Massolit Books
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Editor's review
One of the most delightful places in Krakow. Owned by a warm-hearted American couple with a great passion for Poland (and of course books), this is a place that you could spend all day browsing about in. It's not just that they have a wonderful selection of English books - on every subject under the sun - they have created an entrancing atmosphere with lovely old furnishings and a stylish cafe to boot. Massolit also rustles up some irresistible cakes and cookies , and one-off violin concertos and poetry readings all add to the magic. Cracow's best kept secret, but for how long?!
Editor
Editor & Krakow Local
Reviews
I spent a month in Krakow in late 2013, and one of the things I now miss most is Massolit Books. It is a warm and inviting space, the book selection is large and intelligent, and the snacks in their little café are really good! I also really liked the staff. I resold a number of my used books to them during my stay in Krakow, and they were always friendly and fair. What a gem. Eric Peck, USA
Been going for years. As an expat, it's great to go to a place where you can find interesting books, enjoy good teas (coffee if you drink it), get some writing done, meet friends and be in a unique, creative atmosphere. Love it!
Intimate, charming and the brain child of a smart owner David Miller who has created a unique space that oozes love and appreciation for books. Upon entering Massolit one is quickly confronted with the possibilities of what could be. The bookstore is the perfect interlocutor and possibilities abound - it can be a life long partner. My first experience was akin to asking for directions from a beautiful and mysterious women standing in an open doorway on a rainy spring afternoon the possibilities seem endless.
While it is definitely the place in Krakow to buy a cheap book, give the food a pass. They charge full price for tap water too, which is odd. The cafe and the store are awkwardly divided between two converted apartments and in order to get to the bookstore proper just across the hall, you need to leave your bag at the bar which can be an inconvenience if you happen to have your laptop on you- not to mention that it is a tad humiliating.
Overall, it's a very unique bookshop, but a subpar hangout, unless youre into that dingy feel or are with a bunch of friends and simply dont care.
Wow! I absolutely love the atmosphere at Massolit! Love the cozy tables, beautiful decor, excellent place to hang out when in Krakow. Low key and unique. If you talk to the guy at the front, you can probably take your laptop in with you to the other rooms. Never happened to me once and I have been going there for years.
Man, who hurt you? This review reflected poorly upon your state of mind and not Massolit.
It's not at all 'dingy', it's a charming, down to earth, bookstore in a historical building in an ancient city - clearly run by intelligent people with good taste... It's a bit rambling, which people who aren't entirely simple minded like yourself appreciate as actual life & character.
The cafe & store are akwardly subdivided? What a weird thing to say... they are divided into different rooms... & they own both apartments of they downstairs... you walk to the door, open the door & go into the next room... how is that a problem for you? opening a door?
Sometimes they ask you to leave your bag, yes, but i'm sure they didn't want to have to start doing that. I guess they had enough of a problem with people taking books to feel like they had to take bags. It's not akward though. Also they don't always make you do that. Maybe you just looked a bit crazy... because you seem a bit crazy.
Laptops are heavy, anyway, it should have been nice to put it down. They only thing that got hurt here was your ego.
I will disagree with you on your one 'compliment' - the books aren't really cheap... the prices are pretty average and sometimes pretty high but that's just cause they pretty much hold the niche in the market being the only real English language book store in Krakow and they have a fantasticly abstract selection.
Look - I don't work here and I'm not Massolit's champion or biggest fan, i have no invested interest... but your comment was just so weird and unneccesary and I felt i needed to stand up to a bully (however late i turned up).
Massolit do not deserve this strange criticism. They are all around a great place that I'm glad is in Krakow.
This such a cute store! Delicious pies and awesome load of books. Could spend all day here, and luckily they have fans!
What a lovely place and atmosphere !
We had a coffee breaks and bought some nice photography books there. People was nice. I just love this kind of peacefull place !
This book store was one of the highlights of my Tokyo to Paris overland trip a year ago. It truly is one of the best bookstores in the world. It boggles the mind how an English language bookstore in the middle of central Europe could have such an extensive collection of used English books. Hooray!
We're expats living in Poland. It's like a home away from home for us, a bit of the best America has to offer. Great books, creative atmosphere, quiet nooks to curl up in and read, great teas, cafe late and delicious carrot cake and muffins, wonderful music and a flashback into the sixties,a bit anarchistic which is a welcome breath of fresh air! Oh and they have bagels! Oy!
We're expats living in Poland. It's like a home away from home for us, a bit of the best America has to offer. Great books, creative atmosphere, quiet nooks to curl up in and read, great teas, cafe late and delicious carrot cake and muffins, wonderful music and a flashback into the sixties,a bit anarchistic which is a welcome breath of fresh air! Oh and they have bagels! Oy!
Massolit is something "out of this world" - it's just too good to be real... One can spend a whole life there, maybe. And it's a rarity - there are no bookshops like this: they don't want you to buy the whole world in minute and just get out, like other bookstores do. Charming and cosy - in my opinion, a "must see", together with the Rynek, the Wawel, and the other miracles of Cracow.
Es war wirklich ein grosses Vergnügen und eine Überraschung um diese interessante und intim ausgestattete Buchhandlung auf meiner Reise gefunden zu haben. Da kann man sich wirklich viele Stunden herumgucken, sich hinsetzen etwas aufstöbern, ein glesele tee trinken. Was soll ich nokh sogen.
Mit a sheynem grus,
Jan Jonk
Who knew that the best bookstore in the world would be tucked away in an old apartment building in Poland? Massolit Books is simply charming, a true gem in the book world. I thoroughly enjoyed it with a large cup of tea and a thick slice of pumpkin bread.
You will wish for a cold or rainy day so you can spend time drinking tea, reading, and lounging in possibly the coziest bookstore ever, anywhere.
Massolit rocks the freaky book world for several reasons: first, the books. then, the chocolate peanutbutter cupcakes - ask them to be served directly from the fridge!
third reason, the staff. somewhere between airy nirvana plueschsofa tranquility and running around like a madman, balancing stockpiles of books on head and shoulders, ready to fetch the next copy for you from the deep down underground basement. and, not to forget:
if you're into queer studies, this is one of the rare places in krakow where to find related literature :) // m-a-s-s-o-l-i-t: simply could spend nights and days over there...check it out!
Massolit does indeed rule. This is a great spot from the moment you enter the cool wood-panelled interior and walls of books. I scooped a Havel's LETTERS TO OLGA in hardcover for ther train ride back to Munich. Not before munching on some choclate chip cookies. Keep it up, guys. A haven (but order some of Gustaw Herling-Grudzinski's books).
Massolit RULES!!!! Too bad they haven't served lemon merengue recently but on the other hand I'm not surprised - if they did, they'd be trampled down by Lemon Merengue Anonymous. But the usual CarrotCake is also excellent.
A whole shelf on Women's Studies, a piece of cake, a cup of tea/coffe/juice (try blackcurrant with grapefruit - my favourite combination) and a cosy chair/couch - what more could you ask??
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