Sierra DawsonIf you love the smell of printed pages, you know that finding a great reading spot is essential. Luckily, this city is full of hidden gems for casual readers and serious collectors alike.
To find the best bookstore in Denver, you should look past the big chains and visit independent shops instead. I spent time searching through stacks across town to find the best selections and fair trade policies.
Here are local spots you should visit next time you need a new book to read.
How much do books cost in Denver?
Book prices in the area generally range from $4 for clearance paperbacks to upwards of $40 for brand-new hardcovers.
| Book Type | Average Price Range |
| Clearance / Bargain | Under $5 |
| Used Paperbacks | $4 – $8 |
| General Used Books | $8 – $12 |
| Used Hardcovers | $10 – $15 |
| New Paperbacks | $15 – $20 |
| New Hardcovers | $20 – $40+ |
1. Tattered Cover Book Store & Café Colfax
Website: http://www.tatteredcover.com/
Address: 2526 E Colfax Ave
Contact: (303) 322-7727
Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tattered Cover Book Store & Café Colfax is a true local hub with a built-in cafe that keeps you comfortable for hours. It has been a staple of the literary scene since 1971 and offers a welcoming vibe that big corporate stores just cannot match.
They carry a huge mix of brand new releases and used books, so there’s something for every budget.
I stopped by for a coffee recently and ended up reading in one of their cozy chairs for the whole afternoon. You can also browse a great newsstand with magazines from all over the world.
While the atmosphere is amazing, their used book program is a bit complicated. You can’t simply drop off your old books because the trade-in window requires strict appointments. Just plan ahead if you want to sell your titles.
Customer Reviews:
Everything is nicely organized
The used book and sale sections are incredible! There’s so much to discover and everything is nicely organized. I loved the atmosphere too, it felt more cozy than a regular book store. Bought a signed copy of a book as well.
- Connie | Google Review
Chill and relaxed atmosphere
Wonderful bookstore. Great children’s section, a huge selection of moderately priced used books in the basement, and a chill and relaxed atmosphere. And being one who reads exclusively non-fiction, they have a great selection of history/political/biographies. The attached café has the usual lattes and coffees and such. We could have been there for hours, but our toddler lost her patience after a while. 🙂
- Lance Tilton | Google Review
2. West Side Books & Curios
Website: https://www.westsidebooks.com/
Address: 3434 W 32nd Ave
Contact: (303) 480-0220
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Serving as a Highland neighborhood landmark since 1967, West Side Books & Curios focuses heavily on rare and out-of-print titles rather than standard best-sellers.
If you’re tired of mainstream shelves and looking for alternative things to do, spending an afternoon exploring their niche inventory of Western Americana is a great option.
The sheer volume of unusual finds makes it a brilliant spot for serious collectors hunting down specialized gifts.
They also operate a local recycling program that buys used items directly from the community. This ensures that their stock remains fresh and constantly rotating.
However, you should keep in mind that their strict buying policy requires scheduled appointments. This means you can’t casually walk in with a box of books to sell.
Plus, because their rare stock turns over so quickly, a specific title you spot one day might easily vanish by the next.
Customer Reviews:
The employees are very nice
I can spend days in here and get lost in all of the books! The employees are very nice, and we’ve found some lovely books in the past few times we’ve been here. They have new and used books, and the selections are vast and unique. We’ll be back again!
- Tiara Cooper | Google Review
Customers feel special and cared for!
Everyone deserves to have a local independent bookstore that they’re obsessed with and this shop is mine. I love their used books section. I’ve picked up travel guides from there. Recently, I bought a book on mutual aid and received a beautiful free queer romance novel as part of their blind date with a book on Valentine’s Day. Talk about knowing how to make their customers feel special and cared for!
- Huong Dang | Google Review
3. Fahrenheit’s Books
Website: https://www.fahrenheitsbooks.org/
Address: 1415 S Broadway
Contact: (303)744-1043
Hours: Wednesday – Monday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tucked neatly into the historic Antique Row, Fahrenheit’s Books relies on a philosophy of curated eclecticism. They offer a hand-picked selection of high-quality volumes across all genres.
After moving to a bigger facility, they expanded their shelf space to create a much more comfortable and organized browsing environment.
It almost feels like walking through one of the local museums because they pay such careful attention to displaying excellent literature.
Patrons can even book custom appointments to browse outside of normal hours, which provides a personalized touch for dedicated collectors.
However, you should note that their standard daily hours are remarkably short. They close their doors at 5:00 PM every afternoon and are also entirely closed every Tuesday.
This can be slightly frustrating for folks trying to squeeze in a visit after a standard workday, so you should plan your trip accordingly.
Customer Reviews:
Don’t want to miss out on any cool finds!
If you like rare and old books this place is a must visit. We found two antique Portuguese to English dictionaries and a book from the twenties on water rights. Super niche, but if you love niche this is your place. This’ll be on my always stop list for future trips to Denver – don’t want to miss out on any cool finds!!
- Dani Jorgensen | Google Review
Lovely store – excellent vibes – great selection
Great selection of books. The store is very compact which gives it a wonderfully cluttered feel. They’ve got books from Leo Strauss to David Graeber to Thorstein Veblen to John Locke to Arno Mayer. I’ve been told that their fiction section is a little weak (don’t care about that much personally) so if you’re mainly looking for fiction, that might be something to take into account. Regardless, lovely store – excellent vibes – great selection. This will be my go-to bookstore as long as I live in the South Broadway area
- Michael Greer | Google Review
4. The Shop at MATTER
Website: https://www.shopatmatter.com/
Address: 2114 Market St
Contact: (303) 893-0330
Hours:
- Monday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Wednesday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Operating as a unique design and bookstore hybrid, The Shop at MATTER focuses on voices of color and themes of social justice.
During a recent visit, the staff explained their curated resistance inventory and showed how they act as an educational resource for the community.
They even run an in-house letterpress studio where they craft beautiful stationery and typography goods right inside the store. You can really tell they put a lot of thought into their book clubs and exclusive posters.
However, because they’re so mission-driven, their inventory skips the mainstream fiction you might find elsewhere. You should also be aware that they charge a fifteen percent restocking fee on all returned items.
This makes your buying decisions feel a bit more high-stakes than usual. Despite these rules, the shop is a powerful resource for anyone interested in social change.
Customer Reviews:
Thoughtfully curated merchandise
This is a must-stop for radical magical anticapitalist queer leftist freaks and everything in between 😘
I loved chatting with everyone, especially Jasmin- her joy and passion is remarkable! I left with a unique and special stack of books and I wish I could spend even more hours exploring all the zines and thoughtfully curated merchandise.
If you want to support an indie shop and meet some really special humans, go here- a haven for artists, makers, learners. You belong here.
- Briana Loeb | Google Review
The folks were friendly and helpful
I went into this store because I had a gift certificate but I’ll be back just to visit and spend more money on its many books. The folks were friendly and helpful. I encourage you to visit if you are looking for an independent bookstore.
- Harry Mallin | Google Review
5. Capitol Hill Books
Website: http://www.capitolhillbooks.com/
Address: 300 E Colfax Ave
Contact: (303) 837-0700
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Capitol Hill Books has been a neighborhood legacy for over 44 years and is a key part of the local literary scene. They focus heavily on rare and hard-to-find volumes, which has built them a strong reputation among antique collectors.
If you ever feel overwhelmed by too many choices, they offer a brilliant mystery bundle service. The staff will curate a surprise stack of reading material just for you.
Regular patrons also benefit from a loyalty program that offers ongoing discounts for a full year.
However, there are some strict rules regarding their trade-in system. It operates on a no-cash basis, so you can only exchange old books for store credit.
This credit is also restricted because you can’t use it for brand-new items or rare books kept in the premium glass cases.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely worth checking out!
Charming local book store tucked away behind the state capitol building. The staff was super friendly and helpful, I was on a mission to find used magazines and the guy working was super helpful. The shelves are stocked with books of course but also quirky items like old typewriters which gives this store it’s charm. Absolutely worth checking out!
- Laura Owsley | Google Review
Such a wonderful book shop
Such a wonderful book shop.
I wandered in here one day while walking around the city and I can honestly say that it is the quintessential “local book shop”. The shelves are covered with handmade signs detailing the books that line them. There are lots of little hidden notes or messages ticked in and around the bookcases making it a pleasure to wander the aisles while taking it all in.
I’ll happily be back to pick something up.
Chase Rill | Google Review
