Ottawa has lost some beloved bookstores over the years (Collected Works on Wellington closed for good in 2012), but the ones that remain are worth a special trip. This list was put together from public web searches, store websites, and customer reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook. We could verify nine currently operating independent bookstores serving Ottawa, so that is what you get here, not a padded ten.
1. Octopus Books
Area: The Glebe (116 Third Avenue) · Rating: 4.7 on Google (281 reviews) · Since: 1969
Octopus Books has been Ottawa's progressive, left-leaning bookstore since 1969, with a stock that goes well beyond politics into literature, philosophy, history and kids' books. Reviewers consistently point to the cozy, curated feel of the shop and its strong selection of Canadian and Indigenous writers. It suits readers who want a browsing experience shaped by a genuine point of view, not just bestseller tables.
2. Perfect Books
Area: Centretown (258 Elgin Street)
Perfect Books has been a fixture on Elgin Street for over 30 years, selling new fiction and non-fiction with an emphasis on local and Canadian authors. Customers consistently mention the knowledgeable, friendly staff who make personal recommendations and the store's regular literary events. It's a good fit for readers who want a classic, all-new-books indie shop rather than a used-book dig.
3. Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar
Area: Old Ottawa South (1073 Bank Street) · Rating: 4.7 (1,154 reviewers) · Since: 2011
What started as a small online venture called Bibliocracy in 2011 has grown into a two-floor shop stocking roughly 90,000 new and used titles alongside a full espresso bar. Reviewers call out the academic nonfiction, poetry, and graphic novel sections, plus a book-exchange program where customers trade titles for store credit. It's the pick for anyone who wants to make an afternoon of it with a coffee in hand.
4. Books on Beechwood
Area: New Edinburgh (35 Beechwood Avenue) · Rating: 4.3 on Google (71 reviews) · Since: 1994
Independent and locally owned since 1994, Books on Beechwood leans into literary fiction, biography, and history, with a large children's and young adult section. Reviewers highlight the staff's willingness to track down special orders and their knack for matching a reader to the right book. It suits neighbourhood regulars in New Edinburgh and Rockcliffe more than destination shoppers, though it's worth the trip either way.
5. Singing Pebble Books
Area: The Glebe (206 Main Street) · Since: 1988
Singing Pebble Books has been Ottawa's mind-body-spirit bookstore since 1988, stocking titles on astrology, Buddhism, tarot, and yoga alongside crystals, jewellery, and incense. Reviewers describe owner Mika's personalized service and a welcoming, unhurried atmosphere. This one is for readers looking for something specific: spiritual, esoteric, and wellness titles you won't find at a general shop.
6. Book Bazaar
Area: Centretown (417 Bank Street) · Since: 1974
Family-owned since 1974, Book Bazaar is one of Ottawa's oldest used bookstores, with an eclectic stock spanning philosophy, literature, art, science, religion, history, Canadiana, and an extensive sheet music section. Reviewers note the well-organized shelves and staff who can track down rare and hard-to-find titles, though prices on scarce volumes can run higher than at other used shops. Good for collectors hunting a specific out-of-print title.
7. All Books
Area: Rideau Street (327 Rideau Street) · Rating: 4.5 on Google (173 reviews)
All Books is known for stacking its used inventory floor to ceiling, with an owner reviewers describe as having a near-photographic memory of the entire collection. Customers consistently praise the prices compared to other used shops and the staff's ability to locate a specific title inside what one reviewer called "beautiful chaos." It's a general-interest used bookstore, best for browsers rather than shoppers with a precise want list.
8. Barely Bruised Books
Area: Sandy Hill (315 Wilbrod Street)
Tucked on the second floor of a Sandy Hill building near the University of Ottawa, Barely Bruised Books carries more than 80,000 new and used titles and what reviewers describe as the largest Indigenous book section in Ontario. Regulars mention owner Scott's deep literary knowledge and personalized recommendations, along with a strong sense of community around the shop's poetry nights and events. Some reviews note dim lighting and that the space feels like someone's upstairs apartment, which is part of its charm for the right customer.
9. The Spaniel's Tale Bookstore
Area: Wellington Village (1131 Wellington Street West) · Since: 2022
Ottawa's newest entry on this list, The Spaniel's Tale is a queer-owned independent bookstore that opened on Wellington Street West in September 2022, serving Hintonburg, Wellington Village, and Westboro. It stocks curated contemporary fiction, non-fiction, and children's books with an emphasis on local and Canadian authors, and reviewers note the shop is dog-friendly and hosts regular community events. A good stop for readers who want a newer, actively curated shop rather than a legacy used-book warren.
How We Built This List
This list was compiled from public web sources, including store websites, Google and Yelp reviews, and local coverage from outlets like Apartment613. It is not a paid placement, and ottown has not tested or visited any of these businesses. Ratings, review counts, and founding years are included only where we found a specific source confirming them; several stores are included without a rating because we couldn't confirm one from a source we read. Last reviewed August 2026.
Source: Apartment613, Best of: Independent bookstores, plus individual store websites and Google/Yelp/Facebook review pages cited above.
