Canberra bookshops we love

Posted on 5 October, 2023

Here at HerCanberra, we love browsing through the shelves of a great independent bookshop almost as much as reading the books themselves.

While bigger chains like Harry Hartog, Dymocks and QBD offer an incredible range of books right across the country, there’s something special about browsing small local businesses.

Here are some of our favourites.

Art Store

Located inside the National Gallery of Australia (NGA), Art Store is an experience in its own right. Here you’ll find a range of inspirational and contemporary art products and books, including items produced exclusively for the NGA.

Open 10 am—5 pm, Monday to Sunday | Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au

Book Face

Home to an extensive collection of children’s and adults books, BOOK FACE in Gungahlin is a book lovers dream come true. From graphic novels to architecture, the specialist staff in store will help hunt down your next read.

Open Monday to Thursday 9 am – 5.30pm, Friday 9 am – 9 pm, Saturday 9 am – 5 pm and Sunday 10 am – 4 pm | Shop H41 33 Hibberson Street Gungahlin | bookfacestores.com.au/gungahlin

Book Lore

Before you grab a bite to eat at Tilley’s Café, take a wander through the aisles of Book Lore and collect a second-hand bargain to ponder whilst you eat. Hours could be spent scouring shelves of their vast collection of locally sourced fiction and non-fiction books, arranged in categories ranging from art, music, science fiction, plants and arctic regions. They have pretty much everything.

Open 10 am—5.30 pm daily at 94 Wattle Street, Lyneham | facebook.com/booklorelyneham

Book Lovers Lane

Any avid reader knows there’s no better feeling then picking up a good book at a bargain price—and that’s where Book Lovers Lane comes in. Lifeline’s own second hand bookstore (and the perfect way for fans of the Book Fair to get their fix), this store has its stock rotated weekly to make sure there are fresh offerings every single weekend. Want to know the best bit? All profits from the shop go directly towards Lifeline’s local Crisis Support Service 13 11 14.

Open Thursday to Sunday, 9 am – 4 pm | 36 Mildura St, Fyshwick | lifelinecanberra.org.au/book-lovers-lane

Canty’s Bookshop

Canty’s Bookshop is a Canberra institution. Owned by Luke and Laura Canty, and established by Luke’s parents in 1992, the second-hand bookshop is said to be one of the best in Canberra and amongst the best in the country. A trip to Canty’s will yield something for everyone with their broad variety of fiction and non-fiction.

Open 10.30 am—5 pm daily | 4/59-61 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick | cantysbookshopfyshwick.com

The Curatoreum

The Curatoreum are a pair of independent book and gift stores located at the National Portrait Gallery and National Arboretum. A visit to one of their stores is the perfect way to finish a trip to either of these national institutions. With over 19,000 titles online and in-store, The Curatoreum is an institution in and of itself, as well as the greatest place to brush up on all things art, botany, design and photography.

Open 10 am—5 pm daily at King Edward Terrace, National Portrait Gallery and the National Arboretum | thecuratoreum.com

Down Memory Lane

Down Memory Lane in Fyshwick is a one-stop-shop for any local hipster into vintage books alongside jewellery, furniture and collectables. Specialising in rare books, you’re in for a journey through vintage books, magazines and journals. Finding these books amongst the emporium of vintage pieces is a little tricky but worth the browse.

Open Wednesday to Sunday 10 am—4.30 pm at 34 Geelong Street, Fyshwick | downmemorylane.net.au

Impact Comics

Starting its life as a small shop in the historic Sydney Building in 2004, Impact Comics is something of a Canberra institution—fans of all ages beating a path to its door for the latest comics, graphic novels, manga and more. You’ll also find a range of limited-edition collectibles and hard-to-find action figures, as well a massive range of imported tees.

impactcomics.com.au

Muse Canberra

Muse Canberra is a local hub for all things food, wine and books. It’s a meeting place for intellectuals, artists and wine-lovers alike, as a venue for conversation, ideas and indulgence, both literary and epicurean. It hosts a collection of new books in the sophisticated setting and is an ideal spot to socialise or just sit and read.

Open 7 am—12 pm Sunday to Tuesday and 7 am – 2pm Wednesday to Saturday | 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston | musecanberra.com.au

National Library of Australia Bookshop

As the nation’s specialist Australian bookshop, the National Library of Australia (NLA) bookshop stocks an amazing range of Australian fiction, non-fiction and children’s literature titles, including the complete range of books produced by NLA Publishing. It also boasts a selection of gifts and merchandise sourced both locally and interstate, featuring the work of a range of Australian Artists.

Open daily from 9 am—5 pm except Good Friday and Christmas Day | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes | bookshop.nla.gov.au

Paperchain Bookstore

Paperchain Bookstore in Manuka is a sure bet for new and popular books, stocked with all the latest releases. If you get a little lost amongst the brilliant collection of old classics and new favourites, the friendly expert staff will guide you in the right direction or to an exciting new read.

Oh and on Saturday 7 October they have bundle of lovely things planned for this day of local bookshop celebration and joy (think double customer loyalty points, cakes and treats and more!). See you there?

Open 9 am—7 pm Monday to Saturday, 10 am—6 pm Sunday |34 Franklin Street, Manuka | paperchainbookstore.com.au

Pulp BookCafé

A roaring fireplace, a cup of coffee, and a good book: Pulp BookCafé in Gold Creek is a novel way to spend a day. With eclectic and cosy interiors that include a wall of bookcases, a large leather couch (perfect for curling up on a Canberra winter day), and an al fresco area for when the weather’s a bit warmer, Pulp not only offers a drool-worthy collection of books— it also offers an all-day breakfast menu and delicious lunch menu to go along with your newest novel.

Open Monday to Sunday, 9 am – 4 pm | 6/18 O’Hanlon Pl, Nicholls | pulpbookcafe.com

The Book Cow

This independent, local bookseller is only a hop, skip and jump from some of the best cafes in Kingston. Browse the shelves to find a local author or explore the extensive collections  for a few hours before grabbing a coffee and enjoying your new read.

Open 9 am—5 pm Monday to Thursday, 9 am – 7pm Friday, 10 am – 3 pm Saturday and Sunday | 47 Jardine St, Kingston | bookcow.com.au

Feature image: Pew Pew Studio.