Podcasts & Books

Searching for a book on female sheds or the life and times of Alibaba founder Jack Ma? You’ll find it at Boffins Books in the Perth CBD. Stocking a huge range of technical manuals as well as cookbooks, the latest fiction and kids bestsellers, Boffins have also set up a pretty impressive online store. Nothing beats a browse in real time at this awesome Perth Bookshop.

Tucked down Old Theatre Lane in Claremont, The Lane Bookshop is worth dragging yourself away from the Quarter for. Their eclectic collection covers everything from science fiction and philosophy to architecture and performing arts, as well as fiction and children’s books. If you can’t find what you’re looking for The Lane will happily order it in for you.

Housed in a cute little building on High Street, New Edition Bookshop in Fremantle is one of Perth's best bookstores.

We love a bookstore that’s open late, and Oxford St Books in Leederville is no exception. Stocking all your regular bookshop finds as well as some killer biographies, some of the best art and coffee table books, travel tomes and an impressive range of YA and kids fiction, Oxford St Books is the place to go if you’re running late for your friends b-day party and don’t have a present yet. They’ve got a very impressive collection of cards!

Where pre-loved books wait for new love—if you’ve got your eye on a particular tome head to Elizabeth’s where you might strike gold for a fraction of the price. If you’re not too sure what to read next why not try Liz’s Blind Date With A Book—a gift wrapped mystery book, you can choose the lucky book using the hints on the front cover. What have you got to lose? This is definitely one of Perth's best bookshops.

Kaleido Books & Gifts in the Perth CBD is our saviour when we’re dreading that long and boring ride home on the train. Divided into categories like How To Be Betterer (self-development), Something Feigned, Invented or Imagined (fiction) and Coming Of Page (young adult), Kaleido strikes the perfect balance between quirky and cool, and if we’re being honest we’ve missed many a train perusing the shelves here.

Crow Books in East Victoria Park is a delightful little Perth bookstore. The shelves are packed with hard-to-find books and popular reads, and their staff recommendations are pretty spot on. This place has that amazing old book smell that makes you want to curl up with a tea and a bloody good read. P.S. Look for the cookie dough diet book!

Diabolik Books & Records is another little pop culture hive in Mount Hawthorn. Among the fiction and non-fiction reads, you’ll find a quality selection of comic books and graphic novels, lowbrow, art and music tomes, notebooks, games and gifts. And on top of all that they stock a killer selection of records—it’s got everything you’d want from a bookstore and more!

Planet Books is all that remains of the once booming pop culture corner of Mount Lawley and we hope it stays put for years to come because it is one of our favourite Perth bookstores. With an impressive fiction collection, including everything from the classics to modern best sellers, and an even more impressive range of non-fiction books (the cookbook collection is madness), the guys at Planet are super sweet and always willing to throw a recommendation your way.

If you’ve still got Ikea prints hanging on your walls it’s probably time to head to Perth gallery, Outré in Northbridge. These guys stock some of the most amazeballs art you’ll find in Perth and they are always keeping things fresh. From pop surrealism and tiki to modern folk and underground art, there is something to suit everyone at Outré Gallery. You’ll also find books, magazines, homewares and toys.

For the best range of yoga lifestyle products in Perth head to the Tamara Yoga Shop in Claremont. This little yogi-paradise only stocks ethical products so you can practice a zen life on the mat and off. As well as Tamara Yoga’s own range of yoga clothes, they stock organic cotton clothing, paraffin free aromatic candles, homewares, yoga equipment, books and more.

If you want to buy spray-paint without getting any judgmental looks head to The Butcher Shop in Northbridge. This cool store is a street-artist’s delight, they’ve got everything from the aforementioned paint to stencils, markers and safety gear. As well as art supplies, The Butcher Shop also stock books, magazines, clothing and accessories for the discerning street dude.

Possibly the best bookstore in Perth, Northside Books in Northbridge is a book lovers wonderland. Home to every genre your nerdy little heart could desire, including Fiction, non-fiction, and children's books, Northside Books also does a decent coffee and has a small selection of baked goods to keep your energy up. Eclectic and authentic, Northside Books is just the kind of Perth bookstore we'd happily while away a day in.

Daisy & Rowe in Bassendean is one of the cutest gift and homewares stores we have ever seen. They've got everything from homewares, books and greeting cards to fresh cut flowers, women's fashion and jewellery items and there are a few goodies for the gents and babies too. All the designer labels you could ask for, plus a few local talents, jammed into one amazing store.

Perth Creative business Beau Est Mien (meaning ‘beautiful is mine’), established by Magali Dincher, comprises a studio and store offering limited edition artwork, stationery and printmaking workshops. Magali designs and hand-makes quirky and detailed prints on paper and fabric with watercolour, using traditional printmaking techniques such as hand-cut linotype, calligraphy, etching and screen printing. The result is a range of greeting cards, colouring books, wrapping papers and prints on stone available in store and stocked around Australia.

Husband and wife team Jane King (designer) and Adam Coffey (mechanical engineer) are the masterminds behind home and giftware store Future Shelter. The combined workshop and retail space on Angove Street is home to a small team of designers and makers, showcasing locally inspired and locally made items. The workshop has equipment for screen printing, industrial sewing, laser cutting, woodwork, and ceramic making, resulting in zesty and meticulously crafted offerings such as lampshades, coasters, wall decals, clothing, jewellery and stationery.

If you're looking for some quality handcrafted items to make your home feel that little bit more special this year, the stylish North Perth arts hub, Angove Street Collective, is just the place for you.

If you’re looking for a beautiful item for your home or yourself, Remedy in Leederville is the place to go. This lovely store is all about the ‘slow shopping movement’ and encourages you to take the time to wander through and really enjoy the colours, textures and scents of a range that includes botanical skincare, simple yet considerate ceramics, illustrated linens and beautiful and practical gifts. Its staple ranges are made and designed by local and internationally sourced creative minds.

Since 2011, George Street in East Fremantle has been home to beautiful boutique store Willow and the Bowerbird. The gorgeous high-ceiling building is filled with natural light and fresh flowers, setting the scene for a collection of locally made and internationally sourced, down-to-earth products including women’s and kid’s clothing and accessories, beautiful items for the garden and home, and handmade skincare products.

For more than 25 years, Leederville's Black Plastic has been the go-to shop for a wide variety of quirky gifts and greeting cards. With heavy pop culture references and an ever-changing range of cult items, cool yet functional homewares, uber cool knick knacks and kitsch novelty items, Black Plastic is a treasure trove of delight for young and old alike. Pop by whenever you’re in the hood because they’re sure to have new wonderful and wacky items just waiting to be discovered.

Good luck ever walking out of Urban Records/Urban Depot without a cheeky purchase. The Oxford Street staple combines a good collection of LPs, CDs, turntables and music accessories out the front with clever gifts, homewares, clothing and accessories in the back. Think cool men’s watches and wallets, boutique Australian designer clothing, retro-inspired kitchenware, lust-worthy jewellery and kitsch gifts – this treasure trove of a shop has a great atmosphere, is always well-stocked and is open until 10pm every day.

With arguably one of the best music collections in Perth, 78 Records has to be the coolest record store in our sunny town. They’ve got vinyl for days, as well as enough CDs, DVDs, accessories, band tees, posters and magazines to make your heart smile. If you’re in need of a new record player, 78 Records have you covered.

A mother and daughter team have extended their home and personal style into Perth boutique Ginger Morris on South Terrace – an eclectic store combining old and new, with no rules or boundaries. It is packed with items they find beautiful or interesting, with a range including antique and contemporary furniture, rugs, glassware, homewares and collectables, as well as stationery, children’s items, women’s clothing and jewellery.

After huge success in their original Fremantle location, MANY 6160 packed up shop and moved across town to become MANY 2.0. Still the same adventurous place, just in a different location, MANY 2.0 is Australia's largest temporary space activation project.

Christmas, birthday, and ‘just-because’ presents are made easy at family owned and operated Corner Store in Fremantle, where childhood dreams and adult realities are combined. Beautiful, welcoming spaces mix nostalgia with well-considered design to present a range of unique furnishings, homewares, gifts, clothes and curios sourced locally and from around the globe. Explore this gem of a store for plenty of bright colours, novelty items, cute cards, and lovely children’s toys.

This place take cray-cray to whole new levels! If you've just experienced your first amine moving and have decided to convert, head to Tokyo Underground on Hay Street to purchase everything... like everything. They've got Japanese pop culture merchandise, all things amine, gaming, those hilarious kimmidolls, DVD's, plush toys and so much more!