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Independent Bookstores in Ottawa, ON

Ottawa's independent bookstores are spread across its neighbourhoods rather than packed into one district. Bank Street through the Glebe and Old Ottawa South has the closest cluster, with three shops along one stretch of the street. The rest sit on neighbourhood main streets: Elgin, Main, Wellington West and Beechwood, plus an antiquarian dealer in the ByWard Market.

Two of them have been open since 1969. Others are much newer, including a romance-only shop in the Glebe and a queer-owned general bookstore in Hintonburg that opened in 2022.

8 bookstores listed · Guide updated November 2026

Ottawa bookstores by neighborhood

The Glebe and Old Ottawa South

All three are on or just off Bank Street.

  • Octopus Books — 116 Third Avenue at Bank. Selling books since 1969, with a focus on social justice and politics, plus a large children's section and a busy events calendar.
  • Evermore Books — 857B Bank Street. A romance-only bookstore with over a thousand titles across subgenres and its own spice guide.
  • Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar — 1073 Bank Street in Old Ottawa South. New and used books over two floors, with a full espresso bar.

Old Ottawa East

  • Singing Pebble Books — 206 Main Street. Open since 1988 and focused on spirituality, metaphysics and personal growth, with tarot decks, crystals and some fiction.

Centretown

  • Perfect Books — 258A Elgin Street. A general new-book shop with fiction and non-fiction, and frequent poetry and book launches.

ByWard Market

  • Patrick McGahern Books — 11 Murray Street. An antiquarian dealer since 1969 specializing in early Canadiana, the Arctic, maps and prints, military history and angling. Opening hours are limited, and appointments are available.

Hintonburg and Wellington West

  • The Spaniel's Tale Bookstore — 1109 Wellington Street West. Queer-owned, opened in 2022, with contemporary fiction, non-fiction and children's books and an emphasis on Canadian authors.

New Edinburgh and Beechwood

  • Books on Beechwood — 35 Beechwood Avenue. Locally owned since 1994, strong in literary fiction, biography, history and children's books.

All 8 bookstores in Ottawa, ON

Questions about bookstores in Ottawa

Where can I find several Ottawa bookstores close together?
Bank Street is the best bet. Octopus Books (at Third Avenue), Evermore Books and Black Squirrel Books are all on Bank between the Glebe and Old Ottawa South.
Which Ottawa bookstores sell used or rare books?
Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar sells new and used books. Patrick McGahern Books in the ByWard Market deals in antiquarian and rare books, especially early Canadiana and the Arctic.
Is there a romance bookstore in Ottawa?
Yes. Evermore Books in the Glebe sells only romance, across subgenres, and rates titles with its own spice guide.
What is the oldest independent bookstore in Ottawa?
Octopus Books and Patrick McGahern Books both date to 1969. Singing Pebble Books opened in 1988 and Books on Beechwood in 1994.
Are there queer-owned bookstores in Ottawa?
The Spaniel's Tale Bookstore on Wellington Street West is queer-owned.