It’s getting easier to resist one-click buying books from Amazon when you live in a city like Boston. There are a handful of independent bookstores in the city alone, not including the outside neighborhoods, and the newest one to open may just be the cutest. Bursting with New England charm, Beacon Hill Bookstore and Cafe, a four-level bookstore located in the heart of Beacon Hill, is bound to leave you feeling inspired.
Each level of this charming bookstore holds different genres. The ground floor, where the cafe is located, has cookbooks. The first floor, where you enter from the street, has nonfiction and memoirs, including a specific shelf with a plaque that reads 02114, the zip code for the area, solely dedicated to books that cover Boston history, news, and other stories. You can also find some merchandise for the store, such as candles that are meant to smell like the bookstore, the most adorable red pencils you’ll ever find, tote bags sporting the store’s mascot Paige the squirrel, and even reading glasses. On the second floor, you’ll find fiction, with dedicated thriller, romance, and fantasy sections. There are also little nooks, one dedicated to architecture, design, and fashion, and the other to world travels.
One of the coolest things about this bookstore is its display of Persephone Books. Persephone Books is a book publisher and seller that reprints neglected fiction and non-fiction, mostly from female writers from the mid-twentieth century. These are books that were out of print that the publishers decided deserved more attention. The name Persephone comes from the Greek goddess and was meant to symbolize female creativity. The titles are hand-picked and republished, all with the same sleek gray cover. Beacon Hill Books and Cafe is a female-owned business, which makes their dedication to Persephone Books feel even more important.
The top floor of the bookstore may just be the best of all. This floor is dedicated to children’s books, and it feels like stepping straight into a fairytale. There are a number of things that make this particular level special; the tiny red door labeled 71 ½ with the golden lion knocker that leads into the main room of children’s books, Paige the squirrel stuffed animals amongst the shelves, the beautiful books wall to wall. All of these things make this floor feel like stepping into Narnia, but nothing beats the train that wraps around the ceiling. There’s a big red button that you can push that turns on the train, and you can watch as it wraps around the room. There is also a dedicated Young Adult room on this floor, and while there are fewer bells and whistles, this little corner of the bookstore is just as cozy and magical as the rest.
Once you’ve had your fill of books (which, who are we kidding, will never happen,) you can head back downstairs to the cafe area. While the indoor dining area is just as pretty as the rest of the bookstore, the real star is the outdoor courtyard. This courtyard can be seen from windows throughout the bookstore and can be entered either from within the bookstore on the first level, or from the street through a small, almost hidden entry way that can only be described as a hobbit hole. The cafe has five different menus; breakfast, lunch, drinks, afternoon tea, and sips and savory. The afternoon tea menu is available Sundays from 12-5 pm.
Whether you’re a local or just in the area for a visit, Beacon Hill Books and Cafe is worth the visit. With a mix of bestsellers and unique titles, charming old New England atmosphere, and the ability to support an independent, woman-owned business, this bookstore is a cannot miss. Warning: You will feel like you’ve been transported into the world of your favorite novels.
Ally Orsini, CambridgeEditors Team