Sometimes it becomes necessary to escape the rush of the monster city. Luckily, the Livaria Cultura offers the perfect hideaway: despite being located in a central shopping area, this bookshop is the perfect place to curl up in for hours, away from the hustle and bustle outside.

The Livaria Cultura stocks a fine collection of English literature on the ground floor; the likes of Foucault and Žižek (in English) can be found in the philosophy section.

A beautiful, airy atrium opens up the different levels, which are connected by stairs and a ramp. The shop is always filled with people enjoying a nice quiet read, or even a nap. But if this somnolent atmosphere gets to be just a bit too much, the Livaria Cultura’s café will happily provide you with a hair-raising shot of espresso.