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Discover NYC – Your Guide to Indie Businesses

Discover the local, independent businesses that are the heart and soul of NYC in Shoot New York City’s guide to the best of indie New York!

Discover the real NYC in Shoot New York City’s Discover Guide

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, many of the businesses listed are temporarily or permanently closed. I do suggest that you verify if they are open before visiting them. With many of them, it is probably best to call them as they may not have had the opportunity to update the information on their website.

I love the independent businesses in New York, they are the heart and soul of the city! In this section you will find bookstores, cafés, restaurants, arts & crafts markets and more. This is an ongoing project to list the best of indie New York so visit often to discover the real New York City. Experience the hidden gems and places that New Yorkers frequent. For more information on many of NYC’s vibrant neighborhoods, have a read of my Neighborhood Guides. I am not compensated for writing these reviews and I'm only writing about the places that I like.

Sadly, far too many of these unique, independent businesses close every year. When I learn of one closing I will move it to the category Vanishing NYC. They may be gone but they’ll never be forgotten!

Neighborhoods

Business Type

 

Westsider Books, Upper West Side, Manhattan

Westsider Books is a real gem. This is the kind of bookstore that you enter to discover books that you didn’t know about or stumble upon a book that you forgot about and wanted to read,

It’s rather small, but the books line the walls from floor to ceiling and it has a kind of magical feel to any book lover who enters. I love to just let my mind wander across all the titles and authors. It’s a real one-of-a-kind and definitely worth the trip uptown.

They opened in 1980 and they sell rare & used books. Their website is a little wonky so I haven’t included it here. They also have a location at 233 West 72nd Street which I haven’t been to yet.

Westsider Books - 2246 Broadway, near 81st Street - 212 362 0706

BookstoresLeanne StaplesUpper West Side