Yu & Me Books

I almost do not want to share about this quaint nostalgic bookstore and cafè. The atmosphere is perfectly peaceful and welcoming. The options are the more ubiquitous coffee drinks, yet it will satisfy the need for a small afternoon cup of coffee. The book selections are an array of current fiction, non-fiction, Fantasy and even used books of premium quality. Comfy seats frame the small, but roomy interior. The lighting and soft music will calm the toughest grognard! If you are downtown in Chinatown stop by and support this wonderful nook of calm joy.

Really cool, cause-driven bookstore amplifying immigrant voices that's rightfully gotten a ton of attention in the press. So beloved that when their store was destroyed by a fire earlier this year, people flocked to support on GoFundMe, and now they're in a temporary location in The Market Line. Great selection of books and awesome staff.

I heard so much about this bookstore in the last year and couldn't wait to go explore it myself in Chinatown. As the first dedicated south asian bookstore in NYC and a south asian myself, the place and its owner were both warm and welcoming. I felt like I was a kid again perusing through the books with familiar author names and stories. It's a small book shop, but can definitely pack a crowd. I picked up two books myself - Will Smith's memoir and A Place for us by Fatima Farheen Mirza. There are cute, quiet spaces to sit and read as well inside. Would definitely come back again!

Delightful bookstore in the Market Line (downstairs) level of Essex Market, focused on Asian American contemporary literature. I recall when the original bookstore burned down on Mulberry St in Chinatown earlier this year, so I was delighted to find them relocated in Essex Market. However, their rent will shoot up at the end of the year, and I hope the Market understands that they have an obligation to the cultural legacy of the Lower East Side, El Barrio Chino, to make it feasible for our culture to survive (where we struggle to pay rent and taxes.) Yu & Me also has an awesome collection of greeting cards, stickers, and other knick knacks, plus comfy chairs to relax with a book. I'm headed there now!

This place is really cute. An array of Asian authors’ works have found a place into this Mulberry bookstore, and the walls are decorated with beautiful Asian American art. It’s wonderful to have a place that specializes in such a thing. As a little extra surprise, they even have local beer available to sip while you browse, as well as a cozy reading room in the back for you to relax in. Check it out if you have a chance~

I passed by this shop a few weekends ago and was so excited about the curated selection, specifically of writers of color. Lucy, the owner, was so friendly and knowledgeable. She made great recommendations based off my favorite reads. The shop has an incredible cozy feel and they started serving coffee recently, too! I can't recommend this shop enough and if you can't come by in person, be sure to support through online orders/social media!