the world’s second-best bookshop?

I heard about a bookshop in Buenos Aires that was supposed to be amazing, El Ateneo Grand Splendid, in an old theatre. But unfortunately it didn't quite live up to expectations, although they were very proud of their ranking.

To be fair, it was quite impressive, row upon row of books in quite a striking theatre space.

And I liked very much the folks sitting reading in the boxes.

But it was all a bit impersonal – rather like a Borders in fact (not that Borders don't have a certain appeal, but they're a bit bland, wouldn't you say? More about quantity than the quality of your visit to the store). It got me thinking as to what makes a truly good bookshop. And then – in the very lovely Palermo district of Buenos Aires, I found one. Boutique del Libro.

So my perfect bookshop has wooden ladders on rails, leading up to shelves stacked with interesting titles. Tables with lovely books laid out. A children's area off to the side, and a cool cafe at the back, with wi-fi, where you can drink coffee and hang out.

A magazine rack, because people who love reading books are usually pretty interested in magazines, too.

A programme of events

Nice staff

And a bookshop plant

And there you go. My perfect bookshop, right there. I'm only sad that it's in Buenos Aires & I'm in London, so I can't go there on the weekends. But I can look at their blog (although I can't actually read it because I don't speak Spanish). So if you find yourself in Buenos Aires I'd give El Ateneo a miss, & head for Palermo instead.