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    Trident Booksellers and Cafe

    4.6 (31 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Trident Booksellers and Cafe Photos

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    TRIDENT BOOKSELLERS AND CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Good for working

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    Recommended Reviews - Trident Booksellers and Cafe

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    Blueberry pie and coffee - mmmmm
    Jodi B.

    Books and coffee...there is no reason not to love Trident. This is one of my close friends favourite places so I've been going here more lately and I have to say, it's got my heart. The cafe side of the store is what you'd expect - tables and chairs, delicious (inexpensive!) drip coffee, tasty pastries and a good selection of teas. The staff are always so friendly and smiling, it's hard not to have your mood lifted after you've ordered. As for the book side...oh boy. I'm not nearly as book-crazy as I was a few years ago, but the sight of so many beautiful books on beautiful shelves makes my heart sing.

    Lemon square + Iced tea = best breakfast ever!
    Shannon H.

    When I was asked to choose a coffee shop in the city that matched my personality, it was easy to choose. Trident is my favourite cafe in all the city. It's not just the peaceful atmosphere with cozy tables and delicious drinks. It's not the fact that they have one of the tastiest lemon bars in the entire city. It's not even the always smiling staff members. No. It's the books. Shelves and shelves of used books are waiting for you to paw through them and find something fascinating. They have everything from obscure autobiographies to current best sellers and everything in between. It's a special spot, and I hold it very close to my heart. Also, seriously, eat a lemon bar! Little slices of lemony paradise. So tart and sharp. I could easily eat an entire pan of them.

    Ben B.

    The Trident's greatest strength is just how perfectly off the beaten path this cafe-bookstore combination is. At the very southern end of Hollis Street, the charming, low-lit interior instantly brings to mind images of old British authors collaborating across vintage wooden furniture, surrounded by shelves of quirky books. It's easy to feel like you're in on a big secret once you step inside and see the crowd of regulars. You'll find a mix of intimate conversations, bunkered down students, and artsy book seekers. The staff, while not as warm and fuzzy as your average coffee shop, definitely fit the bill as overseers of what sometimes feels like a sacred space for the initiated. Poke your head in to get a feel for the place but plan ahead to spend a day. You're going to want to so just accept it.

    outside
    Joshua Y.

    Really a beautiful looking bookstore. The chairs are comfortable and you are surrounded by books you can take off the shelves and start reading. A fun part of the store is around back where you can see coffee bags as big as you filled with beans and check out the old way of grinding the beans. So why three out of five? Well every time I walk into this coffee shop, I feel the same as I did when I was a child walking into a store with my mother. Remember? Your mother would always say, "be on your best behavior. Don't speak too loud, don't touch anything. Now I am an extroverted person so the whole idea of me obeying rules is alien. So I didn't listen too often as a child but I still know what it feels like when someone attempts to make sure you conform to societies expectations. And this coffee shop makes me feel bad for talking in a normal voice. It is more of a library with coffee then a coffee shop with books. Now if that's your thing, then you are set! I will also say that they do let you talk of course. I just feel like I'm intruding on some reading from time to time. But that could just be me. As for the coffee, its great! Really good natural, organic coffee. But no large selection of different kinds of coffee. But the store is small so I didn't expect an incredible selection anyways. The prices are alright but being a coffee shop that is about a ten or fifteen minute walk from downtown, they should understand that they can be, for some people, out of the way. So if they wanted to keep up on the competition, I'd suggest a lower price. Their small selection of bakery goods are also great but they tend to run out quickly since their selection is small. All in all, its a decent coffee shop but not my kind of coffee shop. It is conveniently located near where the cruise ships dock in downtown Halifax. But if you are a tourist, I'd suggest going to other coffee shops that are close by and on my "favorites" list. Sorry I couldn't give you more stars Trident. You're just not my cup of tea. But you are for other people which is why you have at three stars.

    books & coffee
    Ruth D.

    I love this place. It makes me feel like a famous author. It's so easy...that wonderful smell of old books mingles with the scent and sound of freshly brewing coffee. Their cappuccino is excellent. This is the place I take out of towners so they all can see how cool Halifax is. It's a great place to sit, savor and enjoy. You'll see tons of university students, and I've overheard many a meeting between artistic types. Not too much selection of munchies, but then I'm there for ambiance, coffee and books!

    outside

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    Trident Booksellers and Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Trident Booksellers and Cafe

    Trident is my favourite cafe in all the city.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    John W Doull Bookseller - view from inside the front door... come on in!

    John W Doull Bookseller

    3.6(38 reviews)
    5.0 kmDartmouth
    $$

    "If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is…read morethinking." Haruki Murakami I feel like this book store supports expanding our thinking horizons by giving readers so many more interesting options than the typical mainstream ones. Delightful experience!

    I've shopped at this bookstore several times even though I'm not from the area. I think I've spent…read morewell over $2,000 here in the past and they honestly do have a good selection of books and their prices aren't terrible. That said, the issue is 100% the service here, as most other reviews also mentioned. I remember a few years back, they started adding a couple of percent as a fee for credit card users. Ok, I get it. I'm not happy about it, but I know credit cards can be expensive for businesses. But, the cashier- some young guy, not the owner, made a joke about how glad they are that they can charge us more for it and that if I have a problem with it, I can leave. I didn't have a problem with it, nor did I give him a reason to think I would, but I certainly didn't appreciate the mocking tone about being charged extra. There were items that were not yet priced that I asked about and was completely told off for asking about items he didn't get to yet. I think it's also stupid how four years after Covid, they still won't let you in the store without a mask. The door is covered in signs with a condescending tone about how masks are expected. Again, the attitude is that if you have a problem, leave. This time, I did.

    Photos
    John W Doull Bookseller
    John W Doull Bookseller - Two jumbled floors of 1000's of books

    Two jumbled floors of 1000's of books

    John W Doull Bookseller - Signage, you can't miss it:)

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    Signage, you can't miss it:)

    Coles - Chapters/Indigo/Coles do mugs so well

    Coles

    3.4(5 reviews)
    1.0 kmDowntown Halifax
    $$

    The tiny little bookstore (owned by the largest book-selling retain chain in Canada) that could!…read more Having worked downtown for many years, I became quite familiar with this little bookstore. And it is small. But they manage to pack quite a diverse selection into their small space. You'd expect to just find best-sellers and the like but I've been pleasantly surprised by their offerings on more than one occasion. Staff are friendly and helpful without being all up in your face about it. If you want to browse, they'll let you browse. If you have questions, they'll do what they can to help you. You can also find quite a few bargain books here. And they're often displayed prominently near the entrance. As much as I love it, please keep in mind, they're not going to have everything. They're more likely to have the latest Stephanie Meyer over Stephanie Chandler. But it is what it is.

    I don't make it out to Bayers Lake to go to the big Chapters often, so I appreciate having the…read moresmaller Coles store downtown. I usually go to local shops for my book needs, but Coles has such a great selection of stationary! Even with such a small space, they manage to pack in a lot of merchandise. Looking for a day planner? They've got 'em. What about a magazine? Yep. Books? Of course. The best part of the Coles stores though? The bargain books right at the front of the store. So many $5 books! They're usually ones that were popular a year ago that are probably not selling as well anymore, but that's okay with me. Coles certainly doesn't have everything, but they're a nice little bookstore to browse through.

    Photos
    Coles

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    Tattletales

    Tattletales

    4.2(6 reviews)
    4.6 kmDartmouth
    $$

    Being a teacher's spouse means getting dragged from educational bookstore to educational bookstore…read moreon the regular for pretty much the rest of your life. Sometimes this is a good thing (see: Woozles), sometimes it can be so boring you'd rather repeat the second grade than have to weigh in yet again on which 'Foundations of Reading: An Instructional Text' series looks more interesting. Tattletales is one of the few spots that does a great job of balancing booksmarts with bookswagger. Sure, there's plenty for teachers looking to stock up on new strategies but there's even more great books, toys, and activities to keep kids of all ages (and grown-ups who turn into kids when shopping in kids book sections) entertained while they do so. There's plenty of space outside for parking and inside for easy shopping - you don't have to awkwardly dance with other shoppers as you cram into the same aisle. Staff are smart, helpful and really know their business rather than just minimum wage earning teens who text from behind the cash as you ask them questions. Whether you know what you're looking for or not, they can help you out. While I don't know much about their special events, I do know that during my visit, Sheree Fitch just happened to be there for a reading - a favourite from my childhood ever since being given a signed copy of Toes in my Nose. Very cool!

    Tattletales is an independent Dartmouth bookstore that has been around since 1995. First in Penhorn…read moreMall, and now in the newly opened Penhorn Plaza. They're a good mixture of a children's bookstore, a toy store, and an excellent resource for teachers. The new store has a spacious clean setup and the displays are an inviting feast for the eyes. The toy section has a wide array of educational and just plain fun stuff. There's a great selection of Lego and Playmobile with some sets I haven't seen elsewhere. They also stock board games and puzzles. This is a toy store I could spend quite a while perusing. I don't have any children, but I adore this store with my childhood heart and love of whimsy. I've found the prices to be fair and often less than the big competitors. They also offer orders on any book or product they don't have in stock. The book section is exactly what a children's bookstore should be. There is a ton of variety in titles and the layout offers a much more intimate setting than the big box stores. The displays offer suggestions on the best pics for books and prominently shows what's new. In the exploding market of youth books they seem to carry everything. Not just Twilight. They shelve all the top titles along with little known gems. Tattletales' staff are friendly and helpful. They give you that local feel only an independent bookstore can. A definite must for book and toy lovers.

    Photos
    Tattletales - No Playmobil Sidney Crosby! Let her go!!!

    No Playmobil Sidney Crosby! Let her go!!!

    Tattletales - Nice display of Ty products

    Nice display of Ty products

    Tattletales - MEOW! Cute hand puppet,

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    MEOW! Cute hand puppet,

    Trident Booksellers and Cafe - bookstores - Updated May 2026

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