Best Unique Bookstores

I may be a Barnes & Noble member card holder, but I also love supporting independent bookstores. Philly has no shortage of unique gems that are an oasis for book enthusiasts. Here are two of my favorites.

If you really want to enter a cozy paradise during your book-searching adventure, you’ll want to check out Harriett’s Bookshop on E. Girard Avenue. Its interior is entirely black and white, with painted portraits of activist figures such as Angela Davis and Malcolm X.

Harriett’s, which opened in February 2020, is named after famous abolitionist Harriett Tubman, and its selection is focused on books on social justice and books written by women. Owner Jeannine Cook also hosts workshops and events centered on women's empowerment and anti-racism.

If you want your next read to be enchanting, check out The Spiral Bookcase on Main Street in Manayunk. The store describes itself as “deliciously strange” and carries books on all things weird, witchy, and wondrous.

Magic lovers can find poetry, witchcraft guides, Tarot cards, folklore and mythology. They also carry tote bags, candles, stationary, and soothing tea blends. Every time I visit this store, I am inexplicably spellbound to buy several books!