Exploring the city of Montreal is incomplete without visiting its bookstores. Imagine how lovely it would be to start your day in Montreal by going to a coffee shop but on the way, you stumble upon a bookstore where you find an exciting read and end up spending the whole afternoon reading the book along with your coffee. From used books to new ones, the bookshops in Montreal take care of every bookworm by providing a wide range of book collections.
If you happen to be in Montreal or are currently studying in Canada and love reading books then this blog will help you greatly with amazing bookshops recommendations in Montreal. Keep reading further to know more!
| Bookshop | Google Rating |
| The Word | 4.7/5 |
| Appetite For Books | 4.9/5 |
| Librairie Le Port de Tête | 4.8/5 |
| Argo Bookshop | 4.7/5 |
| Cheap Thrills | 4.5/5 |
This Blog Includes:
Best Bookshops to Visit in Montreal
Montreal bookshops offer books both in French and English. From fiction to self-help books, crime, horror, memoir, etc. the bookshops in Montreal will never disappoint with their amazing and wide range of collections. We have mentioned and discussed some of the bookshops situated close to student accommodation in Montreal which are quite popular among the book-lovers community.
Also Read: Bookshops in Ottawa – Explore the literary taste of the region
The Word
This bookstore always takes a spot on the must-visit list of all the bibliophiles. It was founded in 1975 and is situated blocks away from the McGill University campus. Prior to moving to their current location in the 19th century, the owners of this bookstore – King-Edwards and Lucille Friesen used to operate from an underground bookstore in their previous apartment. Now, they have kept their highly prized collection at this place which people can visit on demand. This collection includes works of Montreal poets which are kept under the picture of Leonard Cohen.
The Word offers used books which means you can buy more without having to spend too much. While visiting this bookstore make sure you bring cash as they do not offer the facility of online payments.
How to Reach
Also Read: Solo Travel Destinations in Canada
Appetite For Books
If you are passionate about cooking and love trying new recipes then this bookstore is good news for you as it entails a wide variety of cookbooks and food writing which are available both in French and English. Whether you want to try vegetarian recipes or some regional-based Montreal recipes, this bookstore will give you everything you want. The recipes are curated by the collaboration of the city’s top chefs and Appetite For Books shop owner and chef Jonathan Cheung. People from student accommodation in Canada who want to enjoy a burst of flavour with a taste test can sign up for cookbook companion classes hosted by Cheung or guest chef Yohai Rubin.
How to Reach
Librairie Le Port de Tête
Many nights, you can look through this shop’s fancy yellow-lit windows on Mont-Royal Avenue and see a lot of people gathering for an event where an author reads from their book and signs it. Since 2007, this independent bookstore has been a central place for the French-speaking community. They sell both new and used books in subjects like humanities. Besides regular books, this bookstore also offers unique magazines and fan-made publications that you can’t find anywhere else in Quebec.
How to Reach
Also Read: Explore the best bookshops in New York
Argo Bookshop
This bookstore has a large base of readers and writers due to which it has survived for 50 years and is still thriving. It is Montreal’s oldest Indie Anglo bookshop and its collection has more than 6,000 titles. This bookshop features nearly every genre and topic starting from linguistics to Japan, fantasy, etc. Readings are held regularly which entail the voices of many visiting and local poets and writers. The back office of the shop is an old-fashioned co-working space.
How to Reach
Cheap Thrills
This place, located on the second floor of an old building downtown, is famous for selling old music records and concert tickets. They’ve been selling used books since 1971. You can find books about bands, collections of artists’ work, and other music-related books here. Also, you will find homemade magazines (zines), novels, and books about philosophy (like Kierkegaard, Sartre, and Žižek). They also sell records for people who love music. What sets them apart from other bookstores is that apart from popular books they also have some unique and artistic books that you will excited to buy.
How to Reach
FAQs
One of the best places to read a book in Montreal is Grande Bibliothèque, which is one of the biggest libraries in Montreal. This place also serves as a government agency.
If you have a library card in Montreal then you can access resources, collections and services across Montreal’s library network along with other recreational and cultural services. The residents of Montreal can get this card for free.
Buenos Aires is regarded as the bookshop capital of the world.
We hope you liked this blog, where we covered some of the best bookshops in Montreal. If you are planning to study in the UK then Leverage Edu can provide you with the best assistance with your study abroad journey. For booking the best accommodation abroad to start your study abroad experience you can contact Fly Homes at 1800572118. Follow our social media handles on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
