7 Wonderful Bookstores in Columbus (2024)

Explore Columbus, Ohio’s best bookstores! These local bookstores are neighborhood treasures where you can find your next great read!

These independent bookstores in Columbus, Ohio are some of the best places to visit in Columbus! And yes, as an avid reader, that is my biased opinion! LOL I love walking through a bookstore! It’s a peaceful, yet inspiring experience for me!

Visit one of these local bookstores to find a good book, join a monthly book club, enjoy a story time or attend live author events! These community bookstores are hubs for their communities with knowledgeable staff that will help you find just what you need!

​Browse this list of the best bookstores in Columbus, Ohio and pick one to visit soon!

1. Gramercy Books

• Address: 2424 E Main St, Bexley, OH 43209
• Website

A bookstore that opens into a coffee shop? Have I died and gone to heaven?? Gramercy Books in Bexley opens up into Kittie’s Cakes and it’s the perfect combo!

Gramercy Books was founded by author and journalist Linda Kass. The shop hosts special events, book clubs and author visits. The store is a joy to shop in! This independent bookstore is bright and welcoming and it’s a great place to find new releases!

We love visiting the children’s section and browsing their selection of children’s books, toys and gift items! You can see more pictures of the children’s section in my list of bookstores for kids in Central Ohio!

 2. Birdie Books

• Address: 74 N State St, Westerville, OH 43081
• Website

Birdie Books is an adorable bookstore in Uptown Westerville filled with books and treasures in every nook and cranny. You can find a unique selection of books, book-related items, gift ideas and fun cards inside this shop!

The decor inside the shop adds to the magic here and it’s a pleasure to spend time getting lost in this bookstore! There is a small children’s area and a larger room in the back with more books and a couple of chairs.

Birdie Books is within walking distance of Espresso Air and Java Central, two coffee shops in Westerville that would combine to make the perfect book-lovers outing!

3. The Book Loft of German Village

• Address: 631 S 3rd St, Columbus, OH 43206
• Website

The Book Loft is probably the best-known bookstore in Columbus and it is a treasure! With 32 rooms filled with books, you can literally get lost in the store! They have so many books they even have them outside on a large covered patio!

The Book Loft of German Village was opened in its current location in 1977 and it has expanded 8 times! The buildings the bookstore occupies are pre-Civil War era buildings!

The books at The Book Loft are discounted and they have a large Bargain Book section. Though all the books are discounted, they are all also new. The Book Loft is also near a great coffee shop, Stauf’s Coffee Roasters is right next door!

Visiting this charming bookstore in the German Village neighborhood of Columbus is a true Columbus experience! It’s a popular bookstore and I suggest planning your visit on a weekday, if possible, in order to avoid crowds! As mentioned, there are 32 rooms of books and they are on several floors with lots of steps!

4. Prologue Bookshop

• Address: 841 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215
• Website

This bookstore in the Short North neighborhood of Columbus can be found on the first floor of The Dakota on N. High Street. It’s a great bookstore and it also happens to be just next door to a coffee shop! So plan a trip to Prologue Bookshop and stop in at Roaming Goat Coffee for a great book lovers outing!

Prologue Bookshop opened in 2018 and it’s currently open 7 days a week!

Prologue Bookshop hosts local book clubs and events. The shop even has a small children’s section with fun books and gift items for kids.

5. Cover to Cover Books for Young Readers

• Address: 2116 Arlington Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43221
• Website

Cover to Cover Books for Young Readers in Upper Arlington, Ohio is a magical bookstore just for kids! In fact, you might just curl up on the couch with a book and make this your second home!

A local teacher originally opened Cover to Cover in Clintonville and our first visit to this children’s bookstore was at that location! Another teacher bought the store and moved it to Upper Arlington in 2018. The store hosts lots of special events and regular story times with local authors.

With books for kids of all ages and stages, you can find everything you need for required reading, birthday gifts or leisure reading. Online ordering is also available!

6. Serenity Book Shop

• Address: 1806 W 5th Ave, Columbus, OH 43212
• Website

Serenity Book Shop opened in Grandview Heights in 2023. This bookstore offers a peaceful environment to shop for books and other gift items! They serve coffee and tea (and will soon serve wine) inside the store!

There are cute seating areas around the shop and a small children’s section with a table just for kids! The bookshop hosts special events throughout the month!

Off to the side is a gift shop featuring mugs, jewelry, crystals and more. If you’re looking for a bookstore in Columbus where you can get a drink AND enjoy a book, make sure to stop into Serenity Book Shop right on 5th Avenue!

7. Two Dollar Radio Headquarters

• Address: 1124 Parsons Ave, Columbus, OH 43206
• Website

This locally-owned bookstore on Parsons Avenue is home to the indie publisher Two Dollar Radio. This bookstore is dedicated to independently published literature and they publish several of their own books each year.

Inside this bright space is a vegan coffee shop, bar and cafe! Yet another coffee/bookstore combo for the win!

Two Dollar Ratio Headquarters has been open on the south side of Columbus since 2017. They host several events each week including book clubs, craft times, and writing workshops!

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I hope this list of bookstores in Columbus inspires you to get out and explore! We are so lucky to have these local gems! Which one is your favorite? Or is there another bookstore I should add to the list? Leave me a comment below!