El Ateneo

I am so pleased to know that The Guardian, one of the biggest British newspapers have chosen this photo for their feature about best bookshops in the world.

“Every booklover has their favourite shop, and while it’s true that many independents have been driven out of business by online sales and supermarket bestsellers, you still don’t have to look too hard to find one that’s thriving. To prove it, Sean Dodson chooses the 10 bookshops from around the world which he considers to be the fairest of them all

Friday January 11, 2008
Guardian Unlimited

The world’s best bookshops
Shopping around the globe … (clockwise from left) Livrario Lello in Porto, Hatchards in London, El Ateneo in Buenos Aires

2- El Ateneo in Buenos Aires

All the world’s a page at El Ateneo, a bookshop converted from an old theatre in downtown Buenos Aires. As you can see from this photomontage the El Ateneo has retained its former splendour, with high painted ceiling, original balconies and ornate carvings intact. Even the crimson stage curtains remain part of the show. Comfy chairs are scattered throughout, the stage is utilised as a reading area and café, and even better, the former theatre boxes are used as tiny reading rooms.

More photos : I have more photos from El Ateneo. One of them have been used in Wikipedia