It’s common knowledge that the smell of paper when flipping a new book is kind of addictive, especially for extreme book lovers. Another kind of high is when you stumble across a title you didn’t even know you needed.
I can still vividly remember my first visit to a bookstore in Calgary. I had just gotten off a flight when I wandered into a cosy little shop tucked between a coffee shop and a record store.
Two hours and five books later, I knew I’d found my happy place. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to uncover the bookstores this city has to offer—and trust me, it delivers. Here are the best bookstores in Calgary that book lovers like me shouldn’t miss.
Table of Contents
1. Shelf Life Books
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Website: https://www.shelflifebooks.ca/
Address: 1302 4 St SW #100
Contact Details: +1 403 265 1033 and [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Saturday to Monday – 11 AM to 6 PM
- Tuesday to Friday – 10 AM to 8 PM
Pricing:$
With over 130,000 titles, Shelf Life Books offers something for every reader. The store packs great finds from numerous genres you wouldn’t imagine would be here.
Aside from books, there are also audiobooks available. They have over half a million audiobooks in store, thanks to their partnership with Libro.fm, an audiobook bookstore.
If you’re having a hard time choosing a book to buy, just browse their staff picks. They have a very diverse taste, allowing you to pick from not just one genre.
Pro Tip:
Bring your four-legged friend with you, as dogs are welcome inside the store (with or without a leash!).
2. Owl’s Nest Books
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Website: https://www.owlsnestbooks.com/
Address: 815a 49 Ave SW
Contact Details: +1 403 287 9557 and [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 10 AM to 5:30 PM
- Sunday – 12 PM to 4 PM
Pricing: $
Owl’s Nest Books is definitely the store for you if you love to join book clubs. One of the clubs, called the Book Club Discussion Night, hosts an event where people talk about their favourite books of the year.
When it comes to books, your kids will surely love the range of children’s books they have in store. They have activity books that contain interactive puzzles that will enhance your little one’s analytical skills.
For cook moms, they have cookbooks that you might not be able to resist. When you’re looking for new recipes for snacks or dinner, I suggest going to this store.
Pro Tip:
Attend one of their free events that you can see on their website, such as book launches, workshops, and more!
3. Fair’s Fair
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Website: https://fairsfair.com/
Addresses: 907 9 Ave SE
Contact Details: +1 403 237 8156
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 10 AM to 6 PM
- Sunday – 10 AM to 5 PM
Pricing: $$
Fair’s Fair has been selling preloved books since the late 80s. What’s great is that they have two branches in Calgary that are very close to one another.
What I love here is that you can sell or trade your old books. The store credit you will earn on your profile after selling a book will never expire. You can also use it to pay up to 80% of a book you’d like to buy.
The best part? If you finish reading a book you’ve bought from them, you can return it and receive a 50% store credit of its value as long as their sticker is still attached to it.
Pro Tip:
Visit their Chinook branch if you plan to buy using your store credit. They accept it as payment from Tuesday to Saturday, which is longer than the Inglewood branch.
4. Pages Books on Kensington
– Media credit: pagesbooks
Website: https://www.pageskensington.com/
Address: 1135 Kensington Rd NW
Contact Details: +1 403 283 6655 and [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 11 AM to 9 PM
- Saturday – 10 AM to 9 PM
- Sunday – 11 AM to 7 PM
Pricing: $
Pages Books on Kensington is the store I often visit if I want to score something popular. You can even find Pulitzer Prize-winning books here, like James by Percival Everett.
One of the things I love is that you can pre-order a book from them. This ensures that you can get the book you want, especially if it’s too popular, as long as you pre-order much earlier.
If you can’t decide what books to buy during your visit, try looking at their staff picks. Those are the books that the store’s personnel curated based on their own preferences.
Pro Tip:
Don’t forget to purchase some of their book merchandise, such as bookmarks, tote bags, and more!
5. The Next Page
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Website: https://nextpageyyc.ca/
Address: 1217A 9 Ave SE
Contact Details: +1 403 452 6550 and [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 11 AM to 6 PM
- Sunday – 11 AM to 5 PM
Pricing: $
At The Next Page, you will not just enjoy books, but you can also enjoy a cup of coffee while browsing through their tall shelves (so tall that they have rolling ladders on site!).
The great thing about this store is its range of books from various languages, allowing it to cater to a wider range of book lovers. They sell books in English and other languages that you might not even know exist.
Like other bookstores on this list, they also buy books. You can either sell your old book for 1 $ or trade it for 2 $ store credit.
Pro Tip:
Remember that they only buy books during weekdays from their opening time to 5 PM.
6. Comic-Kazi
– Media credit: comickazi.calgary
Website: https://www.comickazi.com/
Address: 6105 Centre Street S
Contact Details: +1 403 286 0544
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Tuesday – 12 PM to 6 PM
- Wednesday – 10 AM to 6 PM
- Thursday and Friday – 11 AM to 6 PM
- Saturday – 10 AM to 6 PM
- Sunday – 12 PM to 5 PM
Pricing: $$
Comic-Kazi is the ideal bookstore to visit for comic nerds. They don’t just have DC and Marvel comics, but also have comics from lesser-known publishers like Dark Horse, Dynamite, and more.
Aside from comics, they also sell a range of manga. It’s a smart move, considering how both formats share similar storytelling roots, even though they come from different cultures.
You’ll also come across some cool art books in this store. I once bought a Capcom art book here because of my love for its PlayStation game when I was a kid. It’s one of the rare finds that I’ll always treasure.
Pro Tip:
Comic-Kazi offers more than just books! Don’t forget to browse through their apparel and trading cards to make the most of your visit.
7. Forbidden Library
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Website: https://forbiddenlibrary.ca/
Address: 755 Lake Bonavista Dr SE #167
Contact Details: +1 403 452 4873 and [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday – 10 AM to 7 PM
- Saturday – 10 AM to 5 PM
- Sunday – 11 AM to 4 PM
Pricing: $
You will definitely love frequenting Forbidden Library if you’re a big fan of love stories. This bookstore features romance-focused products curated exclusively for those who love to read books of that genre.
I appreciate their massive support for local authors across the city. If you visit their store, you might discover your new favourite Calgary romance writer. Some of the authors have interesting novel series to keep an eye on.
I also find it really unique that they sell book bouquets. This bundle of books, aesthetically wrapped as a gift, is absolutely the perfect present for your significant other on a romantic occasion.
Pro Tip:
They have a merchandise store with a lot of products, so buying at least one uniquely shaped bookmark and a romance-centric bookshelf sign might be a good idea.
8. Bowness Arts
– Media credit: bownessarts
Website: https://bownessarts.com/
Address: 6326 Bowness Rd NW
Contact Details: +1 403 288 4926 and [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 12 PM to 9 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 12 PM to 10 PM
- Sunday – 12 PM to 7 PM
Pricing: $
If you’re interested in reading materials from the 19th century, there’s a high chance that you might like some at Bowness Arts. I was very amazed when I saw an antique book here that was written in the late 1800s.
Aside from old books, they also have an array of books signed by the authors. This is particularly nice for those who want to start collecting signed books from their favourite author.
Bowness Arts also has many other products aside from books. I sometimes browse their vinyls and find old but gold records.
Pro Tip:
If you love playing or watching people play trading cards like Pokémon, you can attend their tabletop gaming nights for free.
9. Reformed Book Services
– Media credit: reformedbookservices
Website: https://reformedbookservices.com/
Address: 3311 Centre St N
Contact Details: +1 587 216 9828 and [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday – 10 AM to 7 PM
- Thursday to Saturday – 10 AM to 5 PM
Pricing: $$
Reformed Book Services is my go-to bookstore for Christian books, particularly Bibles. The great thing is that they have various versions of it, such as the new and old King James versions.
Of course, Christian bookstores will always have a range of children’s books. Your kids can get books like Bible stories, children’s fiction, and Christian heroes books here. Even teachers can score some teaching materials in their children’s books.
What I love here most are the Bible commentary books. I find it enjoyable to read literature about the holy book from authors who live and breathe it. Trust me, it can mold your perspective about various things.
Pro Tip:
You can also buy audiobooks and music CDs that revolve around Christianity! Some CDs from here are great for a peaceful morning vibe.
10. Legends Comics + Collectibles
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Website: https://legends-comics.ca/
Address: 5505 Shaganappi Trail NW Unit 4
Contact Details: +1 403 870 6627
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday – 11 AM to 7 PM
- Saturday and Sunday – 10 AM to 5 PM
Pricing: $
Legends Comics + Collectibles is the place to be if you’re looking for highly graphic comic novels. You will surely like the range of stories they have in store, from famous DC ones to titles that you might not have heard before.
What’s great is that they also sell a wide range of collectible items related to some of the reading materials they have. As a One Piece addict, I bought Ace and Luffy action figures, together with manga, during one of my visits here.
Another thing they sell aside from literature is trading cards, and they have many of them. It’s great to find a bookstore that sells a range of cards, not just the popular ones like Pokémon.
Pro Tip:
Buy their minimalist style Legends shirt and cap!
