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.

Huge used bookstore! They have no database so you definitely need to spend some time in there and…read morelook around.

Incredible used book shop in QV, I am really glad I made some time to stop in here. I picked up a…read morecopy of "The Dog Lover's Companion to Philadelphia" and if my budget was unlimited, would have gone absolutely crazy. I also grabbed some interesting vintage-y postcards that they have up by the register, and look forward to sending those out to friends and family. The store seems to never end, twisting through room after room and also an upstairs section. The labelling system is the perfect mix of chaos and clarity, which I know doesn't really make sense. I didn't leave enough time to properly look through every section, but I can guarantee that you will find something to pique your interest if that's what you come in for. A great way to spend 30 minutes if you're exploring the neighborhood or in need of some additions to your bookshelf!

I visited with my friend and her three young children, and imagined it was more catered to the…read morekids. I was pleasantly surprised at their vast adult selections too! We spent a long time browsing the shelves and talking with the staff about this store's mission. They had a flood over the holidays, so the one area was closed off but we were told they'll be up and running again soon. What a gift this place is to the community! We left with 21 pounds of books. The kids wanted more but we came on the train so everyone took as many as they were able to carry back to Center City. Oh yeah, all the books here are FREE!!!!

Tree House books represent the best of what we have to offer to our brothers and sisters in our…read moreneighborhood. Come here for inspiration and you will surely find it. A great staff awaits you as they are stocking the shelves with treasure after treasure. As a writer looking to get published, I can't wait to one day see one of my books on their shelves. Until that day. I appreciate the inspiration I have each time I visit such a wonderful establishment.

This is hands down the best place to go for all your cook book needs (obviously). From Emeril, to…read morevegetarian cooking, to the Star Wars recipe book (apparently they have 2 of them. who knew?) they have it all. It's been inside the Reading Terminal for years and has always offered consistently good service. the people who work their really know there inventory and can walk you through any culinary style. So if your looking for a place to help you add onto your recipe list go no further.

There's no better place to buy a cook book. Anywhere. Period…read more The selection is without peer, as is the staff expertise. Anyone interested in culinary arts at any level will be immediately converted to an instant devotee.

Finally made it out here! Charming book shop. also has a bathroom and even hosts lit events in…read morethe basement Pretty gas independent/alt lit/ poetry selections that I would only otherwise find in NY

Loads of great titles. This ain't yer cutesy little boutique bookstore that carries best-seller…read morebanned books and greeting cards. It's a bookstore where hard-to-find books of many ideas-- agreeable and otherwise -- can be found. It's perfect for Philly, and it's recommend for those who want to get away from airport bookstores.

Quaint little bookstore in Fishtown with classical music! There's a surprisingly large collection…read moreconsidering the size of the bookstore, but it's still nice to look around in. I basically came here as a tourist, so I can't tell you if it's good for finding specific books, but if you're just looking for something especially if it pertains to art or philosophy, this might be a good one to stop by! Owner is super nice and didn't mind that we were just there spectating and reading in the store without really buying anything - would recommend!

Hakim's Bookstore is truly a West Philadelphia icon. Hakim's daughter now runs the store, and she…read morehas made it known around the world for its incredible collection, including many books you simply won't find anywhere else. The store is a powerful reminder that Black people read and stand against the ongoing erasure of our history. If you have the opportunity, please stop by and support her. She's keeping her father's dream alive.

This is one of the prime examples of why independent brick-and-mortar bookstores are so important…read more Booksellers can curate something really special that can't be replicated by going on Amazon or walking into a corporate superstore. Hakim's is a great example of this. Hakim's has hands down THE BEST children's book section for Black children. They had so many children's books that I'd never even seen, along with the classics. It actually made me a little emotional to see how many wonderful books are now available for Black kids -- I wish we'd had these when I was a child. If you have a Black or brown child (or know a Black or brown child) you need to go to Hakims.

Spring Garden Books is basically an offshoot of Community College of Philadelphia's campus…read morebookstore, so don't bother shopping here if you're not a student at CCP. They've got pretty much only the assigned texts for CCP classes, which is good for CCP students (although I'm not one, so my visit there was pretty useless for me). Also, the store is tiny, and I couldn't even get in the door at first because of the line of students. It's not the type of store where you can peruse the aisles of books yourself. Instead, you go in and go up to a counter, where you ask the person behind the counter for the book you need. They get it for you, and then you check out. I won't be going back here again, but that's because I don't go to CCP and, hence, don't need any of the books they sell.

This store has a wide variety of books with a relaxed atmosphere. The owners are friendly and…read moreknowledgeable about their books. Plus, there are two very charming cats. I would recommend checking this place out if you like to read.