As research for an article we’re writing for the next issue of Dumbo feather, we’d love to know what your favourite bookshops are, where they are, and why they’re so delicious… because let’s be honest, a great bookshop sates a hunger you didn’t even know you had till you walked in!
Leave a comment about your favourite bookshop below.
Tags: 76 Comments
76 responses so far ↓
Oh!! WAY too difficult to choose.
I’m voting for all bookshops everywhere! From the tiny little suburban ones to the expansive giants of literary pleasure. Leave me in a bookstore any time and I’ll be the happiest marshmallow around.
Ariel Booksellers in Paddington. They’re open late, stock the most interesting and diverse books, and always have something new and bizarre for me to sink my teeth into.
ah if you happen to travel to Singapore, drop by the pretty little bookstore called BooksActually. this lovely white and green store is situated at 5 Ang Siang Road, Singapore 069688.
Kinokuniya in Sydney CBD. The most amazing bookshop in the world. I shop there for business books, art books, Japanese greeting cards and fiction. They even have a medical science section and carry the unabridged Grey’s Anatomy. They have the largest Japanese magazine collection in Australia. Makes for colourful people watching too! Really my favourite bookshop in the world.
Journeys Booskstore in Annandale Sydney. Gorgeous passionate local women that run it and who have helped my 12yo son find authors when I had no clue what a 12yo would read. Great travel section upstairs. Coffee shop out back if you can’t wait to get started on the read. Love the local feel, being recognised and acknowledged when you walk in.
Artisan Books in Fitzroy. http://artisan.srivilasa.com/
Why? How could you not love a shop dedicated to arts and crafts that hosts an annual Beanie competition? It is a cosy, comforting little shop that allows you to deposit yourself in a simple rocking chair down the back and pour through the beautiful books. It is a great place for the soul.
Quite a few absolutely amazing ones overseas: The Livraria Lello Bookshop in Porto, Portugal, El Ateneo Bookshop in Buenos Aires and Selecxy Dominicanen Bookshop in Masstricht. Breathtaking a worth a look. All part of a recent trend to embrace quirky locations such as old churches and theatres.
In no particular order these are my top 3:
1. Tmol Shilshom, Jerusalem - small hidden second hand bookshop down a back alley - you can get a great bite to eat while you read and write to your hearts content - perfect for a cold, rainy afternoon! http://www.tmol-shilshom.co.il
2. Shakespeare & Co, Paris, next to the Notre Dame. Second hand english bookshop. If you are short changed you can even sleep between the books in exchange for a few hours work stacking the shelves. Lots of scope for imagining you live the romantic parisian life of a starving artist. http://www.shakespeareco.org
3. Housingworks Bookstore Cafe, Soho, New York - Support a NFP who provides services for homeless persons living with HIV in NY while eating delicious food and soaking up the ambiance of a classic library surrounded by great writers. http://www.housingworksbookstore.com/
Best in the world:
MELBOURNE
The Avenue Book Store, Bridport Street, Albert Park. Best In The World … bar none.
AUCKLAND
Unity Books, High Street, Auckland. Incredible range of titles you’ve been looking-for for years.
DUBAI
Jashanmals Books, Mall Of The Emirates. Small, but amazing range. Great Author speakers.
LONDON
That huge bookstore on the edge of Trafalgar Square.
Berkelouw Book Barn Eumundi. A recent addition to our little community/big market town. Its in a much loved renovated old garage with floor to ceiling books old and new. Its easy to find yourself popping in everyday for a quick goss, book shop or fabulous coffee at the adjoining cafe. The staff in there are adorable and Amanda is a superior gift wrapper.
The Book Grocer in High St Northcote in Melbourne’s northern suburbs has to be my favourite. A fantastic selection, great coffee, attractive staff, AND all the books are half their normal price! Plus it’s licensed, so you can have a glass of wine while you read on the comfortable couches. Very civilised!
ooohhhh what a great question. Quite mood dependent but prerequisites are usually the old fashioned floor to ceiling windows and some ambience. Here in Newcastle I love Cooks Hill Books!! My favourite ever in the whole world would be Shakespear’s in paris (maybe where that photo is from) , an amazing space to explore and even live in if youre stuggling author. Constant Reader in Crows Nest hold a soft spot and I agree that amongst the ‘new’ bookshops Kinokuniya is just great. Ariel and Berkelouw in Sydney are great as is a collection of stores in Perth / Adelaide starting with ‘Mary…’ for a ‘chain’ the are great. Will definately check out Artisan next time im in melbourne - their website looks very inviting, thanks for the recommendation! em :)
I love W.H. Smith in Paris. Lot’s of lovely books (in my native language) and a great escape when you need a break from being a ‘model’ tourist.
The Avenue Bookstore in Albert Park Vic - an extremely dangerous bookstore, time and money mysteriously disappear. Great kids section, I love buying books for my friends children and I don’t think I have ever received bad advice from the staff. I always walk out feeling incredibly relaxed and happy. sal
I am heavily influenced by where I find really good books and old favourites. Basically any bookshop that stocks ‘Stargirl’ by Jerry Spinelli is worth one’s time.
My favourites in Melbs would have to be Coventry Books, South Melbourne - cosy and lovely lovely staff, Sun Theatre Bookshop, Yarraville - quirky staff, cosy, singing customers. Someone already mentioned, but also The Avenue Bookstore, Albert Park.
My favourite in Briso (current home) would be Avid Reader, West End - also has a new market feature on some weekends for hand made wonders and curios in the little sunny courtyard; my favourite place in this I’m-gradually-starting-to-like city.
In Sydney, definitely Ariel in Paddington/ The Rocks. There is also a great little store in a gorgeous terrace house in the back of Kings Cross (roslyn st, I think). Not sure what it’s called or if it even has a name…
But my all time fave is Tattered Cover in Denver, CO. - Can’t be beat
Wow! What a great question.
Ariel in paddington is so brilliant full of quirky little books.
Kinokuniya in Sydney CBD, is so awe inspiring so many books so little time.
Sappho Books and Cafe 165 Glebe Pt Rd, Glebe 2037. Is filled with a vibe of appreciation for all books, and the funky cafe out the back is great.
But I’d have to say my favourite at the moment is Cooks Hill Books and Records 72 Darby St Cooks Hill NSW 2300. There is nothing they “won’t sell”. The friendly man behind the counter said this to me as i made my purchase. It was a Milly Vanilly record. Think he felt guilty for charging me, but I think it says more about my bad taste then anything else hahaha.
i love Ariel in Paddo + The Rocks for the wonderful art + design books, and also Alice + Gertrude in Bondi for the ambience.
In no order of favoritism (see links for more info)
Ariel Booksellers is a store that I have been frequenting for as long as I can remember. Any store that stocks beautifully published Art, Design, Architecture, Cinema and theory publications will have me returning time and time again. Agreeing with Aaron, the fact that both of their stores are open till late means I can always fit in a quick ’squiz’ after a night on the town :P BTW love the service girls, keep it up!
Now if I’m hitting up the Ariel store in Paddington means I’m going to check out Berkelouw Books, literally across the road. Like Ariel, Berkelouw has an awesome selection of publications (read bastards not helping my book addiction). What I absolutely love about Berk. is their coffee store! I don’t know if it’s just me but I love the relationship between great books and great coffee.
Published Art, a specialist bookstore catering to people like me :) is a ‘petite’ store, but what it lacks in quantity is made up 10-fold with quality.
Kinokuniya [their website sux] is a MEGA STORE!! I think it’s safe to say that they have everything!! EVERYTHING! Far from intimate, but a gem none-the-less.
And last but not least is Elizabeth’s Bookshops in Newtown. A great store for 2nd-hand books where you can find gems like Parkett journals for AUD $28! Truelt amazing!
And yes, I love books.
http://www.arielbooks.com.au/
http://www.berkelouw.com.au/
http://www.publishedart.com.au/
http://www.tgv.com.au/IPOH/TGV/me.get?site.sectionshow&PAGE206
http://www.elizabethsbookshop.com.au/
Bodhi Tree in West Hollywood - a wonderful spiritual delight, with a room next door for author talks too and the famous Teahouse across the road.
Gertrude and Alice, Hall Street Bondi - am sure you know it, need I say more? Great vibe, down to earth, always busy and lots of interesting, creative, attractive types :)
Daedalus Books, Portland, OR, USA
Used bookstore. Appears to purchase estates of deceased scholars? Small, intimate, modest collection, but the signal to noise ratio is very favorable.
Seminary Co-op Bookstore, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
The language section especially is not to be missed.
Unnameable Books (aka Adam’s Books), Brooklyn, NY, USA
Used bookstore, heavy on art, poetry. Carries local artist chapbooks.
Three Lives Books, New York City, NY, USA
Fiction.
Hm….as I’m looking at the list I see that I tend to favor cozy shops with a small but choice academic selection to which a lot of thought and care has been given. Pretty much anything in any of the stores above is liable to catch my eye.
I haven’t been to the famous book stores listed above, but I must say that j’adore Planet Books. Planet Books is an indie store in Mt Lawley, Perth, and they started off as Planet Video, stocking cult and difficult to find movies, and branched out to books.
They have a great range of art books, zines, and much much more. Really cosy atmosphere almost like as if its your Grandfathers home library.
Check it out at http://www.planetvideo.com.au/library/books/
Hi Kate!
I would say SilverDell - the local bookshop I have been part of for the past 2 years because it is just such a meeting place in our little English town. It brings people together serving coffee & cakes, it makes children happy dishing out home-made award-winning ice cream and besides its handmade Belgian chocolates it can deliver you any book you ever wanted the next day. It gets authors into town that W.H.Smith can only dream of and simply, it is a great place to have a great laugh with great staff that are always up for a banter!
What a fabulous idea! Good luck and I am looking forward to reading the article!
Lots of love from your German admirer
Kristin xxx
Buenos Aires has many alluring corners to visit and is considered one of the most literate places in the world (especially if you speak Spanish!). When I am home, I love walking the streets of Palermo and San Telmo, breathing the old city. The Boutique del Libro is one such place, you can have a cup of coffee as you delve through the shelves of this old bookstore.
L’etranger in Luang Prabang, Laos, is a haven from the heat. Amazing second hand books (beyond the usual traveller swap tat) downstairs and simple cushions and tea upstairs.
In London I have two faves: Broadway Books on Broadway Market for its serendipitous selection and The London Review Bookstore for it’s calm, knowing air.
Lil’ ol’ Hobart has a gorgeous local bookshop called Fullers. Every time I wander in, it takes me at least an hour to leave and if I don’t leave with a handful of books, I leave with a massive wish list. With a lovely little couch and a coffee shop, there isn’t a more welcoming and warm bookshop in Hobart (TAS).
Desire Bookstore in Manly. Put a bow tie on the front window and I would marry this store. All the second-hand treasures inside would become my little babies and we’d live happily ever after!
all of the above, plus The Ferret (Cuba Street, Wellington, NZ) Matilda Books (Stirling, South Australia), The Odd Book shop (which USED to be in Burnside, SA but unaccountably vanished overnight…imagine Black Books as in Dylan Moranand you get the picture), then there’s that amazing architectural bookstore on Montgomery in San Francisco….etc etc
What a tough one. But if you held a gun to my head and made me come up with just one, it would have to be the Berkelouw Bookstore in Berrima. It’s a whole house full of books set in beautiful rural surroundings. There’s an open fire, great food, places to sit… and lots and lots of books.
There’s no better way to break a drive to Canberra, the snow or even Melbourne if you can afford to drive that far!
Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street, London
“An original Edwardian bookshop with long oak galleries and graceful skylights”. A wonderful range of novels and 3 levels of non-fiction books all arranged by country - whether it is subject matter or author which makes fantastic browsing.
Perfectly located next to Peter Gordon’s Tapa Room for the best london brunch.
http://www.dauntbooks.co.uk/contact.html
Readings in Carlton is a wonderful bookstore for browsing, wide choice of books magazines CDs and DVDs, happenstance conversations with browsers, intelligent and knowledgable customer service and meetings with authors. A genuine Melbourne icon, a place where you just might bump into Barry Jones!
http://www.word-power.co.uk/ in Edinburgh Scotland. Fantastic selection of books, cards and organises the Radical Bookfair once a year.
Tackle and Books - Tobermory Isle of Mull Scotland - where else can you buy fishing gear and holiday reading?
http://www.tackleandbooks.co.uk/
Dervaig Isle of Mull - Coffee & Books - excelent selection of Scottish, local and general interest books.
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/mull/dervaig/index.html
Charlie Burns Bookshop Galway Ireland. Ever wondered why remainder bookshop are full of crud? Wonder no more all the good stuff goes to Charley Burns in Galway. Fabulous religious and film books
Two favourites in Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill, London, are Books for Cooks -delicious lunches and floor to ceiling cookbooks, and virtually opposite The Travel Bookshop, for new and secondhand books. -Although you will have to navigate the crowds of Japanese girls taking photos since the shop”starred”in the film “Notting Hill” !
There’s a lovely little ‘villagey’ type bookshop in London near where i used to live. Very little, but they have a huge kid’s selection and are happy for children to take out books and look at them (if they’re being sensible, respectful and careful of course :). Called Brook Green Bookshop it can be found at 72 Blythe Road, Brook Green
London, W14 0HB
http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1278/3298.php
Searchers on Smith Street, Melbourne (near corner of Gertrude Street) is a gem of a bookstore offering preloved new and old tomes on: art, philosophy, plays, biography, fiction, travel, languages, gardening, etc. The books are always interesting, but the best thing is the owner who is just the loveliest, most helpful guy. He covers all his books in wonderful archival book jackets, even the lowliest, cheapest book is lovingly looked after. I really appreciate is care and dedication. Their window display always having something interesting on offer, you can often pick up good art books for 1/2 price. Plus they has a great selection of vinyl if you are looking for music as well.
Around the corner in Gertrude St offering new books is Artisan Books “books, periodicals and exhibition catalogues relating to art, craft, design and culture” and Books for Cooks, which is as it’s name suggests.
Happy reading!
There are three bookshops in Brisbane that immediately spring to mind.
1) Folio Books in the city on Albert Street. They stock an eclectic range of creative books, particularly great for rarities and arts books.
2) Avid Reader in West End. A great selection as well as delightful people.
3) The GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art) Store. Not only is it exciting to visit the new gallery, you can further stimulate your desire for creative inspiration by browsing in the well-stocked bookstore. They have a great collection of arts books and collectibles, hard-to-find children’s books, as well as unique objets d’art.
1)Collected Works, Swanston St Melbourne. This place is festooned with rare finds. Poetry, Plays, essays and biographies.
2)Basilisk Bookshop Brunskwick St.
Fantastic collections sprinkled among the shelves, a great place to spend an afternoon searching…. One of those places thick with the smell of ink and paper.
3)The Paperback Bookshop. Burke St, Melbourne city.
This has a wonderful selection of fiction, essays, philosophy, some excellent small press publications and lots of great paraphernalia. You know those thick, hard cover books you never thought you’d ever really find, i guarantee if you walk past the window of Paperback enough times you’ll find it…
It has to be Artisan Bookstore in Fitzroy in Melbourne. The entire store is dedicated to art and craft books, not your garden variety art books but really informative beautiful books. If you can walk out the door without purchasing something that would be unusual! They have some quirky exhibitions too like the Beanie one or the Artist Books. Fantastic customer service too, if they haven’t got it they will order in for you and advise you when it is there! Another fav is Great Ocean Road Books at Aireys Inlet. The owner Nicole really knows her books! If you after a great read a quick chat with Nic will see you walking out the door with a novel you hadn’t planned on but it is exactly what you wanted without knowing it! She is amazing! Again the customer service is stellar!
Coffee & Books in Derviag Isle of Mull - when I first started going there as a teenager in the summer holidays there was a gaggle of kittens. Now the cats are elerley and like placing themselves near the till in order to get more ear rubs the last time I was in.
If photographic books are your thing and you happen to be in Tokyo or Paris then you must visit:
PARIS
Comptoir de l’Image
Adresse : 44 Rue de Sévigné 75003 Paris
Téléphone : 01.42.72.03.92
(be-warned the Parisian gate keeper is UNIQUE)
TOKYO
Bondi Books
2-7-2f jimbocho, kanda,
chiyoda ku, tokyo
03 3556 9299
http://www.bondibooks.com
My fav is Ariel, oxford street at the bottom end of Paddington, NSW. they have a fantastic range of design and visual art books that are beautiful to look at….. but mainly as the staff seem to have the same taste in books as me (quirky, unusual styles) and i love to see what they recommend next as i usually walk out with it!
Orel Füssli - The English Book Shop in Switzerland. http://www.books.ch/shop/action/magazine?aUrl=90007790&nav=9076
The life saver for expats in Zürich. Huge selection of books, dvds and guides to living in Switzerland.
The Strand - NYC
Tattered Cover - Denver, CO
Greville Street Books in Prahran, Melbourne, has to be one of my favourites. Small but perfectly formed, it has an inspiring selection of books on art, design, architecture, fiction and more - always savvy, interesting and stylish. The best place for books on book design and book arts in Melbourne. They have the best collection of quirky, must-have kids’ books too.
Other favourites are Metropolis in the city, hidden high above the groovy nightspot Cookie. Another design-inspired bookfest and it is always hard to leave…
And Parsons in the City Art Gallery in Auckland has a fabulous selection of art books from around the world. Very knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff.
Viva la bookstore!
i always find time to pop into ariel bookstore in the rocks my local from work, ariel and berkeleows in paddington for my weekend and nocturnal browsing. in london my faves are the travel bookstore and books for cooks off portobello road and daunt bookstore on marylebone high st. and in denver, colorado there was an amazing book store called the tattered cover book store…huge 2 story store just like a giant cosy lounge room..well that was 15 years ago but i have never forgotten it!
Dickson Street Books, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
It’s the sort of bookstore I see less often these days, a very large store with narrow aisles of creaky shelves crammed with books. Great stuff to be found there.
I like my local 2nd hand store Budgens on William Street just down from the Kings Cross intersection of Victoria St/Darlo Rd etc. Besides the unusual book selection they have a cool tiny record room out back where you can forage for vinyl while playing what you find on a their sound system in the room .. can get pretty jammy with a good Ska tune and three friends getting into it! .. recommended.
funny that emily loves cooks hill books in newie cause i love their main opposition; maclean’s bookshop in hamilton street. they are an all amanda staff and love their reading so much
i found my favourite bookshop a few weeks ago in rabat, the capital of morocco. it is a tiny tiny second hand bookshop behind the station but packed to the high ceilings with all those amazing books you always wanted to read but never had the time until you went to a country to hot to go outdoors between 11 and 7.
[...] Dumbo Feather, pass it on rocks. A copy of Issue 14 appeared in my little cubby hole at the House of Orange a few months back, with a note from Kate the editor. She had read that I was an Aussie ex-pat and thought I might like a little slice of home. Boy, was she right. I devoured that copy from front to back, back to front, and I’m sure I even read it sideways a couple of times. It’s awesome. Dumbo Feather ’s blog is also a must for your blogroll as they tell you what’s coming in their next issues, and they even sell cool design items. Read about it here, or view a sample issue here, or better still, just subscribe. [...]
3 lives in manhattan…open source bookstores on the streets of vienna where one can peruse a tome in any language; undiscovered bookshops in far off lands yet unseen…bookshops of fairy tale proportions…
For 2nd Hand books:
The Bookhouse on Fitzroy Street in St Kilda for it’s amazing selection of good quality 2nd books, always changing display selections and lovely staff. It’s only little but I could always find something. We used to live right near it and on more than one occasion, having spied a book in the window after hours, would slip a $10 note wrapped in a scrap of paper with our number and pick up our new book the next day.
I miss that place…
For new…
Metropolis Books on Swanston St in Melbourne. If I believed in heaven it would be this place. My one stop shop for all my christmas shopping and my favourite place to while away an hour or two. I don’t know her name but the manager is as lovely as the books. Oh, and (big tip) never refuse Metropolis gift-wrapping even if you are buying a book for yourself. So beautiful!
Without a doubt, the Hard to Find Bookshop, Onehunga Mall, South Auckland. A veritable labyrinth of creaky floorboards, dusty shelves and, if lucky, the sweet smell of a surprise first edition find. Dreamy.
well, first of all, every bookshop I have ever been in . . .
The first was Bennetts in Palmerston North in NZ - don’t know if it is still there, but there was a whole world for a seven year old in there.
Every London bookshop obviously, even the ones I never went into, and Paris,too - Shakespeare & Co and also La Formi Ailee, which had a teashop in the back, which seemed so subversive in Paris.
And I just thought of one in Udaipur, don’t even know if it had a name but it was part of Mr Bansal’s shop and you could go in there and sit and talk to Mr Bansal and drink chai and he would tell you about learning to play the sarod and push books across the counter for you to look at.
And now I have Megalong Books here in Leura, which always seems to have exactly the book I am looking for, even when I don’t know what that book is.
Thanks for the question - autobiography by bookshop.
melbs…
have just fallen in lurve with Brunswick Bound in that very suburb itself. Sydney rd is finally complete with this deliciously welcoming bookshop that really nourishes (but not in an overwhelming way). AND there’s a gallery room up the stairs that hosts gorgeous local art. with so many iconic bookshop institutions in melbourne its really ace to find a new humble institution in the making. x hey kate, the timing of your delivery of back issues yesterday saved my arse, and i’d even forgotton it was coming. i love that! thanks a bunch.
Jason books in a loft space in Auckland’s High Street every time. A second hand bookshop but without having to spend ages sorting through the rubbish that some second had bookshops accumulate. Amazing art books and old books as well as cheap nice soft penguin classics. I could spend all day in this shop - it’s like an oasis in the desert where the books are the sparkling perfect pool!
Unity Books Auckland and Wellington - wins my vote every time. Why go anywhere else to buy books when you can slide into the cocoon of unity and be at peace for hours of perusing the tables?
Unity Books, Willis St, Wellington.
An amazing place to browse, for as long as you like without being hassled. Huge range of stock. They’ll get anything in print from anywhere and, by my informal personal survey,cheaper, when you take into account the postage, and faster than Amazon. Helpful and well-informed staff complete the terrific bookshop experience. Oh, and they do great platters of finger food at their book launches.
The Women’s Bookshop in Ponsonby Auckland run by Carol.
The Hard to find bookshop Onehunga Mall Auckland
There is another one in Devonport Auckland. I dont remember the name it might be another hard to find. I saw a first addtion 1984 by George Orwell the other day.
Tattered Cover, Denver, CO, USA. It’s been around as long as I can remember, at least 20 years. She’s managed to maintain it as an independent bookshop. The last time I was there she had three throughout the city but was growing. Books everywhere, wood floors, chairs tucked in corners, open late, great service, just a great bookstore!
Gould’s Bookshop in Newtown is absolutley, hands down the best book shop ive ever set foot in! They have everything from out of print books, to second hand books, to past and present magazines and so much more!
Ive never been in a place like it, its a jungle of books in a wharehouse :)
i must contribute my favorite as being robinsons book shop, franston, victoria. over past 30 years since originally established by mr robinson, and maintained by others thereafter. it has retained it’s homely environment, of browsing nooks and crannies with chairs, rear coffee shop fragrance welcomes one on entering. offers brilliant range of books and order service. stands alone from larger bookshops. recommend for article. maggie,
little second hand place in mullumbimby …
quick dip at byron, breathe some fresh air, then duck in here to find long out of print treasures. Warm air, excellent reads, quick-witted proprieters tapping at the piano … lovely. And decent coffee next door.
Ariel@Paddington, pretty much all the bookshops on Glebe Point Rd.
But my number 1 is Abbeys on York St, which mixes up the popular with the scholarly.
Printed Matter Inc. in NYC:
http://printedmatter.org/
Independent stockist of artists books, DVDs, catalogues etc. from around the world. What’s not to like?
Similar (but on a much smaller scale) is Melbourne’s Sticky:
http://www.stickyinstitute.com/
Get your work in there!
Can’t believe no one has mentioned Gleebooks on Glebe Point Road, Glebe, in Sydney. It has been running for decades and was the begining of a serious book addiction when I lived in the suburb as a student in the early ’80s. Extensive range of books, specialise in Australain fiction and academic titles, plus a massive range of art and film books. They’ve also branched out into DVDs with a very good selection of US and UK titles [thus combining two addictions into one outlet]. The shop’s dedication to the bigger book culture can’t be overlooked either with lots of launches, talks and readings, not to mention half the staff there seem to be authors, editors and artists. I’ve since moved from Sydney but I will drive to the city and make a special detour to the shop knowing I can probably get what I’m after.
For second hand books Gertrude and Alice, Bondi, Sydney is great for browsing, they have a fantastic selection and delicious coffee as well!! For new books Lesley McKay Bookshop in Woollahra, Sydney is my favourite for good fiction recommendations …staff are very knowledgeable and helpful.
what a great question, and I wish I could remember them all..but quick to say that the web abebooks.com never ever lets me down searching for the impossible,plus has a link to search first in Aussie shops to save postage!!
I love ANY bookstore.. and the only thing I really miss since moving out of Sydney is being able to while away hours in bookshops!
For exceptional online / phone service, you can’t go past Phoenix Rising books in Glebe - Sue and Judith are fabulous:
http://phoenixrisingbooks.com.au/pb/index.html
Their bookshop on Glebe Point Road is well worth a visit!
Bookoccino in Avalon (North Beaches) is fantastic! Stacks of gorgeous, eclectic books in a sweet hide-away setting.
If you are ever in New Zealand especially Auckland or Wellington Unity Books is the place to go! I love the Wellington store because you can sit and read a book and nobody ever comes up and asks “Are you going to buy that?”.
The staff are also passionate about books and are always leaving little notes on the shelve about why this book is worth a read.
I love it!
This is the largest independent new and used book store in the world. The building is large - takes up a city block, but quaint, with uneven floors and nooks and crannies everywhere. Could have spent a day there. They have a good mail order service as well.
I love all book stores, and will spend unlimited time in one, rather than looking for clothes or shoes. Kino, in Sydney, is great, and I like the Dymocks book store in George Street as well.
Sappho Books, Glebe.
Great range of second hand books, great cafe in a beautiful leafy courtyard out back, friendly staff that let visitors linger for hours over one coffee while they read, write in their moleskins or tap away on their macbooks. Great crowd made up of a diverse mix of of university professors, students, artists, musicians, writers, yuppies and mothers with babies.
For the best secondhand bookshop in Sydney you can’t go past ‘The Antique Bookshop’ on the Pacific Highway, Crows Nest.Hours can be spent looking through the wide selection of books on all subjects.There are wall to wall bookcases and lovingly placed piles of books everywhere.A glimpse of London in Sydney, due to the great atmosphere.I never leave without finding some gem I want to buy! http://www.antiquebookshop.com.au
Page 8 shop/ cafe in Mornington, Victoria.
This is a wonderful bookstore/ cafe/ gift shop/ good vibes place to go in Mornington. A handpicked selection of books ranging from design to travel to kids. I can always rely on page 8 for a gorgeous gift for my friends and family for e.g. unique and stunning local designers’ jewellery or a moleskine journal or.. even a book! An hour is easily spent in here taking in all the delights, I especially enjoy the cooking and travel sections. Definitely recommend a visit if in the area!
There is a great place in Manly called Desire Books.
I just moved to Oz and they helped me get my library back on its feet with a collection of new and used from ornithology to zen Buddhism and everything in between, including Tom Robbins.
Desire books
3 / 3 Whistler St, Manly NSW 2095
Phone: (02) 9977 0888
BOOKWORM- MacLeod Ganj, Dharamsala (India). This bookstore is one I sought out whilst based in the Tibetan fefugee community in MacLeod Ganj, India. It is run by Tibetan freedom activist and poet Lhasang Tsering and based in main town, near Temple Rd. His bookstore was not just about place, or writing and writers but about freedom of speech and free thinking. Bookworm in itself acts as a platform for this community leader and freedom fighter to share, connect, express with an audience who is willing, if he only dares asks!
DHARAMSALA LIBRARY - MacLeod Ganj, Dharamsala (India) The second bookstore in mention is in fact ‘a commnity library,’ so in a way one that is ‘non-profit’ and self-sustaining. Its seed funds come from the Mandela Fund, was created six months ago and again based in the main Tibetan refugee colony of MacLeod Ganj, down near HH Dalai Lama residence. It is in fact run by Lhasang’s students and poet /writer/activistTenzing Tsundue, an inspiration who leads the organisation ‘Students for a FreeTibet.’ The library is is drenched in light and aim to offer a place for learning.
So, in the context of this exiled community, running a bookstore is not a means to a end, but a response and it is in the doing! A bookstore and a library is a collaboration and a way of contributing. In it lies a life of freedom.