I love a good bookshop and the Constant Reader ticks all the boxes. From the interesting window…read moredisplays, that are worth looking at when walking pass with a gelato on an evening stroll, to the walls of enticing recent releases in the front of the shop, to a fairly extensive collection in the back, including a good children's section. I've always found something to buy, whether for myself or as a gift. There's even some fancy wrapping paper and cards (although I usually skip in favour of the discount shops). Don't expect to find discounted stock (such as the % off sales as David Jones), but a good quality local book shop. Don't also miss looking for the quirky books at the counter, such as adult versions of children books and interesting gift type books. It's hard to not buy something extra!

Terrible book shop, really rude and unhelpful staff and take forever to get copies of books in I've…read moreordered in the past. Wont be giving them anymore business . Total unprofessionals.

I usually end up in here by default... whilst waiting for my mocha from Bertoni's a few doors up…read more Gotta love a good independent bookshop, plus it's a calm and soothing escape from the Balmain bustle on the streets. I'm generally simply peering in the front window and lured in by the beautiful hard covers on pride of display. And if you don't see it, they'll order anything in for you. The problem is, once inside, it's very hard to ever want to leave this tranquil setting - a far cry from any other inner city retail environment. So more often than not, I manage to lose a little too much time and emerge to find a luke warm coffee awaiting up the road. Can't think of the perfect gift to buy your mate... ? If you can't find a book for them in The Hill of Content, then you may as well give up.

Basement Books is a dangerous place on many levels…read more Danger number one: It's in Central. It is right in Central. Central is a place you meet people, so you might say, meet you in central at 4pm and then you get there at 3.30pm and you have to wait. So what do you do? You go to Basement Books and peruse their countless books with bright yellow stickers advertising their low and affordable price. Danger number two: Because these books that you're perusing are cheap, you can justify the price even if you're not sure whether you even need the book. 'Oh, a history of Physics' I've always been interested in Physics, and it's only $9.95 I should probably buy this and learn about Physics. Danger number three: Their range is gigantic! I almost said 'ginormous', but that's not a word. What I meant was Hugantic! There are literally thousands upon thousands of books and they're always receiving new stock. They have art sections, computer sections, history, film, personal growth, science fiction, literature, even books like the dictionary, which, had I purchased a copy last I was in, would have saved me the embarrassment of using a non-word like 'ginormous'. So beware of Basement Books. You have been warned. The bookshop is in a great location, the titles are cheap and the range extraordinary. I have a pile of books in my room almost as tall as I am that I have yet to read, opportune purchases that came at me as I strolled amidst the aisles killing time. A book on deadly diseases for $4.95, I'm not going to find that bargain again. Buy! Buy! Buy!

In this day and age of Kindle and Kobo and Nook, a solid read (and I mean one that you can…read moreliterally hold and turn pages beneath your fingers) comes pretty cheap. You really do need to head in to see what they've got because I find their online catalogue lacking and sometimes the staff don't even know what they're stocking. The outside disguises how big this place really is, as it has sections for anything from classic fiction to travel books and bios. It has a pretty decent selection of art supplies as well (I'm no art student, but it does cater for scrapbooking hobbies or the amateur artist if you're after it). Right in the back corner they have a little children's section which I found perfect for my six year old sister who's going through her first reading phase. I bought her a collection of these tiny Winnie the Pooh classics, and a special anniversary edition of Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit and Friends stories which averaged around $4 and $12 respectively. They have tons of different hard cover books (some of which are pop up!) which were surprisingly cheap, but more importantly, were invaluable in keeping kids (of all ages) entertained for hours.