A beautiful book shops with English and French books. Found a French cookbook I was looking for

Hidden gem! This predominantly French library is beautiful. It carries good variety of books and has an incredible setup for good photos. Go to the second floor to take some incredible shots.

A gorgeous spot! And a great place to find French and English books. Also the architecture and interior are amazing.

Very friendly staff. A very good collection of childrens books. The ceiling was marvelous. The French room gifted by Whitneys was exquisite.

Knowing how much local stores have suffered since the onset of the pandemic, I decided to pick up a few French-language titles here today. The same titles are available on Amazon for the same price, but I really believe in making an effort to support small brick-and-mortar businesses when possible.When I arrived at the store, there was a 20-minute queue to enter as the staff is quite strict about following social distancing measures. After 20 minutes of waiting in sub-freezing temperatures, the security guard came out and asked if anyone on line was picking up. I responded “yes” and followed him inside. After purchasing the books that I had ordered, I asked if it would be possible to peruse the store a bit. At this point, the demeanor of the cashier – Adam – changed suddenly and he became exceedingly rude. He said that I couldn’t “cut the line”, and I very politely explained that I’d already waited 20 minutes and that I was the next person on line. Adam then responded disrespectfully, “Well, I wasn’t there” before telling me that I could browse the store. I was speaking to Adam in French, and his French was not very good and it’s entirely possible that he doesn’t know the language well enough to address people with respect, so I shrugged off the encounter.Then, after perusing the upstairs for no more than 2 minutes, the security guard – Abdul – who had let us in told me that anyone who placed an order for pickup needed to “just come get your books and leave.” I was incensed that after spending $30 at the store and 20 minutes waiting in the cold, that the security guard had the audacity to tell me and my husband to leave the store after we’d just been told that we could browse its collection.Never in my life have I been so disrespected by the staff at any store, and never again will I waste time or money visiting Albertine. They must not realize that their main competitor is a tech behemoth that regularly eats small businesses for breakfast and is able to offer their customers the same products at the same or better prices with delivery to the home. I wish Albertine luck, but they have lost a very devoted customer today.

An easy way to order and get some French books, from novels to comics, for all ages. The bookstore is located in a small part of the French Embassy, but it really contains a lot of books, from well known authors as well as the last published books - making you feel like visiting any small bookstore in France. Staff is knowledgeable and friendly, offering a great service.

Very beautiful bookshop specializing in French literature. Friendly staff and good selection of books.

Poor selection and obnoxious man in the store. They can’t even keep up with the price of what they sale you arrive to pay and the give you another price. Typical French living in another century they don’t understand that when you live and work in the USA you have to be charming with customers not arrogant and sufficient!

Its a pretty bookstore with books written in French and translated in English. We had to go through small security at the beginning. The store itself is very small but it has some sofas and chairs where you can sit.

Gorgeous book store. Amazing place to read. It is quiet and it smells great. Lots books in French and English.

What a gem of a place! Lovely bookstore with an excellent selection of art books, some on sale, and the lady behind the counter is very sweet and helpful. Would love to come here more often just to read in the upstairs room!

Great french speaking bookstore in a marvelous setting

Great place to get books in French but also French books in English

I love this place cause its almost like a library. A great place for someone learning French. Theres a good selection of materials for both children, young adults and adults. There are periodicals, newspapers, magazines, cook books, travel guides, classic and contemporary literature, graphic novels, etc. And its all in French! They also have events pretty often. Plus pricing is pretty decent.

This used to be one of my favorite places in NY, until today. I arrived at 5:50pm, and I just wanted to buy a book. A young man who works there almost banned me because (his own words) he “needed it to be out of there before 6pm”. This is the first time that I have to deal with such a rude staff in a store. So deeply disappointed. People should not talk to clients that way.

Great French book store.

Loved ir,good selection of books

This is the place where fairies are fashioning stories.There have been already many beautiful pictures, so I’d like to upload Albertine’s time-honored books.

Gorgeous, small bookstore for French and English books. Upstairs is not to be missed!

French literature in both French and English as well as a good selection of BD, travel, cooking, fashion, childrens books and some exquisite rare books in French (upstairs in protective curio cabinetry). The staff is very helpful and bilingual, the location also offers lectures and visiting authors, so check the website for special events.Housed in one of the last Stanford White mansions (the interior is wonderful and one of the citys best kept secrets) near the Metropolitan museum of art and Central park near 79th and 5th. Take the 6 subway to 77th or the express Q, 4 or 5 to 86th and walk west towards 5th.

A serenity place in this bustling city

The place is just stunning they have so many great books to read and some really rare old collections in the back which is breathtaking

Had a great time here browsing the French books and even picked up a few. un petit goût de france à new york!

Amazing French book store in beautiful building. They have most newly published French books and staff is very friendly!

It’s a very lovely bookstore and I enjoy finding new books at Albertine but sadly the employees are extremely rude and unwelcoming. One employee stated being short staffed but no excuse for such appalling customer service. On my last visit, I was the only person on line and requested help finding an order that I placed since December. I was told to email or come back when I was physically present in the store as if I live around the corner. I should not have to plead for assistance to buy a book. In addition, emails go unanswered for days and months and there is no sense of accountability. Hopefully online shopping is a resolve in order to purchase the books needed because the shopping experience is dismal : (

A very cool bookstore

Bookstore with a beautiful ceiling

Cool bookstore, great vibe, very confusing security process. Metal detector and guard who doesnt give good directions.

A beautiful calm oasis from the frenetic city, with cozy seating and wonderful books.

A French-English bookshop lodged in the embassy. (Although English translations are well-represented, the stress is definitely on French originals and translations.) Theres an entire 2nd floor that I didnt check out as I was in a bit of a rush. Folio paperbacks are very reasonably priced.

Very nice bookstore!!

I came to this bookstore because I love french literature but was surprised to face some islamophobia from the guy in the front desk he followed me everywhere unless he had a customer, he thought Id steal something and that made me feel extremely uncomfortable, he also spoke to me in a very degrading manner. This ruined my whole visit to New York. Honestly, FRENCH ISLAMOPHOBIA is so SICK. Just when I thought books are supposed to open your mind and soul to others ...

The security guard is very very rude and aggressive and none of the staff were welcoming.

Love this place! It’s a quiet haven and a beautiful place to read. Only taking one star off because I’ve come here when they were supposed to be open and been told they were closed

Staff was rude and unwelcoming. I noticed they treated customers differently based on appearance/whether they speak French or not, etc.

A beautiful space & the best selection of French language books, original & in translation, anywhere in New York. Fiction, essay, politics, BD, classic, just published - you name it.

I adore this store. Amazing selection, top-notch events, on-point social media, and the reddest, most knowledgeable, most professional booksellers you could hope to meet. Albertine is a cultural oasis, a community space, and a one-of-a-kind institution. Check out their amazing staff rec wall as you walk in!

How rude is the staff :( so disappointed...

Very nice bookstore near Central Park

As I’ve already mentioned in a previous post, this is a tiny jewel of a bookstore just south of the Met Museum. Make sure to stop in to see this restored room in the French style. It includes a lot of portraits and gorgeous painted walls and draperies.

Small and snooty.

Amazing selection of books in both French and English. The highly educated people who compose the staff of the boutique are great at finding/recommending new books based on your taste. Excellent experience! Tranquil atmosphere and absolutely gorgeous! I could spend days there...

Awesome little bookstore, with a selection of classics and new books in a number of different genres. Aside from French books, they do stock French literature in translation. Some types of books are a bit lacking in offerings, especially fantasy and science fiction, but the staff are really helpful about ordering stuff if they can.

Beautiful bookstore! They have quite the collection of French books. They also have a collection of rare and old books upstairs that is magnificent. If you love books or French culture this is a must! It’s a quick stop but worth it!

Such a beautiful library to visit to check out some French books! They have a wide selection — from graphic novels to Proust.

Cool bookstore .

Fun stacks to wander, always find something to read, friendly staff, well stocked magazine rack, and they always have local authors books (directly across from cash register). Plus Im often checking the window for posted local events as I walk by.

Beautiful place. If you are looking for a mix of French literatures and old library (like the one you sees in old university) this is the place to go. You will have to go through security to gain access to this magical place. Ask advice to the hostess, they know every book in the place.

Phone always busy

Very entertaining talks are regularly held for French authors whose books have been translated. In English. The bookstore itself is gorgeous.

Albertine is the only reading room and bookshop in New York that is truly devoted to enriching French-American intellectual and cultural exchange. It has an amazing selection of French texts and texts in English translation. The magnificent design by renowned Parisian designer Jacques Garcia (whose credits include parts of the Louvre) alone makes the trip worth it. Sit, relax, and read for hours; because Albertine is inside the Embassy, you are even technically in France! Plus, tens of world-class museums and galleries are at your fingertips in the very same neighborhood.

It would have been nice to inform your customers that the library is closed on Sundays in August!

The ceiling alone is worth the drop in to this bookstore if youre nearby. And once youre inside, might as well browse.Bonus: Theyve got some seating upstairs for a nice little break from the outside.

So good

If you love great French books and the feel of quiet luxury this place is for you

Awesome French-Engligh bookstore. Host many great events as nexus for France-American exchange in NYC.

Very good election in a beautiful location.

Magnificent architecture erected b/w 1902-06. Mint condition.

Great talks and books but the guy at the front desk is always so haughty and rude...to some.This time, he pandered shamelessly to the older Franco-French clients (“ ...et bien Madame, vous êtes trrrès cultivée”....ugh), then, when it was my turn, he hurriedly answered my question, cut me off and dismissed me with an irritated wave of the hand when I dared to *think* for a second to formulate my follow-up question. I ended up not buying the book that was presented at the event, especially since it would have meant having another interaction with him; I’m not spending money where I was treated with an inordinate amount of that stereotypical French disdain...by an American to boot! A middle of the road rating would seem fairer, but after several encounters of the sort it’s not worth it anymore. There are more than enough French language events at universities and other foreign language bookstores where non-French francophones can expect a more respectful attitude from staff.

Great bookstore with books in French and in English, with interesting events

Albertine is a French and English bookstore in the renovated Payne Whitney mansion. There are two floors. It is really a classical architecture knock out. You have to go through a metal detector to gain entry. The bookstore is in the back of the building after the round entry foyer. There is also a spectacular Ventian style paneled room with mirrored walls. The bookstore carries very current French fiction. It also has an extensive collection of classic French literature at inexpensive prices. I scored a copy of Abbe Prevosts Manon Lescaut for $2.98!

Wonderful bookstore. Inspiring atmosphere, helpful staff and comfortable chairs for reading. Books in both French and English.

Closed early because of a private event, and very impolite about it. Please show customer commitment (and respect)

Albertine is a really great French book store in the upper east side in New YorkReally good prices and good selection of French books and comicsThe staff is really helpful and gives you good advices

Incredibly helpful staff and endless books. As a French teacher, I always come here to re-up on my pedagogical materials and to find things for my students to read that will keep them interested and challenge them to learn more French. Bilingual staff, very well-versed in all sorts of literature, language learning series, and culture. Quest-ce que jaime Albertine!!!

Lovely store with extensive francophone selection

Many good books, holding special conferences and events

Such a beautiful book shop, and good selection of French books too.

Nice old space. Much too snooty attitudes in the bookstore. I noticed theyre not helpful towards people og colour...

One of the Upper East Side’s hidden gems. The Second Floor is a perfect place to study.

Great selection of French books and architecture that must be seen.

You can find great books in French and English.

Other than having an excellent collection of French works and translations of English ones in French, its a lovely place for some quiet reading.

Love this place.

GORGEOUS bookstore with titles in English and French. They have a highly curated but very nice selection in an amazing space.

Great choice of books in French. The place itself is nice, makes it a pleasure to pick books there.

Unbelievably beautiful store with knowledgeable staff, a great variety of books and regular well curated events in both French and English.

Amazing Place. @amh015

Amazing bookstore with a great selection of French books !

I would buy and read Albert Camus books and then I will pass them on to others in my building.

If youre looking for books in French, this is a great choice.

I like that other readers clipped postcard messages recommending books and their reasons, great touch!

Nice bookstore with lots of French book alternatives.

Wonderful bookshop in a beautiful space.

Quelle bonne surprise to find this charming bi-level French bookstore in a stunning former 5th Ave mansion.

Aesthetically pleasing environment. There is a lot of French books as well.

Beautiful. Its worth a quick pop in just to see the architecture.

Dismissing a customer with a service dog is ILLEGAL. Just went to today to check out this bookstore in my neighborhood and I was told not to stay for too long because my dog could upset the customers. Ill never go back or buy anything from this store. And Ill make sure to tell all my friends in the UES not to go or support this place. Shame on you Albertine.

Unbeatable book selection. Lovely ambiance and setting.

Very pretty, very nice people, and very very expensive books

Beautiful bookstore in a landmark building carrying French and English literature.

The easiest way to purchase French books in NY.

I give Albertine 5 stars. Unquestionably a beautiful bookstore, with nice personnel. However, there is a caveat to my rating based upon my 57 years of selling French books as the owner of the Librairie de France in Rockefeller Center. The French Cultural Counselor openly proclaims---and I quote---“sales aren’t the primary goal. The project has been underwritten by sponsors including LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Total Corporate Foundation and Air France. There is no rent, which is a big New York problem,” he said. “We have the freedom to show the books we love.”Can you imagine, considering the enormous expense of this enterprise, far from any business district, what could have been accomplished if the same financing were given to the internationally-renowned Librairie de France at Rockefeller Center for almost a century.”? Difficult to understand. Moreover, how can any small business possibly compete with a French-government-financed-institution who pays no rent, no taxes and sells books at a profit, underwritten by the likes of billion dollar conglomerates and French charitable organizations.Our French bookstore carried on in Rockefeller Center for 74 years, closing with a staggering rent of $1,000 per day. Pleas for assistance to the French government fell on deaf ears. An editorial in the Nouvel Observateur proclaimed ” Emanuel Molho alerted the Cultural Service of the Embassy of France, who did not deign to reply. No one moved. No help was offered.” Le pays de Montaigne regarde mourir, dans l’indifférence, l’unique vitrine, là-bas, de son génie et de son humanisme. A croire qu’ils sont bel et bien révolus.Too late to do anything about it now, and it does not take away from the beautiful Albertine, but as a very disappointed francophile who has devoted his entire business career to French books, I had to vent.

Amazing selection of french and American books

Great french books

Amazing art and French architecture

Such a beautiful place 😍

If you want to be treated like crap without even knowing why, this is the place. Good luck!

Beautiful ceiling and friendly staff.

It does look nice, but I cant rate this place well in good conscience given the blatant exaggeration in the ad.