Hodges Figgis – The Bookstore

From the outside, Hodges Figgis looks like a tiny bookstore with an amazing person in charge of displays. But go inside and you’ll find a massive store filled to brim with anything you can find. Think of a big Barnes & Nobles in the states, and this is it, but better. This is truly a book lover’s dream.

This is the only library in Dublin where I founded the sales, strategy and management books I needed.
I went again for a travel book, they have a nice section of guides.
Go there if you are searching a gift as well, some good ideas

IMHO this is the best bookstore in Dublin.
I like the building, the floors, the people working there, the silence, the atmosphere, the books and the fact you forget to be in the centre of an European capital.
You need to love books, otherwise much better staying online and go to amazon, this is a place where you can discover new stuff, where you eventually buy books that you do not really need but that catch your heart.
It’s easy to find people sitting in the corners reading some magazines or books, sometimes they also have events which are enjoyable by everyone.
This is a place I would love to work for, I already used to for in a book store and even if I do not read much, being surrounded by this much art, knowledge and history makes me feel good, really good.

Books on 3 floors! Great place to go a roam for interesting tomes of knowledge. I can hardly go in here without leaving with 2 – 3 tomes for my already overflowing arch of a bookshelf. Staff is really helpful and will get you the wise words on paper that they aren´t stocking at the moment.

I love Hodges! I was first introduced to it last year for my textbooks, and the proximity to Trinity meant that I was always there. It’s quiet, large, and well organised. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. I had to order in a book recently– it arrived quickly and I was conveniently notified by text. Smooth service!
Unfortunately, it is a bit expensive. I have to admit I’d probably check for my desired book in the secondhand section of Chapters first, and then buy at Hodges if necessary. Either way, I love coming in here for a browse!

Great bookstore with a brilliant selection and lots of lovely helpful staff. They have a discount section too which is always worth a look. They have a loyalty scheme so for every € 10 you spend you get a stamp and when you have ten stamps you get € 10 off your next purchase! I love browsing here and always find something interesting.

This age old bookstore in Dublin has old world charm about it; a book lovers dream!
Stock is over 3 floors but it’s well signposted so you can always find the section you’re after. Staff here know there stuff, from rare author to best sellers, there’s nothing these peeps don’t know… I also love how precise they can be, in a big store they literally can find that needle in a haystack your looking for without checking the computer! Impressive!
So whether books including college text books, maps, magazines this book shop wins out. Buying here you are supporting one of the oldest bookstores, an Irish gem!

Love this shop. The staff are so friendly and knowledgeable.
I still remember going in once and asking for an obscure book — there was a queue for the till, so the staff member pointed and said «you see the third bookcase on the left, fourth shelf from the top, the book with the yellow spine. That’s it. Personally, I think his earlier book is better, but that one is good, too»
You could lose hours here.
The only thing I think they could really consider would be a «click and collect» online service. That way I would know that books I need are in stock and also I’d get to browse the store.

This bookstore is huge in size, and huge is selection of the books. All books are thoroughly categorised, and there are comfy chairs throughout for anyone who wants to linger over a booked. This is the best bookstore I’ve found in Dublin so far both in terms of selection and experience

Hodges Figgis is everything a book shop should be. I make no secret of the fact that I am a bookshopaholic and am rarely happier then when I’m wandering around a book shop browsing and sorting out the troubles of the world in my head.
In my opinion this is one of the last (if not the last) great Dublin book shops. There used to be lots — Waterstones, The Winding Stair (sigh). We of course have Eason but I find the pace there to be so much faster than a bookshop ought to be — lots of foot traffic and magazine readers.
Hodges Figgis have a fantastic selection of books and staff that have a wealth of knowledge and all seem really genuinely interested in books — without being snobbish.
Of course the prices are high but I understand their rent must be massive and they have so many staff — I can imagine it is virtually impossible to compete with the online sellers — so they don’t. Instead they offer us a true bookshop experience and that comes at a price. They have a good bargain section and a good loyalty scheme.
My only gripe is the recent relocation of the children’s section to the basement which makes no sense and every time I visit the shop I see some poor woman with a double buggy looking perplexed at the narrow steep flight of stairs.

Easily the best bookshop in Dublin — maybe even Ireland! Floors and floors of books from every category. Always have what I’m looking for, and if they don’t have it in stock they’ll order it in ASAP. Check it out!

This bookstore was a pleasant surprise. I was walking along Dawson Street and found Hodges Figgis and decided to check it out. Here’s what I liked:
— The books are laid out in a beautiful manner (apart from the usual sections) so as to piqué my interest.
— The staff are so well-​read that I found myself chatting with one of them for a bit while I was looking for a book. Seriously, if you’re bored and need to talk to a fellow bookworm, this place seals the deal.
— Loyalty card. I needn’t explain this any further, especially if you are a frequent buyer of books.
My only gripe was that some of the books here were a bit expensive compared to what Amazon is offering for the same paperbacks (and if you’re the type that reads off a Kindle, Amazon’s got you covered for even lesser – but let’s not get into that).
Overall, this is a beautiful store where you can easily lose a couple of hours having fun and discovering some really nice books.

It’s not stretch to say this is the best book shop in Ireland, certainly of contemporary new books anyway. Sprawling over a few stories (no pun intended) it’s got pretty much every book imaginable. I’ve certainly never been stuck for what I’m looking for, and I have some obscure tastes in books. It’s a little expensive, as book shops usually are. You won’t find a book here for much less than a tenner and most are about 15, that’s just for fiction. I suppose Amazon has just ruined me. Certain books however such as law textbooks are cheaper than average. Still the selection is to die for and you could spend many happy hours perusing the shelves. It’s actually a little stressful because there are so many inspiring and interesting books and so little time!
The staff are also very helpful and nice.

Lovely big book store. I used to prefer Waterstones when it was there as i loved the layout. However they have a great selection of books and lots of stuff for things I am interested in such as travel and cookery.
You could easily spend a whole day here as it covers a couple of floors.

I like going into Hodges and Figgis.
I like floating between floors, picking up books, skipping in a few pages, reading a paragraph or two, putting said book down, and then wandering over to a table which claims to possess a small collection of the best books on bird watching.
I like seeing kids nose deep in comics, sitting on the floor, and not being disturbed by staff.
I like picking up a pencil case, gulping when I see the price, and then quickly putting it back down, for fear holding it incurs some kind of weird fine.
I like the random section on the occult.
Things I do not like: trying to locate my Hodges and Figgis loyalty card at the till, triumphantly pulling out a bookmark, then blushing like a 12 year old when the person at the checkout pulls a face and says, «that’s not our loyalty card». THEN WHY DO THEY LOOK SO SIMILAR! WHY LORD WHY!??; every book is expensive and this makes me sad; every present with a literary connotation is expensive and this makes me sad; I got lost on the second floor once.
Other than that though, Hodges and Figgis is a delight. I like the dark wood, and how its exterior vaguely resembles Ollivanders from the Harry Potter movies. Is it slightly more expensive than your regular bookshop, yes, but it stocks both the popular and obscure, so you can forgive them for the few extra bob they are extracting from you. Be warned though, it’s very difficult to browse and leave without buying, so if you’re strapped for cash, stare forlornly at the window display and move on!

Hodges Figgis: This is the type of book store experience most of us want from the selections available to the smell of new books in the air.
The staff is also very helpful — a staff member will lead you to the spot where your coveted book can be found and stay with you until it’s clear you have found what you’re seeking.
It just feels like a book shop should. Makes you want to set up camp on one of its’ floors and read the afternoon rain away…
Go ahead and judge this book shop by its’ cover … you won’t be disappointed.

This is by far the best and most comprehensive book shop in Dublin, far better than Easons etc. Not as good as Amazon though, but it does house a good amount. It’s 4 floors including the bargain basement and has almost every book imaginable! Everything is neatly arranged and categorised, making it easy to find what you are looking for and you are allowed to stand and read for as long as you want. There are even seats here and there around the store to sit.
The second floor is where I usually go and has books related to cooking, health, art, psychology, fashion etc. while the top floor has books for university as well as other books to assist in learning.
However, in terms of price, I find it more pricy than what I find online but it’s great for browsing and passing the time. There is also a discount stamp card if you spend enough.

This is definitely a top end bookstore in Dublin. The store is several floors and packed with every book imaginable. It is a good thing that the staff is so knowledgeable and friendly because I can never find anything on my own. I cannot leave the store without my wallet being a bit lighter.

When I am sad; I buy books. When I get home I look at these books and my mood is instantly lifted.
Hodges Figgis is a wonderful place for a rainy day but even when the sun is out, I could trawl the shelves for hours on end.
Smartly laid out, it is easy to navigate your way round and with staff who allow you to peruse at your own pace, by the time I’ve made my way through the entire store, I can barely see with all the books stacked in my arms. Decision time is never easy; what will my pocket allow and which purchase would satisfy my present craving? Never being able to buy them all, there is always fortunately, reason to return.

Does what it says on the tin.
Nicely laid out, amazing selection (see my photo of the Europe travel section along), and nice comfortable surroundings.
The range of travel books was so vast in fact that I had to get a shop assistant to direct me in the right direction. She did more than that, and suggested other possible books that might also be good for my needs (without being asked)
My only gripe — which really would be true of all Irish bookshops — was the price! I looked up the Rough Guide on Amazon the night before and found it for € 15 with free p&p. I decided to go into Hodges Figgis anyway, as the shock of HMV closing down has only further instilled in me the need to support local businesses to prevent this from happening all over Dublin! The very same book cost € 28. Plus the cost of me travelling in and out of town. I can’t see how these crazy prices can be justified?

Leopold Bloom stand im Verlauf seiner abenteuerlichen Odyssee durch Dublin im 3. Kapitel von Ulysses vor dem Schaufenster der Buchhandlung Hodges Figgis in Grafton Street und durchlebte seine ganz individuellen inneren Abenteuer (Die Jungfrau am Montag an Hodge Figgis’ Schaufenster ganz schön scharf hast du sie angestarrt bloß né Bummelmieze wetten dass sie diese gottslästerlichen Sachen trägt, Korsett, Strumpfhalter und gelbe Strümpfe).
Aber wir kommen vom Thema ab. Das heutige Geschäft liegt in Dawson Street in unmittelbarer Nähe vom altehrwürdigen Trinity College und atmet den irischen Geist von Wissenschaft, Religiosität, Poesie und starker Einbildungskraft, letztere meist durch übermäßigen Alkoholgenuß zusätzlich unterstützt und verstärkt.
Hodges Figgis ist die größte Buchhandlung Irlands und hat eine lange Tradition. Man führt auf mehreren Etagen eine riesige Buchauswahl ist aber vor allem spezialisiert auf irische Literatur. Es heißt, hier gäbe es nahezu jedes literarische Buch, dass jemals in Irland gedruckt worden sei. Man findet auch viele Reiseführer und Bücher über Gärten und Geschichte. Historisch Interessierte, die tiefer in die Einzelheiten der irischen Geschichte mit ihren kleinen und großen Katastrophen einsteigen wollen, werden nirgends besser fündig.