Edinburgh has a plethora of incredible bookshops. What I look for is somewhere welcoming, dog friendly, and non judgemental about my love of weird or fantastical books.
I used to be intimated by bookshops feeling like they were an exclusive club for academics, but that could not be further from the truth when it comes to my favourite bookshops in Edinburgh. Of course, academics and avid reader are welcome but so is everyone else. The people who work and even shop in my recommended bookshops love reading and want to encourage you to find your passion for books too. Bookshops are places to browse, chat, and even hangout for a while. Since falling in love with fantasy bookshops have become one of my most frequented places in Edinburgh, closely behind coffee shops.
Argonaught Books
My local bookshop! Argonaut Books is so much more than a bookshop with excellent events, books clubs for a variety of genres, and a coffee shop. It’s a fantastic, welcoming, space to hangout in and a real community hub. Argonaut always have my back and is the place I go to when I don’t know what to buy. Whether it’s because I am in a reading rut, it’s a gift for a friend that has different taste from mine, or because I do not understand what books are suitable for children the Argonaut staff recommendations are always an absolute winner.
15-17 Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH6 8LN
@argonautbooks
argonautbooks.co.uk
The Portobello Bookshop
An airy space beside the sea. Portobello Bookshop is such a calming space to browse a wide variety of books as well as speciality magazines and stationary. They have lots of little spots to sit within the shop and you are made to feel welcome to take your time browsing. Porty Books also host some great events from authors, as well as have signed and special edition books available. If you’re not able to visit this space in person you can enjoy curated recommendations and 4.8 million titles on their website.
46 Portobello High St, Edinburgh EH15 1DA
@portybooks
theportobellobookshop.com
Topping & Company Booksellers of Edinburgh
A large bookshop with separate rooms for genres. Toppings feels like a bookshop from a film, it’s packed to the roof with books (featuring ladders to help you reach those titles at the very top!). The staff are also great and even offer you tea and coffee to take a break from browsing the never-ending stacks. Still overwhelmed by the wide selection of books? No worries you can book a ‘date with a bookseller’ to help guide you. Toppings and Company Edinburgh also host a wide variety of events and readings as well as stocking many collectible and limited edition books. If I am on the hunt for something specific Toppings is always my go to, no matter how niche the book is they have always managed to hunt down a copy for me. Another bonus is that they are open until 9pm!
2 Blenheim Pl, Edinburgh EH7 5JH
@toppingsedin
toppingbooks.co.uk
Rare Birds Books
Rare Birds a shop in Stockbridge specialising in championing female authors. It’s the opposite of a traditional stuffy bookshop with lovely staff who have a passion for making reading fun. Another place I run to when I don’t know what to read. The staff are always more than happy to chat through their favourite books and give enthusiastic recommendations. There wasn’t even any judgement when I said I’d just finished Throne of Glass and missed my book cadre. Rare Birds also have a book matchmaking, lucky dip generator and subscription service online so if you also need a little bit of advice like me they are the perfect place to check out.
13 Raeburn Pl, Edinburgh EH4 1HU
@rarebirdsbooks
rarebirdsbooks.com
Lighthouse Bookshop
Edinburgh’s radical bookshop. I actually discovered Lighthouse whilst living in London; I was looking for a bunch of non fiction books on anti-racism and gender and they were the only shop that had all the titles I was looking for under one roof. Now I am much closer I love browsing their fiction and non fiction titles — I always feel like I find something new and special amongst the shelves. Lighthouse are “unapologetically activists” and champion many charities, talks, and events. They also run Edinburgh’s Radical Book Fair, an event bringing booksellers, book lovers and likeminded people together with workshops and speakers as well as bookstands to browse and buy from.
43-45 W Nicolson St, Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9DB
@lighthousebks
lighthousebookshop.com
