Last Updated on 17 September 2025 by Vanessa
Bonjour, book lovers and cat fans! If you love literature—or just enjoy the company of a good cat—you’ll want to stop by the famous Shakespeare & Company bookshop in Paris.
Tucked into the heart of the bohemian Left Bank, this iconic bookstore isn’t only a paradise for readers. It’s also home to a charming resident cat.
Her name is Athena, and she’s as much a part of the bookshop’s story as the shelves themselves.
The famous Shakespeare & Company bookshop in Paris has a resident cat. Meet Athena!
Some history
American expat Sylvia Beach opened the original Shakespeare & Company in 1919. It quickly became a haven for expatriate writers such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and James Joyce, who would often gather there to discuss literature and to exchange ideas.
The store sadly closed during World War II. However, in 1951, George Whitman, an American expat and book lover, opened another bookshop bearing the same name .
Whitman transformed the store into a literary sanctuary, hosting writers, poets, and artists from around the world. This tradition continues to this day.
A wonderland of books
Author Henry Miller called Shakespeare & Company “a wonderland of books.”
As soon as you step inside, you’re transported to a world of literary wonder.
The cozy interior is filled with bookshelves stacked from floor to ceiling, hosting a diverse collection of books in multiple languages.
From classic literature to contemporary bestsellers, poetry to plays, you’ll find a plethora of literary gems that will make any bibliophile’s heart skip a beat.
We even found some cat-themed books (such as this one).
The two-story bookshop is renowned for its quirky and charming ambiance.
You’ll find cozy reading nooks, with inviting armchairs and cushions, where you can curl up with a book and get lost in its pages.
The creaky wooden floors and the faint smell of old books add to the store’s unique charm. It’s a true book lover’s paradise.
There’s also a sofa, an old piano, typewriters, and… a world-famous resident cat.
The bookstore is so legendary that it was even featured in Richard Linklater’s Before Sunset and Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris.
Agatha
Shakespeare and Company is currently the home of Agatha, their eighth cat.
Agatha is a docile, female tabby, accustomed to the comings and goings of passing writers and customers.
As soon as you enter the store, you might spot her lounging nonchalantly on a bookshelf or curled up in a cozy nook among the stacks of books.
Her favorite spot is her cat bed tent in the piano room on the first floor.
When the crowds thin out, she comes out and picks a human lap to nap on.
But don’t you dare reading a book at the same time, because Agatha wants the attention all to herself.
“Agatha used to be a stray cat.
She often visited the bookstore’s office and eventually made it her home,” a shop assistant told Traveling Cats.
“When the bookstore’s former cat, Kitty, passed away in 2016, Agatha took her place as Shakespeare & Company’s official cat. She’s now the face of many of the shop’s leaflets and brochures.”
Since she could often be found curled up in the crime section, the staff decided to call her Agatha, after Agatha Christie.
Just like Shakespeare & Company’s former cats (Kitty, Kilometer, Boopsie, etc), Agatha is not just there for cuddles and photo ops.
She also plays a role in keeping the bookshop running smoothly.
She helps to control the store’s population of book-loving mice, ensuring that the precious literary treasures remain safe and sound.
Practical information
Address
Shakespeare & Company is located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, at 37 rue de la Bûcherie.
The easiest way to get there by public transport is to take the metro. The closest metro stations are:
- Saint-Michel (line 4)
- Cluny – La Sorbonne (line 10)
From Saint-Michel station, take the Rue de la Huchette exit and walk straight ahead until you reach the Seine River. Cross the bridge to the other side, and the bookshop is located just to the left of the bridge.
From Cluny – La Sorbonne station, take the Boulevard Saint-Germain exit and walk towards Notre-Dame. Turn right onto Rue de la Bûcherie, and the bookshop is located a few minutes’ walk down the street on the left-hand side.
Opening times
- Monday: 10:00 am – 08:00 pm
- Tuesday: 10:00 am – 08:00 pm
- Wednesday: 10:00 am – 08:00 pm
- Thursday: 10:00 am – 09:00 pm
- Friday: 10:00 am – 09:00 pm
- Saturday: 10:00 am – 09:00 pm
- Sunday: 12:00 pm – 07:00 pm
Final thoughts
Visiting the Shakespeare & Company bookshop is so much more than just a literary trip. It’s just as much an opportunity to interact with the adorable Agatha, who has become an integral part of the store’s charm.
If you’re lucky enough to meet Agatha, be sure to show her some love and snap a few pictures.
However, you are not allowed to take photos of the inside of the shop.
Luckily, you can often find Agatha outside, napping on top of her favorite books or hiding in the cherry tree in front of the entrance of the Shakespeare & Company bookshop.
Have you ever visited the Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris? Have you met Agatha? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Check out these other bookshop cats
- Former stray cat becomes “assistant librarian” at the Book Buyers Library in Charlotte, USA
- Meet the cats that live at the Library of High Water (Aqua Alta Libreria) in Venice, Italy
- These are the resident cats of the legendary Classence Library in Ravenna, Italy
- He was old, unhealthy, and miserable at the shelter. Now he’s the happy guardian of the Second Edition Bookshop in Davie, Florida
Pictures by Sobi
