A A Hussain & Co

At the risk of sounding like a soppy sentimentalist, I must state that A A Husain really is quite wonderful (hallelujah in background). No, there are no spacious shelves or bright lights, no tables to read at or attached coffee shops to lounge about in. "What is there, then?" you might ask. How typically 21st century of you.

There are books, silly. Spilling out of shelves, stacked on the counters and heaped on the floor, leaving a narrow aisle with space barely enough for one person to totter. The delicious smell of potentially brilliant printed matter is everywhere. So many books to read! Yay! So many books you haven't read. Argh.

The store has been in existence for over 70 years now (as its ubiquitous presence in the Lonely Planet will confirm) and has a loyal clientele, happy to note that the place hasn't changed much in the journey to its diamond jubilee year. The worryingly creaky staircase still leads up to the charming children's section, where Blyton fills up the shelves, disdainful of Rowling.

If there's a book you actually can't find here (gasp), you can almost always get them to order it for you. And based on the genre of book you ask for, owner Asif Husain will suggest other books you may be interested in. More than an orangutan would do, what? Yes, Pratchett lovers, rejoice! The store's collection of Discworld novels is extensive, rivalled only by book giant Walden.

So brave the traffic on the Abids road, and discover the shop around the corner. Not literally. It's right there on the main road.