Books

Look for books on icons like Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, and browse the design and architecture sections for luxurious monographs on greats like Oscar Niemeyer and Valentino. Assouline’s Plaza boutique offers customized leather bookbinding. $$, $$$

768 Fifth Ave., at 59th St., in the Plaza Hotel; various locations; 212-593-7236;

The owners’ love of collecting informs the atmosphere of this renowned store, which carries an unparalleled array of first editions and inscribed volumes from the 15th through 20th centuries. The expert staff knows how to keep serious collectors happy. $$$$

535 Madison Ave., nr. 54th St.; 212-751-0011;

The gallery at Clic displays rotating prints, ranging from New York street-style photographs to conceptual posed portraits. The book selection includes colorful coffee-table tomes of portraits, landscapes, and voyeuristic paparazzi shots. $$, $$$

255 Centre St., at Broome St.; 212-966-2766;

Dashwood Books is devoted almost exclusively to contemporary photography, including a particularly impressive international selection from Japan and Europe. Books are organized by country and subject. $$

33 Bond St., Lafayette St.; 212-387-8520;

Find rare and out-of-print titles, plus books on design, architecture, and the decorative arts. Email is the best way to set up an appointment to peruse their extensive collection of works on modern design. $$$, $$$$

1 University Pl., nr. Waverly Pl.; 212-677-3985;

A Pop Art boutique and bookstore from arguably the most powerful art dealer in the world, Gagosian Shop focuses on art books and monographs. It also sells a small selection of jewelry and art pieces for the home. $$, $$$

976 Madison Ave., nr. 76th St.; 212-796-1224;

This trove of rare and used furniture and design books is carefully selected by the owner. Mid-century lamps and Scandinavian chairs evoke a living-room setting for browsing; the furnishings are also for sale. $$, $$$

489 Lorimer St., nr. Powers St., Williamsburg; 718-383-6465;

This nonprofit, headquartered in Chelsea, is dedicated to promoting the book as an art medium. It maintains a retail operation and hosts book launches and events for the likes of Roe Ethridge, Prince Rama, and Walead Beshty. $$, $$$

231 11th Ave., at 26th St.; 212-925-0325;

Going strong as it hits its 90th year, the Strand today does nearly as much business in new books as in used ones. Either way, its design- and art-book departments are the biggest in town, and even though everything in the store is now bar-coded and (semi-)findable, it’s still a place where you can drift off and get a little lost in the stacks. An honest-to-goodness New York treasure. $, $$

828 Broadway, at 12th St.; 212-473-1452;

Aesthetes flock to this coffee-table-book mecca for arty-edgy titles like The Big Book of Breasts. The selection also boasts monographs from contemporary artists like David LaChapelle, and pocket-size guides to subjects such as vintage cars. $$, $$$

107 Greene St., nr. Prince St.; 212-226-2212;