Bushwick changes fast. One minute you're looking at a desolate warehouse, and the next, it’s a high-concept sourdough collective or a vintage shop selling $80 trucker hats. It’s exhausting. But tucked away on Hart Street, Molasses Books Brooklyn NY feels like it’s been there forever, even though it only opened its doors in 2012. It’s a bookstore. It’s a cafe. It’s a bar. Honestly, it’s the neighborhood’s living room.
Walking in, you aren't hit with that sterile, corporate "buy something and leave" energy you find at big-box retailers. The air smells like old paper and espresso. The shelves are packed tight—too tight, maybe—with books that actually look like people have read them. Matt Winn, the owner, started this place because he wanted a spot where he could trade his own books for coffee or beer. That barter system still exists in a way, fueling a circular economy of paperbacks that keeps the inventory weird and wonderful.
It’s small.
If you’re looking for a sprawling library where you can get lost in the aisles for three hours without seeing another human, this isn't it. You’re going to bump elbows. You’ll hear the hiss of the milk steamer and the clink of a glass as someone finishes a cold brew. But that’s the point. It’s one of the few places left in New York where the "third space" concept isn't just a marketing buzzword used by real estate developers.
The Reality of Running a Bookstore Bar in Bushwick
People think owning a bookstore is some romantic dream involving dusty ladders and tweed jackets. In reality, it’s a logistics nightmare. Especially in a place like Brooklyn where the rent is high enough to make your eyes water. Molasses Books Brooklyn NY manages to survive because it understands that books alone don’t pay the bills. You need the coffee. You definitely need the wine and beer.
The selection here is curated but chaotic. You might find a pristine copy of a contemporary poet next to a beat-up 1970s sci-fi paperback with a cover that looks like a fever dream. They don't just stock the New York Times bestsellers list. In fact, if you’re looking for the latest celebrity memoir that everyone is talking about on TikTok, you might be out of luck. They lean into the literary, the obscure, and the local.
What makes the "Molasses" vibe different?
It’s the lighting. It’s always a little bit dim, even in the middle of a sunny Tuesday. It makes you feel like you’ve stepped out of the "grind" and into a slower version of the city. You see people on laptops, sure—this is Brooklyn, after all—but you also see people actually talking. Or staring at a wall while nursing a glass of red wine.
There’s no pressure to be "productive."
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Most cafes in the area have these "no laptop" rules on weekends that feel like a middle school principal reprimanding you. Molasses feels more organic. The space is so small that if you're hogging a table with a 27-inch monitor, you’re just the jerk in the room. You don't need a sign to tell you that. The community enforces the vibe.
The Barter System and the Used Book Economy
Let’s talk about the books. Molasses Books Brooklyn NY is primarily a used bookstore. This is crucial. In an age where everything is digital or print-on-demand, the physical weight of a used book matters. They buy books. They trade books.
If you bring in a stack of titles they actually want, you get store credit. That credit can turn into a latte. It can turn into a pilsner. It’s a beautiful system for the struggling writer or the neighborhood local who just moved into a smaller apartment and realized they can't keep 400 copies of The New Yorker.
But don't expect them to take your old college textbooks. No one wants your 2014 Intro to Macroeconomics. Trust me. They want the stuff that has soul—art books, philosophy, weird pulp fiction, and independent zines. The "buy/sell/trade" desk is where the heart of the shop beats. It’s where Winn and his staff filter the neighborhood's collective consciousness into the shelves.
The Midnight Bookstore
One of the coolest things about this spot is the hours. Most bookstores close at 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM, right when the night is actually starting. Molasses stays open late. They have a liquor license, which means the transition from "quiet reading nook" to "low-key neighborhood bar" happens somewhere around dusk.
It isn't a rowdy bar. You aren't going to see people doing shots of tequila while screaming over Top 40 hits. It’s more of a "sip a glass of rye while discussing the merits of translated Japanese literature" kind of place. It fills a very specific niche in the Brooklyn nightlife scene: the bar for people who don't actually like bars.
Why Social Media Loves (and Kind of Ruins) It
If you search for Molasses Books Brooklyn NY on Instagram, you’ll see thousands of photos. The green shelving. The chalkboard menus. The perfectly poured heart in the latte foam. It is, by all accounts, an "aesthetic" location.
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This is a double-edged sword.
On one hand, the digital word-of-mouth keeps the lights on. It brings in tourists from Manhattan and beyond who want to "see the real Brooklyn." On the other hand, it can sometimes feel like the shop is becoming a backdrop for a photo shoot rather than a place to read. Luckily, the staff doesn't cater to the influencer crowd. They are polite but strictly focused on the books and the beverages. If you’re there to take 50 selfies and not buy a single $5 paperback, you’re going to feel a bit out of place.
The Competition
Brooklyn is arguably the bookstore capital of the world. You’ve got Books Are Magic in Cobble Hill, McNally Jackson in Williamsburg, and Word in Greenpoint. These are all incredible institutions. But they feel like stores.
Molasses feels like a hangout.
It’s closer in spirit to the old-school Parisian cafes where people would sit for six hours on one cup of coffee. It doesn't have the polish of the newer developments in the Navy Yard or the high-rises by the water. It’s got a bit of grit. The floorboards creak. The bathroom is... well, it’s a Brooklyn bar bathroom. It’s authentic in a way that’s becoming increasingly rare.
Navigating the Bushwick Book Scene
If you’re planning a trip to check out Molasses Books Brooklyn NY, don't just stop there. The neighborhood has evolved into a legitimate literary destination. You can start your morning at Molasses, then head over to Topos Bookstore in Ridgewood (just a short walk away) for more used gems and a slightly different, perhaps more airy, vibe.
But you'll probably end up back at Molasses.
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There is something magnetic about the corner of Hart and Irving. Maybe it’s the way the light hits the window in the late afternoon. Or maybe it’s just the fact that you can buy a book for eight dollars and immediately start reading it while someone pours you a drink. It’s a simple pleasure, but in 2026, simple pleasures feel like luxuries.
Common Misconceptions
- "It's only for hipsters."
Not really. While the crowd is definitely on the younger side, you’ll see older residents who have lived in Bushwick for forty years stopping in for a coffee. It’s a mix. - "The books are expensive."
Actually, the used prices are very fair. You can often find stuff cheaper here than you would on a used book site once you factor in shipping. - "They have every book ever made."
Nope. It’s a tiny shop. If you want a specific edition of an obscure 19th-century French novel, you might have to hunt. But that’s the fun—finding something you weren't looking for.
Practical Advice for Your Visit
Don't bring a huge group. If you show up with six people, you aren't going to find a place to sit. It’s a solo mission or a two-person date spot at most.
Check their events calendar too. They host readings, book launches, and small gatherings that are usually packed. It’s a great way to meet the local writing community if you’re new to the city or just trying to get out of your apartment.
Bring books to trade, but be prepared for rejection. The staff knows what sells and what they have too much of. Don't take it personally if they don't want your copy of The Da Vinci Code. They probably already have three in the back.
Actionable Steps for Your Molasses Books Experience:
- Audit Your Shelves: Before you go, grab 3–5 high-quality paperbacks you’ve already read. Fiction, poetry, and philosophy are the "gold" for their trade-in program.
- Time Your Arrival: Aim for a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon. You’ll actually get a seat, and the atmosphere is at its most "neighborhood-y."
- Put the Phone Away: Try to spend at least 30 minutes reading a physical book without checking your notifications. The shop is designed for this kind of focus; lean into it.
- Ask for a Recommendation: The people behind the counter actually read. Ask them what’s been sitting on the "new arrivals" shelf that they’re surprised hasn't sold yet. You'll usually walk away with something incredible.
Molasses Books isn't just a business; it's a holdout. In a city that often feels like it's being turned into a giant, shiny shopping mall, this little corner of Bushwick remains stubbornly, wonderfully tactile. It’s a place where the barrier between the writer, the reader, and the community is as thin as a piece of parchment. Go there. Buy a book. Stay for a drink. Repeat.