Bookstores in Toronto

100 people recommend, 8 warn against itvia r/askTO, r/toronto

BMV Books is a used and new bookshop with several Toronto locations, and visitors recommend it widely; the Bloor Street West shop is the branch shown here and the one named most often. Several visitors point to the comics and science fiction on its upper floors, and several describe the stock as huge or large. Reservations are individual: one visitor rarely finds what they want there, another feels some locations now carry more new books than used, one found the politics shelves small, one says its collector-edition range is small, and one wants a larger international collection.

Bloor

43 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/askTO, r/toronto

Seekers Books is a used bookshop on Bloor Street, a short walk from the big BMV. Visitors recommend it widely, and several mention its resident cat. One visitor calls it well curated, one says it leans toward Canadian publishing, and one praises its used-bookshop atmosphere. A couple of visitors, one mixed and one critical, find the selection small or uneven.

Bloor

34 people recommendvia r/askTO

Book City is a small Toronto chain of independent bookshops, and visitors recommend it widely. The Danforth shop is the branch shown here and the one named most often; the Beaches, Queen East, St. Clair West and Bloor West Village shops also come up. Several visitors say it will order in titles it does not stock, several praise the staff, and several describe a strong range of books. One visitor says browsing there is lacking even though orders work well, and one says the Queen East shop is good but harder to reach.

Danforth

29 people recommendvia r/askTO

Type Books is an independent bookshop with branches on Queen West and in the Junction; visitors recommend it under one name, and the Junction shop is the one shown here. Several praise its curated stock and staff picks, several praise the staff's recommendations, and several say it will take special orders. A few visitors say its range is on the smaller side, and a couple praise its nonfiction. One visitor says browsing there lacks the experience.

The Junction

26 people recommendvia r/askTO

Queen Books is a bookshop on Queen Street East in Leslieville, and visitors recommend it widely, with several calling it their favourite. Several say it handles special orders well. One visitor praises its solid nonfiction section, another its fiction, and another a reasonably good curated selection of leftist titles, and a couple mention a rewards program. One visitor thinks it should buy more copies of popular titles.

East End

25 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/askTO, r/toronto

Visitors recommend The Beguiling on College Street widely as the place for comics and graphic novels, and a couple call it the top comics shop in the city. Several point to its manga. One visitor says it has some French comics and can order requested titles in advance. Reservations: one visitor finds it mostly new stock and pricier, and one advises steering clear.

College

23 people recommendvia r/askTO, r/toronto

Re:Reading is a used bookshop on the Danforth, and visitors recommend it widely. Several describe a big, enjoyable science fiction section, a few describe a wide or plentiful used selection, and a couple call the value good and a couple like the decor. One visitor finds it light on literature.

Danforth

23 people recommendvia r/askTO

Visitors recommend Another Story Bookshop on Roncesvalles widely, and several praise its selection. A couple say it supports local authors, a couple say it can order titles in, and a few praise its staff. One visitor points to its community work and one to its social justice focus.

Roncy

23 people recommendvia r/askTO, r/toronto

The Monkey's Paw is a used bookshop on Bloor Street West near Dufferin station, and visitors recommend it widely. Several describe unusual, quirky or unique finds, and several mention old, vintage or rare books, with a couple suggesting it for old cookbooks. A few mention its random-book vending machine, and one visitor has spent many hours browsing there.

Bloor

22 people recommendvia r/askTO, r/toronto

Doug Miller Books is a used bookshop on Bloor Street West near Bathurst, and visitors recommend it widely. A few describe a large or broad used selection, and a few say the staff know the stock well. One visitor calls it their top pick in the city and another a long-running staple. One visitor, otherwise positive, says it has few omnibuses.

Korea Town

21 people recommendvia r/askTO, r/toronto

Visitors recommend Bakka-Phoenix Books on Harbord Street widely, and many describe it as a science fiction and fantasy specialist. A few point to its long history. One calls the atmosphere lovely, and one expects a thinner used range than BMV.

Harbord

21 people recommendvia r/askTO

Balfour Books on College Street near Bathurst is a used bookshop that visitors recommend widely, and several name it as a good option for used and second-hand titles. One visitor found many of the classics they wanted there in good condition, another says it has the best old copies and prefers browsing there to anywhere else, and a third tentatively says it stocks original science fiction pulp.

College

18 people recommendvia r/askTO, r/toronto

The Scribe Bookstore on the Danforth is a used and older-books shop, and visitors recommend it widely. Several describe older, rare or vintage titles, and a couple point to its literature. A few say a well-known filmmaker counts it among favourites. One visitor finds it enjoyable to browse and suitable for a date, and one calls the stock smaller but interesting.

Danforth

18 people recommendvia r/toronto, r/askTO

The Great Escape Book Store is a used bookshop on Kingston Road in the east end, and visitors recommend it widely, with several calling it excellent, a gem or wonderful. One visitor calls it a magical little nook and another says it is crammed with books but not messy. One says its history books are good, one praises its carefully chosen collection, and one notes it is a trek to reach.

East End

17 people recommend, 3 warn against itvia r/toronto, r/askTO

Visitors recommend Glad Day, an LGBTQ-focused bookshop, widely, and a couple call it the oldest queer bookshop in the world. A couple say they love it, and one found moving poetry browsing its poetry section. Several visitors, however, say it is less of a bookshop than it was, with the stock shrinking or giving way to its cafe and bar, and one finds the themes narrow.

16 people recommendvia r/askTO

Visitors recommend A Different Booklist on Bathurst, south of Bloor, widely. One visitor names it as the clear pick for Black studies titles, another says it specializes in African, Caribbean and Global South literature, and another recommends it for both children's and adult books. One calls its selection small but carefully curated, and one praises its community work.

Bathurst

16 people recommendvia r/askTO, r/toronto

Little Ghost Books is a horror-focused bookshop on Dundas West near Trinity Bellwoods, and visitors recommend it widely for horror. A few praise the horror selection, a couple mention its own publishing, and one notes you can drop in just for coffee.

Dundas

15 people recommendvia r/askTO

This College Street shop, which also has a second location on Roncesvalles, is a used bookshop that visitors recommend widely, and the College location is the one they name most. Several describe it as a good place for used or older books, and a couple praise its music selection. One visitor says the Roncesvalles shop has a very good range of literature for serious book hunters.

College

14 people recommendvia r/askTO

Visitors recommend Flying Books, with a few pointing to its College Street shop for new books. One visitor calls the stock thoughtfully selected, one praises the selection at the College branch and the vibe at the Queen one, and a couple describe the staff as friendly or knowledgeable. One notes it is also a publisher.

College

9 people recommendvia r/askTO

Visitors recommend Sellers & Newell, a second-hand bookshop on College Street. A couple suggest it for philosophy, one praises its strong selection of rare titles and a standout horror section, and a couple describe the space as small and book-filled. One recommends it for used books and one found a signed copy there.

College Near Grace

9 people recommendvia r/askTO

Visitors recommend Ben McNally Books, a long-established downtown bookseller. A couple say they have placed special orders there and a couple find the staff well-informed or helpful. One visitor recalls getting a book signed at an event there, and one mentions the shop's rich history.

Downtown

9 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/toronto, r/askTO

Visitors recommend The Silver Snail on Queen West for comics, and one notes it has been operating for half a century while another calls it a great downtown shop. Reservations come from three visitors: one says it was great in the early 2000s but has not visited since, one finds it poor for new releases, and one finds the newer shop lackluster compared with the original and thin on back issues.

Queen West

8 people recommendvia r/toronto, r/askTO

Acadia Books (Acadia Art & Rare Books) is a shop on Queen Street East that visitors recommend widely, and a few mention the store cats. One visitor recommends it for rarer books, one praises its old books and print selection, and one lists it among personal favourites.

Queen

8 people recommendvia r/toronto, r/askTO

Visitors recommend Circus Books & Music, a used bookshop on the Danforth, and a few point to its used books in particular. One suggests it for browsing when there is time, and one is unsure about its comics selection.

Danforth

7 people recommendvia r/askTO

Visitors recommend Hopeless Romantic Books on Queen West, a romance-focused bookshop. A few point to its romance selection, one adds that it suits fantasy readers, and a couple say the staff know their stuff. One describes its look as over-the-top pink.

Queen West

7 people recommendvia r/askTO

A Good Read on Roncesvalles is a bookshop that visitors recommend widely, and one calls it their favourite. A couple say rare books and first editions are kept toward the back, and one describes a well-chosen mix of new and used books. One suggests it for anyone in the West End.

Roncy

6 people recommendvia r/askTO

Visitors recommend Thunderstruck Books on Bloor Street West, a comics and manga shop. One visitor names it their top manga pick, one says it has plenty of omnibuses, and one calls it a cool comic store with lots of books. One loves its clutter and one finds the layout hard to navigate though the range is good.

Bloor

5 people recommendvia r/askTO

Caversham Booksellers is a bookshop that several visitors recommend. One says its stock is mainly psychology with some philosophy, another adds there is plenty of theory, and one recommends it for mental health reading across age groups. One says it will order any title, even outside its usual genres.

5 people recommendvia r/askTO

Zoinks! Books is a used bookshop on Bloor Street West, and several visitors recommend it, including as a stop on a bookstore walk along Bloor. One says its used-book range is strong and one calls it a used-book gem.