Toronto has a literary culture with a diversity and depth that’s hard to find, thanks in part to various widespread events like the Toronto International Festival of Authors and a slew of amazing bookstores.
Queen Books
Though it’s been around for less than a decade, Queen Books has made a name for itself as the local go-to in Toronto’s Leslieville neighborhood for all your bookish needs. Its collection is broad with a noted selection of children’s books, and overall emphasizes local and Canadian authors.
The interior decoration is busy but muted, with Persian carpeting and forest wallpaper covering half the store. The calming blend of colors creates a homey, almost hypnotic vibe perfect for picking out a new book.
Address: 914 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1J5, Canada
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 10AM – 8PM
– Saturday & Sunday: 10AM – 6PM
BMV Books
With a motto of “Read more, spend less,” BMV Books has three different locations, each with a focus on discounted and secondhand books. The spotlight for this particular list is the flagship seated in the historic Hungarian Castle Building, recognizable by its blue-painted upper stories.
On top of its thousands of books, this shop both buys and sells a ton of comics, DVDs, vinyl, games, and collectibles. Since the stock is always changing, you never know what you’ll find when you walk in, making for a true treasure-hunt browsing experience. All three locations are known for their affordable prices and diverse selections, making it a top-notch destination for book lovers and broke college students.
Address: 471 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1X9, Canada
Opening hours:
– Sunday to Thursday: 12PM – 7PM
– Friday & Saturday: 10AM – 11PM
Seekers Books
Of course, that’s not the only secondhand bookstore in town. In the same Annex neighborhood lies Seekers Books, which has been around since 1988, offering a wide range of books on every topic you can think of. It also has a friendly resident cat, for those who are interested.
Though it might be hard to spot at first, being at the bottom of a flight of stairs, its adjacent blue brick wall will help newcomers know they’ve come to the right place. It’s beloved by many locals mainly because of the owners, who are genuine book lovers and very much in the know about literature.
Address: 509 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1Y2, Canada
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 12PM – 9PM
Bakka-Phoenix Books
Established in 1972 as Canada’s oldest science fiction and fantasy specialty bookstore, Bakka-Phoenix Books has a deep passion for speculative fiction, even being named after a term from Frank Herbert’s Dune.
This shop hosts frequent author events, readings, and panels, and has played a significant role in Toronto’s sci-fi and fantasy literary scene for over five decades. It’s even hosted famous figures like George R.R. Martin and Robert J. Sawyer. Behind its simple exterior lies a true paradise for fantasy and sci-fi lovers.
Address: 84 Harbord St, Toronto, ON M5S 1G5, Canada
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 11AM – 7PM
– Saturday & Sunday: 12PM – 5PM
Ben McNally Books
Ben McNally Books is a beloved independent, family-run bookstore in Toronto, with an interior that is the pinnacle of elegance and subtle beauty. Definitely take a gander at the ceiling if you get the chance and admire not only the chandelier, but the decorative drawings of plants and flowers painted in gold.
The collection itself encompasses history, fiction, biography, and poetry, while the shop is famous for personalized recommendations and its strong community ties.
Address: 108 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M5C 1S4, Canada
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Friday: 10AM – 5PM
– Saturday to Monday: Closed
Doug Miller Books
Settled down in Koreatown is a distinct little shop called Doug Miller Books. While it might stand out a bit compared to its surroundings, it is nonetheless a worthwhile visit, offering a packed interior full of literary treasures and friendly, knowledgeable service.
The shop holds a diverse selection, including fantasy, children’s books, classics, and recent releases. It stands apart from the crowd in another way, too—with a very impressive display case full of Lego figures. The store even sometimes sets up displays amidst the stacks of books, which makes for a fun touch during a visit.
Address: 650 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G 1K9, Canada
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 10AM – 7PM
Type Books
Here’s another independent bookstore with three locations: Type Books. Founded in 2006, its flagship in Queen West is a study of contrasts: one side of the store, an elegant chandelier and velvety red walls; the other side, clean-cut white. It offers a large selection of books and magazines, including a nice section for kids.
Each store hosts its fair share of book launches and book clubs, with two or more a month at the Queen West site alone. It’s a great place to browse, read the handwritten notes on the store’s blackboard, and just enjoy the vibe.
Address: 883 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 2R5, Canada
Opening hours:
– Monday to Wednesday: 10AM – 6PM
– Thursday to Saturday: 10AM – 7PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 6PM
Sellers & Newel Second-Hand Books
This antiquarian bookstore holds a curated selection of over 30,000 titles of literature, history, art, poetry, rare editions, and the weird or unusual in general. Among them, collectors will be especially piqued to know that it boasts a number of first editions.
What really stands out, though, is the stellar presentation—most notably their coffin bookshelf used to display their horror collection, and a section entirely dedicated to queer literature.
Address: 672 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1B8, Canada
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Thursday: 11AM – 5PM
– Friday to Sunday: 11AM – 6PM
– Monday: “By chance” (their words, not mine)
Indigo
More than just a bookstore, Indigo is a community hub, selling countless books, magazines, gift items (stationery, mugs, and toys, oh my!), and even coffee.
The inside of this building is huge, with an open, spacious layout. It’s honestly more like a department store than your typical corner-side bookshop, and includes an in-house piano for hosting live music, a café, and even a kids’ play area. It’s truly a jack of all trades in store form.
Address: 55 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M4W 1A5, Canada
Opening hours:
– Monday: 10AM – 7PM
– Tuesday to Saturday: 10AM – 9PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 8PM
The Scribe Bookstore
The Scribe Bookstore is only recently opened, but it has an old soul, specializing in rare, vintage, and collectible books. Owned by Justin Daniel Wood, it features first editions, Victorian bindings, children’s books, illustrated volumes, and unique finds.
The interior is neat and elegant, with small touches like the vintage ceiling lamps and mock-stained windows giving the space a soft, delicate personality. It has sections for books with decorative binding, a “rare room” bookcase, and $5 shelves filled with discounted volumes.
Address: 375 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1P1, Canada
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 11AM – 6PM
Balfour Books
Tucked into Toronto’s Little Italy, you can find Balfour Books, an independent secondhand bookstore. As with many secondhand shops, it’s crowded with hidden gems (a term used far too often, but in this case, appropriate), and you can find many texts on art, fashion, history, Judaica, gastronomy, and music.
The owner offers a friendly welcome, affordable prices, knowledgeable service, and an ever-changing selection of literary and academic volumes, vintage science fiction paperbacks, and more.
Address: 468 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1A1, Canada
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 12PM – 6PM
Re: Reading Used Books
Featuring over 30,000 titles in all genres—plus DVDs and TV shows—this popular shop is known for its eclectic selection, laidback vibe, and science fiction fantasy chamber. Fans of Star Wars, Star Trek, and Doctor Who will be especially thrilled when greeted by distinct decorations and call-outs.
There are also more parts of the store featuring minimalist layouts and vintage armchairs, but that’s half the fun of exploring such a store with this much personality.
Address: 548 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1P8, Canada
Opening hours:
– Monday to Thursday & Saturday: 10AM – 9PM
– Friday: 10AM – 10PM
– Sunday: 10AM – 6PM
Acadia Bookstore Est. 1931
Acadia Bookstore Est. 1931 (yes, that is its official name) was indeed established in 1931, and this antiquarian shop knows what it’s about. It features a slew of vintage, rare, and out-of-print works alongside volumes on art, architecture, and photography, all among and beside antique statuettes and busts of literary figures, religious and cultural icons, and contemporary art.
Family-run for generations, it is cherished for its curated selection, expertise, and distinctive atmosphere—complete with its famous in-store cats.
Address: 232 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M5A 1S3, Canada
Opening hours:
– Monday to Saturday: 11AM – 6PM
– Sunday: Closed
Book City
This independent bookstore chain has four locations across Toronto. Book City has a wide selection of books, magazines, newspapers, and miscellaneous gift items. Though not the flagship (that’s over in Bloor West Village), its branch on Danforth is a charming stop for many locals, its sea green storefront nestled in the red-brick Carrot Common complex.
This branch offers a friendly, welcoming environment for book lovers, and is a nice place to pop in for a new read.
Address: 348 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1N8, Canada
Opening hours:
– Monday & Tuesday: 10AM – 6PM
– Wednesday & Thursday: 10AM – 7PM
– Friday & Saturday: 10AM – 8PM
– Sunday: 11AM – 5PM
Flying Books at Neverland
Flying Books at Neverland is a bookstore and literary café with two locations, one on College Street and the other, a newer spot downtown on Queen Street West. This second branch carries a wealth of fiction, memoirs, cookbooks, graphic novels, science, history, poetry, and children’s books, plus wine, cocktails, and coffee from its on-site café.
This book café regularly hosts events like poetry workshops, book clubs, and author socials, making it a great destination to get in tune with the local literary scene.
Address: 371 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2A4, Canada
Opening hours:
– Sunday to Wednesday: 8AM – 9PM
– Thursday to Saturday: 8AM – 10PM
The Great Escape Book Store
Fitting that a bookstore with a name straight out of a mystery classic looks straight out of an old school detective novel. Decorated with an eclectic assortment of knick-knacks from a caged owl statuette and dried vines to pufferfish on typewriters, the Great Escape Book Store is a fun shop to get lost in.
This store also has its very own Book and Film Club, which warmly invites anyone to join in to watch a movie, discuss the book it’s based on, and just generally have fun.
Address: 957 Kingston Rd, Toronto, ON M4E 1S8, Canada
Opening hours:
– Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday: 10AM – 5PM
– Thursday & Friday: 10AM – 7PM
– Monday: Closed
