro, perfect for framing. Visitors to Madrid can also pick up some nice souvenirs here, like magnets and postcards. 

With over 2000 books on display in Librería Santa Bárbara at any given time, and stock changing over regularly, you can’t come here with something specific in mind or you might be disappointed. However, the best part about this little place is simply coming to browse and finding treasures you never knew you wanted.