Remarkable and quirky second hand English bookshop, with café. The name is a sideways glance to Bulgakov’s masterpiece ‘The Master and Margarita’, in which MASSOLIT is an acronym for the ‘Moscow Society of Literature’ or ‘literature for the masses’ or more loosely LOTS-A-LIT. With a constantly updated stock of around 20, 000 discounted titles, covering a spectrum of genres - it does what it says on the tin. Books stretch out from floor to ceiling in darkly majestic book cases, while blues, jazz or folk crackles out from muffled speakers over the quaint furnishings and strung out bibliophiles. A Dantesque map reveals the way: entrust your baggage to the nice people at the front, acquire a brightly coloured peg, then traverse the hallway (a sort of limbo), and descend the “corridor of classics”, eschewing the controversial notice board and sinister drapes along the way. Finally, emerge into the second half of Massolit, where you’ll find the much coveted ‘new arrivals’ section, among a score of others. Also to be seen on the map is an obscure vestibule marked ‘Feminist Reading Room’ – about which I don't like to ask. Authentic American baked goods are up for grabs, the coffee is drinkable, the carrot cake rather good but rarely available. Also plays host to a number of dubious meetings, such as Krakow’s very own ‘Poet’s and Writer’s Circle’ monthly knees-up. Famous place to kill a few hours or discover that rare edition of that elusive book you'd hitherto managed to avoid.

5 / 5

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