On the lookout for your next great read? Do it in style at these adorable Aussie bookshops.
The only thing more delightful than curling up for the weekend, uninterrupted, with a good book in hand, is hunting through a well-stocked bookshop to find yet another new gem to add to your ever-growing stack of unread novels (closely followed by exploring the country’s must-visit record stores).
If there happens to be a comfy couch – brown leather preferred – and, jackpot of all jackpots, a coffee shop? Well, that might just be Nirvana. For this reason, we’ve rounded up the cutest and best bookshops in Australia, that are a destination unto themselves.
1. Sappho Books & Cafe, Sydney
Two types of bookstores get my heart racing: clean-cut and usually centred around a large reading lounge, or whimsical and cosy – not in the way that none of the books are organised and unalphabetised piles lay everywhere, but in the way that inspires imagination and encourages exploration. Sappho Books & Cafe in Sydney‘s Glebe is absolutely the latter.
With a second-hand, humanities-focused collection of tomes shelved over six rooms and an adorable courtyard cafe, this inclusive bookshop is one you can easily spend hours wandering through. They even hold poetry nights and other events. Oh, and there’s a resident cat, so I’m sold.
Sit in the courtyard cafe to enjoy your new book.
2. National Library of Australia Bookshop, Canberra
For those who believe there’s no such thing as too many books, what better place to load up your collection than the bookshop inside Canberra‘s stunning National Library of Australia, itself?
As you might expect, it’s also the best place to find Australian authors: from old favourites to the new and upcoming. Find a range of fiction, non-fiction and children’s literature titles by local and interstate writers and artists.
Find one of the best bookstores inside the National Library of Australia.
3. The Book Cellar, Campbell Town, Tasmania
I’m not sure why things in cellars are cuter, but The Book Cellar in Campbell Town certainly proves the theory. Although today it’s a quaint bookstore, the heritage building has a fascinating past: in the 1830s it was used as convict cellars to house prisoners who built the Red Bridge over the Elizabeth River.
The bookshop and cafe feature exposed brick walls and classic sandstone decor, while an eclectic range of new and used books housed within the walls focus on Australian heritage, nostalgia and Tasmania in particular.
Wander through history in The Book Cellar. (Image: Chris Crerar)
4. Kay Craddock Antiquarian Booksellers, Melbourne
Red carpet, neo-Gothic chandeliers and large archways make stepping into Kay Craddock Antiquarian Booksellers feel like a grand affair.
The shelves here cater for everyone from serious book collectors to casual book lovers, with a carefully curated selection of rare and old books.
Enjoy the neo-Gothic decor at Kay Craddock Antiquarian Booksellers.
5. Hill of Content, Melbourne
Melbourne‘s oldest bookstore is also one of its cutest. Easily spotted thanks to its deep red paint job, the earthy colours continue inside.
Opened in 1922, Hill of Content has used that time to compile a broad range of quality stories from local and overseas authors. Staff here know a huge amount about their stock, so be sure to ask for their expertise.
6. Crow Books, Perth
The whitewashed brick walls of Crow Books in Perth serve to make the colourful books filling its wooden shelves really pop.
The real pièce de résistance? A classic brown leather couch that the bookshop centres around, inviting browsers to take their time to check out their book choices. Whether you’re looking for something hard-to-find or popular TikTok reads, you’ll find it here.
Spend time on brown leather couch to peruse your choices. (Image: Peter Dancewicz)
7. Orchard Bookshop, Adelaide
Nestled into Adelaide Arcade, this adorable gem is a must for bibliophiles. The pared-back shop floor of Orchard Bookshop brings on an almost beachy feel with cool whites and light wood furnishings.
None of this is by accident. In fact, the store is self-described as “an immersive, interactive art installation for lovers of literature". The owners hand-picked each title on the shelves: from new to vintage to collectible.
Discovering this gem is a must for bibliophiles. (Images: Aise Dillon Photography)
8. Page & Turner, Adelaide
This little bookstore has more allure than any store inside a shopping centre has the right to. Yet, Page & Turner makes itself a worthy stop inside Myer Centre in Adelaide. Wallpapered with book pages, fun statues strewn around and vintage-look wooden bookshelves: it’s a decor made in heaven.
9. Archives Fine Books, Brisbane
Archives Fine Books looks like the kind of bookstore Belle would swing through on a rolling ladder before she went off to meet her beast. In this Brisbane bookshop, discover rows and rows of shelves stacked floor-to-ceiling with over a million fine, used books from all genres and eras.
10. Red Kangaroo Books, Alice Springs
There are many charms to Red Kangaroo Books. It’s the only brick-and-mortar independent bookshop left standing between Port Augusta, Darwin, Broome, and Broken Hill. The iconic red door. The comfy couches invite you to stay a while. It’s an easy bookstore to love.
Stay for the charm of Red Kangaroo Books.
