Melbourne’s 10 Best Bookstores

Melbourne, Australia is known for many things – live music, theater, street art, international cuisine, museums, and sporting events. But arguably most importantly, it’s home to some of the coolest bookstores around. As a UNESCO City of Literature since 2008, Melbourne is undoubtedly the southern hemisphere’s top destination to explore and enjoy a good book.

The Paperback Bookshop

Established in the 1960s, the Paperback Bookshop sits at the top, quiet end of Bourke Street. The original owner set out to make paperback editions of contemporary writers and titles of the time, that were banned under Australia’s strict censorship law, easily accessible to readers.

Though The Paperback has seen a number of new owners since it’s conception, it is still committed to showcasing good writers today. Though the building is small, the business hours are long and year after year Paperback and its owners are reminded just how important books and reading are to a community.

Kay Craddock

Established on May 28th, 1965, what is now known as Kay Craddock, an antiquarian bookseller, began as a shop stocked with a combination of secondhand books, bric-a-brac, and handicrafts. On their first day in business, the Craddock family sold 26 books.

While the family suffered the loss of Les Craddock in the summer of 1964, Muriel Craddock and her daughter continued their partnership and saw to it that the bookshop was always taken care of, through each and every move. The Paperback is currently located in the Neo-Gothic Assembly Hall building in the heart of Melbourne’s Premier Street and is highly regarded as one of Australia’s best bookshops.

Metropolis Bookshop

If you consider yourself more modern, Metropolis is the indie bookstore for you. Metropolis has been around since the ’90s with an eclectic selection of books on design, art, architecture, photography, and popular culture. Although it doesn’t advertise itself as a rare bookshop, you can find many alternative, hard-to-find titles, including overseas imports. It’s a perfect stop for hidden gems to gift to friends and loved ones.

As you might expect from a store centered on the visual arts, Metropolis sports a unique but pleasing aesthetic. It makes good use of a spacious interior, ceiling-hung art, and simple, painted shelves to create a visual treat for visitors.

The Sun Bookshop

The Sun Bookshop has been going strong for over two decades now. Located on the doorstep of the Art Deco Sun Theatre, this bookshop is popular among locals, authors, those visiting Melbourne, and quite possibly most popular among cinephiles. The independent bookseller stocks fiction, biographies, history, travel, science, crime, art, photography and craft books.

And while there truly is something for everyone here, if you happen to find yourself at the Sun Bookshop puzzled as to what you’re looking for exactly, owner Deborah Force is always happy to match customers with the perfect read.

Dymocks Melbourne

Dymocks Collins Street is the largest bookstore in Melbourne located at the iconic Collins234 precinct. It is the perfect getaway in the busy and noisy Melbourne CBD where, just a ride down the escalator, you’ll find an oasis full of books of all genres and an impressive selection of toys, gifts and bookish products.

To top it off, you can enjoy a fresh latte while you read as it also doubles as a book café serving all types of warm beverages and pastries. Beware: do not enter if you’re on a self-imposed book buying ban. There is something for everyone at Dymocks Collins Street.

Readings Emporium

Overlooking Bourke Street sits Readings Emporium, a beautiful light-filled space with large windows and plenty of seating, perfect for enjoying your current read. If you simply can’t make it to Bourke Street, Readings has a total of eight shops operating in Melbourne, including a children’s specialist shop. The original shop was founded by Dot and Ross Reading, along with Peter Reid.

In the beginning, the shop was partly funded out of Dot’s teaching wage and after a particularly busy day, the shelves were known to have been restocked from Ross and Dot’s private bookshelves at home. Today, Readings has a full calendar of events, supports new and outstanding voices through The Readings Prize, donates 10% of annual profits to the Readings Foundation, and has been awarded Bookstore of the Year, Independent Book Retailer of the Year, and Australian Book Retailer of the Year.

Readings Carlton

You’re not seeing double, Readings Carlton is a Melbourne icon that has long since been a gathering spot for the Australian literary scene since it began as a tiny stand-alone shop in 1969. While Readings Carlton made a number of moves in its early life, its final move was in 1998, then in 2018, the shop underwent a major renovation making the shop more accessible, creating more room for browsing, and an all-around update of shelving and counters.

The friendly staff doubles as book and music experts who are always willing to answer your questions or help you with special orders. Readings Carlton was awarded Independent Bookseller of the Year in 1998, 2001, and 2009.

North Melbourne Books

Located in the heart of North Melbourne, North Melbourne Books is a locally owned bookstore with a hand-selected range of both popular and rather unconventional novels, magazines, and non-fiction. Children especially love North Melbourne Books for the small, dedicated space in the back of the store where they can sit and become immersed in their newest read.

Mary Martin Bookshop

You’re probably wondering who exactly Mary Martin is. You aren’t alone, in fact, the Mary Martin Bookshop is asked this question quite often. Mary Martin was born in Adelaide in 1915, the oldest of four children, she found herself drawn to the arts and humanities. She studied for eight years at The University of Adelaide, immersing herself in the literary and art scenes, eventually embarking on a new business – a bookshop. The Mary Martin Bookshop became known for mail orders. bargain books, and a large collection of art books and artwork.

Martin was described as a “little wren” who would serve tea and coffee to her customers, encouraging them to browse and make her shop their second home. After meeting Ananda Shivaram, who brought Indian dance to Australia and ultimately changed Mary’s life, Mary decided to move to India in 1962 and sold the bookshop to her business partner Max Harris. Today, Mary Martin’s legacy is still honored with bookmarks featuring mandalas that pay homage to her love of India to the spirit in which books are shared. And, on occasion, you may still be offered a cup of tea!

Chestnut Tree Bookshop

The last leg of our journey takes us to the Chestnut Tree Bookshop, a bookshop and cafe on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people and the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. The Chestnut Tree Bookshop prides itself in being a positive force for the community, people, and the environment.

Buy any of their fiction or non-fiction books and you’ll be helping to plant native trees in the bushfire-affected areas of Australia. It takes trees to make books, and The Chestnut Tree Bookshop aspires to be part of the solution in replenishing the trees; this is also why recycled and carbon-neutral products are used at every opportunity. In addition to regular donations, a tree is also planted for every $50 online purchase.