Best Bookstore in New York · New York, NY
The Strand has been New York's bookstore since 1927, when Benjamin Bass opened it on Fourth Avenue's old "Book Row." The last survivor of that row, it has been run by the Bass family for three generations and still advertises its legendary "18 Miles of Books" across four floors at Broadway and 12th Street.
New, used, rare and remaindered titles are stacked to the ceiling, staffed by famously opinionated booksellers and topped by a Rare Book Room. The red Strand tote has become a New York icon in its own right.
Nearly a century on, the Strand remains fiercely independent and family-owned — and the 2026 Centurion Award winner for Best Bookstore in New York.
Each Centurion Award is a dated record tied to one year’s evaluation — earned annually, never carried over. Open a year for the full citation and verification details.
Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit The Strand Book Store
This page is the standing record for The Strand Book Store (2026). It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
If you’ve put in the years, you may already clear the bar. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.