I must warn you. You should not come here if you are saving money. You should not come here if you…read moreare trying to live light. You should not come here if you're about to go overseas, or if you're about to move house. Because as soon as you step through the doors, you will fall into a hypnotic book-trance as over 8000 titles try to lure you over to them, all words and tongues, and you won't leave until you have a brown-paper lunch-bag full of the most delicious literary treats you could hope for! Warren and Kirsty have created the most beautiful inner-city shrine to literature, a land of teak and glass artifacts, tempting sit-spots and a plenty titles that are guaranteed to fill you with a sense of wonderment and inspiration! They also have an array of in-store events and appearances, and are just some of the most lovely people you'll meet! Moving to Melbourne from a small country town, I was warned you'd be hard pressed to come by a sense of community and caring in the big, cold city. But spending a little time in the store you'll see there's a heartbeat and lifeblood flowing though our beautiful Melbourne - and the soulful brain is at Embiggen. Go get lost there for a little while - you'll likely end up finding yourself on the shelves there somewhere!

I LOVE this swanky little book shop. There's a sweet open window front display of the whole store…read morewhich really feasts the eyes. When en-route to a meeting a friend for coffee i received a text that said she was going to be running late and lucky enough i was walking past Embiggen when this happened. Embiggen was actually closed up until mid October due to flooding (I'm sure it had something to do with that massive storm in August), now open Embiggen is a book store to be reckoned with. They have a large range of titles all spread across a wooden interior (both floor and shelving), genres range from anything Art & Design, Sciences, Fiction, Economics, Politics, Poetry, Travel and more, there's a epic range for you to procrastinate through.

Avenue bookstore is my go to place for books. They always have what I'm looking for and if I don't…read morethey order the book that I need and it's there within a week. On top of that the place is always very clean and well organized and they always have cool new books coming in for me to check out. Staff have always been extremely helpful and excepting when you ask him for any kind of book. I recommend Avenue bookstore to any of my friends that asked me about book recommendations.

A great place for all kinds of readership, and reading materials…read more On par with Avenue bookstore, but slightly smaller, Coventry bookstore holds a range of printed materials from Economics, Philosphy, Photo- graphic, cook books, and of course novels. If you're after something in particular, staff can quite often order it in for you. Packed full of books, travelguides, and factual based literatures. It makes for a great gift stop or personal shopping.

I walked in a bookworm and fluttered out as a happy Bookerfly (like a butterfly but way smarter)…read more A small action packed space offering a wide variety of beautiful books, cards and gift wrapping. The staff here really know their literature and were exceptionally helpful. It was so enjoyable to watch the staff help an older single man pick out books for his nieces birthday. Beautiful, delicate girly books. I have to admit I was jealous that I don't have an uncle like this. The store itself is so clean and orderly. It was hard to choose only 1 book to come home with. No doubt I'll be back again.

In a world where bookstores are disappearing at an alarming rate, Albert Park's Avenue Bookstore…read morestands strong. A haven for those resisting the onslaught of the e-book and all that comes with it, Avenue has been extremely clever in ensuring that it remains current. From author visits to a complementary reading guide, this is worlds away from the soulless department stores that masquerade as bookshops. Most importantly there is an absolutely amazing selection on offer. Whether you're looking for Dostoevsky or Warnie's latest memoir, no stone is left unturned and the staff really know their stuff. Ask them even the most obscure of questions, and chances are they'll know exactly what it is that you're looking for. They carry an extensive range of select local and imported books as well as air-freighted magazine and specialist children's books. And on the off chance that you can't find what you're looking for they offer special orders, with regular air-freights from US and UK suppliers. Especially beautiful is the art and design mezzanine that shelves works on art, architecture, design, photography and fashion. Long considered to be one of Australia's leading independent bookstores, Avenue is celebrating its 25th birthday this year.

I sometimes wonder if the Avenue typifies the bookstore of the future. Not because they're…read moreparticularly sci-fi, but because it's focused more on the boutique experience than on efficient shopping. If the collapse of Borders signifies the downfall of mass retail bookselling and the rise of digital publishing, then I feel that stores like the Avenue are much better positioned to survive in a post-digital world. And it is very much a boutique. Of books. A booktique, if you will. You won't? I understand completely. But they've got a frequently changing window display, where the books seem to be selected on aesthetics (colour, design, etc) rather than market position or content. Their shelves are well-stocked and sorted alphabetically, but there's no signage to indicate which section is which genre. If you want to find, say, a crime novel or an art book, then you'll need to search for it. Given how far back the store stretches, it might take you a little longer than you'd have thought standing outside. Ultimately, I'm not so sure that I like the boutique experience. Browsing's fine on a Sunday afternoon, but there's something to be said for going straight to the right book, paying, and leaving. It's a good-looking store, though, and I'm shallow enought that that's enough for me to ovelook some of the other flaws.

SALE! SALE! So I was strolling past this store and saw a sign saying 'all books $10' and I of…read morecourse was skeptical, so I ventured in. There was a huge range of new books all for $10, it really is unbelievable! My poor friend accompanying me had to spend a whole hour in here while I looked through every genre and every shelf. I have really fallen in love with this place because they had relevant (to me) design books (both graphic and art) on sale as well. I picked up a typography design books for $10 which will teach me everything the $130 degree textbook I bought would. Amazing. They have several genres in the store as well, anything from design to literature to fiction to history. I cannot believe I haven't heard of this place before!

Insaw this shop today and they were on a closing down sale!…read moreIt's sad as they really looked like a good shop. Would have wanted to go back here regularly. The books look like good finds. I will go back tomorrow.

Crikey! This haunted bookshop is a fright! It's located in…read morea back alley off another back alley, up a flight of stairs in a creepy space. The bookstore has every kind of book you'd ever need for a spell, incantation, or hex. They've got copies of the Necronomicon, however theirs aren't bound in human flesh. If you need an amulet, ring or other jewelry that'll conjure up the dark forces, this is the place. The owner has searched the world for the most powerful charms and designs to get you whatever your dark heart desires. Around the shop are various machines that test your prowess as a lover, the quality of your character, and strength of grip for a mere coin. Be sure to get your results here for the most accurate readings. The shop is cramped with tight rows of lots and lots of books that I'd only ever heard of. They've got some deep, dark stuff here that'd make even the most macabre souls blush. The owner is clearly into the dark arts, and does a great job of curating such an amazing selection of old tomes and books to outfit any coven. You can just feel how haunted this store is, as even in the back of the stacks, you feel a mysterious, ghastly presence around you. The owner also apparently does tours of the ghosts around Melbourne, which I was a bit intimidated to try.

I visited the Haunted Bookshop while I was on vacation in Melbourne and was really impressed with…read morethe selection of paranormal, supernatural, UFO, cryptozoology and other books of the weird it had available and the care taken to preserve them. Not only does the owner manage this business, but he also guides ghost walking tours of old Melbourne. This is a definite must-see for all paranormal buffs regardless of whether they're visiting or residing in Melbourne.

Wonderful selection of expertly-curated books and cards. Like a magician's hat, this…read morepocket-handkerchief space seems to keep on giving, as a source for all worthwhile books. And the staff are welcoming, helpful and resourceful. Without fail.

Some people have suggested that we are going to see the end of the traditional bookshop, but this…read moreplace is still around (though I don't know for how long). Sure, you may be able to pick up books cheaper at Dymoks, but what you don't get is that old bookstore charm that this place offers, and I must say that I prefer to wander around the cramped and crowded shelves browsing at the many books in a place like this any day. While it may not be a second-hand bookshop, you can still find some pretty interesting title here, though expect to spend a lot to time simply browsing the titles. Oh, as the name suggests, they only sell paperback books, which is also pretty cool.

I remember coming to this bookshop years ago when it was on Elizabeth Street, but then it…read moremysteriously vanished. Well, it turned out that it had moved to Elizabeth Street, but it was still exceedingly difficult to find namely because it happens to be in a basement, and it still is. Yeah, I love this bookshop because the collection is nothing short of huge. I could literally spend hours down here looking at the books, and there is always something here that catches my interest. Oh, and the books are pretty cheap as well. It is certainly one of those places that bibliophiles like myself should be checking out.

I can remember this second hand bookshop from various basement locations around Elizabeth Street…read moreand Flinders Street. I thought that it had vanished along with so many other bookshops. So I was relieved to find it had simply moved further down Flinders Street. It is still in a basement and the pine shelves are still full of the same selection of stock. I descend to Basement Books and locate the art books and start to peruse the shelves. I work around the sections that I'm interested in art, philosophy, mythology and history. There are plenty more areas that I'm not interested in - military history, esoteric, self help. I should be looking for some holiday reading and so I start to look in their large fiction section. The fiction section is all arranged by authors A-Z - so it is easy to see what Burroughs, Ivine Welsh or Will Self that they have in stock. Will Self "Grey Area" a book of short stories will be an interesting read. Basement Books also stocks some interesting items of ephemera, programmes and pamphlets, displayed in plastic sleeves at the end of shelves. I then take a quick look at their antique books - I keep my eyes open for interesting old books and I've found a couple here.

Despite THOC's decades of existence, and broad and up-to-date selection of books, I've found that…read morethe customer service ranges from very helpful to completely offhand. While in the store recently, I witnessed a woman approach the staff with an offer of helping to move the books to their new store location. The staff showed no interest in her offer, and declined to provide her with any details of the move. I really felt for her, for her good intentions and that she'd taken the time to call into the shop. I've never witnessed this treatment of people in the little bookshop along the way, whose staff are unfailing warm and customer-focused-- just like meeting old friends.

Hill of Content proved to me that just because you have a beautiful shiny bookstore does not mean…read morethat you're going to get your average Top 10 book range with a box full of last years stuff for half price (A&R etc). There's every genre you could tink of, like everything. I actually get lost in here for hours on end. Their titles can be new or old, normal or strange, it's all in here under one roof. The store glistens to those outside, it's inviting and once you go in you will understand why. The wood floors and old rustic vibe of the shop just adds to my love for it. Most book stores staff squish their face when i ask them for design books, architecture, or fashion but Hill of Content is happy to help.

As far as i'm concerned this place is the ultimately newsagents…read more This is determined by one single factor: range. That is an extensive range of magazines, newspapers, stationary, confectionary, gift wrapping ect. ect. You could spend hours browsing in here, and that is just the way it should be.