Best Chicago Bookstores to Visit in 2026
By Allison Yates with Sarah Sabet
Unabridged Bookstore in Lakeview is one of the oldest continually existing contemporary bookstores.
At Read & Run Chicago, our book-themed running programming aims to support libraries, independent bookstores, and other small businesses. Between cozy atmospheres, stocked shelves, and friendly staff, we couldn’t be luckier to partner with so many indie bookstores at our events.
Chicago has long been a literary city, and the recent explosion of indie bookstores—many focusing on identity, social justice, and specific genres like romance—proves we’re still one of the best U.S. cities for book lovers. However, with the recent resurgence of large retail booksellers opening in several Chicago neighborhoods, Chicago’s independent bookstores need our support more than ever.
Lifelong Chicagoans and first-time Windy City visitors alike will find a home in the city’s vast array of options. So whether you’re looking for books in Polish, want to read books by AAPHI authors, support Black-owned businesses, or want to simply scan the shelves for the best books of the 21st century, these Chicago bookstores have you covered. Here are the best indie bookstores in Chicago to visit in 2026.
Notes:
This list does not include bookstores located outside of the city limits. Stay tuned for upcoming articles highlighting those literary spaces!
For the purposes of this article, we defined neighborhoods based both on city’s official 77 community areas and colloquial terms for neighborhoods.
We did not include stores selling exclusively comics—that’s another article in the works.
This list is an ever-changing work in progress. See something missing? Get in touch!
Out and about in the city? Below is our map.
North + Northwest Side
Albany Park
Restoried Bookshop
Neighborhood: Albany Park
Perfect for: Books by AANHPI authors
Shop here if you like:
Supporting family-owned businesses
Diversifying your TBR
Stories from BIPOC authors
Titles organized by identity across a variety of genres
Surprise! Take a reading break in one of their plush armchairs once you’re done browsing.
Readers & runners at Restoried Bookshop in Albany Park.
Andersonville
Women & Children First
Neighborhood: Andersonville
Perfect for: Something to revive your feisty feminist spirit
Shop here if you like:
Progressive parenting books
Books as tools for liberation
Intersectionality and trans-inclusive feminists
Surprise! Walking into this shop is walking through history. Women & Children First is not only one of Chicago’s longest-running bookstores, but also one of the largest and longest-running feminist bookstores in the country!
The Understudy Coffee and Books
Neighborhood: Andersonville
Perfect for: artists and theater lovers (If Layne Fargo’s characters in Temper would have frequented any bookstore, it certainly would have been this one!)
Shop here if you like:
Chicago’s vibrant theater scene
Enjoying passionate conversations
Hilarious staff—see: reels like this
Surprise! The Understudy is also a neighborhood cafe. Embrace coziness while you read with a cup of Metric Coffee.
Avondale
Books4Cause
Neighborhood: Avondale
Perfect for: Supporting the community
Shop here if you like:
Shopping sustainably
Donating books from your personal shelves
Surprise! Spending a day in the suburbs? Visit their Skokie/Lincolnwood location at 7080 N McCormick Blvd.
Guide John Foley at Bucket O’Blood Books and Records during Indie Bookstore Day 2025.
Bucket O’Blood Books and Records
Neighborhood: Avondale
Perfect for: Horror junkies and music lovers
Shop here if you like:
A healthy combination of new and used books
Horror, science fiction, and/or fantasy
Nostalgia via VHS tapes
Gothic decor
Surprise! Stock up for spooky season in their “Featured Female Horror Authors” section.
Skunk Cabbage Books
Neighborhood: Avondale
Perfect for: Books with a side of art
Shop here if you like:
COVID-cautious spaces
Part bookstore, part community workspaces
Native plant education and nature-themed decor
Surprise! The store also offers consignment and wholesale for Chicago-based artists.
Bucktown
Los Amigos Books
Neighborhood: Bucktown/Logan Square
Perfect for: Bilingual children’s books
Shop here if you like:
Bright, intentional spaces
BIPOC and Spanish-English bilingual representation
Carefully curated selections to help bilingual children meet developmental goals
Surprise! Adults can also find favorites here from authors like Erika L. Sanchez, Sandra Cisneros, and more.
Quimby’s
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Perfect for: lovers of all things unusual, spicy, saucy, and DIY
Shop here if you like:
Comics and zines by up-and-coming authors
A glimpse into Chicago’s robust graphic novel scene
Surprise! If you’ve got something to publish, check out Quimby’s Inc., a new initiative helping independent creators, artists, and writers self-publish their own zines, comics, and art books.
Edgebrook
New Book Joy in Edgebrook.
New Book Joy
Neighborhood: Edgebrook
Perfect for: unique gifts to pair with books
Shop here if you like:
Women-owned, multi-generational businesses
Curated bookish experiences
Charming boutique environment
A stacked book club and events calendar
Surprise! Visit their retro “Vinyl + Vibes” reading parlor on the second floor.
Jefferson Park
Polonia Book Store
Neighborhood: Jefferson Park
Perfect for: Books in Polish and English
Shop here if you like:
Adding bilingual titles to your personal library
Polish-language newspapers
A little music–they also have a piano
Coffee while you read
Surprise! Founded in 1969, Polonia Bookstore claims to be the oldest Polish-American bookstore in the country.
Lakeview
Unabridged Bookstore
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Perfect for: Readers who center the LGBTQ experience
Shop here if you like:
One of the largest LGBTQ+ sections in the country
Shopping at a long-standing community cornerstones
Doing all your errands at once–they’re right next door to a plant shop
Surprise! Local author and historian Owen Keehnen is a longtime employee. If you stop in at the right time, you might catch him!
Partners in Crime Bookshop in Lakeview, Chicago.
Three Avenues Bookshop
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Perfect for: New books covering important topics like disability rights, racism, and more
Shop here if you like:
Book club picks that align with awareness months
Special events for educators and school librarians
Surprise! Purchase a Three Avenues Membership ($125) to receive year-round VIP treatment like members-only discounts, early access to special events, an annual members-only party, exclusive merch, and more.
Lincoln Park
Lilliput Books
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Perfect for: Dog lovers and readers who love contemporary fiction
Shop here if you like:
Recommendations about Chicago authors and books
Ample room to browse books in the heart of Lincoln Park
Cozy couch spaces to lounge
Surprise! Be sure to say hi to the shop dog, Lily!
Kibbitznest Books, Brews & Blarney
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Perfect for: used books and a social atmosphere with both kinds of brews
Shop here if you like:
Third places
WiFi-free zones
Fostering meaningful face-to-face interactions
An events calendar featuring comedy shows and liberal arts discussions
Board games
Surprise! For a deeper conversation with a sprinkle of critical thinking, attend one of their monthly Jeffersonian Dinners, where guests explore what it means to be human and what we all have in common through a selected theme. Personal stories and intellectual arguments allow guests to bring forth diverse voices and expand their perspectives.
What’s one great place for readers & runners to spend time (besides the outdoors, of course)? Kibbitznest, a Lincoln Park cafe, bar, event space, and used bookstore.This WiFi-free zone is all about fostering meaningful face-to-face interactions. There are tons of books and good drinks in this cozy atmosphere to help you stay present and connected.
Lincoln Square
The Book Cellar
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Perfect for: Literary libations
Shop here if you like:
Restocking your reading needs after restocking your running needs from Fleet Feet Lincoln Square
A patio where you can read outside on a warm and sunny day
Surprise! Curl up with your new read on their couch with a glass of wine from the bar.
North Center
Partners in Crime Bookshop
Neighborhood: North Center
New store!
Perfect for: romance and crime readers
Shop here if you like:
ceiling shelves of all of the best contemporary romance and crime novels
Vintage romance novels
Photo opportunities by beautiful murals
Surprise! Most retail booksellers overlook titles by lesser-known or up-and-coming authors. You’ll find titles here that you won’t anywhere else.
Uncharted Books
Perfect for: Niche rare and used books
Shop here if you like:
Literature and zines focusing on the “literary, the local, the strange, and the adventurous”
Want to donate old books and zines—they accepted donations
Surprise! This beloved Andersonville bookshop has a new home close to Lane Tech.
Old Town
Slant of Light Books
Neighborhood: Old Town
Perfect for: Readers looking for a centrally-located shop for both discounted used books and new releases
Shop here if you like:
Personal recommendations from the owner, Jess
A charming atmosphere of soft jazz music and carefully displayed gifts and books
Bookish presents for perfect for gifts
Surprise! Check their Chicago section for The Battle of Lincoln Park to read about Old Town’s origins.
Portage Park
Polish Bookstore Quo Vadis. Księgarnia
Neighborhood: Portage Park
Perfect for: Books in Polish
Shop here if you like:
Learning a new language
Books, CDs, DVDs & magazines in Polish
Magazines, newspapers, and other imports directly from Poland
Surprise! This bookstore also imports Polish educational books at affordable prices for Polish Saturday School centers in Chicago.
Plot Twist Used Books
Neighborhood: Portage Park
Perfect for: Used Books
Shop here if you like:
Woman-owned businesses
Giving gently used books a second home
Surprise! (Or should we say “Plot Twist!” for this one?) If you live far, make a field trip out of it. According to Block Club Chicago, the stretch of Lawrence Avenue where Plot Twist is located also features a supermarket, a dinner theater speakeasy, a Filipino restaurant and a kids cafe, plus Printer’s Row Brewing, Delightful Pastries and Catalina Plant Co.
Ravenswood
Ravenswood Used Books
Neighborhood: Ravenswood
Perfect for: Used books
Shop here if you like:
Affordable fiction and nonfiction general books
A selection of rare used books
A compact space that packs a punch
Surprise! There’s no wifi available here–nerding out and lingering without technology is a must here!
Time and a half Books
Neighborhood: Ravenswood
Perfect for: The best selection of contemporary fiction
Shop here if you like:
Carefully curated book clubs in collaboration with other Ravenswood small businesses
One of the best bookstore totes in the city
Surprise! If you’re out and about with your pup, you’re welcome to bring them to Time and a half Books!
Rogers Park
The Armadillo’s Pillow
Neighborhood: Roger’s Park
Perfect for: Used books
Shop here if you like:
Fairytale-level coziness
Hilarious retro titles like “Hot Sex”
Whimsical book displays
Surprise! The Armadillo’s Pillow is a neighborhood staple and staunch indie bookseller, but not a participant in indie bookstore day. Visit this one a different day of the year if you’re trying to collect your Indie Bookstore Day stamps!
Jarvis Square Books
Neighborhood: Rogers Park
Perfect for: Used books
Shop here if you like:
A quaint neighborhood bookstore close to bars and restaurants
Affordable prices
A wide selection of contemporary fiction and nonfiction
Surprise! Exploring the neighborhood on a budget? Two neighborhood residents have declared the Jarvis Square area is perfect for “cool stuff and good prices.”
Roscoe Village
The Last Chapter
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village
Perfect for: Romance fanatics
Shop here if you like:
Nerding out with fellow romance novel feigns
Staff that share your cult-like romance fanaticism
Photobooths and Instagram-worthy backdrops
Surprise! This Latina-owned shop started a trend. It was Chicago’s first romance-only bookshop and one of the first in the country, ushering in a nationwide romance trend.
RoscoeBooks
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village
Perfect for: Shopping in a place where you feel like you’re part of the neighborhood
Shop here if you like:
Book clubs
Children’s story times
Community-based events
Surprise! The owners are a couple and Lakeview residents.
Central + West
Gold Coast
The Newberry Bookshop
Neighborhood: Gold Coast
Perfect for: Highbrow, niche, and intellectual reads
Shop here if you like:
Libraries
Archives, lectures, and rich history
Surprise! Across from the Newberry is Washington Park, once known as Bughouse Square, where Chicago’s first pride march began in June 1970.
Logan Square
City Lit Books
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Perfect for: Contemporary fiction and non-fiction
Shop here if you like:
Great lighting
Friendly staff
A robust selection of Chicago books
Surprise! City Lit Books is prominently featured in the stunning photography book, LGNSQ.
Loop
Exile in Bookville
Neighborhood: Loop
Perfect for: a great view of Grant Park in the gorgeous historic Fine Arts Building
Shop here if you like:
Experiencing a part of Chicago’s rich bookseller history
Friendly staff who take Chicago book recommendations for their shelves
Surprise! This is one of Rebecca Makkai’s favorite indie bookstores.
Barbara’s Bookstore
Neighborhood: Loop
Perfect for: a robust Chicago section
Shop here if you like:
Experiencing a part of Chicago’s rich bookseller history
Friendly staff who take Chicago book recommendations for their shelves
Surprise! Barbara’s Bookstore started in Old Town in 1963 and has since changed homes and expanded to six locations across the Chicagoland area, including the one above in Macy’s (former Marshall Field’s) on State Street in the Loop. This bookstore has lots of ties to Read & Run Chicago’s books—from the fact that co-owner Jane Bailey was injured in the 1968 Democratic Convention protests (see: Conspiracy to Riot) to the fact they started in Old Town as it was rapidly changing (read: Battle of Lincoln Park) to its location in the former Marshall Field’s (check out: Sin in the Second City).
after-words
Neighborhood: Loop
Perfect for: New and used books
Shop here if you like:
Centrally-located literary space for a lunch hour browse
Multi-level book browsing
Surprise! There’s a huge selection of coffee table books if you’re looking to update your decor.
Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc.
Neighborhood: Loop
Perfect for: History buffs
Shop here if you like:
Books focusing on Lincoln, U. S. Civil War, and U.S. Presidents
Rare books, photographs, and pamphlets you won’t find anywhere else
Surprise! This rare books shop is exclusive. Appointments required.
Pilsen
Giron Books
Neighborhood: Pilsen
Perfect for: Spanish language books
Shop here if you like:
A resilient family-owned business
Book editions from across Spain and Latin America
Translated editions of books originally published in English
Surprise! Giron Books is the last surviving offshoot of Librería Girón, a family-owned Spanish-language bookstore that was part of the Pilsen community for decades. There were once several locations in Chicago, and the Pilsen local was located at 1443 W. 18th Street, the Frank J. Petru Building. Juan Manuel Giron’s sister operated. Librería Giron closed in 2017 due to increased property taxes and decreased foot traffic, according to what Juan Manuel Giron told The Chicago Tribune. It was the only Spanish-language bookstore in Chicago, and later, Juan Manuel Giron’s sister operated Little Village’s Librería Girón before closing in 2024.
¡Viva! Los Libros
Neighborhood: Pilsen + Online
Perfect for: Bilingual children’s books
Shop here if you like:
Learning a new language
Community-forward mission-driven efforts
Bilingual books focusing on the Latinx experience and social justice
Surprise! Shop online or in person inside of Pilsen Arts & Community House, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization offering space and resources through exhibitions, art instruction and mentorship.
Open Books Ltd
Perfect for: Used books and shopping for a good cause
Shop here if you like:
Choosing from more than 50,000 titles across their locations in Pilsen and West Loop
Supporting literacy programs
Surprise! Open Books is a favorite place to volunteer amongst our readers & runners.
Inga
Neighborhood: Pilsen
Perfect for: Books by indie writers
Shop here if you like:
Self-published and independetnly distributed artists’ books
Reading about art, design, film, and theory
Surprise! The name “inga” is a reference to a small tropical plant found in the Amazon region. It’s known for its edible "ice-cream-bean” fruit and other benefits, like medicine, lumber, shade, and soil enrichment.
Pilsen Community Books
Neighborhood: Pilsen
Perfect for: Shopping for a good cause and activist literature
Shop here if you like:
COVID-cautious spaces
Floor-to-ceiling shelves
A high-quality double entendre tote bag
Surprise! Pilsen Community Books is Chicago’s only employee-owned and operated independent bookstore.
West Loop
Madison Street Books
Neighborhood: West Loop
Perfect for: New books you keep seeing on social media and a cozy kids’ section
Shop here if you like:
Supporting women-owned businesses
A cozy kids’ section
Small and indie press initiatives
Surprise! Can’t keep track of all these book clubs? Join them for their crafty club, Stitches & Stories! Instead of reading the same book each month and discussing it together, come with your current knitting or crochet project and chat about what your latest reads. Crafters of all skill levels are welcome, and limited supplies are available if you’d like to learn to knit or crochet while you’re there.
Open Books Ltd
Neighborhood: West Loop
Perfect for: Used books and shopping for a good cause
Shop here if you like:
Choosing from more than 50,000 titles across their locations in Pilsen and West Loop
Supporting literacy programs
Surprise! Open Books is a favorite place to volunteer amongst our readers & runners.
West Town
Passages Wine and Books
Perfect for: Wine with a side of books
Shop here if you like:
Sips alongside your reading
Contemporary fiction by diverse writers
A cozy, welcoming space for silent reading–the owner welcomes anyone to read during open hours
Surprise! If you’re looking for the perfect space to gather with wine and book lovers, talk to the owner about speciality wine tasting nights for you and your friends.
Semicolon Bookstore
Neighborhood: West Town
Perfect for: Books from BIPOC authors
Shop here if you like:
Supporting black-owned, woman-owned, mission-driven businesses
Knowledgeable and friendly staff that will chat with you for hours about your latest reads
Great staff recommendations for books by authors of color
Surprise! While Semicolon’s brick-and-mortar building is currently closed for renovations, you can still order from them online and attend off-site events. Stay tuned for their grand reopening this year!
Wicker Park
Myopic Books
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Perfect for: chaotic, packed shelves of used books
Shop here if you like:
That used book smell
Getting lost in stacks of approx. 60,000 books
An eclectic section to go wild in
Surprise! Myopic is one of the last stores in Wicker Park to survive amidst intense gentrification of the last few decades.
This bookstore has been featured in many essays and books about 1990s Wicker Park and beyond, from Joe Meno to Megan Stielstra to Layne Fargo. It’s also one of the last stores in Wicker Park to survive amidst intense gentrification of the last few decades. They carry an average of around 60,000 books and aren’t afraid of an ecletic section—go wild.
Perpetual Books
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Perfect for: Strange and unusual titles
Shop here if you like:
Rare and used books—most of the “unusual” variety
Floor-to-ceiling shelves (they used to live at Oak Park’s The Book Table!)
Enthusiastic owners ready to give you suggestions or space to peruse
Surprise! They buy used books and records. Sell them before you purchase more.
South Side
Beverly
Bookie’s
Neighborhood: Beverly
Perfect for: Used books and friendly staff
Shop here if you like:
Personal recommendations from owner Keith
Affordable used titles
Surprise! Running Excels is right next door, so you can load up on fuel for your run and books for your brain at the same time.
Honey & Hue Bookstore
Neighborhood: East Beverly
Perfect for: Books and culture centering the BIPOC experience.
Shop here if you like:
Books by Black authors and other writers of color
Intergenerational literacy programming
Monthly storytelling evenings
Surprise! You’ll find lots more than just books at this community-centered spot. Visit on weekdays for pop-up activities like R&B Yoga, stepping class, and adult spelling bees.
Bridgeport
Tangible Books
Neighborhood: Bridgeport
Perfect for: Snagging your next affordable read
Shop here if you like:
Used books
Wandering through shelves
Decluttering–you can drop off your gently used books before you grab more
Surprise! Stretch between the stacks–Tangible books often hosts Sunday morning yoga.
Paragon Books Gallery
Neighborhood: Bridgeport
New store!
Perfect for: Lovers of contemporary and aquarian book about on Asian culture.
Shop here if you like:
Rare books in Asian languages
Translated books from Asian countries
Books with a side of art–it’s inside Bridgeport’s famed Zhou B Art Center
Surprise! Plan ahead. They’re open by appointment only, Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays 10am-3pm.
Calumet Heights
Underground Bookstore
Neighborhood: Calumet Heights
Perfect for: Books by Black authors
Shop here if you like:
Books by Black authors and about the Black experience
Supporting a longstanding community hub
Surprise! Lots of regulars come here to hang out and read. You’ll find lots of opportunities to connect with fellow book lovers.
Hyde Park
Seminary Co-Op
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
Perfect for: Both academic and contemporary fiction titles for all types of readers
Shop here if you like:
Ample time to browse endless shelves twisting and turning through cozy nooks and crannies
Impeccable display skills
Academic books
Snack breaks in between browsing–next door is Plein Air cafe
Surprise! Seminary Co-Op is sister bookstore to 57th Street Books. In 2019 the two of them became the country’s first not-for-profit bookstores.
57th Street Books
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
Perfect for: Searching for books by authors of color and local authors
Shop here if you like:
Beautifully curated shelves in a garden unit space
Diverse collections of writers and genres
A robust Chicago collection
Surprise! This bookstore is featured in a book (so meta!) Hint: Check out Jessica Mlinaric’s Chicago Scavenger.
Powell’s Books Chicago
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
Perfect for: used, bargain, antiquarian, and out-of-print books
Shop here if you like:
Finding books you never thought you’d find in print–they sell out-of-print books!
Academic and scholarly books, perfect for nearby University of Chicago students
A large selection of arts, architecture, photography, fiction, music, and film.
Surprise! Most folks associate Powell’s Books with Portland, but the first Powell’s was originally founded in Chicago in 1970.
Call & Response Books
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
Perfect for: Books by writers of color
Shop here if you like:
Supporting a Black, woman-owned business
Personal recommendations from the owner Courtney and her friendly staff
Exceptionally comfortable sitting areas
Robust events calendar featuring writers of color
Surprise! Owner Courtney says that their inventory has been “painstakingly curated to reflect the diversity of voices that exist not only in our country but across the globe.” She says that many people express surprise at never having seen most of the titles before, which unfortunately, Courtney explains, is people the publishing industry continues to “push authors of color to the margins.”
Roseland
Bust into Books
Perfect for: Books centering the Black experience and providing culturally-relevant literature for students ages six through 18.
Shop here if you like:
Book buying with a mission–since 2018, they’ve 30,000 young readers and have distributed over 60,000 books
Book by Black authors
Children’s books focusing on diverse themes and lived experiences
Surprise! If you want to support but live far from the Pullman/Roseland area, shop online to still support the mission.
South Loop
Sandmeyer’s Bookstore
Neighborhood: South Loop
Perfect for: General and contemporary fiction and nonfiction
Shop here if you like:
New releases, travel guides, and children’s books
Supporting a women-owned business
Shopping in a longstanding Chicago literary institution housed in a historic building
Surprise! Sandmeyer’s is the only bookstore in the historic Printer’s Row, an area so named for the many printing houses that once populated this neighborhood.
A fiercely independent, woman-owned bookstore in a historic building in Printer’s Row since 1982, an area so named for the many printing houses that once populated this neighborhood.
South Shore
Readers & runners at Da Book Joint in 2025.
Da Book Joint
Neighborhood: South Shore
Perfect for: Books by Black authors
Shop here if you like:
Supporting a family-run shop–Courtney and Verlean are an unstoppable mother-daughter duo
Bookish gifts–in late 2024, Da Book Joint joined forces with Stoviink Creatives to launch Pen & Paper, a space to inspire literacy, wellness, and creativity.
Chicago-focused books
Surprise! Co-owner Courtney curates special book bouquets that make the perfect gifts for the book lovers in your life.
Washington Heights
Undercover Books
Neighborhood: Washington Heights
New store!
Perfect for: Rare and used books
Shop here if you like:
Books about theater—it was co-owners Lynn Bagley and Todd Zaruba’s first love
Books by authors of color and diverse topics
A welcoming community-centered space—there is lots of community programming
Surprise! The round window reminiscent of a magnifying glass is more than just decor—co-owner Lynn Bagley is also a private investigator. Her office is in the same shop!
Woodlawn
Build Coffee & Books
Perfect for: Books centering the BIPOC experience
Shop here if you like:
Cafe-style bookstore for sips while you browse
Books centering Black and BIPOC writers
A neighborhood space focusing on building collective power
Surprise! Build Coffee & Books was founded in 2017 by Bea Malsky and Hannah Nyhart, and later reopened in 2025 co-owned by Read & Run Chicago fan favorite author Eve Ewing, along with trína reynolds-tyler and Andrea Faye Hart.