10 of the best independent bookstores in and around Edmonton
Thereās nothing better than curling up with a good book, especially when you know it came from a local shop.
Edmonton has plenty of independent bookstores, each full of hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Hereās our list of the 10 best independent bookstores in the city:
Paper Birch Books
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This beautiful little bookstore in the McCauley area is a must-visit for any book enthusiast in Edmonton. It has an awesome atmosphere, with a selection spanning every genre and edition. Plus, they have an espresso bar now. What more could you ask for!?
Address:Ā 10825 95 St. NW
Wee Book Inn
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The Wee Book Inn is an iconic used bookstore with two locations in Edmonton, best known for its shop cats, wicked deals, and rare and unique finds.
Address:Ā 10310 82 Ave. NW
Address: 10332 Jasper Ave. NW
Audreys Books Ltd.
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Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Audreys Books is the oldest indie bookstore in Edmonton and a true book-loverās spot. It spans two floors with regular readings and literary events, and when youāre done browsing, head next door to The Commodore, one of the cityās oldest greasy spoons. It’s the most Edmonton thing you can do!
Address:Ā 10702 Jasper Ave. NW
Magpie Books
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Magpie Books in Ritchie offers a carefully curated selection of literature by Indigenous, Black, racialized and queer and trans authors, alongside fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks and hidden gems. A workers’ co-op, itās bookseller-owned and operated with a strong focus on community care.
Address:Ā 9553 76 Ave. NW
Alhambra Books
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Located in Old Strathcona, this cozy shop is jam-packed with unique and rare finds you wonāt see anywhere else. With more than 60,000 books on the shelves, itās a treasure trove for book lovers, and we canāt get enough of it!
Address:Ā 10115 81 Ave. NW
Porch Light Books
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Porch Light Books, located in the Mill Creek area, offers a wide variety of new, unique, and classic titles. The shop is gorgeous and carefully curated, and we love how this side of 99th Street is coming alive, with The Colombian and Made by Marcus opening nearby in the past year. After all, whatās better than grabbing a little treat and doing some book shopping?
Address: 9867 89 Ave. NW
Gritty Grotto Books
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This sweet shop is tucked inside the iconic Junque Cellar on Whyte Avenue, with thousands of titles spanning a wide range of genres.
Address: 10442 82 Ave. NW
The Edmonton Book Store
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For anyone looking for a special gift or collectible, The Edmonton Book Store specializes in rare books on Western Canada, the Arctic, philosophy, and literature, with more than 80,000 volumes in store. Itās the place to find rare, out-of-print, and hard-to-find books in the city.
Address: 10533 82 Ave. NW
Daisy Chain
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These are the cutest bookshops youāll see all day. Daisy Chain started as a bookstore on wheels and has since grown to two brick-and-mortar locations in the Edmonton area. With its bright, cheery atmosphere, itās a fantastic spot to pick up both new and used books.
Address:Ā 12525 102 Ave. NW
Address: 5010 50 St., Beaumont
The Book Boudoir
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The Book Boudoir is a romance-only bookstore in the Oliver Exchange building, with moody lighting and plush seats. Itās part of a growing trend of stores dedicated entirely to romance novels, including a new romance-only store in Calgary.
Address:Ā 12017 102 Ave. NW