Austin's independent spirit is alive and well in our community-owned, new and used bookstores. Make time to visit one of the many independently owned bookstores located around the city. All of them have something different to offer—here’s a list of the best indie bookstores to visit in Austin, on Independent Bookstore Day (the last Saturday in April) or any day!

BookPeople Storefront in Austin Texas
BookPeople. Credit Tomoko Bason.

Austin Books and Comics

Adventures! Super villains! Tights! You can find all of these things and more at Austin Books & Comics, home of all the comics your heart desires since 1977. Find collectibles, attend comic book signings and enjoy central Texas’ longest-running pop culture retailer.

Black Pearl Books

Find your next favorite read at the new Black Pearl Books, an independent bookstore promoting diversity, inclusion, equality and cultural awareness through literature. Shop online or visit the store inside Ten Thousand Villages.

BookPeople

Voted best bookstore in Texas for more than 15 years, BookPeople is a must-see destination for book lovers. It hosts more than 300 events every year featuring local and national authors, and visitors can always enjoy a nice espresso from the coffee shop as you flick through the pages of a paperback.

BookWoman

Have you been looking for a feminist bookstore? Look no further! BookWoman has been proudly supporting Austin feminists and members of the queer community for almost 40 years and gives voice to local authors, selling “books that will change your life and the world!”

table full of books at bookwoman independent bookstore in austin texas
BookWoman. Credit Susan Post.

Malvern Books

If you’re looking for visionary poetry, lesser-known authors and emerging voices, Malvern Books is the place for you. Its cozy and welcoming atmosphere is sure to leave you wanting to stick around and read all of the obscure and unique literature you can get your hands on.

Monkeywrench Books

It doesn’t get more indie than Monkeywrench Books. Monkeywrench is an all-volunteer, collectively run, nonprofit bookstore and social space that's pushing the boundaries of what a bookstore can be.

Resistencia Bookstore

Resistencia Bookstore brings together the voices of traditionally unheard people, including Native American, Latino & Latina, African American and Chicana literary artists, making Resistencia the coolest place to read some truly unique work and widen your world view.

South Congress Books

There’s nothing quite like South Congress Books. It boasts value and quality over quantity, and welcomes curious minds to sit in its aesthetically pleasing space, browse through its unique selection and maybe even pick up a thoughtful gift for someone back home.

two women stand together one holds book titles The Blinds A NovelTexas Book Festival
Texas Book Festival. Credit Bob Daemmrich Photography.

Texas Book Festival

Each fall, the Texas Book Festival brings hundreds of local, national and international authors to Austin for an all-out celebration of literacy, ideas and imagination. This beloved event features a rich variety of literary readings and panels, book signings, cooking demonstrations, live music, local food trucks, a young adult headquarters, children’s activities and exhibiting vendors - not to mention thousands of books! Don’t miss this year’s stand-out literary talent. Visit the website for more information about the 2021 festival: texasbookfestival.org

Contributed by Nayla Zylberberg, Visit Austin Marketing Communications Intern