What a gem. On a high street of hit-or-miss stores and a lot of charity shops, it was wonderful to…read morefind Browsers. Their recent nomination in the Welsh Independent Retail Awards is well deserved and I hope they win. Be sure to stop in for a book or a map (great selection of regional maps) when you're in Porthmadog.

Top place. I love Browsers! They have a great range of books and are always willing to help you…read morefind what you are looking for. Even if you want a book about. and don't have a title or author they will search the computers for something suitable, order it in for you and phone to let you know it has arrived. The art department at th back is similarly helpful, with a huge range of paints, paper, card making, face painting and other art supplies. They have a loyalty card, where you get a stamp every time you spend £10, and once you ahve 6 stamps you get £5 (or possibly £10 I don't remember) off your next purchase.

This shop has a 3 paperbacks for £5 section much like The Works but has quite a bit more choice…read morethan The Works offers. I recently managed to stock up on books by the likes of Andy McNab and Jeff Lindsey that I haven't been able to find in The Works or any other discount book retailer so it gets a thumbs up from me.

Nice little book shop, quite similar to Publisher Book Clearance outlets. Quite a variety of books…read moreon show, with the obligatory 3 for £5 section, and you can find some books for as little as one pound. Plenty of room for customers. It's worth mentioning that they stock quite a few Marvel, DC & other graphic novels and collections, so if you're a comic book fan this shop could become a favourite stop off.

Free WiFi, good coffee, and a soft play area for the kids (costs extra... But hey free WiFi?)read more

The cafe itself is pretty ordinary, but handy if you just fancy an unpretentious plate of chips and…read morea cup of tea. The main attraction being what's at the head of that large staircase ahead of you, when you first step through the front door. This has got to be one of the most extraordinary second-hand bookshops in the UK, and certainly one of the largest. Set in an old theatre/cinema (take a look around at all the remaining fixtures) there are thousands of volumes, stacked floor to ceiling, on every subject imaginable and within a rabbit-warren of interlocking rooms, staircases and narrow corridors. So take a ball of string to unravel behind you as you browse the shelves, or you'll get lost. But if you do, at least you'll have something to read. Prices are reasonable too, but don't be afraid to haggle.

The Muse is an excellent and cheap source of textbooks and reference books. Their prices are…read morereasonable, in some cases they are cheaper than Amazon and other online stores, and they have a wider range of stock, too. I'm studying languages and The Muse has a wide range of ordinary texts in the languages I'm studying as well as several other languages such as Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Italian, Polish and of course, Welsh. They have, I believe, every single textbook that's required reading or recommended reading on courses at Bangor University and local schools and colleges, and the staff are friendly and very knowledgable. If books are not in stock, they'll order them for you and they'll be there for you to collect within a few days.

An excellent indie book shop which is always worth a visit while in town, especially as it's hard…read moreto say 'no' thanks to the vey inviting window display, which always look superb. Shop itself is well stocked with both Welsh and English books and a small selection of audio CD's and cards. If a book is not instock, it can be ordered in for the very next day. Staff are bilingual and are true experts at helping you and suggesting new books and authors. There wasn't any indictaion of this from the outside, but at the back of the shop there was a small coffee bar, with a few tables and chair and a very large comfortable sofa, where you could loose hours reading books. Also, there were toilets, computers for surfing the internet and a childrens play area. Very modern, yet the shop still had that vintage feel. You don't get that from WHSmith and Waterstones, that's for sure!

Good book shop.read more

This has to be the best branch of W H Smith! It's so attractive with lots of polished dark wood and…read moreeverything is laid out so imaginatively; the lighting is pleasant too. It's stocked with all that you'd expect to find in 'Smiths' from stationery and books to magazines. The staff also seemed very helpful when I called there two weeks ago.

The food was terrible, and the atmosphere was uncomfortable and disorganised. But what really…read moreshocked me was the way the owner behaves online. On TripAdvisor, they regularly insult and mock customers who leave honest feedback -- some of the replies come across as bullying. Their Instagram is just as unprofessional, filled with childish stories, digs at other local coffee shops, and even personal posts that have no place on a business account. One recent story mocked a teenager who works at McDonald's, which I found really alarming. A café should be about good food, a welcoming space, and basic respect -- none of which were present here. I won't be back.

I stopped in for coffee and a treat and ended up having several! Service is good, the coffee and…read moretreats are excellent. It is a great place, very near the castle, to relax and refresh. People watching is excellent here too. Plus, dogs are allowed so your pooch can chill with you. I'd give it a try if coffee, carbs and chillin' is your thing.