The Garden District Book Shop

Absolutely loved this bookstore housed inside the Rink! Left armed with books and inspiration on what my future dream bookstore could look like. Diverse, extensive and well-organised collection of books across genres. Thoughtful, hand-written staff recommendations to help you pick. Cozy seating at various spots, including a living-room style sofa arrangement you could spend hours reading in or catching up with friends. A cute, well-stocked bar at the back - where even the bartender was catching up on her reading! Super helpful staff who even went down to the storage to check for a book we were interested in. And best of all, Pete, the gentlest, friendliest dog to pet in case just book therapy isn’t enough :)

The Garden District Book Shop is located inside the Rink Shopping Center in the Garden District. This little bookstore is such a charming stop. It’s small, but the cozy vibe and seating area make it a perfect place to take a break and flip through a book after strolling around the beautiful neighborhood. Staff are very friendly. If you love the mix of books and local New Orleans charm, this spot is definitely worth a visit. 📍 2727 Prytania St Ste 8, New Orleans, LA 70130

I was in New Orleans during the weekend of the Anne Rice All Saints Day Celebration. Of course I had to visit The Garden District Book Shop to see what treasures I could find. I had the best time there. The staff was incredibly kind and helpful. They absolutely know their stuff, and helped me pick some gems to add to my collection. As a life-long Anne Rice fan, visiting the store was more like a religious experience for me, and the staff made my time there so special. I can't imagine a more perfect way to enjoy an afternoon than lounging on a comfy couch, and sipping on a Vampire's Kiss cocktail while admiring all the new books I just bought as Stevie Nick's Gold Dust Woman played overhead! I couldn't have planned that better myself. The staff at The Garden District Book Shop really know how to create the perfect atmosphere for a reader like me. I can't wait to go back! 10/10

The Garden District Book Shop is everything a local bookstore should be—warm, welcoming, and thoughtfully curated. The selection is excellent, with a great mix of local history, New Orleans–focused titles, fiction, and unique finds you won’t see in big chains. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, happy to offer recommendations without being pushy. It feels like a place made for lingering, browsing, and discovering something unexpected. A must-stop if you’re walking Magazine Street or exploring the Garden District.

Very cool book store in the heart of the Garden District! Loved the vibe, great selection and friendly service. There's also a bar in the back which is so fun! This place is quite pricey, paid $43 for two paperbacks.

Lovely book shop with a spacious sitting area and a bar. The staff is amazing, super helpful and very knowledgeable. Definitely worth a visit

Randomly came across this place while walking around and enjoying the architecture. Cutest little bookshop that also has a bar!

Garden District Book Shop is a charming and well-kept bookstore that offers a cozy atmosphere perfect for book lovers. The reading area is inviting, making it easy to settle in and browse at a relaxed pace. One of the standout features is the bar that opens in the evening, creating a unique experience that blends literature and libations. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, always ready to help with recommendations. If you’re in the area, this bookstore is definitely worth a visit for its great selection, warm ambiance, and distinctive charm!

Very quaint spot located in a business strip with plenty of parking. The room inside is spacious as well, good for larger groups. They also have a small patio area. The books shelves are full of nice book selections and varied as well. The books are for sale. I had a London fog and a cappuccino in two separate visits and they were both very delicious. The staff is friendly!

The Garden District Book Shop is located inside the Rink Shopping Center in the Garden District. This little bookstore is such a charming stop. It's small, but the cozy vibe and seating area make it a perfect place to take a break and flip through a book after strolling around the beautiful neighborhood. Staff are very friendly. If you love the mix of books and local New Orleans charm, this spot is definitely worth a visit. 2727 Prytania St Ste 8, New Orleans, LA 70130

Absolutely love this spot. The staff is so sweet, the book selection is amazing and Pete is the bestest boy. My cousin and I came here on a random Sunday and enjoyed it thoroughly and will be returning!

Great book store! Lots of options, employees are so friendly and welcoming. They have a shop dog!!!! Located inside the rink, this is such a fun place to visit whether looking for your next favorite book or grabbing a cocktail because this magical place also has a bar!!!

This is a cute, independent bookstore with a bar and great food. That staff was so warm and welcoming, including the very sweet bookstore dogs Pete & Billy-Jean. The owners checked on us, asking about our food, experience, etc. This is a welcome retreat and reprieve from the craziness of the French Quarter and I highly recommend.

I've always wanted to come here. Easy location with great covered parking. Came here during the week so not sure how easy the parking would be in the weekend. Dogs are welcome and the resident pup Pete is so sweet. They have a nice selection of hardcover books and a calendar of events that are fun and engaging. There is also a cool bar within the store too. I will be back.

The book shop is so cute, and I'm glad I saw it recommended on a TikTok video or I'd never have noticed it was here! Great selection, cozy with plenty of places to sit and peruse. I loved all of the local authors and the well written employee reviews in each section! I had a drink at the Epilogue bar. The cocktails were named for book characters and included several familiar options. The bartender was nice but didn't speak to me at all, which was kind of odd. I asked a few questions and she responded by pointing or holding up objects. However she spoke (quietly) to other employees, so maybe she's just quiet? Same girl, but sell me a drink! the bar area was comfy with anime movies playing, and multiple seating options. A little distracting for reading, but great for catching up with a friend!

Stumbled upon The Garden District Book Shop which walking around the Garden District, very cute modern looking book shop. Bright and clean and even has a shop dog! There's even several other shops and a public restroom in the shopping center.

Great experience. Bartender was very personable and I enjoyed some quiet time while my better 1/2 did not feel rushed in the book store

The cutest bookshop! We were in the neighborhood and are big book lovers so when we found the Garden District Book Shop on Yelp, we knew we had to swing by. It's located inside the Rink shopping center. The shop isn't huge but they do have so many books from all genres. Plus they have lots of seating including a lounge area with a TV. There was a community table with a puzzle out for everyone to work on. They even have a small bar for you to purchase some drinks and stay awhile. The staff was super helpful and you could tell that they took the time to get to know their customers/regulars. I loved getting to say hello and pet their bookshop dog. Looks like they also had a lot of events. Such a great local bookstore to support!

This wasn't exactly the kind of book store I was looking for and yet it was sweet. My buddies and I got sucked into to the puzzle table. It's a new books kinda store and quite small. I was looking for a specific author and they did have one of her books but it was the most tame of her works. Nnedi Okorafor is the author. She is a brilliant writer. The store feels like a place to bring in-laws and grandmas. It feels very modest, very demure.

Aside from the awesome and knowledgeable staff this bookstore is amazing. I'm a huge Anne Rice fan and they did have all her work. Right in the Garden District being there was very special to me. Found tons of cookbooks at decent prices. There's so much and you can ask for stories it's a one of a kind bookstore you won't be disappointed if you visit. The selection leaves you smiling and glad you visited I could spend a few hours in there.

This is a really cute bookshop. They have trending books, the classics, and a good variety of other books. Garden District is really cool because they have small events throughout the month and food during the week. There is a really good Filipino popup there on Thursday evenings and hot dogs on Tuesdays. They've also just opened a bar here with happy hour wine prices and specialty cocktails. It was really relaxing to have a cocktail with the new novel I bought. My only regret is not asking a friend to shop for books here with me.

Stumbled across this while waiting for a tour after getting come coffee at Chicory in the same building. Bookstore was bright and clean, and I just loved the open ceiling and bright lights (all the stores have this). Best surprise? The DOGGOS! They have a resident dog, but they're also dog friendly, so I saw not just one, but TWO dogs, on a random weekday here. They also seem to have special events near the back, with a full cocktail bar. This was probably one of the nicest hidden gems while visiting NOLA, and made me wish I lived in the Garden District. Highly recommend!

Such a cool bookshop. Really interesting categories has some lovely sections on New Orleans specializing on food,drinking, history, and they even have a mystery section for New Orleans. They have some rare books by signed authors like Anne Rice and Pat Conroy, but those were quite expensive. The coolest thing, though it has a bar and a dog what else do you want in a world in a bookstore?

We stop in every time we're in NOLA. It's such an amazing place. We used to love getting books for ourselves, but now we get them for our new son.

Such a cute little book shop with a wide variety of book genres! I bought three books while I was here-- all about New Orleans. But they wasn't the basic stuff that you normally see about New Orleans. I really enjoy the inventory here and I wanted to buy more than I did! I would say the price is comparable to any other local bookstore or even books online. In my opinion, it's better to support local than Amazon so buy your books here! The reason I am even leaving this review, though is because of the effort they are making to form a sense of community here. They left a puzzle out on the table with a sign that said "Help us build the puzzle!". They also hold events weekly and have a bar inside that opens every afternoon at 3 PM. The drinks also are themed towards quotes from books.Make sure you say hello to the dog inside!!

One of my favorite bookstores in the area! Always something fun going on, and the bar is a nice touch ;)

Cute independent book shop in the Garden District, I love their displays of books by category featuring AAPI, local authors or as seen on #bookTok. Staff is nice and offered help. Their selection is extensive! I grabbed a local book on New Orleans and a paperback for this summer! This shop is in the building where walking tours jump off, and has a bathroom for customers.

I love having a bookstore in this neighborhood and have found a lot of great gifts here, specifically Nola classic postcards and Nola themed children's books Assistance/service can vary- the younger gentleman is fantastic and has made suggestions I would not have thought of on my own- the older woman can be cranky so you're better off waiting for him

I had attended a virtual signing in September 2020 for Chuck Palanhiuk's latest book The Invention of Sound. The event did have technical difficulties and we did have to postpone the day, but I attended the new day and Chuck was amazing! Garden District Book Shop made sure our books were signed and mailed out to us as soon as the PUB date allowed for it. I purchased my book and a few days after the PUB date, I received my autographed copy. They hosted a great virtual meet and greet and Chuck went on for more than the allotted 1 hour, which was awesome. I would absolutely buy from here again, even though they are in Louisiana and I'm in Chicago. They packaged the shipment with one of their bookmarks and now I'm on their mailing list, which I love! I'm a fan of supporting local, or at least mom and pop, so this was a great find!

Adorable. Public restroom available for tourists. Service was great. Selection was great. Value was typical to new books.

I was ABSOLUETLY SHOCKED to see Carol, the owner of garden District selling extremely sexually explicit reading materials to young children. I witnessed this happen several times actually on December 13. She clearly does not read the materials that she sells. This store should be shut down, but in the meantime, I am filing a police report.

This cute book store inside The Rink was so fun to walk through. It's the first store you come to just up the stairs and they have such a huge selection for just a small local book shop. The door was open and it was just so inviting. I'm not even an avid reader and I still enjoyed looking around. The employee they had working the register was so knowledgeable and basically knew every single book we were asking about or mentioning. She had great recommendations. It's the perfect little after breakfast peruse. And for breakfast don't miss out on The Chicory House located downstairs.

the shop is cute but Amy makes it a very unpleasant place to be. Will not return as long as she's employed there.

It's a great store. A little small but a decent collection. The staff are very attentive & knowledgeable!

This is a great bookstore - it's absolutely full and definitely something for everyone. They have lots of books on local flavor or by local authors, as well as general selection you may find in any other bookstore. If you're on vacation and want to find something relaxing to read, this is place to go. They also have occasional author signing, so it's a good idea to check with website and see if you can overlap with an event.

Ducked into the first space we could find with A/C after a long walk exploring the Garden District, and found this lovely little bookstore upon entering The Rink. There is a fairly large collection of signed novels for sale at a reasonable price; I imagine the Garden District Book Shop hosts a lot of events/discussions with authors. They also have books in a variety of genres, from children's to historical fiction to gardening. Best of all, there is a big, comfy couch in the back for relaxed reading and recharging!

This is a wonderful book shop, especially if you're looking for the local goods. I ended up here for a book signing and I fell in love! I like that it's located at the Rink, which is a cool little center and I like the New Orleans and Louisiana representation on the shelves. They have autographed copies of books, if that's your thing, and if you're looking for a rare book, GDBS will help you track it down. The shop is regularly holding cute events, so you can stop in, get a book and maybe a cocktail. You can't go wrong!

Lovely independent book shop - I appreciated how they carried many popular books and new releases alongside classic works, books from diverse authors, and books about Louisiana, New Orleans, and the local history and culture. The staff were super friendly. The books were a bit on the pricier side, but not surprising for a small business trying to compete with Amazon and the like. Worth a stop if you're in the neighborhood.

The selection of books here is ok. I like that they take care to have books located in or near New Orleans. What earned them 1 Star was the fact that there were three women working, my husband and I were the only people in the store. We were in there for at least ten minutes, and NO ONE greeted us, asked if we needed help, or anything. Their customer service was the worst of any store I've been in in this city. One would think that a small, independent bookstore would go out of their way to welcome customers and make sales. Based on my experience, I'm surprised they're still in business let alone able to afford at least three equally unpleasant employees.

Beautiful bookshop in the garden district. You'll find books from local authors as well as bestsellers. In fact, you can buy a new great book and then head down to the coffee shop and make a peaceful afternoon of it. The person who assisted me with my purchase gave me a ton of bookmarks and I'm grateful because I always need one. Thanks!

My boyfriend and I visited here twice during our recent trip to the city. I called ahead the second time--just before leaving for the airport--and talked to Joshwade to see if a book was in stock. It wasn't, but I had the most lovely conversation with him and he gave me other recommendations, which were excellent! I'm going to visit again next time I'm in town!

This is a cute little bookstore in the Garden District. I didn't get to spend a lot of time here, since I was joining a walking tour, so can't write a completely thorough review. The store was packed to the brim with books. It wasn't as organized as some stores, so it was a bit overwhelming. But, hey, what better way to discover something new, right? Lots of rare (especially Louisiana themed books) and signed copies. Pretty much every genre was represented and it had a nice mix of fiction, nonfiction, kids and novelty type books. They have a reading corner with a couch and encourage you to spend your time there. There are a ton of ads for local community and book store events (lots of author signings which is so cool). I'd have liked to see a a better selection of YA and a bit more non-book chochtkis you can find at other stores. The staff was pleasant; answered your questions when you asked, but didn't bug you. They are listed in a book called Footnotes-The World's Greatest Bookstores. Another customer I met suggested I go see em all... now that's a travel guide! I love local book stores and this is definitely one of the most unique ones I've been to. A fun find!

This store had a lot to offer. I stopped by on Independent Bookstore Day. Was able to find a translated book here that I haven't spotted in other bookstores in NOLA.

Loved this bookstore! I was meeting a tour group here and arrived early so had about 20 minutes to look around. They have a wonderful selection of New Orleans and non-NOLA related books. Not the kind of place to go if you're looking for one specific book, because they may not have it (they don't have the LARGEST selection) but a great place to go and get inspired or buy a gift for someone. Notable items they sell include coffee table books, many autographed copies of books, NOLA cookbooks, a shelf of staff pics, notebooks and calendars, reading glasses, and postcards. Prices are reasonable. The autographed books are a little pricier but range from $40-$60 but they have some big names! I had to hold myself back from buying a ton of books. Great spot to go pick up a book and support a local small business!

Great little bookstore PACKED full of great books. A lot of signed copies, local flavor, local authors and knowledgeable staff who can guide you to a great read. It was pretty busy here, but they're open 7 days a week.

What a gem. The staff are so friendly and knowledgeable. Not only did she offer recommendations, but she also chatted us up socially; just organic conversation and kindness. She also helped us with some non-book suggestions about what else to see in NOLA. We always make sure to hit a bookstore when we're traveling and this is now o e of my favorites in the whole country! Thank you for the experience.

This fun little place to shop in the Garden District is recognized around the world. The sheer number of signed by they have is impressive. We bought a book about a New Orleans Madame and a signed copy of a book by the city's favorite author, Anne Rice. It was fun looking at all of her book signing pictures too. She showed up for one in a horse drawn carriage in a closed coffin New Orleans style (with a whole parade).

If you need a book, postcards, notebooks, they've got you covered. The staff is very helpful, so definitely ask them for recommendations if you don't know exactly what you're looking for, or if you do know what you want, they can certainly help you find it. Great local book shop.

This tiny little book shop is tucked away inside of building called 'the Rink' on the corner of Washington and Prytania. They have a nice selection of books, from kids books and touristy books, to art books, cook books and a huge pile of books, mostly novels, signed by their authors. We spent almost an hour digging around trying to decide how to spend a groupon that I had which was going to expire. They pack a lot into this small space!! I am so excited that I know that it is there now. I love to support the local folks!!

The staff wasn't very friendly and talked back to me when I pointed out an inconsistency, but the store was nice with a comfy sofa for reading. Lots of signed copies. I'd rather go to other bookstores in NO, but this was convenient and had what I was looking for in particular.

Wanted to support a local bookstore while traveling in New Orleans - but the lady at the register with red hair was way too rude rolling her eyes and talking with her back turned to support this establishment. Stay away!

Local bookstore stacked to the ceiling with amazing books. Celebrating all things local with a flair for great authors.

Pros: intimate; local; good parking; proximity to tourist hot spots; selection; cool signings they clearly love authors & authors love them; good nola history/fiction rec; not tourist trap; clean restroom; good ac Cons: selection; minimal suggestion tabs; not geek friendly minimal fantasy/sci fi/young adult It was a great little spot but just didn't check my boxes. We walked her post commanders palace lunch & it was nice stroll.  It felt like a great store for a certain group of bibliophiles but not my flavor. I would pop in and give it a chance because it is not corporate or hipster just a solid locally owned shop with books.

A small but surprisingly well stocked bookstore with knowledgeable staff. Didn't find what I was looking for BUT was turned onto a local author that made my trip worthwhile. Will be back soon!

So...I'm all about buying local, but this place is a little too disorganized for me. I like things in alphabetical order, so sue me! Maybe I don't want seek help from the seething-intellectuals who work here to find a title that should be easy enough for me to find while cowering between the stacks by myself. Maybe I want to skim the back and replace it on the shelf...but I fear I will disrupt the delicate order of this place (which makes ZERO sense). "Why is this book $50??...Oh, it's autographed. Well, that's great, but do you have a copy that isn't signed for the regular price? No? Ok..." I can't knock 'em too much. Garden District Book Shop was a willing distributor of "The New Orleans Review," a literary magazine I worked for in college which publishes first-time writers' short works of fiction and poetry.

This fantastic local book shop is tucked inside of the shopping center on the corner of Washington and Prytania. What shopping center? My thoughts exactly. But, you should know that the building does contain more than Still Perkin. Anyways, I saw one of my favorite human beings, Frank Warren (Postsecret), do a presentation and book signing here and just fell in love with the place. The book store is small, but they have a large variety of books and are happy to order anything they don't have. So, if you are in the mood for a new book, shop local and go here!

Calling all bibliophiles! This place is a little slice of heaven. First off, it's a hidden gem in a little building of small shops that are tucked away on a corner in the Garden District. What I would give to have this bastion of bookiness within walking distance of my house! The selection is not large, nor does it need to be. Upon browsing through the store, it appears that the books are chosen carefully. Despite the small size, it took me forever to wander through this happy hunting ground simply because each book looked so intriguing. I could lose a paycheck in this place. The back wall is covered with autographed photos of authors who we all know and love. Then, for those of us who just can't wait for our favorite author's next book to come out, what better than to find that book sitting there on a shelf, calling to you, and delighting you with a signed edition? Yep. I felt like I had just found the last cookie in the jar! I bought Pat Conroy's latest book with his very own autograph. Eat your heart out, Mom. So, I devoured the book on the way home, knowing that part of the delight came from the wonderful experience in the Garden District Book Shop. You know that I did some bragging to my Mom, another Conroy fan, when I got home. Yep. I did it. I bragged. I shared my delightful adventure. Then, I promptly felt guilty. Poor Mom. How can I assuage this guilt? Short of a plane ticket for Mom, I thought I could ask the store if they had another copy. I sent an e-mail and received a prompt reply that another copy was available. Oh yeah! Another lucky strike. I send my payment info and awaited my mom's cries of joy. What a wonderful daughter you are, she was sure to say! Yep. Adventure, satisfaction, and mom kudos...all from a walk through the ambrosial stacks at the Garden District Book Store.