Barnes & Noble

This Union Square flagship is the biggest bookstore in Manhattan. Occupying a historic Queen Anne building that sat vacant and derelict before its 1990 restoration, the shop spreads its massive inventory across four floors. Beyond the main shelves, it features a remarkably large children's book section. The open-space cafe can feel a bit rough around the edges, but it serves a wide variety of pastries and coffee set to classical music, while the staff are available to help track down titles or assist with online orders.