Top 6 Bookstores in Adelaide

Established in 1879, Dymocks became one the largest booksellers in Australia. With 60 stores in Australia, it’s not surprising that the store made it to our list of top bookstores in Adelaide.

The branch in Adelaide has a specialty in fantasy and science fiction, world and military history, cooking, foreign language, travel, art, and children’s books.

Our favourite thing about this bookstore is how huge the floor area is, allowing it to offer a wider range of genres and a larger collection of books.

The bookstore also offers other merchandise like stationery, board games, puzzles, and candles. If you’re looking for gifts, you may drop by the store and browse its products.

Another plus for this bookstore is they host book launches and book signing events.

We also appreciate how helpful and knowledgeable the staff members are. They’re all very well-read, so they’re able to give suggestions to customers who haven’t yet decided on what to purchase.

Although it specialises in science fiction, we were disappointed that there’s no separate physical section for the genre. Sci-fi books were mixed with the rest of the fiction section, which can be really time-consuming and bothersome to browse for customers.

The books are also a bit expensive compared to other bookshops. If you’re looking for a cheaper book, purchasing online may be your best bet.

The classy ambience, the smell of books, and the experience of searching for books personally are worth giving a try and may make up for the price.

This list, of course, will not be complete without the oldest independent bookstore in Adelaide—Mostly Books. This small bookstore in Torrens Park has been the go-to place of many Adelaide bookworms since 1977.

What really caught our attention in Mostly Books are the knowledgeable and helpful staff members. Their love for books is very evident, and they give excellent advice to those looking for their next read.

We also like that the bookstore offers book clubs and craft groups. These are great activities that let locals meet and have fun.

As for their book selection, they have a good variety of genres and a relatively large collection.

Note, however, that not all books may be in stock, as the place isn’t that big. Still, you can browse the available books and may find an alternative.

The bookstore is also located in the southern suburbs. This may not be the perfect place for those who don’t want to stray too far from the CBD.

But since it isn’t that long of a drive anyway, if you have spare time, you should give it a shot.

This bookstore in Clarence Gardens has over 15,000 books across different genres from all over the world, so we can’t help but gush over it.

Since its opening in 1979, Adelaide Booksellers have grown to become one of the best secondhand bookstores in Adelaide and the go-to of many who are looking for out-of-print and antique books.

With its wide book collection, they have almost every book that you can think of. If they don’t, they’re willing to look for it and order it for you.

The only drawback is you can only purchase books online. This isn’t ideal for those who want the tactile experience of browsing several shelves for their book.

If you don’t mind purchasing online, then you won’t have a problem, as their website is very easy to navigate. You can also call them to see if they can look for your book.

Those who really want to visit the shop, you can do so, but you will have to set a prior arrangement with the management.

Overall, we think that this bookstore is the best match for those looking for antique books that cannot be found in other bookstores.

Specialising in new release fiction, art and design, cooking, gardening, biography, history, and current affairs, Matilda bookshop provides a vast selection fit for everyone from casual readers to die-hard bookworms.

The modest bookshop’s tree-filled surroundings and friendly atmosphere provide a getaway for its customers, allowing them to immerse themselves in the books.

Our favourite thing about this bookstore is its large collection of fiction and children’s books. The selection is also impressive, as they have both popular and unpopular but great-quality books.

The science fiction collection is a little disappointing though. It’s quite limited compared to those from other bookstores.

On the bright side, the parking space around the area is another plus for this bookstore. Customers can keep their cars in there without having to worry about spending so much time inside.

We also appreciate that they put on a lot of events like book launches and book signings. They even have book clubs for different age groups and run special discounts for the members.

This discount is very beneficial, as the books in the store can be quite pricey. Be prepared to spend a few more dollars than other bookshops, as they do charge more.

Nonetheless, we think that despite the price, the store offers a very valuable experience to customers and provides an excellent book catalogue that can make any avid reader happy.

Another bookstore that’s loved by the Adelaide folks is Dillons Bookshop. This bookstore is situated in the centre of Norwood Parade and is the largest family-owned bookstore in South Australia.

The bookstore offers a huge range of books with a good variety of genres. But our favourite from them would be their children’s books.

They have books for different ages, including babies. Any child would have an amazing time looking at the books offered by the shop. 

They also host book launches and book signings. Former customers were especially happy about meeting their favourite authors and having their books signed.

The store, however, doesn’t have an online shopping option. You will have to go to Norwood just to purchase some books, which can be very inconvenient, especially for those living a busy life.

We were also disappointed at the attitude of some staff members. Some seem to be unwelcoming, while some don’t seem to know much about the books inside the store.

Nevertheless, this store remains to be one of our favourites, as the books are just too good to miss.

Greenlight Comics is a shop that provides an excellent plethora of comic selections that is of various themes and origins to which clients can easily browse their libraries and store for their desired title or even discover a new comic to embark on with regards to their preferences.

We like that their personnel are highly experienced and has been in the field for years to which clients can be sure that they are able to provide them with reliable advice for any concerns in the field, may this be some comic recommendations or in terms of ordering as well.

Furthermore, we like that their website not only provides clients with various selections of various comics such as manga, collectibles, and other themes but also reviews and updated recommendations that clients can readily view.

Note though that they currently only deliver to the US and UK to which clients ordering outside these areas may need to inquire further for more information on this.

Overall, with their informative and well-updated website on comics, the wide array of themes and relevant merchandise, and easy-to-navigate website, we highly recommend them to clients in the area looking for such selections.