Best Lebanese Publishers and Independent Bookshops

Beirut has long been one of the main publishing centres of the Arab world, and its houses print everything from classical Arabic texts to picture books and comics. The city’s bookshops are just as varied, from a chain founded in 1933 to small shops built around a café or a love of design.

How we chose

Every publisher and bookshop here is listed in the Made in Liban directory and is based in Lebanon. We looked for a clear focus, whether that is Arabic literature, children’s books, art books or a well-curated shelf, and we leaned on listings with documented histories and catalogues. We have not reviewed every title these houses publish; what follows is drawn from each listing’s information.

Bookshops

Librairie Antoine

Lebanon’s oldest and largest bookstore has been serving readers since 1933. It sells multilingual books, stationery and gifts, both in its stores and online, which makes it the easiest first stop for most readers.

Aaliya’s Books

Named for a fictional book lover, this Gemmayzeh shop combines a curated selection of English-language books with a café and a cocktail bar. It suits readers who like to browse slowly and stay a while.

Papercup

In Mar Mikhael, Papercup is a design-led bookstore for art, photography and architecture lovers. Shelves hold books and magazines on those subjects, along with design objects.

Halabi Bookshop

Readers who enjoy digging through shelves will like this Beirut shop, which stocks new and second-hand books in several languages across many subjects.

Literary and general publishers

Hachette Antoine

Formed in 2009 as a joint venture between Hachette Livre and Librairie Antoine, this Beirut house is home to the Naufal imprint, whose publishing history dates to 1970. Naufal releases about 25 titles a year, mostly original Arabic fiction and nonfiction, and also translates international bestsellers. The wider list includes children’s books, cookbooks, dictionaries and French-language school textbooks. Visit Hachette Antoine

Arab Scientific Publishers

Founded in 1987 by Bassam Chebaro, this general publisher is known for bringing English-language fiction and nonfiction into Arabic, and for a strong line of books for children and teenagers. Its list also covers literature, poetry, science and psychology. It won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award for Publishing and Technology in 2015. Visit Arab Scientific Publishers

Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah

Students and researchers of classical Arabic and Islamic texts know this Beirut house, founded in 1971 by Muhammad Ali Baydoun. It specializes in theology, jurisprudence, hadith, Sufism, grammar and history, with more than 10,000 titles reported and around 400 new works a year. Visit Dar Al-Kotob Al-Ilmiyah

Children’s publishers

Asala Publishers

Shereen Kredieh started Asala in 1998, and it now counts more than 1,600 Arabic children’s titles, reviewed by an in-house educational team. The list mixes realistic fiction and modern fantasy, and Kredieh chose to leave out comprehension questions so reading stays a pleasure. “When You Get Angry” won the 2013 Etisalat Award for Best Production. Visit Asala Publishers

Dar Al-Hadaek

Author Nabiha Mheidly founded this press in Beirut in 1987 to focus only on books for children and young people. It has released more than 450 titles for ages 2 to 14, in print, as e-books and as audiobooks, including books adapted for children with special needs. It also publishes the children’s magazines Ahmad and Tuta Tuta. Visit Dar Al-Hadaek

Art books and comics

Kaph Books

Founded in Beirut in 2015, Kaph publishes well-made art books on artists from the Middle East, with around 100 titles in photography, fine art, design and architecture. Its 384-page On Photography in Lebanon (2018) is a useful survey for anyone interested in the country’s image history. Visit Kaph Books

Samandal

This volunteer-run comics collective, founded in 2007 by five artists, publishes a magazine that mixes Arabic, French and English. It has released 18 magazines, seven anthologies and six graphic novels, and won the Alternative Comics Prize at Angoulême in 2019.

Rusted Radishes

Started in 2012 by English department faculty at the American University of Beirut, this literary and art journal publishes one themed issue a year in Arabic and English. Poetry, fiction, translation, essays and artwork sit side by side. Visit Rusted Radishes

Tips

Decide on the language first: many Lebanese houses publish in Arabic, while others work in English or French, or mix all three.
For children’s books, check the age range; publishers such as Dar Al-Hadaek and Academia International group titles by age.
Visit independent shops in person when you can, since their curated shelves are the main reason to go.
Look at a publisher’s own site for its full catalogue before ordering through a bookshop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the oldest bookstore in Lebanon?

Librairie Antoine, which has served readers since 1933, is described as Lebanon’s oldest and largest bookstore.

Which Lebanese publishers specialize in Arabic children’s books?

Asala Publishers, Dar Al-Hadaek, Academia International, Dar Onboz and Samir Éditeur all publish books for young readers. Dar Al-Hadaek is described as the first press in the Arab world to focus only on children and young people.

Where can I find Arabic translations of international bestsellers?

Arab Scientific Publishers translates a large share of its list from English, and Hachette Antoine’s Naufal imprint also buys and translates international bestsellers.