I loved my visit to The Book Trader. My brother is local to the area and suggested we pop by this…read morebookshop for a visit because they have a shop cat! I met him immediately upon entering the store, as he was sitting right near the door. His name is Dr. Pickles and he is just as lovely as the shop he calls home. The shop itself is well organized and has so many niche categories to browse and appreciate. As the shop's name suggests, they have ample signage outlining the rules and guidelines for trading with them. As a bonus, the shop (and Dr. Pickles!) are active on Instagram sharing the latest that's up with the shop. I am absolutely planning on returning to this shop during my next trip to Philadelphia.

The Book Trader is one of my favorite bookstores in Philly[1]. It's well-lit and has quite a stock…read moreof books, mostly used, but some new. They've also got records, old postcards, and I think I spotted a tote. To me, it felt *generally* organized inside, but YMMV, right? Bring your old books in to trade - read their policies on their site: https://www.phillybooktrader.com/menu - and while you're there, search for deals. The more books you buy, the more you'll save. Find them in Old City, convenient to the 2nd Street SEPTA subway stop. [1] There's a shop cat here! The famous Dr. Pickles is usually taking a catnap, so respect their space. Meow.

This is my favorite independent book store. It's so nice to take your time looking around,…read morechecking out all of the wonderful books and other items (totes, cards, journals, etc.) they have. It's welcoming and relaxing! The staff is always friendly and willing to help with any questions you may have.

A fabulous little shop with so much to offer. I love the ways the categories were broken down- and…read morethe displays had a lot of unique genre features. We toured for a bit- hiding little treats throughout the books in the store! So go buy a book & you may find a sticker, bookmark, or word of affirmation :) The staff were wonderful too- we overheard them chatting with online buyers picking up- and they seemed to have a great operation with ordering unavailable books, so options are limiteless!

Garland of Letters is a quiet store filled with treasures! From tarot card decks, crystals and a…read morewide variety of witchy to wellness books, there's certainly something for everyone here. The staff is attentive and friendly, but not overbearing. Happy to help when you need it, but otherwise allows you to shop solo. Prices of books are standard ranging from 10-30 dollars, crystal prices are a few bucks per piece, but cheaper if you buy more. Overall a great store with great folks!

Such a freaking cool store. Holy crap. It made me feel instantly calm entering the store. The staff…read morewas so sweet and incredibly helpful. The selection was phenomenal. So many crystals, incense, books, figures, and more, it was insane. Some of the things were really pricy but it was high quality things. Definitely worth stopping by

We liked stopping by this bookstore. Wooden Shoe Books had an array of books on race, social…read morejustice, and so much more. Their prices are a bit higher than you'd expect online or at a chain bookstore, but I find that very justifiable as all of their profits go towards running the shop and other social justice missions. The volunteers at the store were great as well and were happy to answer questions or direct us to where certain books were.

First, to address the person claiming "they are all racist here"…read more This is an ANARCHIST BOOK STORE. They have books on critical race theory, yes. They also have books on queer studies, feminist literature, Muslim education... the list goes on and on. Do you understand what anarchy is? At any rate I seriously doubt the black and brown employees who have or do currently work or volunteer at Wooden Shoe would appreciate being called racist, so why don't you, you know, fuck off and shop somewhere else? That being said. Wooden Shoe is an exceptional resource for books on any number of topics. They tend to skew toward literature on social justice issues that run the gamut, so you're not going to find the latest pop culture biography or new fiction. Books are full price, so expect to pay $35 for a new hardcover, but they also have a ton of $1-5 second hand books, plus a really cool section of free and cheap zines and small print publications. I've been shopping here for it seems like a decade, and as a queer, gender non-conforming biracial person, the idea that they are racist is comical bordering on fully ignorant.

This is a used bookstore with proceeds going towards the library. It has an amazing selection of…read morebooks. The books are in sections like a traditional bookstore. The prices are very inexpensive. The sales person was very nice. They greeted at me as soon as I walked in. They were also knowledgeable about the books. The store looks small from the outside, but it is a labyrinth inside that goes to the back of the building.

I am so obsessed with the Book Corner. When I lived in the neighborhood I would pop over to see the…read morecats and grab a $4 book, so a visit here after the Barnes Foundation on a rainy Saturday was just what the Dr ordered. The staff here is fabulous and it gives off the best vibes. You could spend an hour looking through all of the different categories and getting lost in the pages. I appreciate the strange variety and the fact that books range from old to ancient to almost brand new. Always something to discover. The cats are an added bonus and the kind staff the cherry on top. I grabbed a book that had been on my "to read" list for the longest time and am so grateful this gem of an institution exists. Add it to your museum district itinerary with visitors or just go when you need a friend in cat or book form.

Stumbled upon this bookstore as I was dilly dallying in the neighborhood. The storefront looks…read moremodest but inside there are SO MANY books across all kinds of genres (they have a whole floor of non-fictions and 2 different shelves for world war 1 and 2 books!) It was systematically organized (unlike some used bookstores where you kinda have to guess the owner's thought process haha) and clean! The owner was very nice and walked me through different shelves based on the genres I was asking about. He seemed very knowledgeable and friendly, even offered to order some new books for me if I'd like! Pricing was fair (less than $10 for most books) and selections range from older publications to more recent (within the past 10 years). This would make a cute neighborhood stop!

What you'd expect from a used bookstore; organized chaos where locating a book is sometimes tapping…read morethe Dewey decimal system that's in the owner's head.

A very unique store, with unexpected & enjoyable surprise finds- i.e not your average book store-…read morethis is a bookstore for a deep book lover. The stock doesn't seem to rotate, promote the new and mass market, but is more for the deep cuts, the obscure, and the 'I've always wanted this' or the 'new discoveries'. Prices are higher, yes, but look at the style and know what you are supporting & it makes sense.

This is one of my favorite bookstores in Philly. The selection here is choice. The store is not one…read moreof the huge dump of books stores. It is organized well and the recommended or featured books are often a win!

Quirky queer bookstore with a great selection of both used and new books covering a wide variety of…read moretopics. There are plenty of community resources at the front of the store, as well as some thrifted clothes. Books are fairly priced, clothes are fairly expensive. Limited seating, but all very cozy if you can snag a spot. Unfortunately there are no bathrooms. The shop is 3 stories tall, each story with a unique vibe. Excellent customer service and employees give great recommendations!

This store is huge and has a great variety of both new and used books, dvds, clothes, and more. It…read moreis definitely heavier on the books than anything else, but if you keep walking around the store you'll find new things everywhere you go. They have a heavy focus on LGBTQ+ options, which can be really hard to find elsewhere! The people working were very kind and friendly and the prices were actually pretty good as well. It's a cute place that feels like an old house and I recommend even just to look around.

I really like the vibe of this store and they have a huge selection! It's organized well though can…read morebe tough to get around, since it's a bit cramped, especially if you come at a time when it's crowded. They have used books and records and the prices are not bad. The employee working was friendly and service is quick.

Excellent bookstore with used books that are diamonds and vinyl that is gold…read more Family business. In the heart of Little Italy. Excellent experience here. Friendly service. Good value. Signed and collectable editions.

I love all B&N's. This location seemed to be missing some things, like a bathroom LOL & a larger…read morelocal book section. I was at East State Penitentiary & failed to grab a book on its history. That should've been an easy grab, but wasn't a part of the offerings. Asked an employee for help, she said she'd "look" & then never returned. A nice selection of items in a convenient location, but missing a lot of the tchotchke items I love & the "stay-awhile" vibe I so appreciate w/ this chain.

I am really not about the B&N slander! I am a big fan of this new location, appreciate the kind…read morestaff, and like the layout. You'll find things separated by genre upstairs and a lot of great suggestions for local authors and new reads downstairs. Great ideas for gifts, a lot of hyper-local reads and trinkets, and just a great way to expand your mind for an afternoon. I like getting a beverage, walking around, and reading backs of books to add to my list. I typically prefer to buy from small, local bookshops, but when I know I need something specific (in this case, a smutty beach read and the new Sally Rooney), I tend to gravitate here for ease. That being said, they didn't have the exact smutty beach read I was looking for! I know Emily Henry is Emily Henry and it's spring break season but...come on. We must keep her stocked for the girlies! Overall, a great option for killing time in center city and refilling your literary cup with inspiration. Happy reading!