Ecclectica Esoteric Books and Curiosities Photo: Must Do Brisbane

While the big chains of bookstores have been closing a small crop of new, secondhand and quirky book shops in Brisbane is thriving.

Found tucked away in the Brisbane CBD and suburbs here's a round-up of the booksellers that are keeping the population reading, from the specialist foodie book store with Asian tea house to the sci-fi den and the shop with no staff.

Logical Unsanity Bookshed

Logical Unsanity Photo: Must Do Brisbane

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Not so much a bookshop as a book marquee, Brisbane's most unique book seller is open & unmanned 24/7, with an honesty box for payment and price suggestions inside the covers...more

Boswell's Books

Boswell's Books and Coins Photo: Must Do Brisbane

Antiquarian books, vintage comics, and children's play annuals and even Roman coins are just some of the multitude of treasures lurking inside one of Queensland's biggest secondhand book stores...more

Archives

Archives Fine Books Photo: Must Do Brisbane

A visit to this century old CBD warehouse with over a million books including rare and collector's items is a real adventure, the perfect place to escape for a few hours from the modern world...more

Bent Books

Bent Books Photo: Must Do Brisbane

A treasure load of pre-loved books on every subject under the sun can be found stacked floor to ceiling in an historic West End cottage, with a knowledgeable owner who knows her stuff...more

Little Gnome

Little Gnome Photo: Must Do Brisbane

This unique bookshop by the bay is where you'll find a selection of self-published books by Australian authors, colouring books for grown-ups and an in-house coffee shop...more

Scrumptious Reads

Scrumptious Reads Photo: Must Do Brisbane

A cute little source of everything you ever wanted to know about food, from Amish cooking, medieval kitchens and NOMA recipes as well as a tiny in-house oriental tea room...more

The Mad Hatters Bookshop

The Mad Hatter's Bookshop Photo: Must Do Brisbane

This cute little bayside bookshop with the White Rabbit at the entrance is a world of enchantment and surprises, not just for children but for adults too...more

Annerley Community Book Shop

Annerley Community Bookshop Photo: Must Do Brisbane

Like a communal lounge combined with an old school library, this not-for-profit book shop is manned by bibliophile volunteers and is a source of bargain secondhand books...more

Ecclectica Esoteric Books & Curiosities

Ecclectica Esoteric Books and Curiosities Photo: Must Do Brisbane

Witchcraft, the occult, crystals, books on spells and conspiracy theories are the unique genres of books available at this quirky store, as well as tarot cards and a cartel of curios...more

Clarence Corner

Clarence Corner Photo: Must Do Brisbane

An historic inner city shop with is home to this cosy London-style book store peddling a quality mix of 95% second hand books and 5% new, with a tiny in-house café to sit and browse over a coffee...more

Books@Stones

Books@Stones Photo: Must Do Brisbane

This slick little Stones Corner bookstore features tomes by mostly Australian authors, both fiction and non-fiction and hosts book clubs, author talks and children's story time on selected Saturdays...more

Pulp Fiction

Pulp Fiction Photo: Must Do Brisbane

Tucked away upstairs in the rear of a 1960s city arcade is this quirky little slice of nirvana for diehard fans of sci-fi, crime, horror and mystery and cult shows like Dr Who and Buffy the Vampire Slayer...more

Avid Reader

Avid Reader Photo: Must Do Brisbane

One of Brisbane's best loved bookshops is something of a community hub for bibliophiles, with an in-house café, great kids corner and published authors sometimes found serving behind the counter...more

Riverbend Books

Riverbend Books and Teahouse Photo: Must Do Brisbane

This little bookshop that for years has kept the population of east Brisbane well-read (and well-fed thanks to its tropical deck café) also hosts regular author talks and fun poetry nights...more

Mary Ryan's

Mary Ryan's Photo: Must Do Brisbane

Other bookshops have come and gone but Milton institution Mary Ryan's has stood the test of time with a great selection of Oz authors, kids book section and its in-house café a local Park Road fav...more

This article first appeared on Must Do Brisbane.

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