November 8, 2009

Bookstore capital in the heart of the capital

To call the numbers below from the U.S. dial 011 (international dialing code), 52 (Mexico's country code), 55 (the city code) and the local number.

BIBLIOFILIA

Donceles 78-2, 5518-2999, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Antique, out-of-print and used books. One of more than a dozen used-book stores on Calle Donceles in the Centro Histórico of Mexico City.

LIBRERÍA MADERO

Madero 12, 5510-2068. 10 a.m. to 6:30 Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Mexican history and antique books. One of the oldest and most exclusive antique-book stores in the Centro Histórico.

MERCADO DE LA LAGUNILLA

Located on Comonfort, corner of Reforma, open 9 a.m.to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday (when some say is the best day to go). Among the piles of junk, Mexican memorabilia and antique furniture in this funky outdoor market are some choice books, with prices as low as in the used-book stores on Calle Donceles.

PLAZA DEL ÁNGEL SHOPPING ARCADE

Londres 161, Zona Rosa, open 10 a.m to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A select, upscale indoor market perfect for those with more money than time to spend hunting through thousands of books.

MUSEO DEL LIBRO

Book Museum, in the building that housed the first printing press in the Americas, on Licenciado Primo Verdad 10, corner of Moneda, 5522-1535.