It seems every day there is a special day celebrating everything from International Vinyl Record Day (12 Aug) to International Coffee Day (29 Sept), but today is National Bookshop Day in Australia! It's a great opportunity to support local, independent bookstores and celebrate your love of books!
While we have some great bookstores here in Brisbane, we also love to seek out special bookstores when we're travelling. Here's some of our favourite Australian Bookstores in Brisbane and beyond:
Scrumptious Reads, Brisbane QLD
Satisfy your love of everything culinary at Scrumptious Reads (pictured above). This inviting store on James Street is stocked full of cookbooks, eclectic kitchenware and magazines for the food lover. Scrumptious Reads is not just a bookstore, it is also an event space and private dining room.
Avid Reader, Brisbane QLD
Avid Reader is one of Brisbane's most iconic bookstores, located in the eclectic suburb of West End. Part bookstore, part café Avid Reader also hosts a number of book clubs including the spicy sounding "Good Sex Award Book Club". With all this activity, it has a buzzing, inviting feel that has you coming back again and again.
Folio Books, Brisbane QLD
Not even a location change to make way for a new, shiny hotel could dampen the appetite of Brisbane book lovers for Folio Books (pictured above). In business for over 30 years, the store specialises in unique books on a range of subjects including art, architecture, photography, travel and more. Their online store is also a treasure trove of hard to find titles.
Title, Brisbane QLD
Opening in South Bank under the Brisbane Convention Centre it's a welcome escape for conference delegates. Like its sister stores in Sydney and Melbourne, Title is a highly curated retail space dedicated to all things music, film and of course books.
Book Barn Berrima, Southern Highlands NSW
This is mecca for booklovers! Famous bookstore family Berkelouw, have housed a unique collection of books in a beautifully transformed barn with stunning cathedral ceilings, timber beams and stone fireplace (pictured above). The Book Barn is the centrepiece of Bendooley Estate – winery, restaurant and event space. For weddings and special events the bookshelves are rolled away, transforming into a magical book-lined space. Worth travelling for...
Berkelouw Bookstore Eumundi, Sunshine Coast QLD
Once you've trundled the Eumundi Markets, head across the road to Berkelouw Books housed in the historic Eumundi Trading Post building. Stacked the rafters with thousands of books, you'll easily lose track of time browsing the eclectic collection of titles while enjoying coffee and treats in the café. Berkelouw is a great spot for holidaymakers to the Sunshine Coast.
Favourite Chair Café Maitland, Newcastle NSW
I discovered this gem after browsing the Olive Tree Markets nearby, we stopped for lunch at Favourite Chair Café and fell in love with it's whimsical and eclectic ambience (pictured above). The book-lined café adjoins Posims, a second-hand bookstore so you'll want to stay a while and browse there too. The Café is under new management since February 2016 and I hope it has retained its charm and comfort food menu since our last delightful visit.
Gertrude & Alice Bondi, Sydney NSW
Gertrude & Alice is an institution in Sydney, creating an inviting and appealing atmosphere just moments to iconic Bondi Beach. Inspired by Paris' famous Shakespeare & Company, the store has a European feel, an inspiring space with over 25,000 books to browse all while enjoying café fare and Campos Coffee. Heaven.
These are our favourite bookstores, did yours make the list? Share your favourite Australian bookstores, we'd love visit them all!
Image credit: Scrumptious Reads, Folio Books, David Campbell, Favourite Chair.
