Find your entire scholastic reading list at this Aspen 50 year old institution. From the outside, Explore Books looks like a lovely small cottage, but its appearance belies a much larger house that holds thousands of imminently curated books. Enter, and find a room to your left with your high school and college reading list by must read authors. Next find a second room dedicated to Children's books. Then on the other side you'll discuss poetry, history, philosophy, science, politics, and Staff picks. Upstairs you'll find the arts, cooking, home and garden, as well as a cafe and wine bar (with great views of the mountains). Our group, who have varying tastes and interests, spent nearly two hours exploring this wonderful bookstore, and happily found what we searched. read more

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Great little bookstore and we are oh so grateful for their partnership with the Aspen Literary Festival this year! They had a pop up as well as events at their bookstore which were amazing. I have always loved that this shop is inside an old house, but it just brings all the vibes in the Fall months. Just FYI, as you can imagine, Aspen is pricey so don't be offended if you see a sign for a 5% upcharge on goods so they can keep this shop independent and running! read more

The new coffee shop is beautiful!! Full of light and lots of space. The coffee is excellent too. It is so nice to have a local coffee shop and bookstore to support. read more

Best place to visit while in town for Aspen! Books, wine, and hot coco were amazing! Quiet place to unwind and do some leisure reading! read more

Explore Books - Wine, chocolate croissant, and hot coco. - Bookstores Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

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I have to admit, I'm surprised that Aspen has one of the best bookstores I've ever been to. Their notable fiction section has the classics, and the ones my English teacher begged me to read outside of class. The magazine section has all of the necessities. Unlike a lot of bookstores these days, they only stock few extra gift items. Love this spot. Only wish it was close to where I live. read more

A really adorable little bookstore in central Aspen! They have a large variety of options to pick from and it is well-organized! The booksellers are happy to help locate books, even if they don't have them in stock. This is a two-story establishment with lots of little nooks and crannies. There is a restroom on the second floor. Books seemed fairly priced, but it is Aspen, and that's an important consideration. There's amazing stained glass and lots of seating options if you want to curl up with a good book! read more

Explore Books - Stained glass window - Bookstores Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

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Cute bookstore in the heart of downtown Aspen that is so fun to browse. I didn't end up buying anything since I'm not a big reader but really enjoyed the ambiance! There are little reading books throughout, some kind of cafe upstairs and mini rooms that are organized by genre which makes it easy to find books you're interested in. read more

Explore Books - Bookstores Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

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I went to this bookstore today and it was absolutely adorable! The children's selection was great and they have a very nice upstairs section where you can read. Nikita was super helpful, very nice, and helped me with my educators discount. The books were reasonably priced and worth stopping by. They also host a children's reading on Saturdays at noon! Thank you again for such a wonderful experience. read more

What a peaceful and serene area to read a book and sit there . It was very pleasant and the cashier was very sweet as well . We love reading books and supporting small bookstore businesses. Lovely place to shop by and lots of books to choose from . read more

Support your local bookstores! They need us now more than ever. This little gem is a local bookstore does not disappoint. The staff is wonderful here and the selection is endless. Wander upstairs to find a great café and more fun reads. I found a few books on spirituality, tarot card readings and an ornament that spells out Aspen in Scrabble lettering. Will definitely be back! read more

Explore Books - Explore from the outside - Bookstores Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

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If book dreams could come true, they would happen here. The minute you walk into this beautiful bookstore, you're transported to a world of possibilities...page by page. Every turn brings you to a new discovery. We visited when they had just put up the girls empowerment section. The girls who work there were really helpful and Phoenix was a joy to speak with. If only every city had one of these little book stores. read more

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What a great bookstore in Aspen. We easily could spend hours here! More personable then a B&N. Great staff and wonderful selection. Support your local store! Be sure to check out the architectural features as well. read more

A bookstore with flavor. After an incredible dinner upstairs in the Bistro the long stroll through this little gem of a bookstore was so enjoyable. Jeanne was in charge working the store that day and was clearly busy running around taking care of keeping this fine collection in order.....Multiple times I asked for the location of a particular read, she was always helpful and pleasant to converse with! Ended up purchasing a sought after wine book that I had been looking for.........I will be returning here my next flight to Aspen!! Thank you Jeanne! read more

This place is a good example of why we all need to work together to make sure local bookstores stay alive. A great space. They will order whatever you need. read more

Hi there, happy holidays! My gift to you is tell you if you don't go to Explore Booksellers while you are in Aspen you might as well be illiterate, seriously, it is THAT good. What? You didn't get me a gift? Ohh that's okay. You see I already picked out what I want. Walk into Explore, go to the second room on the right, the one with the memoirs, and biographies, the second standing shelf in the middle. See the new Mary Karr book? It is called "Lit". In the pile there is a signed first edition. Please mail that to my Brooklyn address.* What? You don't want to spend money on a stranger? But, I'm not a stranger. I am your Yelp best friend. Yes, yes of course we are best friends. Seriously, I WANT THAT BOOK. And despite my gentle hinting, the boyfriend did not scoop it up for me while we were there.** So you dear reader are my last hope. Oh and pick up something for yourself while you are at it. *Just message me and I'll send it along. **Don't call him too many bad names, Aspen is expensive and he had just paid for dinner. read more

Has to be one of the most charming bookstores I've ever shopped at. Explore is a small, independent bookstore that is run out of a Victorian home. The exterior and interior of the store are gorgeous. And they have a great selection of fiction and nonfiction books. I was visiting Aspen for a few days visiting a friend and shopped at Explore more than once during that time! Each time I found a book I wanted - mostly due to their excellent staff picks that were displayed at the front of the store! I loved shopping here - and I'd definitely go back! read more

I was lead to is shop by their other great Yelp! Reviews, and it was just as described. It's really quaint. I asked the gentleman behind the counter, whom I would guess to be the proprietor, for his suggestions. I described the type of fiction I like to read. He gave me a few suggestions, all of which looked very interesting to me. And I am thoroughly enjoying the book I got there. I highly highly recommend this shop! read more

I am a sucker for bookstores...could spend hours on end in them. I especially adore locally owned, charming places like Explore. It's surprising that they managed to stock such a wide selection of titles into that Victorian home. Loved that they sectioned the different categories into different nooks and rooms. It's like walking into a book aficionado's home and having access to his entire library, with each corner revealing a delightful surprise. Come here with at least an hour to spare. Go upstairs and enjoy a bite to eat at their amazing veggie-centric restaurant. You don't have to be a meat-hater to appreciate healthy tasting veggies. After your belly is full, feel free to explore Explore to your heart's content. My bf and I walked out of here with the following books: -How to Sew a Button...and other nifty things your grandmother knew: being unemployed and not domesticated, figure this book could teach me a few life skills to be more self-reliant and save me a few bucks -The Complete African Safari Planner: what appears to be a very comprehensive guide. Elephants and giraffes await! -The Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of the Southwest: Amazing photos with descriptions makes for an impressive coffee table book These books don't come cheap though. Rang up to over $90. No wonder the owner of Explore is a self-made billionaire. read more

Explore is a hidden gem! It's a fantastically quaint book store right in the heart of Aspen. Independent bookstores are difficult to come by nowadays, and Explore does a great job at preserving that spirit--staff are knowledgable, and quick to give excellent recommendations. Definitely worth stopping by! read more

This is the most beautiful bookstore I have ever seen. I am happy to find it in a place like Aspen, and see that people still care about books, and not just about designer stores and restaurants. You need food for the soul as well, and this bookstore offers that. What a magical place! I wish Malibu would have a bookstore as well, instead of just overpriced designer stores. I guess Aspen wins. read more

What a lovely, enchanting book shop! I could have easily spent several hours perusing Explore's small rooms and book nooks. Disappointed at the lack of book stores in Aspen, I almost didn't go to Explore, because I assumed it would be a store full of topo maps and backpacking guides. Luckily, I didn't judge this book by its cover. Explore's selection was excellent (everything from fiction to economics, sci-fi to poetry), and their was quality was unsurpassed. It sort of reminded me of the grown-up version of "The Shop Around the Corner," from the '98 chick flick "You've Got Mail." If you love to read, go Explore. You won't go home empty-handed. read more

I lived in the valley for months before I discovered Explore Booksellers and I can't tell you what an exciting discovery it was! Being an avid bookstore patron, I was disappointed at the scarcity of bookstores here but Explore more than makes up for it in quality. Set in a charming Victorian, complete with a small cafe, Explore Booksellers has friendly staff, common sense categories that make finding books easy, and the perfect environment to browse pages for hours. Go see for yourself...you won't want to leave! read more

I could spend days and days in here. I use to go to aspen on a monthly basis and every time made sure to allow an hour or so for lunch in the bistro (so charming, thoughtful menu, and very good) and for some browse time in the shop. The old Victorian turned bookstore is divided by little rooms and nooks that are separated by the genre of books. There are small private little spots to nest into and read. The inventory is diverse, you can find some off beat reads, not just the NY time top ten, which is why local book shops are so great in my opinion. There is a wonderful energy here that is really inviting and calming. All my interactions with the staff have been pleasant and I have found them to be very knowledgeable and helpful. DEFINITELY stop in if you are in the area BUY A BOOK, and support local bookshops (it is a sad dieing breed in the world of big boxed economy). read more

The staff selections are unique and interesting and the children's room is full of an eclectic set of books. Find something great every time I'm here. read more

Explore Books - Such a quaint interior and exterior. - Bookstores Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

Always a highlight of a trip to Aspen is to visit Explore Booksellers. The selection is well curated across broad subjects and the ambiance to browse the books is very comfortable. One credit to being in a wealthy town like Aspen is that the community can support such a great bookstore. read more

Such a wonderful bookstore in the heart of Aspen! Lovely and cozy feel with great selection of books and other items (journals, sketchbooks, socks, cards, etc). Nice little cafe on the second floor. Wonderful service and the best place to find your next recreational read. read more

Adorable bookstore in Aspen town. The sort of place you could spend at least an hour getting lost in if of their many selections. They have a wonderful children's section if you're with a young one. They sell cards, gifts and a large assortment of books. This is the sort small business you'd imagine in a place like Aspen, locally owned and operated and full of character. I purchased two books for my best friend's son. They had an excellent selection of winter themed books for children. read more

For the size of this shop, you couldn't ask for much more. It is an old house converted to the task for bookstore: neat, yet packed rooms full of new books. There are even some puzzles, games, and music to boot. The staff is friendly and helpful. It is sort of a 4.5 star place for me (the science fiction section is a bit slim) but given the charm of the place it deserves recognition for effort the proprietors put into it. read more

This is a really good independent book seller in Aspen. They have a pretty good selection and it's in a great building.

This is one of the most charming bookstores I have ever or probably will ever go to! The kind of store you want to spend hours just getting lost in. Their employees are so sweet and not only did she give us great book suggestions, she gave us great Aspen suggestions! They have an adorable tiny restaurant upstairs that I will try next time I visit. read more

Explore is located on Main Street in a cozy old Victorian. Each room is charming, and the bistro upstairs is consistently good. On a winter day, in front of the Bistro's fireplace, the organic hot apple cider can't be beat. On a summer day, eat out in the sun-room and enjoy the Caesar salad -- you would never know it, but it is made with some vegan dressing that is out of this world. read more

Went in here while wandering around Aspen. Wanted to see what kind of books this place sold. It's a new bookstore. It's a quaint little place where I could easily spend time (and money) if I lived here. read more

If you're in Aspen seeing the sights, stop here, take a load off, and buy a book! The staff is warm and knowledgeable and made great recommendations for all of us from young to 'er older. There are plenty of nooks and comfy spots to preview the wonderfully curated selection of amazing reads. And Pyramid bistro upstairs was as delicious as it was healthy! read more

Moved to Aspen 2 years ago and LIVE at the Cafe upstairs from charming Explore Bookstore. HIGH END HEALTHY FOOD- like a private chef would make- reasonably priced. Very quiet and wonderful place for lunch or dinner. Really really delicious gourmet health food. read more

A wonderful place to visit in Aspen. We visit once a year and I hope it will always be there. A great saying I saw in an independent bookstore was "When you shop for a book online, you can find what you are looking for. When you visit a book store, you find what you weren't looking for." read more

Explore Books - Me & my Strat - Bookstores Near Me - Aspen, Colorado

Explore Booksellers on Main Street in Aspen is a delightful old Victorian house with several intimate rooms filled with wonderful books. Explore has regular book signings of both local and visiting authors and you never know when you'll run into a famous person browsing the well stocked shelves. There's a coffee counter and a lounge room for reading; best of all is the vegan restaurant upstairs with delectable homemade healthy delights and a deck so you can bring your pooch. Plan on buying more than you expected because there are treasures in them thar hills! read more

great books. i love it.

This is where I spent all my time when I wasn't on the slopes! It has a wonderful selection of books and a warm inviting atmosphere for browsing. And the restaurant on the second floor, Pyramid Bistro, has the best food around. Don't miss this gem of a store/restaurant! read more

Mostly new and current titles. What a great cozy bookshop. And the sweetest bookstore cat in Aspen.

I love dealing with your store, even though I live in Santa Fe, NM. My daughter lives in Aspen so I do get into the store on occasion and we both enjoy shopping there. I think she's probably one of your best customers. Just wish you were in Santa Fe. Carol Wright read more