About Baggot Street Books
Just a short Luas ride or stroll from Rathmines through Portobello, Baggot Street Books on Lower Baggot Street is a scholarly sanctuary for serious readers. Specialising in academic, antiquarian, and second-hand volumes, this family-owned shop since 1979 boasts one of Dublin's finest collections of Irish history, literature, and philosophy books. Housed in a Georgian building near the Grand Canal, its high ceilings and mahogany shelves evoke old-world charm, with the faint dust of centuries-old pages perfuming the air. Perfect for Rathmines locals venturing into Dublin 2 for depth beyond bestsellers.
What to Expect
Anticipate towering stacks of rare finds: first editions of Joyce, out-of-print Yeats, scholarly tomes on Viking Dublin, and global literature. The knowledgeable proprietors offer buys, sells, and valuations; no frills, just pure bibliophilic joy. Prices range from budget paperbacks to premium rarities. Regular visitors from Rathmines praise its quietude, ideal post-canal walk or before a Merrion Square park picnic.
Insider Tips
Call ahead for specific titles; mornings suit undisturbed browsing. Combine with a visit to nearby U2's childhood haunts or the National Library. For 'bookshops Rathmines area Dublin' seekers, it's the go-to for collectables under €50. Watch for clearance sales; haggle politely on second-hand. This understated powerhouse complements Rathmines' scene, bridging southside suburbs to city centre erudition.
Find more in Rathmines area bookshops.