The Most Flavorful Bookstores in Albuquerque

Bookworks

★★★★☆ 4.1 (54) • $$

"Had a great time tonight with Bob odenkirk. His book a load of hooey. He was doing a autograph signing for his book. Rhea seehorn was there also, and Michael Mando.All three actors we're reading things that they liked from their favorite books. After the book signing they were signing photos for a donation for a charity. Had a great time how could do this again soon."

Harvest Moon Books

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"The selection of books found at Harvest Moon Books is always delightful, but I specifically love sifting through the used book options. They have a setup at both And Stuff in Nob Hill and Montage Coffee in Los Ranchos. I think the And Stuff location tends to have more of a used selection but Montage is such a fun space. Over the years I have purchased a good amount of books from Harvest Moon and even when I'm out of room on my bookcase, they always have such interesting options, highly recommend checking them out. Plus there is no such thing as a bad excuse to go to Montage."

Archie's Audio Books

★★★★★ 4.5 (2) • $

"Don't be fooled by the faded "Books on Tape" sign, this is an awesome bookstore of only audio books, fully stocked with recent new releases (which they offer on USB drives to play in the car). Yes, new releases like from this year, not 1983 which is probably the last time the sign, or anything else in this little rundown strip mall, was updated. The guy behind the counter was welcoming and helpful, and assured me they offer better prices than Audible."

St. John's College Bookstore

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"Santa Fe is a town full of history- and bookstores. There are tons of cafe/bookstore combinations around town, and since this one is beside a cafe, it counts. It's a tiny bookstore, smaller than most in Santa Fe, but it's packed with a lot. One can spend hours among the cookbooks, philosophy, religion.The owners are friendly&are more than willing to take special orders. There are sofas&couches for lounging&reading. High quality books, reasonable prices, friendly staff. Plus it has beautiful mountain views."

J & R Vintage Auto Museum

★★★★★ 4.6 (5) • $

"This museum is a hidden gem. Over 150 lovingly restored antique automobiles. Friendly helpful staff. If you're into cars this is a must see."

FriendShop

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"Need something to read but don't want to spend a lot of money? How about a new movie or puzzle? This is your stop! It's a non profit store selling used books, magazines, puzzles and more. Profits are directed to local libraries and literacy projects in Sandoval County. There's a great selection of all types of books - fiction, non-fiction, history, hobbies and more. Prices are reasonable - most things are $5 or less. I picked up 3 books for $9. New these books would have cost me over $50. The store relies on donations so the turnover is constant. Plus, everyone working there is a volunteer. I'll be clearing out my book shelf and take some with me to donate the next time I'm in the area. Lets see - inexpensive books purchases and helping to fund literacy? Sounds like a win-win to me."

Travel Bug

★★★★☆ 4.1 (51) • $$

"This place is cool but not in the literal sense. I walked in and the man behind the bar beered me right away. For a small nearly home brew set up it wasn't bad. They have maps for everywhere, books too! They don't have AC which if your from the area probably isn't a big deal but being from a cooler place it cut our stay short. It looks like they can print maps too but I'm not sure."

Beastly Books

★★★★★ 4.9 (8)

"Cute bookstore and coffee shop near the Jean Cocteau movie theater. We read about it and then stumbled on it while walking the streets in the area.I am not a "Game of Throne" viewer (not my thing) but I love bookstores so I will always check one out. This one has cool decor, is airy, with some memorabilia on display since it's owned by George R. R. Martin himself. They mostly sell his books with his signature and not only.Definitely an unique place, if you love the show, the place is a must visit. If not, just if you happen to be in the area."

Book Mountain Paperback Exchange

★★★★☆ 4.3 (11) • $

"Great bookstore in Santa Fe, we found out about it checking on line the area for another bookstore.We stopped here on a Friday and they close at 6 pm not at 7 pm as it's on Yelp and Google. Sunday closed.We stopped by next day since we were in the area! Parking in the back!The store is big, very well organized, has great customer service and many rooms with many bookshelves. A paradise for book worms like us!Prices are decent, we met other nice customers and chatted with them. It's a nice hangout as well.Great books selection and left with many goodies, had to restrain ourselves since we were taking a plane and didn't have so much room in the luggage.Nice store in Santa Fe, if you live there, check it out. If you visit and need a book, stop by. Very inviting and cozy!"

Opcit Books

★★★★☆ 3.8 (28) • $

"Great bookstore! Wow! It is like a wonderland. I came with my family. Everyone found two or more books that they were excited about. The shelves are clearly labelled and well-organized. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable. Covid-safe practice appear to be in place and were being followed when we were there."

UNM Bookstore

★★☆☆☆ 2.3 (20) • $$$

"Was looking for a cool souvenir to sport when I get back to SF... fail. The bookstore itself is huge but clothing sizes for women... nonexistent. They had UA and Nike items but most of them were all large and it was sad... I really liked their color: really bright red. For all you design geeks: think Pantone 485. They had some cool tshirts but they all had pink... (sigh...) Maybe next time they'll have size small and items that don't have pink in them... wishful thinking I know..."

Big Star Books & Music

★★★★☆ 4.4 (23) • $$

"This cute bookstore is located inside a small cottage in downtown Santa Fe on a side street.Like many places in Santa Fe, the hours are different than the ones you find on line.The place doesn't open at 11 am. We got there at 11:45 am and saw the sign on the door that they open at Noon! The nice people working there saw us waiting outside and opened a tad earlier, much appreciated! The place is closed on Mondays and Sundays.Well organized, decent book selection, a few rooms full of goodies. They also sell CD-s here, once again, nice selection. Prices are a tad higher, but they have discounted items outside. Of course, we couldn't resist and bought a few books that we couldn't leave behind.Cute bookstore in Santa Fe, check it out!"

Treasure House Books & Gifts

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (9) • $$

"We came to this store on a Saturday night and were greeted by two nice guys. They were helpful but not overbearing. The selection of books were all by New Mexican authors and there was a lot of books to choose from. We ended up getting a children's book by an author of a a book I read growing up, "Bless me Ultima." It would have been nice to see more children's books here but there was still a solid selection. I also purchased a couple of postcards here. They also have magnets and a few other NM-centric items. I wish I would have asked more questions about some of the books I saw based on the reviews but I'm glad they are such a nice resource for the community and that they know so much about these books!"

The Collected Works Bookstore & Coffeeshop

★★★★☆ 3.8 (119) • $$

"On a recent trip to Santa Fe, I enjoyed a magical morning in The Collected Works Bookstore & Coffeeshop.This independent bookseller is conveniently located in downtown Santa Fe. On one of my first afternoons in Santa Fe, I decided to drop in for a vacation read. Their books are well organized and they have a wonderful selection (the best I found in Santa Fe, in fact). I found a book from my never-ending to-read list and purchased it, noting that they have a coffee shop and promising myself I'd stop by one morning during my vacation.Which, I'm happy to say I did. The coffee shop is a bit sparse at the moment, offering only drip coffees and possibly pour over (no espresso drinks). There is an espresso machine, so not sure if it's just not operational? I did overhear someone ask the barista and it sounds like some adjustments were made due to the pandemic (but didn't hear all the details).That said, I got a lovely cup of strong drip coffee and a pastry and found a lovely spot in one of their window seats (!!) to linger over coffee and the book I'd purchased earlier in the week. For this book nerd, I seriously can't imagine a more enchanting start to the day.Get to it!"

Books Of Interest

★★★★★ 4.7 (20) • $

"While passing through town, we noticed this business because we found the name of the store amusing! Happened to then look it up on Yelp and found the strong reviews, so the next day, we stopped by and unexpectedly dropped nearly $300 on used books (and had to restrain ourselves to even get it to that amount). Fabulous inventory, very well curated. Not a lot of schlock. Heavy on art, design, architecture and regional history. Everything I picked up was VG+ to Like New quality -- the owner is selling quality books. He also has a lot of out of print books, so it's also quite fun to browse."

Page 1 Books

★★★★☆ 4 (48) • $$

"Page 1 probably has the best selection when it comes to local bookstores in Albuquerque. Overall the store is organized very well and I love the front area where there are so many different themes to help you find some interesting reads. This last time I went in I think it was Mystery Book Week according to the round table in front of the cash register. They also have a great selection of used books, I do wish there was some way of telling which copies were used though before pulling them off the shelves. I prefer to buy used most the time because those copies are more affordable as well as it's a great way to make more sustainable choices. The used books are all mixed in with new copies so you kind of have to do some digging. Parking is available but the lot is kinda set up weird. The little shopping center that it's in is always busy and has a ton of random businesses."

Slice of Life Anime and Manga

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"This shop is small but charming! Nicely curated selection of manga and anime merchandise including figurines and stickers, and a stationery selection. I picked up a volume of a favorite manga I was behind on and chatted briefly with the friendly clerk, who told me they're always happy to do special orders. Definitely a business worth supporting!"

The Ark

★★★★★ 4.7 (44) • $$

"Truly exceptional in every way. Staff who truly care about their customers and the wares they are selling. An amazing assortment of books, gifts, spiritual items, and so much more. We had planned to "pop in" but stayed almost two hours browsing and picking up gifts for friends and family."

Photo-Eye Bookstore

★★★★☆ 4.2 (5) • $$$

"This review is strictly for their mail-order service, and I only wish I'd discovered their store during our last visit to Santa Fe. Anyway; I wanted a very heavy out-of-print book that was priced better here than anywhere else, and particularly since Photo-Eye's copy was in "new" condition. I ordered the book online, but I had a question and called them the next morning. The woman I spoke to - who was actually located in the store - was very pleasant and helpful. The book arrived today and it's in perfect condition, plus it was incredibly well-packed.(Update on 3/2/16): It's four years later and their mail order service is still *outstanding*. Occasionally I order books from them and all aspects are always terrific. Today I called to ask a question about a pending order, and the young guy I spoke to (Christian) was *incredibly* friendly.(Update on 6/1/17): More outstanding service, as always; today I spoke to someone in the bookstore (Laura) re: an order, and she was also incredibly friendly & helpful."

Garcia Street Books

★★★★☆ 3.8 (10) • $$

"Nine Buddhist books. I wish I could consult with them to increase it to 20 essential classics. They have good fiction, art and children's sections. A book on big butts caught my eye. They have a Santa Fe non-fiction section. The psychology section was a bit weak, in my opinion. My dad liked it, "interesting art and fiction books, you can see stuff you don't see elsewhere." The counter woman greeted me, seemed pleasant."

Books on the Bosque

★★★★★ 4.8 (15)

"Speaking as a neighbor in this 'hood, let me say, all of the businesses that've opened in this shopping center -- since the world reopened -- rock. I can get virtually all of my needs met in my own backyard, from the chiropractor I visited a couple of months ago, to Korean food, Macarons and gelato, a cafe is about to open up (right next to my weed shop), I mean, we have just about everything. But THIS, a cool new independent bookstore? Best. Business. Ever.At least as of the grand opening, this nerdy paradise ditches the typical jam-the-shelves model for a clean, carefully manicured selection of better known volumes of many genres. I'm sure as time goes by they'll get to know their neighbors (like me) better, and the character will slightly change, but I really enjoyed wandering aisles where I could often judge books by their covers. Bonus: comfortable seating areas, snack and drinks.The other day I was reading a summary of a novel online, on one of those sites that put independent bookstores on life support, and the summary urged the reader to buy the book from a local seller. I thought to myself, y'know, of course I should. And it was easy, and I felt better doing so, and I urge you to do the same. Sorry eastsiderz, you're going to have to swallow the fact that the westside is becoming a terrific place to live."

Blue Eagle Metaphysical Emporium

★★★★★ 4.5 (37) • $$

"First time visiting this store. Every time I pass that shopping center on Juan Tabo I've seen the sign. I was very curious about what it was. Since I was driving I could Google or check Yelp. By the time I stop somewhere and have time I'd long forgotten lol Honestly I wasn't sure if it was a bar or a restaurant. I had some downtime and was in the area so I just had to stop in to finally find out. Walking in I was quite surprised. It was a very unique store carrying specialty oils, incense, and a lot of unique figurines and crystals, and so much more. It was quite a delight!The staff was so friendly. I exclaimed how it was my first time visiting and they were very helpful throughout my stay. I have to say their oil selection was quite extensive. I may have to try them someday. Next time I'm in the neighborhood I'll be back!"

The Book Case

★★★★☆ 3.7 (13) • $

"This bookstore is full of many piles of books everywhere and a female owner who knows where everything is!You can browse for hidden gems or ask the owner where something is...505-232-9090"

Gunstock Hill Books

★★★★☆ 4.2 (9)

"I completely lost track of time here and spent over an hour in this small but cozy store. I enjoyed my time talking to Mr. Lewis, the shopkeeper, a lot during my time perusing his collection of first editions. Thank you for allowing readers to not only touch but leaf through your rare collection, this is quite unimaginable in most used and rare book stores. I never thought I would be able to flip through a first edition of Oliver Twist as well as view original pamphlets that Dickens' works were printed in (ephemerals, as I learned).I hope to come in again the next time I am in town!"

Branch Christian Books Gifts & Espresso

★★★★☆ 3.9 (9) • $$

"This is also an excellent coffee shop or lunch spot. The coffee is locally roasted...lots of choices...currently drinking "snickerdoodle". Their mocha java is a fav too. You've accomplished what you came to Las Lunas for....your not quite ready to brace the long dangerous trek back north...So, bloody stop here to re-energise, re-juvenate and re-lax. Within no time your re-purposed with the spirit to make it home...:) Thanks for reading. Rev. Avram of the Java Chapel"

Victory Book Store

★★★★★ 5 (1) • $$

"This bookstore has everything you need. They have NIV to King James kids Bibles they have crosses trinkets Bible covers clothes rings and everything in between."

Nicholas Potter Bookseller

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"Brilliantly curated little shop, run by a bookseller committed to quality and fairness. I've been a customer (and friend) for many years. Loving used bookstores, I've visited many of this sadly disappearing breed across the country. Nick's has remained one of the very best. Don't miss it when you are in Santa Fe. His shop and his knowledge of books will enchant you, and, if asked, he will regale you with Santa Fe history and stories you will long remember.Am I a prejudiced client...absolutely. Do I exaggerate...not a bit."