Perth’s best independent bookstores

It feels like the more we stare out our phones the more we appreciate curling up with a good book!

Feed your brain and shop local at some of Perth’s top independent booksellers…

Rabble Books & Games

Since opening in 2018, Rabble have created a truly impressively inclusive bookshop – going above and beyond to create a community hub and force for good, even when it means sacrificing profits. They are particularly impressive when it comes to their children’s range – which includes books with with racial and ethnic diversity, rainbow families and characters with disabilities. Rabble is also host to some amazing in-store events, like their excellent Drag Queen Story Hours and enlightening conversations with authors. They’re also the minds behind an amazing initiative to expand the selection of books in the Bandyup Prison library – how good!

2/46 Eighth Avenue, Maylands

Open Book

Opening back in September of 2021, we still can’t get over Open Book‘s stunning tree centrepiece. A stunning, sprawling space on Mosman Park’s Wellington Street and stretching across four separate areas, its New York-style fitout is proudly independent and filled floor to ceiling with books from around the world. There’s a beautiful garden terrace perfect for some reading in the sun, and the ‘Octopus Garden’ is the perfect playground for imaginations to run wild. The upstairs area will be home to a diverse group of creatives from various industries, with the store itself aiming to host a regular stream of classes, short courses, talks and more.

124 Wellington Street, Mosman Park

Diabolik Books & Records

Diabolik has an amazing, curated selection of books covering everything from new release to non-fiction, as well as a nifty record and gift section. However, their best offering is probably their service – with staff always at the ready to offer a helping hand.

149 Scarborough Beach Road, Mount Hawthorn

Beaufort Street Books

First opening back in 2010 and moving down the road to a bigger space earlier this year (via community-powered human conveyor belt, no less!), Beaufort Street Books is a Mount Lawley institution. Alongside a huge range of books across just about every genre, Beaufort Street Books is also a community hub, hosting author events, children’s story times and heaps more! Their new location on the corner of Beaufort and Vincent Street has a beautiful new mural in the children’s area completed by local author/illustrators, with lots of gifts and a huge new shop (shoutout reader Jen for the tip!).

567 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley

Crow Books

Perth’s mecca for literature lovers, Crow Books focuses on combining bestsellers with alternative or hard to find titles. You’ll always walk out with something unexpected – and as a big plus, they’re open late seven days a week! So you can browse for a new book after your dinner date.

900 Albany Highway, East Victoria Park

Bodhi Tree Bookstore Cafe

If you’re the type of person who loves curling up at a cafe with coffee or breakfast while reading a book, set your compass for Bodhi Tree! An independent book store and cafe, they serve fair-trade organic coffee and most of the gifts you’ll find are ethically-sourced from all over the world.

1/416-418 Oxford Street, Mount Hawthorn

Paper Bird

Packed with whimsical charm, we can’t get enough of children’s book store Paper Bird. While we’re particularly enchanted by the cosy corner entered through a Narnia-inspired wardrobe, the Henry Street shop’s limestone courtyard is also a beautiful setting for weekly story times – perfect for little ones to discover a new favourite story from their extensive titles.

42 Henry Street, Fremantle

Edicole

This newsstand-inspired bookstore occupies pride of place in the State Buildings’ Postal Hall. Stocking a highly curated collection of design, art, travel, food and fiction, Edicole is a feast for the eyes as well as the mind.

State Buildings, 1 Cathedral Avenue, Perth

Planet Books

It’s hard to imagine Perth bookshops without Planet. The iconic Mount Lawley store might have downsized in recent years, but it’s still a great source for anything quirky and offbeat. Protip: their Northbridge store is ice-cream friendly, so you can bring your Chicho cone in while you browse the shelves.

638 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley
192 William Street, Northbridge

Bill Campbell Books

Take a stroll down High Street and find a treasure amongst Bill Campbell’s extensive shelves, packed with second hand books. If you’re looking for something extra special, the store is also a member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers, and specialises in more hard-to-find and collectable titles.

48 High Street, Fremantle

Boffins Books

Operating in Perth since 1989, Boffins is Perth’s foremost technical and specialty bookshop. Specialising in non-fiction and covering just about every topic under the sun, from Australiana to how-to books on investing, as well as expanding fiction and children’s sections.

88 William Street, Perth

Stefen’s Books

Sci-fi and fantasy buffs need look no further than Stefen’s Books. These guys are super passionate about what they do – specialising in the aforementioned sci-fi and fantasy, as well as crime, horror, supernatural and folklore. This is the place to go if you need a new series to start reading or for the perfect tie-in book to your favourite TV show (think Firefly cookbooks, limited edition Good Omens illustrated hardcovers, Game of Thrones storyboard hardcover collections).

2/431 Murray Street, Perth

White Dwarf

Another must-visit for those with slightly more nerdy inclinations – White Dwarf is another science fiction and fantasy specialist. Easily located next to the city’s notorious cactus, the store has a super extensive range, particularly when it comes to Warhammer and Star Wars, as well as other tie ins to titles like Mass Effect, Alien and much more.

1/469 Wellington Street, Perth

New Edition

Another icon when it comes to independent booksellers, New Edition is really a part of the fabric of Freo – we don’t think we’ve ever made it out without a new book in hand. Packed to the brim with great fiction and non-fiction titles, these guys have you covered no matter what you’re looking for. A true literary cornucopia!

41 High Street, Fremantle

Muir Books

One of Perth’s last remaining antiquarian bookshops, Muir Books is tucked away in a former horse stable in Northbridge (really!). Look out for the red barn doors – behind which is a treasure trove of fine, rare, second-hand and out of print books, as well as paintings, prints, maps and more. There’s also a professional bookbinder on staff who can repair and restore well-loved heirloom books.

17 Lindsay Street, Northbridge

The Lane Bookshop

Mosey down the picturesque Old Theatre Lane in Claremont and you’ll find the aptly-named The Lane Bookshop. Open since 1980, it’s practically a part of the Claremont furniture, and stocks a huge range from local and international authors.

52c Old Theatre Lane, Bayview Terrace, Claremont

Typeface Books

Run by Applecross local Guinevere, Typeface Books is a great example of what your local bookshop should be. Warm, welcoming and unpretentious – and with a great, varied selection to boot!

37 Ardross Street, Applecross

Header Image: Open Book by Ryan Murphy