Where to shop for your bookworm pal in Toronto
So you have a few book lovers on your list this Christmas? Lucky for you, Toronto has a number of independent bookstores that’ll make gift-giving easy this year. From the best bookstores to find children’s titles to the ones where art or cooking reign supreme – we’ve got you covered. Here are the top spots to find the best presents for the bookworm you love.
Book City
348 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1N8You’re welcome to browse for hours on end at Book City. So take your time and enjoy the gems you’ll find inside. Is one of your loved ones going on a trip soon? Maybe pick up something from the store’s robust travel section. Who knew gift-giving could be as simple as a peruse through thoughtfully selected titles and classic favourites.
Type Books
883 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1G5Stepping into this beautiful bookstore right across from Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto feels like the farthest thing from stressed holiday shopping. With its high ceilings, floral wallpaper and hardwood floors, this shop carries everything from lovely paper lanterns to any kind of notebook you could need. Plus, with stunning renditions of classics (like the hardcover set of novels about beloved female heroines – including Little Women and Anne of Green Gables) and trendy reads alike, you’re sure to find something special for your book-loving pal. My favourite section? Hands down, the cookbooks.
Ben Mcnally Books
317 Adélaïde St E, Toronto, ON M5A 1N2Amongst the hustle and bustle of the city’s financial district is Ben McNally Books. Definitively named one of the most charming bookstores in Toronto, the shop’s anthologies of poetry, displays of literary fiction and creative nonfiction cannot be beat. For any book lover, you’ve hit the goldmine. So when you write your Christmas card, don’t forget to mention where you bought your special treasure.
Art Mwtropole
896 College Street, Toronto, ON M6H 1A4Artist books, indie mags and multimedia galore – the book-minded artist or small-press connoisseur in your life will be in awe of Art Metropole’s collection. The gift itself isn’t limited to books either. Choose from Art Met’s serious selection of prints, and pop one in an art-inspired tote bag. Suddenly, your gift just got even better.
Eliot's Bookshop
584 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1Z3Searching for a rare, out-of-print book? Take a fieldtrip to Yonge and Wellesley, because you just might find it amidst the shelves of hard-to-find titles at Eliot’s Bookshop. For those classics of yesteryear, you may be able to pull one out of the bag this Christmas and find a book for which a loved one has been searching for decades. One last tip: their sci-fi section is said to be unlike any other.
A Good Read
341 Roncesvalles Ave Main, Toronto, ON M6R 2M8Bookworms know well that used bookstores often house the best finds at the most affordable prices. A Good Read, located in the delightful west end area of Roncesvalles, pays particular attention to books that are first and signed editions. How wonderful would it be if your loved one’s favourite author had their signature scribbled on your Christmas present? A success indeed.
Ella Minnow Ltd
991 Kingston Rd, Toronto, ON M4E 1T3A true Beaches neighbourhood gem – which, unlike other children’s bookstores, pays particular attention to curating compelling books for both boys and girls – Ella Minnow is undoubtedly one of the best bookstores for kids in Toronto. For those little ones who love a good story, why not gift a title that will spark a lifelong love of reading.
