Bookshops
I’ve put them in alphabetical order to avoid inferences of favourites. I love them all.
Adelaide Booksellers Selling antiquarian, collectible, out-of-print and secondhand books. From their long life in the city, this most excellent bookshop is now at Clarence Gardens but doing most of their trade online.
Blackwood Books Another excellent secondhand bookshop, limited catalogue online but with 40,000 books on their shelves definitely worth a regular visit.
Dillons Bookshop Their website says they are our ‘largest independently owned bookshop’. They are definitely big and give The Parade a cheerful air that I love. An especially good children’s section that I still spend hours in even though my own children are now adults.
Dymocks Adelaide Part of a chain, but always a champion of local writers. By now well-settled in their new home at the old Regent Theatre making it one of the most beautiful shops in our fair city. Heading up the elevator and gradually getting a glimpse of this gorgeous space is a magical experience–makes me feel like I used to feel when my parents brought my on trips from our country town to the city.
East Avenue Books The sight of the shelves of Penguins alone make this worth a visit. Another excellent selection of out-of-print and collectibles as well as well-priced secondhand books.
Goodwood Books The sister shop to Blackwood Books, with strong Murphy Sister vibes. A feminist bookshop of mostly secondhand but some new books. More than a bookshop they host some great regular events (Silent Book Club!), and available to hire for book groups, meetings and events.
Harry Hartog Recently moved into a new store, still in the Burnside Village, a great selection of new and current titles.
Imprints It would be fair to call this an Adelaide institution, ‘a cultural cornerstone of Adelaide’s West End since opening in 1984.’ Much-loved by all of Adelaide’s bookish community.
Matilda Bookshop Winners of the ABIA 2023 Independent Bookshop of the Year, this is a beautiful store in the beautiful Adelaide Hills. They not only have a wonderfully wide selection of books, they also host a range of regular book clubs and many brilliant author events throughout the year.
Meg’s Bookshop An absolute gem in my hometown of Port Pirie. For many years, Margie has been an absolute champion of books and reading in the mid-north, Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas. She doesn’t travel quite as widely now but she and Mark are still organising author visits and selling books at different events around the state. I adore them.
Michael Treloar Antiquarian Booksellers Perfectly suited to his North Terrace premises, Treloars ‘deal in quality out-of-print and antiquarian books, as well as vintage photographs, manuscripts and autographs.’
Mockingbird Lounge This brilliant concept of beachside secondhand bookshop and cafe is a winner. Four rooms of well-organised secondhand books, good coffee and some excellent cakes. They also have an excellent collection of books for book clubs, as well as regular creative writing and stitching groups.
Mostly Books Established in 1977 they would come close to being one of our oldest bookshops. Links to a brilliant podcast on their front page.
New Morning Books With book-lined walls, walls lined with books, it’s incredible that the owner of this shop seems to know every book that he has. Another of Adelaide’s secondhand bookshop gems.
O’Connell’s Bookshop Another of our long-running secondhand bookshops, it started life as a kiosk in the Central Market
Orchard Bookshop With the closure of the Central Market, they have moved and are now part of the Adelaide Arcade, one of the prettiest shopping strips in town. I go from here to Heirloom to Zu to Cielo to Haighs to the Button Bar to Pencraft to Adelaide Hatters to Dulcies. I just love it, and wander through here every single time I’m in town.
Page & Turner This is an excellent name for a bookshop, eh? Recently opened in the Myer Centre, but also an online store. They have new current titles along with ‘pre-loved books, audiobooks, music, CDs and other media.’
Shakespeare’s Bookshop Located in Blackwood, they are about to move into new premises. The sneak peeks on insta look amazing.
South Seas Books A sprawling trove of treasures in Port Elliot, one of our state’s prettiest little towns. Buy a new book, stop in at the bakery for a donut then take it down to read on the beach at Horseshoe Bay. A perfect day.
Unbound Books Growing from the collection of a philosophy lecturer after he died, this is a gem of a secondhand bookshop owned and run by a group of friends who know books. If you’re coming from Adelaide double-check the hours before you go because they occasionally change, but definitely worth the visit.