Read Widely And Deeply At Brisbane’s Best Independent Bookstores
Book ‘em in
This year, let’s stop shaming ourselves for having a to-be-read pile that makes all of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works seem like mere novellas. There are worse things to buy than books, and we’ve found Brisbane’s best independent bookstores to help fuel your addiction.
From new releases you can’t wait to get your hands on to amazing books you won’t find on Goodreads, there’s page after page to keep you busy!
By the way, we consider everyone in this list the best of the best! To make finding your next favourite that much easier, we’ve ordered the list alphabetically by suburb and also have filtering tabs for your convenience. Did we miss someone from the list? Let us know here!
Bent Books
West End
With around 40,000 secondhand stories to share, Bent Books has been a West End staple for more than 25 years. From quality bestsellers to unique treasures, the happy bunch are more than happy to help you find your next favourite read.
View this post on Instagram
Archives Fine Books
Brisbane City
Tucked inside the heritage-listed John Mills building, you’ll find a book for every topic under the sun. As one of the largest second-hand bookstores in Australia, Archives is basically multiple speciality stores in one, contributing to the intellectual, cultural, and aesthetic life of Brisbane since ‘85. They’re also known for the unrivalled collection of unusual, scarce, and collectible books.
View this post on Instagram
Mary Ryan’s Books, Music & Coffee
Milton, New Farm
Sip back and relax with a fanciful tale in one hand and a cuppa in the other at Mary Ryan’s. One of SEQ’s longest running bookstores, you’ll find a vast collection of new releases and classics alongside an eclectic range of giftware here.
View this post on Instagram
Pulp Fiction
Brisbane City
Get your sci-fi, true crime, or fantasy fix at this genre bookstore in the heart of the CBD. Catering to a niche adored by many Brisbanites, the indie offering is perfect for those who think they’ve read it all.
View this post on Instagram
Scrumptious Reads
Red Hill
Hungry for something new to dig into? Then head to Scrumptious Reads, where they specialise in culinary books alongside design, children’s, fiction, and magazines from around the world. If your coffee table is lacking a hardcover to set the mood, this is the place to find it.
View this post on Instagram
QAGOMA Store
South Brisbane
It should come as no surprise that the Queensland Art Gallery’s retail space is home to a trove of art and design wonders that come in the form of books. Specialising in Australian and Indigenous publications, each purchase also helps Brisbane’s creative scene, providing crucial funds to develop QAGOMA’s major exhibitions and community-based public programs.
View this post on Instagram
Riverbend Books
Bulimba
Bulimba’s favourite award-winning general bookshop offers a warm ambience, knowledgeable staff, and a collection you have to see to believe. Plus, it’s not just buy and sell at this community hub – their book club program is renowned across Brissy and they often host events with your favourite authors.
View this post on Instagram
Avid Reader
West End
Recently snagging the title of Australian Bookshop of the Year, it’s easy to see why Avid Reader has developed such a cult following. With a focus on quality fiction and non-fiction novels, their sister store, ‘Where The Wild Things Are’, is dedicated to helping the littles widen their ever-growing imaginations.
View this post on Instagram
Iwan Bookshop
New Farm
The best part of reading is that it lets you explore new perspectives and that’s exactly what this bookstore does. The independent multilingual children’s bookshop offers picture books and kid-friendly novels in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Persian, so you and your little one can not only explore new worlds, but better understand our own.
View this post on Instagram
