The cousin to the US' Barnes and Nobles or now-defunct Borders, this is a cozy three-level bookstore in the heart of Rue Saint-Catherine in Montreal's shopping district.  This is the great place to duck away and read a book or magazine on the top floor where there is a Starbucks.  The seating area at the Starbucks has windows with views that overlook the busy Saint-Catherine street.  This is the perfect place to just sit down somewhere and reflect while intimately looking out to the beautiful city of Montreal.  The selection of books and magazines in this store is quite good. It's interesting in that you'll notice the Time magazine covers are different from their US counterparts (a practice that is true for every other foreign country).  The staff is also helpful.  The only thing I'm not a fan of is the bathrooms which are cramped and not the cleanest.\n\nAs for the Starbucks, they often have samples for free on display.  I highly recommend this bookstore.