Novel Idea

Book lovers should dust off their passports and visit these divine biblio boltholes

Portugal

LIVRARIA LELLO

You can certainly judge this bookstore by its cover. This neo-gothic facade features ornate reliefs and painted figures representing science and art. The inside of 100-year-old Livraria Lello in Porto is just as magical, with a stained-glass ceiling, arched shelves and intricate curled staircase. Visit www.livrarialello.pt

READING CORNER: Hunker down with a good book at the The Yeatman. This glamorous hideaway that features its own two-star Michelin restaurant comes with its own tome — The Wine Book, which is an anthology on the best Portuguese wineries. Worth thumbing over.

USA

BRATTLE BOOK SHOP

In summer, Bostonian readers head to the parking lot of one of America’s oldest and largest paperback pushers, Brattle Book Shop. This store holds three storeys of general, used and antiquarian works, plus the open air sale section comes with an urban scene of street art and fire escapes. Visit brattlebookshop.com

READING CORNER: Choose one of the suites at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Here you can kickback with a good book on your terrace that overlooks the water. Need to up the indulgence factor? Order champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries from room service.

Japan

TSUTAYA BOOKS DAIKANYAMA

The tri-level store in Tokyo is stocked with every kind of reading, listening and watching pleasure. You can peruse for page-turners in the extensive English section, then saunter upstairs to the Anjin lounge and take an artisan brew while you fall into the first chapter. Visit real.tsite.jp

READING CORNER: If you have finished your book in the Anjin lounge, you can grab another at the Library in the Park Hyatt Tokyo. Here you’ll find an array of books on art, travel and culture to inspire you for your next trip.

USA

THE LAST BOOKSTORE

Situated in Downtown Los Angeles’s historic core, the last word on opus emporiums stocks best sellers and records on its stately, columned first floor… But it’s the mezzanine level that’s the true treasure, an uncategorised literary labyrinth with tunnels constructed from outdated encyclopedias, storybook sculptures and hidden alcoves. Best of all: everything up here is only one dollar. Visit www.lastbookstorela.com

READING CORNER: Want the Hollywood Hills as a backdrop when you devour your latest blockbuster? Then book into the Montage Beverly Hills.

A literary labyrinth with tunnels constructed from outdated encyclopedias."

England

MAISON ASSOULINE

This luxury bibliotheque set in a Grade II-listed building in Piccadilly, London, boasts not only a back catalogue of 1,400 cultural and coffee table tomes, but also a room devoted to furnishings for your at-home library. Its suave Swan Bar provides coffee and classic cocktails for you to sip while you scan the shelves. Visit assouline.com

READING CORNER: If you're looking for a tranquil spot to enjoy a good read, head to the Rosewood London. Take a stroll through the picturesque stone archway to discover a grand Edwardian courtyard and one of the prettiest hotels around.

Italy

LIBRERIA ACQUA ALTA

With rambling rooms, steps made from old opuses and an oh-so charming canal-side location, Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice is certainly one of the most enchanting book stores to be found anywhere. But its position just inches above sea level means the vast stash of new and used English and Italian titles is at risk of being washed away as the water rises each winter. Owner Luigi Frizzo came up with a novel idea — he stores the works in gondolas and bathtubs, so when the water gets high, the books stay dry.

READING CORNER: Where better to relax with a literary classic than in a suite at Aman Venice? Featuring works by some of Italy’s greatest artists, this fresco-filled delight is a must-visit for someone who likes the finer things in life.

Singapore

BOOKSACTUALLY

Nestled in the arty Tiong Bahru enclave, this curiocrammed confection is packed with fiction, classic literature, local works and poetry. But it holds more than just books, actually: the back room showcases an adorable assemblage of hand-stitched notebooks and stationery. Visit booksactuallyshop.com

READING CORNER: Old meets new at the Capella Singapore. Two colonial buildings on the shores of Sentosa island have been combined to create the perfect tranquil enclave within reach of the city. Take a seat on a lounger by the pool with your book.