Porto’s newest gem: Rosebud Bookshop

Just a short walk from Lapa metro station, this cosy haven is located on Rua de Cedofeita and is home to a thoughtfully curated selection of fiction, non-fiction, and children's books.

Rosebud Bookshop opened back in August 2024, thanks to literary enthusiast Rose, who told The Portugal News, “It has surpassed my expectation, as far as the community support, engagement and just the excitement for it”.

Originally from the US, Rose and her partner moved to Portugal in 2022, where she admitted that she never imagined she would open a bookshop in a new country, despite having worked at a bookstore straight out of high school and keeping up with the literary world. “I never really thought it was tangible... it was always one of those aspirational goals”.

Rose shared how the universe led her to open the bookshop. “I kept having vivid dreams about owning a bookstore, I could see myself walking through the neighbourhood and opening it. It just felt right in my gut, so I did it.”

Enthusiastic community support

Rose told The Portugal News, “My goal was to keep it just English as I wanted to fulfil the demand for that from my immigrant community and I knew that the Portuguese also read in English, I just didn’t realise quite how much until I opened my store. About 50% of my customers are Portuguese and they prefer to read in English, both from a cost perspective and because they want to read the original translation.”

Rose affirmed that she wanted to complement the literary scene in Porto, “Initially, I was nervous about potential pushback, but the response from both immigrants and locals has been overwhelmingly positive. I also did not want to compete with Portuguese businesses, there are some great independent bookstores like Livraria Aberta, which specialises in LGBTQ+ literature and Livraria Trama known for philosophy and artworks, who already serve the community well.”

A warm tribute to Porto

Before securing the space, Rose shared that she envisioned a sage green colour scheme with wooden accents for the store but “suddenly I had this feeling that I should lean towards terracotta and I did a 180º. The terracotta is a homage to Porto and its iconic rooftops, bringing a sense of warmth to the space that I wanted.”

Rose did end up incorporating earthy tones, describing wooden counters and soft lighting. “I really wanted it to have a very cosy vibe and I wanted it to feel inviting and warm. Although my space is small, I wanted there to be an option for seating as that is part of the bookstore experience. I wanted customers to browse, take a seat and flip through a few pages, so that feature was very important to me.”

Selection of books

Despite being just 355 square feet, Rosebud Bookshop boasts a diverse range of genres. Their fiction selection includes romance, sci-fi, fantasy, contemporary and translated works. While nonfiction covers history, psychology, philosophy and general interest – including a popular section on Palestine. Children’s books and works by independent publishers and local authors also have a special place on their shelves.

Additionally, Rose runs a used book cart, where customers can bring in books and get store credit in return. “Used books are typically priced between 3 and 8 euros”, warmly clarifying that she is open to books she does not already have a copy of and is not particular about the condition of pre-loved books. Regulars will also be able to take advantage of Rosebud’s loyalty programme. “For every 150 euros spent, you get a 20 euro coupon (which is basically a free book!).”

Rose kindly shared what has been flying off the shelves, citing Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo, alongside Jacqueline Harpman’s dystopian feminist novel I Who Have Never Known Men. “In nonfiction, I carry a lot of stuff about Palestine which is very popular, while psychology and history remain the most popular nonfiction categories.”

Before sharing “I am an avid reader but I primarily read fiction and sometimes memoirs, which is really good that I am doing a non-fiction book club, because even though I don’t lead them, I always read them and participate.”

Porto wins their hearts

Regarding the move, Rose explained “Honestly, my partner and I knew we wanted to live in Europe and experience a different culture. Porto checked all our boxes, like the quality of life, it is friendly, it has a good climate – we come from New Hampshire which is north of Boston so we come from a winter climate, so for us, the tropical southern climate is very nice.”

Adding, “We both love Porto, yes it is a city but it does not feel like a city, it has a small-town feel to it but Porto is very connected and has everything you need. It is easy to get around and people are very welcoming. It took over a year but now it feels like our home.”

Free Book Club

Speaking to Rose, it was clear to see that community is at the heart of the bookstore, beyond selling books, Rose spoke about wanting the store to be a space for the community. “I’ve hosted local author events and I am happy to support non-literary events as well, more recently someone has done a slow travel talk.”

Rose also revealed that she has recently started book clubs, limiting each session to 20 participants, and keeping discussions intimate. “Book club details are shared on Instagram, and I invite members of the community to lead discussions and propose titles they’re passionate about.” Further emphasising how it is a low-commitment way to join or even run a book club.

Upcoming events

• 21 February – Romantasy Bookclub with Cassie: Sheperd King Duology
• 23 February – Creative Writing Workshop: How to Write Your First Book with David Moscovich
• 28 February – Nonfiction Bookclub with Rita: Untypical

Looking ahead, Rose would like to expand the bookshop online, already shipping some books within Portugal and she hopes to continue offering new events and celebrating more authors.

For now, Rosebud Bookshop will continue to blossom as a beloved literary space in Porto. Open Tuesday to Saturday, with opening times and more details on Instagram @rosebud_bookshop.

Following undertaking her university degree in English with American Literature in the UK, Cristina da Costa Brookes moved back to Portugal to pursue a career in Journalism, where she has worked at The Portugal News for 3 years. Cristina’s passion lies with Arts & Culture as well as sharing all important community-related news.

Cristina da Costa Brookes