The 25 best bookstores in Chicago

This legendary used bookstore, one of Chicago's oldest and largest, stocks three floors' worth of books from floor to ceiling. Ask the friendly staff for recommendations, or choose your own adventure and wander the labyrinthine stacks to find your new favorite. 

From the vibrant murals to the cozy kids' section to the cafe, Danielle Mullen's River West space is made for browsing, community building and taking your time. Browse the shop's well-curated stacks or check out its regular schedule of events, which have included a dreamy Book Club Dinner Party, storytime with Time Out Market and a happy hour homage to the old Scholastic book fair. Plus, in addition to the store's literacy-focused sister nonprofit, Parenthesis, Semicolon's #ClearTheShelves program has given away seven-figures worth of books to Chicago Public Schools students.

A passionate reader and member of the community known as “romancelandia,” Amanda Anderson opened The Last Chapter, the newest bookstore on our list, in Roscoe Village in September of 2023. Romance lovers can pick up titles by popular authors like Sarah J. Maas and Jasmine Guillory, or browse by genre (sports, holiday, etc.), along with sections highlighting LGBTQ+ and BIPOC love stories. Before you leave, snap a selfie in one of the ‘gram-worthy photo booths, and even share the name of the fictional character you’re not-so-secretly pining for. 

Chicago history is everywhere in this bookstore, from its location on the second floor of the 125-year-old Fine Arts Building to its name, taken from the iconic album by local legend Liz Phair. While the selection is vast and the stacks easy to get lost in, the highlight, as the name implies, is definitely the well-stocked music selection. Don’t miss the shop’s engaging “Authors on Tap” series, which highlights local lit luminaries like poet José Olivarez, novelist Lindsay Hunter and even Jeff Tweedy.

Far-north Edgebrook is home to the brick-and-mortar of one of Chicagoland’s most unique bookstore experiences, which offers a more tailored take on searching for that perfect literary match. Founded by two teachers passionate about building relationships and fostering a love of literature, New Book Joy offers recommendations and reading resources for not just adult readers, but for kids, teens and families to enjoy together. The colorful shelves are fun to browse, but what sets New Book Joy apart is the focus on curation, from tailored boxes for readers of all ages to their popular “Book Club Tastings,” where discussions are paired with a grown-up event like a cooking demo or cocktail class. 

Avid book lover and former media sales mogul Erika VanDam had always dreamed of opening a bookstore. Her dream came to life when she opened her Roscoe Village shop, a haven for all local bookworms. Step into the store and it's easy to sense the passion in the air, with details like handwritten "staff favorite" notes and a large variety of community events. The shop offers books of all genres—fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, parenting, biographies, memoirs and more—but its children's section, with a dreamy hand-painted mural, is what you'll want to write home about. 

When it comes to bookstores, this place defines class. Not only can you browse books while sipping wine, but the staff recommendations are just what you want them to be: Varied and idiosyncratic. Attend events ranging from engaging talks with up-and-coming local authors to reading and yoga sessions, or build community with one of the shop's many book clubs, including the Racial Justice Book Club and "Never Too Old," a YA reading club for adults.

Handwritten, personal recommendations from employees line the shelves at Unabridged Bookstore, offering helpful, heartfelt tips for customers. The Lakeview shop is known for its extensive children's section but also stocks a diverse selection of literary fiction and nonfiction for more advanced readers.

Open Books isn’t your average bookstore. Opened in 2009, the shop is an outgrowth of the Open Books nonprofit, with a location at the Literacenter as well as Pilsen and Logan Square. More than 50,000 books—mostly used and donated, with some recent new titles—are housed in rows of wooden shelves painted in bright, cheerful colors. Open Books offers plenty of snug reading nooks for curling up with new finds and a dedicated children's and young adult section. Go ahead, buy a handful. All proceeds at the West Loop and Logan Square locations go to literacy programs in the city, and the Pilsen location offers free books for kids and pay-what-you-can books for adults. 

This laid-back Andersonville bookshop is chock full of used books, from newly released literature to nonfiction favorites. Give yourself ample time to peruse the shelves, or start your journey with their easy-to-use online rare book catalogue, whose categories range from adventure and travel to conspiracies to Disney. Ramona, the shop dog and goodest girl, is an added bonus.

Chicago's legendary feminist bookstore has been serving Andersonville and beyond since 1979, and while their selections of feminist and queer literature are excellent, you can find current and curated picks across all genres, as well as some fun bundles and subscriptions. An important community and literary hub, WCF supports local schools and groups like Chicago Books to Women in Prison, and hosts both in-person and virtual events, including outdoor storytime in the summer. Get connected with fellow bookworms through a number of book groups, including Kids First, Well Read Black Girl and Classics of Women's Literature. 

Named for a distinctive plant native to the Chicago area, Avondale’s newest bookshop, fittingly, focuses on “new books and local artists’ goods that remind us of human’s own place in our more-than-human world.” As much an intentional community space as a bookstore, Skunk Cabbage hosts workshops and skill-share evenings focused on topics like creative reuse and accessible sustainability, along with other activities like book clubs, bird trivia and a regular Covid-Conscious Craft Club.

From the floor-to-ceiling shelves to the chic café space to the selection itself, Andersonville’s newest bookstore is giving us drama. A theatre-focused bookshop celebrating the creative process, The Understudy houses more than 3,500 plays, books on technique, titles from local authors and more. Beyond the inventory or the opportunity to talk casting rumors over Metric coffee, the shop’s community-centric programming is a theatre nerd’s dream, from exciting new plays to staged readings to drag shows. 

Months after announcing its closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Logan Square's beloved indie bookstore reopened in the summer of 2021 under the stewardship of local resident and former librarian Stephanie Kitchen. Curl up by the fireplace (yes, a fireplace) with a curated staff pick from this "Book Lover's Bookstore," or make a new friend through the shop's eclectic book clubs, like the horror-themed "Blood & Guts," the queer "On Earth We're Briefly Gay" or the long-running "Weird & Wonderful," a celebration of sci-fi, fantasy and speculative fiction.

When the owners of Three Avenues Bookshop say the store is “family run,” they mean it—owners Tim Wurman and Jordan Felkey are life partners, co-parents, and now, business partners. Since November 2022, this West Lakeview shop has been serving neighbors with an inviting space and an extensive selection, especially for children’s literature. But readers of all ages are welcome at Three Avenues, especially for events like live jazz concerts, storytimes and author talks. 

Chicago's first employee-owned and operated independent bookstore as of 2020, Pilsen Community Books invites you in with wall-to-wall shelves of books of all genres. Emphasizing the "community" in their name, the shop offers two subscription book programs, reading clubs, book talks and other events, and a neighborhood youth literacy program called Pilsen Reads. While it's a bookstore ideal for in-person browsing, their website also has wonderfully-curated lists and staff picks to give you that feeling of discovery from home. 

This Hyde Park landmark is a great place to buy based on the employee selections and to check out some more intellectual fare. Many readings here fall into the academic/nonfiction category, though the shop often features authors who have written about local history.

Located in the South Loop, this family-owned-and-operated book shop has been in business since 1982. Step into the brick building and you'll find shelves filled with new releases, travel guides and books to keep you occupied on your train ride home.

Wicker Park's Quimby's Comics is a zinester's paradise, with a vast selection of new DIY and small-press zines and a club celebrating them. Even if you're not into zines, there's something fun for you here amidst the comics, graphic novels, books and other weird, wonderful and thought-provoking art and text. 

Powell's is known for it's selection of scholarly and academic books, but also caters to the everyday general interest reader, adults and children alike–with over a quarter million rare, used, and discounted books.

Founded in 1961 by a group of book lovers, the Seminary Co-op is a community-owned bookstore that specializes in academic titles. For years, the store was based out of the basement of the Chicago Theological Seminary, but in 2012 it moved to its current, above-ground location.

Small but mighty, Verlean Singletary's shop in the Boxville marketplace in Bronzeville is committed to literary growth and youth engagement. Da Book Joint has an excellent youth and children's book selection, centered around Black stories and Black authors. The store also supports youth literacy efforts through sister organiation Options for Literacy, and has a book club active on social media.

One of River North's hidden gems, After-Words Books houses two floors (and more than 70,000 titles) of new and used books. The shop features a wide variety of titles, including fiction, poetry, literature, photography, history, cookbooks and plenty more. It also has rental space available for parties, lectures and readings. 

If wandering through colorful stacks of older books and settling in an old rocking chair to read for a while sounds like a good time, this bohemian Rogers Park treasure trove will be your new favorite haunt. Since 1994, the charming shop—which is covered in folk art and other artifacts—has been a local favorite for seekers of rare and used books. 

On the far South Side and need some reading material? Check out this well-stocked Beverly-Morgan Park indie bookstore. Bookie's offers new and used titles, and their online interface makes it even easier to shop locally and independent. There are even a few cafe tables out front in the warmer months if you want to take your purchases outside and enjoy them right away.