Albertine is a French and English bookshop located in the Payne Whitney mansion that, since 1952, houses the Cultural Services of the French Embassy. The mansion designed by acclaimed architect Stanford White is a wonderful example of architecture from the Gilded-Age period.

The bookshop, Albertine, showcases only French and English language books, and partners with select independent bookstores across the US to curate a selection of French and English reading materials. Opened in 2014 the upper floor of the bookshop features a striking, hand-painted celestial ceiling that was inspired by the ceiling of the music room at the Villa Stuck in Munich, Germany. Busts of cultural luminaries, such as Voltaire, Benjamin Franklin, Tocqueville and Descartes sit a top bookcases on the lower floor.

Albertine hosts events and offers memberships which includes access to the Albertine Book Club.

The striking, hand-painted celestial ceiling that was inspired by the ceiling of the music room at the Villa Stuck in Munich, Germany.