When talking about the city’s best book stores, it’s impossible to go past one of the biggest players in the independent game. While larger franchises continue to crumble, Readings isn’t going anywhere. They stock everything from best-sellers to classics, and consistently host in-store events with authors and literary industry giants alike. They also stock a wide range of vinyl too, with an extensive jazz section. Deservedly, they have become a de-facto hub of Melbourne literary culture.
309 Lygon St, Carlton.
At Title you’ll find that classics live side by side amongst the obscure, out of print, hard to find and rewarding. 100% independent owned and run since 2006, it’s also Australia’s largest independent retailer of music, books and film, so once you’ve picked up a copy 1000 Nudes: A History of Erotic Photography from 1839-1939 you can also peruse their vast CD and DVD collection.
183 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy.
Aside from being attached to one of the finest galleries Australia has to offer, the NGV Design Store plays host to a wealth of art, architecture and design books to suit any niche interest. Whether you’re by surrealism or socialist-realism, minimalism or maximalism – chances are you’ll be able to find it here. Plus, everyone knows keeping a few well chosen art books kicking around your house makes you look at least 12% smarter. It’s a win-win situation really.
180 St Kilda Rd, CBD.
There’s a reason why Alice’s Bookshop has been in business for over 25 years. Chocked to the rafters with pre-loved and second-hand titles, the homely and expansive store has more than 17,000 books to sift through. Specialising in literature, the arts and philosophy, you could spend a lifetime buying books from Alice’s collection without ever having to buy a brand-new edition again.
629 Rathdowne St, Carlton North.
Another store specialising in second-hand gems, City Basement Books is packed floor to ceiling with diverse and unusual titles, their yellowing edges spilling out into the aisles and stacked tall in make-shift columns. As well as the expectedly vast collection of vintage classics, you’ll find nooks boasting ramshackle libraries of mythology, ancient history, arctic research and sport – just to name a few.
342 Flinders St, CBD.
Look, you can sit around reading The Bell Jar all day long, but if you’re too cool to pick up a comic book or graphic novel every now and again then you’re severely missing out. They’re essentially socially acceptable picture story books for adults anyway, and who could have a problem with that? The pop culture specialists will fulfill even the wishes of even the most obsessive nerd, while making new-comers to the realm of sci-fi, fantasy and anime feel welcome too. To cap it off, you’d be hard pressed to find a better place to shop for a last minute gift. After a Jon Snow bobble head? They’ve got the whole set. Limited edition Harry Potter wands? Get in line. Just don’t go asking for any Jar Jar Binks merchandise.
121 Elizabeth St, CBD.
Hares & Hyenas is Melbourne’s premier sexuality and gender diverse bookshop, specialising in queer literature. With a huge range of fiction and non-fiction titles, coffee table books, magazines and erotica from around the world, they’ve made a name for themselves not only for their expansive collection of books – but as a performance space too. Their celebrated Hare Hole has played host to cabarets, spoken word troupes, zine launches and stand-up comedy alike.
63 Johnston St, Fitzroy.
If you’re looking for inspiration from some of the world’s best chefs, hunting down a present for your kitchen savvy housemate or just coming down from an Iron Chef bender, Books for Cooks is the place to go. Dealing both new and old books covering food, wine and the culinary arts, Books for Cooks is Australia’s only bookstore with its entire library dedicated to all things delicious. With over 40,000 tiles ranging from the 1780s to today, you’ll never be forced to eat that day-old pizza again. Unless you want to, of course. Day-old pizza is fucking great.
129/131 Therry St, CBD.
Whenever I go to Metropolis, I crawl my across the floor looking for a book on health and fitness. This is usually because I’ve been reduced to a puffed-out, sweaty mess after taking on those notoriously arduous stairs at Curtin House to get there. Maybe it’s all that day-old pizza I’ve been eating? Regardless, it’s well worth the trek, because Metropolis have curated a library piled with the best of the best. The layout is clean and open, and the collection is meticulously organised. Best of all, the staff are a wealth of knowledge. Don’t know your Dickens from your Didion? They’re happy to help, offering handy recommendations on what’s right for you.
3 Curtin House, 252 Swanston St, CBD.
The School Of Life’s philosophy driven Conversation Cafe is about two things: coffee and questioning. Aside from stocking a range of their own excellent and existentially minded books and a curated collection of other likeminded titles, all of their food is served with conversation starters designed to prompt thoughts on some of life’s bigger questions.
669 Bourke St, CBD.
You guys know there’s a town around 90 minutes from Melbourne that is practically dedicated to books, right? The sleepy village of Clunes takes their books seriously, with several bookshops stocking everything from collectable rarities to worn out copies of Miles and Boon publications. Once a year, they transform their town into a fully fledged booktopia, complete with huge swap meets trading millions of books eager to be opened once more.
Clunes, Victoria.
The only thing that owner and operator Penny Syber loves more than books are her motley crew of feline companions that leisurely roam throughout the store. Besides from cruising through the shelves that heave under the weight of fantasy, Australian history, crime fiction and poetry, second hand book-lovers can sit down in the corner chair and score some recommendations from Kaos, Eris and Killishandra – the most well read cats this side of the city.
38 Chapel St, Windsor.
BY JAMES DI FABRIZIO
