Discover your next favourite read: the best bookstores in Sydney
Elizabeth's Bookshop, Newtown
Looking for something new to read and craving that old-school feeling of holding a hard copy book in your hands? Sydney has a great collection of new and second-hand bookshops stocked with everything from the latest page-turners to vintage classics.
- 4 min read
Berkelouw Paddington
Where: Paddington
That sound when you reach heaven? That’s what you’ll hear when you enter Berkelouw Paddington, the three-storey shrine one of eight emporiums dedicated to new and rare books across New South Wales. Book nerds could spend days here, browsing latest releases, glossy coffee-table tomes, magazines and other papery goodness before sitting down to a coffee or wine – a welcoming way to spend a few hours before hitting up the Palace Verona cinema next door.
Berkelouw Paddington, Paddington
Better Read than Dead
Where: Newtown
People are passionate about Better Read than Dead – so much so that Lonely Planet has called it Sydney’s favourite bookstore. You’ll understand why. The Newtown establishment has been running since 1996 and has accumulated a wealth of knowledge – and even more books – over that time. Boosting customer loyalty are a regular series of author talks and other events, so you can drop in, and geek out for hours.
Better Read Than Dead, Newtown - Credit: James Horan - Destination NSW
Sappho Books, Cafe & Bar
Where: Glebe
Tapas, jugs of sangria, poetry battles and open-mic nights – Sappho provides a lot of reasons to visit before you even get to the books. Of which there are plenty. This second-hand Glebe store has shelves holding more than 30,000 titles, jammed in across a rambling multi-storey building from the 1880s. The courtyard is where it’s at come coffee-o’clock or cocktail hour, your book purchases all the company you need.
Title Barangaroo
Where: Barangaroo
The Sydney flagship of Australia’s largest independent retailer of books, music and film, Title sits inside a striking glass-walled building in waterside Barangaroo. You’ll find everything from classics like Dickens and Tolstoy to the latest page-turners, glossy coffee-table books covering fashion and architecture, and plenty of niche art titles. The extensive music selection spans multiple generations with many classic works on vinyl, and you can even pick up a new turntable or record player. Because why not?
TITLE bookstore, Barangaroo
Gleebooks
Where: Glebe
When you have more than three decades worth of experience curating a huge range of books, journals and periodicals, music and DVDs, it’s safe to say you know your stuff. Welcome to Gleebooks, a place where you can easily fall down a rabbit hole of intellectual, well, glee. As an added bonus, the space hosts an active lecture and book talks program, spotlighting both Australian and international writers over wine and cheese. Is there any other way?
Gleebooks, Glebe - Credit: Gleebooks
Love Vintage Books
Where: Willoughby
There are some books that you just can’t bear to part with – those that are sentimental, are hard to find, are the best read you’ve ever had. This is what you can expect to find stocked on the shelves at Love Vintage Books, an Aladdin’s Cave of rare and vintage books. They cover all topics – military, history, travel, art and architecture – but the owners have a particularly covetable collection of obscure children’s titles.
Love Vintage Books, Willoughby
Elizabeth’s Bookshop
Where: Newtown
Another Sydney literary institution located in Newtown, Elizabeth’s is simply bursting with new, second-hand, out-of-print and rare titles – covering Australian art, history and culture; biographies and memoirs; travel; law; philosophy; cooking and much more – and all housed within a cosy, welcoming space. It's the birthplace of the quirky ‘Blind Date with a Book’ concept (hand-wrapped mystery picks), adding a playful twist to the browsing experience.
Elizabeth's Bookshop, Newtown
Ariel Booksellers
Where: Paddington
Thanks to its curated selection, inviting atmosphere and expert staff, Ariel Booksellers is widely regarded as one of Sydney’s best independent bookshops – not to mention oldest, established in 1985. Specialising in art, design, architecture and photographic tomes, alongside poetry, literature and thoughtful gift items, it’s no surprise it’s a cultural haven for creative minds.
Ariel Booksellers, Darlinghurst
Potts Point Bookshop
Where: Potts Point
Located at the ‘Paris end’ (as the locals like to affectionately call it) of Macleay Street, the award-winning, independent Potts Point Bookshop may be small, but it certainly packs a punch. Stocking a curated selection of contemporary and classic fiction, art, design, photography, cookbooks, biography and children’s titles, the staff have over 50 years of book selling experience between them and are always happy to help you choose your next read. The shop also hosts regular author events and a popular Friday morning story time for kids.
Potts Point Bookshop, Elizabeth Bay - Credit: Aimee Crouch
Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore
Where: Bondi
Decked out with vintage furnishings and floor-to-ceiling shelves overflowing with new and second-hand titles – alongside a no Wi-Fi policy that hopes to encourage patrons to engage with the books and each other – Gertrude & Alice is a beloved literary sanctuary for Eastern Suburbs locals in the know. After browsing, be sure to sit down with a Campos coffee or homemade chai and bask in the Shakespeare & Company-inspired surroundings.
Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore, Bondi - Credit: Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore
Kinokuniya Sydney
Where: Sydney CBD
This book emporium is not for the indecisive; there are tens of thousands of tomes in all manner of languages – English, Japanese, French, German, Chinese – and of all persuasions. And then there’s the mind-boggling selection of magazines and stationery plus an art space and even a gallery, showcasing works from local and international up-and-coming artists. Whatever you purchase, sit down and enjoy a read of the first few pages in the on-site cafe.
Kinokuniya, Sydney - Credit: Kinokuniya
Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore
Where: Paddington
Located in between the bridal shops, jewellers and boutiques of Oxford Street, Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore makes a perfect pitstop during a big day out of shopping. Spanning three levels, it boasts over 30,000 books across genres like literature, art, history and children's fiction . Visitors can enjoy a leisurely brunch or a cup of housemade chai while perusing the extensive collection – simply pick a title off the shelf to flick through, and if it strikes your fancy, pay for it on the way out.
Ampersand Cafe and Bookstore, Paddington - Credit: Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore
The Book Station
Where: Caringbah
With a charming lounge area adorned with vintage furniture and plenty of nooks brimming with pre-loved books – plus an all-day breakfast and lunch menu – this charming secondhand bookstore cum cafe is a delightful retreat for book lovers. But the biggest drawcard? The store offers a book exchange program, allowing patrons to trade in their old books for store credit, making it a sustainable choice for readers.
The Book Station, Caringbah - Credit: The Book Station
