Activities & Itineraries

Turn The Page With 16 Of Brisbane’s Best Independent Bookshops

Written by: Astrid Taemets

About to finish your latest read and need something to fill the void? Welcome to Brisbane/Meanjin’s best independent bookshops. 

A place where you’ll find more than just books on a shelf, these stores bring character, community, and charm together to help you find the genre you’re looking for. And, as self-confessed bibliophiles, we at Urban List, can vouch for their recommendations. 

Bringing old classics and the latest must-have reads to your bedside, these are the bookstores that hold your next page turner.

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Brisbane Bookstores For New Books

Avid Reader

193 Boundary Street, West End

It’s not just a bookstore—it’s an institution. Those who’ve browsed the shelves of Avid Reader will agree there’s more than meets the eye at this quaint West End book shop. Though small in size, you’ll find literally thousands of books inside, and the staff are full of recommendations to suit your interests. There are also monthly book clubs, workshops, and events taking place, where you can get to know fellow bookworms, meet the authors of your favourite novels, and practice your own writing skills. As for your little ones, you’ll find sister store Where The Wild Things Are right next door, where a wide range of specialty books and gifts will keep them busy and their imaginations budding. 

Books@Stones

360 Logan Road, Stones Corner 

Books@StonesImage credit: Books@Stones | Instagram

A perusal of the shelves at Books@Stones will only cement your love of reading, thanks to their well-stocked range of fiction and non-fiction options, most of which have been read by the staff themselves. A store that proactively supports local authors as well as international ones, this friendly space is more than happy to order a specific story for you. There’s also curated subscriptions, which you can customise, to help you stay on track to read more in 2025.

The Really Good Book Shop

4/1-3 Central Court, Hillcrest

Any bibliophile knows that searching through the shelves for the perfect read is half the fun, and at The Really Good Book Shop, that’s just what you’ll find. Whether you’re after a romance novel, a literary classic, psychological thriller, or autobiography, you’ll find shelf after shelf of options to choose from— as well as friendly and knowledgeable staff who can point you in the right direction. 

Pulp Fiction

144 Adelaide Street, Brisbane CBD

Get your sci-fi, horror, true crime, or fantasy fix at Pulp Fiction where they specialise in specific genres. Located just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Central Station, this indie offering is worth a visit just to chat to the book nerds that work here alone, who are just as enamoured by conspiracy theories and murder mysteries as you are.

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Mary Ryan’s Books, Music & Coffee

85 Merthyr Road, New Farm

mary ryan's booksImage credit: Mary Ryan’s | Instagram

If there’s one thing better than a bookstore, it’s a café and bookstore combined. Enter Mary Ryan’s Books, Music & Coffee. Combining all the good parts of an independent bookstore, including reader groups and expert staff advice, with delicious Merlo coffee and café fare, Mary Ryan’s was built for lazy Sunday mornings. 

Scrumptious Reads

92A Arthur Terrace, Red Hill

scrumptious readsImage credit: Scrumptious Reads | Facebook

Forgo TikTok recipes in favour of good old fashioned cookbooks, which look just as good on your kitchen shelf as the dish on the plate you made from it. If you’re a lover of beautiful cookbooks, lose yourself at Scrumptious Reads: a store that celebrates gorgeous books and foodie culture (it’s in the name). Boasting a proud love for all things culinary, Scrumptious Reads brings every food related book your literary-loving heart could ever desire into the one room. They also happen to have a private dining room you can hire to put your cooking skills to the test. Now that’s food for thought.

State Library of Queensland Bookshop 

Stanley Place, South Brisbane

Situated in Brisbane’s cultural precinct, the SLQ Bookshop invites you to immerse yourself in all things Queensland, page by page. You can pick up titles by local authors, books about Queensland’s history, and even works exploring Indigenous culture. As a two-time winner of Queensland’s Specialist Bookseller of the Year, the bookstore takes pride in providing quality service to every reader who walks through their doors, so you know you’re in good hands. For the history buffs hiding among us, the store has a range of vintage maps handpicked from SLQ’s archives that will take you down a rabbit hole of Brisbane’s history.  

QAGOMA Store 

Stanley Place, South Brisbane 

For the best books on art and culture, look no further than the QAGOMA Store. A treasure trove of publications showcasing the world’s most exciting contemporary artists, including those from the land Down Under, you’ll find coffee table books, memoirs, and biographies of artists, fashion designers, and more. Better still, all profits go towards expanding the gallery’s collection and presenting new and exciting exhibits, so you know your dollars are going towards a good cause.

Riverbend Books

4/77 Oxford Street, Bulimba

riverbend booksImage credit: Riverbend Books | Facebook

You know those book stores that draw you in, and keep you wandering the store for hours? That’s Riverbend Books—a quaint and cosy space with shelves featuring the latest literary hits as well as old favourites. A store that’s held the title of Queensland’s Independent Bookshop of the Year eight times, you know you’re going to find your next page turner. Once you’ve found it, perch yourself on their beautiful front deck and enjoy a bite while you stick your nose into your next read. 

Little Gnome Bookshop

5/66 Florence Street, Wynnum

A trip to the bayside should always include a stop in at the Little Gnome Bookshop, where you’ll work your way through shelves of books from timeless classics to the latest works. Here, they’re big on supporting Australian writers, so you’re guaranteed to find the latest Trent Dalton here. They also host self-publishing and social media workshops, monthly book clubs, and book signings. 

Brisbane Bookstores For Secondhand Books

Bent Books

205A Boundary Street, West End

With its neon blue, yellow and orange façade, Bent Books has been a staple for West End-based bibliophiles for years. Their collection of secondhand books spans literally every topic you can think of, from witchcraft to art, and literary fiction, so be sure to keep an open mind as you wander through its organised chaos. With the space currently undergoing a mini makeover, you’ll find Bent Books just a few doors down. Make a left at Vulture Street and follow the bright blue sign. 

Archives Fine Books

40 Charlotte Street, Brisbane CBD

Located in the heritage-listed John Mills Himself building, Archives Fine Books more than lives up to its tagline of “one million books on every topic”. While its main purpose is selling rare and collectible books— there are truly some jewels to behold if you can afford it— Archives can more than serve the needs of your average secondhand book hunter. Spanning the majority of the second floor of the building, Archives feels like stepping into the library at Hogwarts—magic and all. If you visit, just be prepared to lose a whole day inside its hallowed walls. 

Cystic Fibrosis Queensland Bookshop

3/160 Ryans Road, Nundah

Ever wondered where all the extra books from the Brisbane libraries go? Well, they find a spot on the shelf at the Cystic Fibrosis Queensland Bookshop. More like a warehouse than a bookshop, this treasure trove is filled to the brim with hundreds of ex-library books, as well as tomes donated by those in need of a little more space. There's plenty of relatively new books, as well as older works, so you're guaranteed to walk out with a fresh stack of reading material.

Brisbane Bookstores For Kids' Books

Quick Brown Fox Bookshop

5/33 Carberry Street, Grange

quick brown fox bookshopImage credit: Quick Brown Fox Bookshop | Instagram

Next time you need to find a gift, skip the shopping centre and make your way to the Quick Brown Fox Bookshop, who  specialise in children’s to young adult books, along with toys, gifts, and games. This indie bookshop hosts a heap of book clubs like ones for Juniors, Young Adults, the Cookbook Club, and a regular monthly book club. They also have a selection of books dedicated to Indigenous Australian themes, which we love to see, and a curated selection of works for adults.

The Mad Hatters Bookshop 

50 Cambridge Parade, Manly

the mad hatters bookshop
Image credit: The Mad Hatters Bookshop | Facebook

Enter a mini-wonderland, where story-telling comes to life thanks to the colourful pages and vibrant atmosphere of this independent bookshop. A haven for families, The Mad Hatters Bookshop is a place where your children’s imaginations can grow and be nurtured, thanks to their wide range of children’s books, games and toys, regular book clubs, events, and activities during the school holidays. As for the adults— you don’t miss out either. There’s book launches, signings, events, and more to take part in, with a small selection of adult fiction and non-fiction available too. 

Bright And Early Books

150 Kitchener Rd, Ascot 

While they might specialise in children’s books, toys, games, workshops, and school holiday events, Bright and Early Books also has a wonderful collection of titles for you to peruse, too. Offering the latest reads catalogued for your convenience, store owner Cholm Johnson is more than happy to lend his recommendation or order a specific title in store for you. A charming space for big and little readers, you’ll find yourself visiting this local community bookstore more than once.

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Main image credit: Riverbend Books | Facebook

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