Chicago's Best Bookstore

This feminist bookstore offers a comprehensive, wide-ranging selection.

Reviews:

• “LOVE IT!”
• “Brilliant”
• “Absolutely the best”
• “Reader’s Delight”
• “Great alternative bookstore”

Tips: There’s also a small women’s music section (Ani DiFranco to Madonna), gift items and a small library of rental DVDs.

Women & Children First

Quirky combination bookstore and cafe takes its play on words seriously.

Reviews:

• “Great bookstore!”
• “Awesome bookstore in Lincoln Square”

Tips: A serious wine program features several red, white and pink options from Europe and the U.S. all reasonably priced under $36 per bottle, $8 per glass.

The Book Cellar or email The Book Cellar

Reviews:

• “Excellent bookstore”
• “Don’t Support This Bookshop”
• “Good selection”

Printer’s Row Fine & Rare

Shop for books, music and more in a warm, relaxing and customer-friendly environment.

Reviews:

• “Boo”
• “books are awesome”
• “carbon copy”
• “Best chain of its kind”

Tips: Most locations have an in-store cafe, featuring caffeinated specialty drinks and a small selection of baked goods.

Borders

Bookworms will love burrowing through this dense Wicker Park book exchange.

Reviews:

• “Don’t wear a watch”

Tips: In addition to bookmongering late into the night, Myopic keeps up its cultural stewardship through sponsorship of irregular readings, a Sunday poetry series, Experimental Music Tuesdays, and a Wednesday chess night.
Things usually kick off around 7pm.

Myopic Books

Although dubbed “the gay bookstore,” this independent local shop offers titles for all readers.

Reviews:

• “Wow. What a bookstore!”
• “great bookstore”
• “Spend your afternoon here”
• “Great Boys Town bookstore”

Tips: Check the signs for frequent book readings and signings with authors ranging from Caleb Carr and James Elroy to David Sedaris and Anne Rice, the latter a longtime favorite at Unabridged.

Unabridged Books

You’ll find everything from general-interest volumes to very rare paperbacks at this revered Hyde Park book nook.

Tips: Inspire reading in your child and pick up a few titles in the extra large children’s section.

57th Street Bookstore

Lincoln Park bookseller that feeds the mind, body and soul.

Transitions Bookplace

This Hyde Park institution is one of the best academic bookstores in the country.

Reviews:

• “Caution: Bookstore Hazardous to Budget”
• “Terrific store – make the trip!”

Tips: A fringe benefit of the store’s relationship with U of C is that it stocks titles from class reading lists, allowing you to take a private refresher course in world literature or Greek philosophy.

Seminary Co-op Bookstore

Independent book store sells thousands of titles for only $5, both paperbacks and audio books available.

Reviews:

• “Mountains of great books! Great customer service. "

Tips: Check out the store’s schedule online to find out which book fairs they’ll be at.

Pennyworth Books

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