Sefer Ve Sefel

Sefer Ve Sefel - ספר וספל

New/Used: new books, used books

Description: Meaning "book and mug" in English, this bookstore alas does not serve coffee anymore, however it is a treasure trove of new and second-hand English titles. Tucked away on the second floor of a house in an alleyway off Jaffa Street, the store's two levels are great for browsing and there is a plentiful supply of second-hand titles, in good condition, selling for about two-thirds of the cover price. Before entering the door, there is a large balcony area with a good noticeboard of events for English speakers, cards, posters, bargain second-hand books and old magazines. The ground floor has fiction along with new-age and Jewish/Israel related titles. The second floor has reference books, children's books and sections on self-help and cookery. The owners buy old books and will buy back their own stock, offering you either credit towards other books or a cash payment.

The beauty of this shop is that it is full of such a variety of English-language books, both used and new, and if you purchase a book there, new or used, you can return it and get a partial credit towards the price of the next book you purchase. The store itself is up a staircase off of a narrow street that runs between Yafo and the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall.

This is from Ha'aretz's review of used book stores:

The landmark Jerusalem used bookstore, Sefer Ve Sefel, is probably the city's best known - and with good reason: Spread over two stories, its selection is wide and neatly laid out, with helpful service and moderate prices. The books on the outside are highly discounted, with some real bargains for just NIS 10. Sefer Ve Sefel sells some new books, but the vast majority is used - and all are in English.

"'The Lonely Planet' guide calls Sefer Ve Sefel the best used English-language book shop in the Middle East and I would agree," says long-time owner Uri Ruchan, who has managed the store for 22 years. "We have a huge selection of new used books because many of our customers buy books on the Internet or bring them to us from abroad."

Hours: 8a-8p Su-Th; 8a-2:30p F

Added by: solanum.  Contacted: Not contacted.  Venue ID: 19928