The 10 Best Bookstores in Dallas

Dallas’ best local bookstores know that books still matter in the digital age. Discover our favorite (mostly) indie shops to have your next great getaway. From a Deep Ellum retreat to cozy Bishop Arts spots, these are the 10 best bookstores in Dallas.

The Wild Detectives

314 W. Eighth Street

Located in the Bishop Arts District, this indie bookshop doubles as a coffee shop and bar. It was founded by two Spanish civil engineers, Javier García del Moral and Paco Vique, in 2014. In the space, it’s encouraged to have a drink and converse with one another about ideas and books. The shop also hosts tons of events like readings, music shows, tastings, and screenings.

Read Shop

2730 N. Henderson Avenue

Brand new to Knox-Henderson (and making its Texas debut), this Atlanta-based bookstore was founded by Dan Collier in 2016. Owner of the now-closed The Merchant gift/coffee shop hybrid on Lower Greenville, Collier also owns Archer Paper Goods and Proper Wax Candle Shops in Deep Ellum. Situated in the former Emeralds to Coconuts space, the building had been vacant for quite a while and revamped for the new two-story bookstore/coffee shop. Along with bestsellers from big and small publishers, Read Shop by The Merchant is serving coffee from Stumptown Coffee Roasters and La Casita Bakeshop sweets.

Interabang Books

5600 W. Lovers Lane, Suite 142

Reopened at Pavilion On Lovers Lane after a tornado destroyed the original spot in 2019, this indie bookshop offers a handpicked selection of books and gifts for kids and adults. They also host signings with favorite authors and host book clubs. With over 12,000 titles, there’s a lot to discover at this local shop.

Deep Vellum Books

3000 Commerce Street

Opened in 2016, this Deep Ellum bookstore is an independent spot to find local authors and beyond. There’s also a coffee shop and events constantly going on. The store specializes in small presses, women authors, authors of color, translations, and Spanish language books. From poetry open mics to writing workshops, Deep Vellum is a nice little bookshop to meet new people and learn.

TASCHEN Library

1530 Main Street

Inside the lobby of The Joule hotel in downtown Dallas, the TASCHEN Library offers exquisite coffee table books on topics ranging from fashion to architecture. The bookstore also hosts afternoon tea and will be hosting a special Valentine’s Day Sip & Shop from 11 am to 5 pm on February 14. Shop for a new book while enjoying a complimentary glass of champagne. They’ll include a complimentary gift wrap and a flower bouquet with each purchase.

Half Price Books

5803 E. Northwest Highway

Half Price Book’s flagship store is in Dallas. It’s so huge that you can get lost spending hours browsing its extensive collection of books, vinyl, movies, and gifts. The store is also a prime spot for book signings and author events. At this spot, there’s also plenty of room to study or sit down and start that new book you’ve been dying to read.

Another perk: La Casita Coffee recently opened in the former Black Forest Coffee space and is serving pastries, espresso drinks, and brunch dishes.

Poets Bookshop

506 N. Bishop Avenue

Opened in 2020 by local poet Marc Cavazos, Poets is a neighborhood bookstore in the bustling Bishop Arts District. The shop has two sections for books: Literary and Discourse. You can find fiction and poetry, from bestsellers to new releases in Literary and nonfiction, memoirs, and social theories in Discourse. They also have a kids’ and young adult section.

Blush Bookstore

432 W. Eighth Street

This Kansas-based romance-only bookshop made its Dallas debut in Bishop Arts this fall. Owners Jaclyn Wooten and her husband Aaron Biggs chose our city as Blush’s second outpost — particularly a little blue house on Eighth Street. The shop offers bestsellers and indie romance novels, as well as gifts. It’s truly a romance lovers’ Pinterest board come to life.

Lucky Dog Books

10534 Garland Road and 911 W. Jefferson Boulevard

For over 50 years, Lucky Dog Books has been recycling great reads in East Dallas and Oak Cliff. The indie bookshop offers used books, movies, and music. They are great supporters of other local bookstores. In 2023, Lucky Dog launched an annual Oak Cliff Book Crawl for all of the great bookstores in the area.

Whose Books

512 W. Davis

One of the shops on the annual Oak Cliff Book Crawl, Whose Books was founded by Claudia Vega in 2021. It moved from Tyler Station to W. Davis Street in 2023. A social-impact indie bookstore, the shop is “focused on eliminating book deserts in Dallas’ southern sector and fostering a vibrant reading culture.” You’ll find books for all ages at the shop including new bestsellers.

“Through her bookstore and nonprofit, ARCO (Activating Reading Communities Organization), [Vega] champions literacy by promoting book access and cultivating an inclusive reading environment that celebrates diverse perspectives and representation in literature.” The nonprofit leads several book clubs ranging from Oak Cliff is for Lovers to Plot Twist, a Mystery Book Club.