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Take a look at Halifax on a map, and you may be shocked by the number of bookstores that populate the city.

Maybe it’s caused by all the universities scattered across the city (4), or rather, maybe it’s simply a result of the over 7 local publishing houses. Whatever the cause may be, one thing’s for sure, Halifax is chock-full of books. From rare and vintage classics, to contemporary covers, or second-hand treasures, there’s something for everyone. So here’s your guide to 10 of the best independent bookstores in Halifax!

Bookmark – 5686 Spring Garden Rd.

First up is Bookmark located downtown on Spring Garden Road. One of three locations across the maritimes, this Halifax location was the second to open in 1989, and has been a staple in the community ever since. Here you’ll find a wide variety of books, spanning across numerous genres. From timeless classics, to upcoming releases, non-fiction, children’s literature, and even a local authors section, there is something for all ages. 

At Bookmark, they believe in supporting the local economy, whether that’s promoting books by Atlantic Canadian authors, selling stationary and gifts made by Halifax artisans, or simply turning local for their marketing, accounting, legal and other business services. In addition to their vibrant storefront, Bookmark strives to contribute to the local arts and culture scene in Halifax, hosting events with local, national, and international authors. 

Agricola Street Books – 2684 Agricola St. 

Agricola Street Books is a new and used bookstore, located in the North End of Halifax. They specialize in books for the whole family, boasting a wide array of children’s picture-books and literature, as well as an extensive classics, non-fiction, and fiction sections. Their focus is on literature, history, and arts, making it the perfect spot for university students to find their course books at an affordable price. 

But what makes Agricola Street Books special isn’t just their selection of over 10,000 titles, it’s the store itself. Stepping in the front door you are immediately greeted by the smell of books and wood. The three floor building is lined with beautiful wooden floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, meticulously organized by author and genre. Large windows fill the space with light, while up above, a two-tired stained glass chandelier hangs down, casting rainbow glows across the store. Nestled in the back corner of the store is a “Kid’s Room”, featuring beanbag chairs, wooden toys, and books at children’s eye-level. And as if that wasn’t enough, they have sliding ladders across the bookshelves–a book lover’s dream!

Agricola Street Books also has a book buy back program, where customers can bring in up to 20-titles in exchange for in-store credit. These buy-backs occur every two months. Additionally, they have a monthly book club, as well as local author events. 

Egghead Books – 5696 Roberts St. 

Egghead Books, located in the North End, is one of Halifax’s newest independent bookstores. Opened in 2025, Egghead is a female owned and operated store that sells a variety of books across all genres. The bookstore first gained popularity on social media, with owner Liz posting a short-video series on Instagram called “Opening an Independent Bookstore in Halifax”. The vlog-style videos shared a behind the scenes look of what goes into opening a storefront. From creating the logo, redoing the physical storefront (which used to be a specialty foods store), or building an online website, these videos highlighted Liz’s personality, and helped generate buzz around the store opening. 

In addition to selling books, Egghead has their own custom candle line with Alben Lane Candle Co., a local artisan business, as well as store merch (totebags, t-shirts, and more). Egghead also hosts events, such as their monthly reading club, summer reading challenge, and read-together outings. 

Trident Booksellers & Cafe – 1256 Hollis St. 

Since their opening in 1992, the Trident Bookseller & Cafe has been a neighbourhood staple for secondhand books and specialty coffee. The history of this bookstore is longstanding, with an original location in Boulder Colorado, which continues to operate to this day, as well as another location in Boston. 

The Trident Cafe has a cozy interior, with checkerboard floors, soft jazz music, and mismatched tables and chairs. In the far corner, tall bookshelves fill the walls, stuffed full of used books, while on the cafe side sits a rack of both local and national newspapers. Their cafe menu features seasonal baked goods, espresso, coffee, loose-leaf teas, and a heavenly hot chocolate. 

The cafe hosts numerous events, from author meetings, to poetry readings, book launches, and reading parties. But what makes this bookstore special is what happens after dark. In the evenings, the Trident Booksellers & Cafe transforms into a stage, with performances every Thursday, ranging from local musicians, singers and even up-close cabaret.

Woozles Children’s Bookstore – 6013 Shirley St. 

Woozles first opened its doors in 1978, founded by Ann Connor Brimer and Liz and Brian Crocker. The three all had experience in teaching and working with young children, a background that influenced their store motto, “a place for and about children”. And that is exactly what Woozles still is, a bookstore featuring a wide array of children’s literature, as well as young-adult fiction. 

In addition to their array of books, Woozles offers workshops for community members, sharing information, resources, and activity for and about children. Some of their past workshops have included music and movement for preschoolers, photography for teens, how to stay sane and have fun with toddlers, and how to make life-size puppets for adults. Additionally, they have run a number of other initiatives, such as “Woozles on Wheels” (taking books and workshops to outlying communities), “Woozle Birthday Parties” (themed parties at the store with relevant games, costumes, and treats), a “Woozle Bookclub”, and most recently “Battle of the Books” (teams from different schools compete to test their knowledge about the content and author of different books). 

King’s Co-op Bookstore – 6350 Coburg Rd. 

The King’s Co-op Bookstore is nestled in the basement hallway of the New Academic Building on the University of King’s College campus. Though it has been dubbed, “Canada’s hardest to find indie bookstore” by The Coast, this store is small but mighty. In addition to an extensive selection of source-specific textbooks, this community owned and operated bookstore also features a large array of local fiction, non-fiction, and, of course, UKC merch. King’s Co-op Bookstore also runs a podcast for book lovers called “Bookings”, where they talk to authors and scholars about their books .

Schooner Books Ltd. – 5378 Ingils St.

Located in the South End, in a big, blue Victorian house, Schooner Books has been operating in Halifax since 1975. Walk in the front door, and you’ll immediately be struck by the sheer volume of books available. The whole first floor of the home has been transformed into a library, with bookshelves lining the walls, and stacks of dusty covers reaching to the ceiling. This truly is a book lover’s dream. Hours could be spent sorting through the shelves, flipping through the antique covers, and rare editions. At Schooner Books, the focus is rare books, including Atlantic history and literature, early Canadiana, Canadian art, military, fine binding, used textbooks, antiquarian maps, and so much more.

Carrefour Atlantic Emporium – 1869 Upper Water St. 

Carrefour Atlantic Emporium is a locally owned gift shop, gallery, and bookstore, located in the Historic Properties on the Halifax waterfront. Since their opening in 1994, they have exclusively specialized in all things Atlantic Canadiana, from regional books, locally made items and fine art. This eclectic emporium showcases everything the Atlantic provinces have to offer. From field guides about maritime birds, local hiking trails and waterfalls, to cookbooks focused on traditional Newfoundland feasts, this bookstore has it all. 

Strange Adventures Comics & Curiosities – 5110 Prince St. 

Strange Adventures Comics & Curiosities is Canada’s oddest and award-winning comic book store, with locations in Fredericton, Halifax, and Dartmouth, they have been bringing customers the best comics since 1992. From new and old comics, to graphic novels, toys, board games, collectibles, and more, this bookstore has something for everyone. Additionally, they hold a variety of events, such as author meet-and-greet signings, back issue sales, buy-back weekends, and a free comic book day (May 3rd). Stop in to take a look at some comics, find the newest edition for your collection, or to just say hello to Strange Adventure’s mascot, Gromit the comic dog (@strangegromit on Instagram).

Open Book Coffee – 3660 Strawberry Hill St. 

Open Book Coffee, part bookstore, part cafe, specializes in new Atlantic Canadian books in all genres, as well as fair trade, organic espresso. This bookstore is partnered with Nimbus Publishing, and as a result hosts many events and author nights. Some of their more recent events include: latte lit writers’ open mic night, a letter writing workshop, vintage book and clothing pop ups, book launches, and art workshops. 

Inside, Open Book Coffee has an warm and cozy atmosphere. Numerous seating areas spread across the spacious store, from comfy couches and arm chairs, to mismatched tables and chairs, perfect for reading, studying, or just enjoying a cup of coffee. Their cafe menu offers baked goods, including muffins, squares, bars, and cookies, all sourced from local bakeries. 

Whether you’re a Halifax local, or just visiting, this city is sure to have the perfect bookstore for you! We hope this guide inspired you to check out a bookstore near you! To find out more about local independent bookstores, publishers, and authors head to our Instagram @atlanticbook.ca!