Upstairs at Albertine.

New York’s most enchanting bookstore ever

It goes by the name of Albertine

Albertine is one of my top ten most beloved spots in New York City. I only take my closest friends there. I don’t divulge its location to just anyone, even though it’s an open secret and can easily be found on any digital map.

Before stepping into the gilded-age mansion that accommodates Albertine, meet Le Petit Prince who awaits you outside, perched on a low wall in front of a small garden. His gaze is dreamy, he is looking up to the moon and stars.

Passers-by, tourists, revelers, and especially children are all invited to sit next to Le Petit Prince. Saint-Exupéry is not far away.

Le Petit Prince symbolizes humanity’s enduring bond between all people, imparting his insights on the universal space we all share.

The sculpture is by French artist Jean-Marc de Pas, unveiled at Villa Albertine in 2023. It received the support of the American Society of Le Souvenir Français and the Antoine de Saint Exupéry Youth Foundation to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Le Petit Prince, the novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, published in 1943. The book has sold over 200 million copies since and has been translated into hundreds of languages.

A few steps up on Fifth Avenue, we enter Villa Albertine, a captivating space where French literature thrives.

Tucked away within the landmarked Payne Whitney mansion, which is also the official residence of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, the bookstore Albertine is un bijou of interior design.