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    MacLeod's Books

    4.3 (119 reviews)
    ModerateBookstores
    Closed 11:00 am - 5:30 pm

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    Amy P.

    I'd love to give this place 5 stars because personally I loved it but it is definitely a little chaotic in here LOL. I had no expectations on what book I wanted but a lot of people that came in did have a book in mind, and even though it looked like nothing was labeled the clerk would know exactly where to direct them and I thought that was insanely cool. I did end up finding a book in the fantasy section that I'm looking forward to reading but wow, to be able to just walk through the aisles and read the summary of all the books would be so fun. Sounds like they take new books every day at the same time so if you're looking for certain books, there's definitely a chance it will cycle through.

    Duong V.

    Remember playing treasure hunt when you were small? This is a place where you can have the same joy finding a treasure that's hidden in this mountain of old books. This family owned bookstore has a really good source of precious books and I love walking around, looking at several sections and reading those books. Many of them used to belong to private collection or a library, so super rare with beautiful hard cover and illustration inside. One thing I feel it could be better is the way they arrange books in here. There are so many good books but they don't have enough space or people to preserve them in the best condition so some of them wear off quicker. However it also means the price is super reasonable. Love it! One review was giving this place 1 or 2 stars because of a smell from this place. I actually did smell something the first time I was here, but it was not a bad smell, just old stores kind of. To be honest, you cant expect an all old book store to smell lavender fresh as in Barnes & Noble (I think I exaggerate a bit, B&B doesnt smell like lavender, but you get my point).

    Well, I got the three on the left at MacLeods. "The Pursuit Of Pennants" was purchased back in the States.
    Tim B.

    I had just taken a long walk around the perimeter of downtown Vancouver when I stumbled across this place. Needing some reading material, I ventured in without any specific plan as to what I was actually interested in. Which is a good thing, as this place reminded me of my neighbor's house in that everything was strewn about - I'm not sure if there's a Hoarders Canada!, but it there is, MacLeod's would be one of the first places they'd try to counsel and put into remediation. The flip side of this setup is that you can walk in almost any direction and stumble into books you wouldn't find anywhere else (see photo). Actually, if you just wanted to treat this place as some sort of dysfunctional library, I'm sure you'd get away with it, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if long-missing families exist somewhere beneath all the clutter. Regrettably, I didn't find the prices here to be that competitive.. perhaps it has something to do with the combination of location, rarity, and charm, but I don't know if I got the proper bang for the buck.

    Herman E.

    There's something in here for everyone. If you want to be erudite, there's Shakespeare, Chaucer, Tolstoy, etc. If you're into collecting, they have entire volumes of Encyclopedia Britannica. If you're into childrens stories and literature, they have Dr. Seuss, and Anne of Green Gables. If you're a scientist there's old volumes of the CRC Hanbook of Chemistry and Physics. I even found a beautiful hardcover of a French novel that I read in university. In fact, I'm thinking of going back to buy it since it was one of my most favourite novels. This place is a trove of beautiful books if you want to build a library for reading or just for show. It smells of the old UBC main stacks, if you know what I'm talking about. The sense of smell brings back a lot of memories. Fond memories.

    ... and again back to the 'whole number' dash!  I was so ripped off.  MacLeods you owe me $22.50!!  .  :(

    I've visited MacLeod's over the years, every time I'm in Vancouver on business. I've probably spent nearly $800 or more over the years... each visit, I've meandered through the store for hours, leaving 5-6 books and, often, a tab of $150.00. I didn't mind, as it was a treat to myself and my curiosity. Which is why I'm so particularly upset by my last visit a few weeks ago. It was my final visit to VC on business-chances are I will not return to the city anytime soon. So, it was a special visit to MacLeod's this time. But it turned sour for me upon checkout. I purchased five books, and after being handed my receipt and seeing a much larger total than I had expected, I questioned the cashier. Upon inspection, it appeared he accidentally rang up a book that was marked $2.50 as $25. I politely pointed it out and asked for it to be corrected. He kindly said no problem, he would issue a refund. The owner wasn't so kind. He stepped in, seemingly annoyed. When I showed him the inside cover with the price, he claimed it was $25. I pointed out no other book had a whole number price written like that... it was clear there was a '.50' cents at the end. He stood firm and told me if I wanted a refund I would have to get back in line, behind the 8 or 9 people behind me, before he would issue it. I had, just prior, asked him about shipping on a very expensive set of typography books... they were around $150. He seemed annoyed when I didn't purchase them and I now wondered, whether the two were related. I had a flight to catch, and had spent all my time, to the very last available minute I could spare, at his bookstore that morning. I could not wait in line for my refund, or I'd miss my flight. Look at the attached photos of the books I bought... you can see one of them is $2.50. That book, sold elsewhere online, sells for anywhere between $1.75 and $4.00. Clearly, it was not worth $25. I feel ripped off and bullied. :( THAT was my last and final trip to a bookstore I once felt was the best in the world. MacLeod's, you should be ashamed for stealing from a loyal customer.

    Wedding book favours from MacLeod's Books. This one for Father of the Groom.
    Lisa L.

    We happened on MacLeod's Books just strolling in the city. Of course, we'd driven past it a million times and seen it on our way to and from other places. But one day, with some time on our hands, we took the plunge and went in. And what a treasure. Old books, new books, rare books, fun books, you name it and they've got it. But the ultimate MacLeod's Books inspiration came while we were planning for our wedding. Between flowers and photography, favours were far off on our radar of wedding planning to-do's. But the day came when we realized we had to give our guests something to take away. There were the usual: candles, mints, chocolates, something with the bride and groom's names engraved or initialed or otherwise to be thrown out, tucked away, or forgotten. But my husband and I both love reading and the thought of giving everyone a book appealed to us immensely. So that's what we did. With multiple weekends and the enormous patience and help of the staff at MacLeod's, we picked a unique book for each and every one of our guests. From opera to physics, poetry to Pooh, our guests all walked away with a keepsake that taught them something about us, told them something about themselves, and a personal message written from us. Like all wedding favours, the books might become forgotten, they might be tucked away, but we will always have the memory of digging through the stacks, the fun of chatting with the staff about our family and friends, and the conversations started at our wedding because "Oh, you like gardening? My book is about flowers." Definitely a great place to check out on a quiet Sunday afternoon.

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Extraordinary selection. Never a dull search for UNEXPECTED finds. Highly recommended.

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    10/10 love the style and everyone here's so nice!!!! i asked for book recommendations and they've offered me very cool books!!!

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great selection and and we loved the "cluttered" look inside--makes you feel like you're exploring a wizard's tower!

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Great bookstore and super helpful staff that found the book I was looking for. You are sure to find a treasure here

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    3 years ago

    Great used book store. We enjoyed walking around the store and discovering each genre of book.

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    3 years ago

    They gave me a hard time and made me feel small when I tried to unload some trash in their trash heap. I found what I was hunting for.

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    15 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Just an awesome bookstore, like a treasure hunt. It is especially strong for history books

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    13 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    Page 1 of 3

    Review Highlights - MacLeod's Books

    They're pretty strong on history and fiction, and have lots of poetry, drama, and art books as well.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Indigo - Which one?

    Indigo

    4.3(23 reviews)
    0.8 kmDowntown, West End

    Visited this location on January 7,2024. I notice the little details are lacking and a bit of the…read morecustomer service too. Also, please make sure you stock the toilet paper. People don't wipe themselves with their hands. If you are going to offer washrooms to the public, make sure you give the means to use it. Positive note, I tried the Brown sugar tea latte and it was very delicious. Thank you Good Earth Café. Update: December 17, 2025 Had a pleasant visit at Indigo on Robson. They have a good selection of fashion magazines and books . I also love checking out the cozy blankets and candles, also ran into Mr. Cafecito. On a side note; the washrooms require a code to gain access. Ask a Indigo associate for the code. There is still no toilet paper in most of the stalls, lol.

    First, I must confess, I love books and bookstores…read more Second, Indigo is no ordinary bookstore and this location, is like walking into a public sanctuary. There are great arm chairs and tables to cozy up with and skim books all over this beautiful two story book store which has been divided into sections in a very organized but also welcoming way. Upstairs, there are pajamas and cozy bathrobes and reading cozies to try on for curling up with a book at home and a cooking section, cafe, and even home decor section! You can find all kinds of books, journals, gifts, home goods, reading glasses, decor, even beauty eye masks, journals and gifting cards and wrap with ease as though you walked through a store that read your mind and answered your curiosity about what you may delight in finding in a bookstore to enjoy at home and gifting like a magician. I love hanging around here and usually spend a good hour or two easily, plus it is dog friendly and welcoming and warm and spacious and I honestly feel like it is a welcoming third space away from home of my dreams. Will be back. Even if I did purchase a gift with purchase throw and all manner of stocking stuffer gifts like the magnifying glass that sticks on the fridge already and too many books to read.

    Photos
    Indigo - Jellycat Cafecito bean

    Jellycat Cafecito bean

    Indigo - Cafecito bean learning all about beans

    Cafecito bean learning all about beans

    Indigo - Maybe a new cafecito cup

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    Maybe a new cafecito cup

    Coles Books

    Coles Books

    3.9(13 reviews)
    0.6 kmDowntown
    $$

    When the book I was interested in wasn't available at the Indigo store at Granville at Robson, the…read morestaff there looked it up in their database and advised me that this Coles bookstore had it in stock there, so I ventured off to Bentall Center on Burrard to check it out. Unfortunately, this was on the weekend. This Coles bookstore is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. I've not heard of retail stores that were closed on weekends! Honestly, that's really inconvenient for a lot of people! And it closes at 5pm on weekdays, FYI. Anyhow, I ventured back again during the week and I was very impressed with this store (despite its abbreviated hours of operation). The selection of books was quite good (considering the store itself is not large), and there are some good prices to be had (especially on classics. They were offering three classic literature books for $10 when I was there). Most impressive was the staff: there was an engaging lady and a man working when I visited and both couldn't have been more pleasant or helpful. I could have chatted with them much longer, about books and Vancouver and the States (we just moved here from Seattle) and more, but I arrived at the store at 4:30pm and, well, there wasn't much time before they closed for browsing and lengthy chatting. But they were super nice and very knowledgeable about new publications and where I could find certain books in print and recommendations for me to find Stanley Park trail maps, etc. I also liked how they have a reward program and card, as I am a book junkie and plan on doing lots of business here and at Indigo.

    Convenient small bookstore in the underground Bentall mall network downtown. Great for some lunch…read morehour book/magazine browsing, or grabbing a decent last minute gift for that office holiday gift exchange you forgot about!

    Nooroongji - Fantastic selection

    Nooroongji

    3.6(8 reviews)
    2.1 kmGranville Island/False Creek

    This store has a beautiful space and titles that I have not seen other places. I've enjoyed…read morevisiting here several times and like browsing the interesting curated selection. My recent visit there was an incident that unfortunately really caught me off guard. The store busy at the time and staff were managing crowd control some movability in the space. As we approached the check out we unfortunately were lightly bumped into a tall stand full of small paperback books. A few small books fell to the ground and a staff person came to help us pick them up. Another staff person swooped in very quickly, picked up one of the books, handed it back to us and said "this one has to go home with you now". We were shocked and she pointed to a sign. "You'll see these are all over the store". It said something along the lines that damaged books must be bought. I looked at the small paper back she handed us and there was a microscopic dent at the top corner of the spine. We were SO taken aback by this forceful behaviour, it was hard to even reply. My friend didn't want to make a fuss so we bought the book with our other purchases and left. It just felt really awful and poorly handled. I later googled and saw that the "swooper" was the book store owner. I read another review that you need to treat everything "like glass". That's definitely the case and expect that you are being watched at all moments as a potential problematic customer. Boo. I don't plan to return.

    Nooroongji is a cool little bookstore in the middle of the Granville Market. It has a well curated…read moremulticulturalism vibe and with nice displays that invite a deeper browsing vibe. As I lean towards non-fiction history, I found a treasure: White Riot/Black Massacre - A Brief History of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. My guess is that many Oklahoma School Boards won't allow this material to be taught.

    Photos
    Nooroongji
    Nooroongji
    Nooroongji

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    Pulpfiction Books

    Pulpfiction Books

    3.5(100 reviews)
    2.4 kmMount Pleasant
    $

    I brought in some books. I asked if the guy at the counter if he could take a look at them. He came…read moreback with a snotty "take a look??" And I said "yes, for me to sell". He looked at them and then accused me of trying to sell "review copies" (???) I guess because they were in pristine condition?? They were bought - at a bookstore - in Calgary It seems he has a very active imagination and likes to spin judgemental narratives about people. Very very weird vibes and extremely off putting. I asked about trade in value and he sneered again and said he could "get rid of them for me" as if they were trash. A truly miserable resentful goblin I encountered - I will never go there again. I don't care if you don't want my books but you can keep your misguided judgements to yourself and offer a simple "no thanks" minus the ridiculous attitude and arrogance.

    This place is cool. We got street parking right out front and immediately upon walking in I found…read morefour books in the new arrivals section. I only bought used books (7 books for $83 CAD/$65 USD) but they were in great condition for pretty good prices. People are absolutely right about the curation of the books in the store. I was so impressed by the selection and found a few books I've been wanting for a long time. The cashier was kind and friendly. I highly recommend stopping by.

    Photos
    Pulpfiction Books
    Pulpfiction Books - Pulp Fiction display shelf: A lot of well-organized books.

    Pulp Fiction display shelf: A lot of well-organized books.

    Pulpfiction Books

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    MacLeod's Books - bookstores - Updated May 2026

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