Toronto is filled with hidden gems for readers — from whimsical tea-and-book escapes to antique curiosities and indie favorites. Here are five of the cutest and most unique bookstores in the city, each offering a different kind of magic on the shelf.
1. Flying Books at Neverland
📍 371 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2A4
⏰ Open daily, morning till late
This cozy nook inside Neverland Tea Salon combines books, café vibes, and wine bar charm — and yes, it’s as dreamy as it sounds. The collection is small but thoughtfully curated, with a focus on fiction, contemporary memoirs, cookbooks, poetry, and beautiful hardcovers you’ll want to gift (or keep!). It’s the perfect place to browse with a tea in hand.
2. Ben McNally Books
📍 108 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M5C 1S6
⏰ Mon–Sat 10 AM–5 PM
Ben McNally is an elegant bookstore with serious literary cred. Expect a refined selection of literary fiction, historical nonfiction, biographies, and essays, along with standout staff picks. It’s a place for deep readers and those who appreciate beautifully bound editions. If you’re seeking books that make you think — this is your spot.
3. Type Books (Queen West)
📍 883 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1G5
⏰ Mon–Sat 10 AM–6/7 PM, Sun 11 AM–6 PM
Beloved by locals, Type Books is a cozy indie store with a playful mix of art books, graphic novels, children’s literature, poetry, and current fiction. There’s a strong emphasis on Canadian authors and unique giftable finds. The bright space and friendly staff make it easy to lose track of time here.
4. The Monkey’s Paw
📍 1067 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1M5
⏰ Tue–Sat 11 AM–6 PM, Sun 12–5 PM
Known for its vintage charm and its one-of-a-kind “Biblio-Mat” (a vending machine for random old books!), Monkey’s Paw specializes in rare, antique, out-of-print, and just plain bizarre titles. You’ll find everything from Victorian manuals to forgotten pulp fiction to obscure science books. Every visit is like going on a literary treasure hunt.
5. BMV Books (Annex Location)
📍 471 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1X9
⏰ Daily 10 AM–11 PM (hours vary slightly)
This three-floor bookstore near the University of Toronto is packed with discounted new and used books — from bestsellers to classics, academic texts to sci-fi, and everything in between. They also stock vinyl, DVDs, manga, comics, and board games. It’s budget-friendly and always full of surprises, especially if you love digging through bargain shelves.
📍 Make It a Day
You could easily turn this into a “bookstore crawl” — start with tea at Flying Books, explore the artistic vibes at Type, then subway up to Monkey’s Paw and BMV, and finish with a serene browse at Ben McNally. Don’t forget to bring a tote bag… or two.
Trudy Travels 
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