A Bookshop That Requires a Secret Handshake
Behind a unmarked door on Orchard Street, Codex Infernal masquerades as a defunct hat shop. But whisper “Pynchon sent me” to the clerk, and you’ll gain entry to a dimly lit den of banned books, occult grimoires, and samizdat literature.
Where Rebel Writers Gather
Founded in 2016 by anarchist poet Lila Vega, Codex stocks contraband titles—from Soviet-era dissent pamphlets to American Psycho’s original manuscript (banned in ’90s Britain). The shop hosts secret readings for “members only,” often ending in absinthe-fueled debates.
How to Join the Underground
Get Vetted: Bring a banned book as a “membership fee” (Ulysses or The Satanic Verses work).
Events: Monthly “Censored Voices” nights feature anonymous authors behind masks.
Password Hack: Check their Instagram @codex.infernal for weekly clues (e.g., “The answer is 451”).
Pro Tips from a Literary Rebel
Hidden Room: Ask to see the “Vault”—a temperature-controlled chamber with first-edition Kerouac scrolls.
Boozy Bonus: The backroom serves “Burning Books Brew” (coffee + bourbon) in hollowed-out books.
Safety Note: No photos allowed—the shop’s anonymity is sacred.
Why Codex Matters
In a sanitized literary world, it’s a bastion of dangerous ideas—exactly what NYC needs.
Visitor Intel
📍 Address: 157 Orchard St (Lower East Side)
🕒 Hours: Thu–Sun 6 PM–midnight
💸 Entry: Free (with “membership”)
🚇 Closest Subway: Delancey St (F/J/M/Z)
Ready to Break the Rules?
Just remember: What happens in Codex, stays in Codex.
