Best Used Bookstores in Ottawa

Ottawa has a surprisingly strong used bookstore scene. From chaotic floor-to-ceiling stacks where the owner knows every title by memory, to a café-bookshop with live music, to an antiquarian dealer specializing in Arctic exploration — there's a shop for every kind of reader.

These are the five best used bookstores in Ottawa.

All Books

All Books on Rideau Street is the definition of organized chaos. Books are stacked from floor to ceiling in every direction — on shelves, on tables, in piles. The selection spans every genre, and the prices are some of the lowest in the city.

What makes All Books legendary is the owner, who has a near-photographic memory of the entire inventory. Ask for a specific title, and he'll walk straight to it in the stacks.

Address: 327 Rideau Street
Best for: Treasure hunting, budget readers
Price range: Very affordable ( $2–$ 10 for most books)

Book Bazaar

Book Bazaar on Bank Street is Ottawa's largest used bookstore. Open since 1974, this family-owned shop spreads across two floors with over 55,000 titles. If you're looking for something specific — or just want to browse for an hour — this is where to go.

The shop is particularly strong in used, rare, and out-of-print books. The staff are knowledgeable and happy to help track down titles.

Address: 417 Bank Street, Centretown
Best for: Serious readers, rare/out-of-print finds, browsing
Since: 1974

Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar

Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar combines a used bookstore with a proper café and live event space. Browse the shelves, grab an espresso, and stay for an open mic night or author reading. It's part bookshop, part community hub.

They carry both used and new books, and buy secondhand books from walk-ins.

Address: 1073 Bank Street, Old Ottawa South
Best for: Café + books combo, live events, community atmosphere
Events: Live music, open mic, author readings, trivia nights

Patrick McGahern Books

Patrick McGahern Books is Ottawa's antiquarian bookstore. Operating since 1969 in the ByWard Market, it specializes in rare, out-of-print, and collectible books — particularly Canadiana, Arctic and Antarctic exploration, Irish and Scottish literature, maps and prints, and natural history.

This is not a casual browse shop — it's for collectors and anyone who appreciates the history of the printed word. Over 30,000 titles in stock.

Address: 11 Murray Street, ByWard Market
Best for: Collectors, rare book hunters, history enthusiasts
Hours: Friday & Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM, or by appointment
Since: 1969

Barely Bruised Books

Barely Bruised Books is a Sandy Hill gem with over 80,000 new, used, and antiquarian titles packed into a second-floor space on Wilbrod Street. The shop has the largest Indigenous and First Nations book section in Ontario, and offers free children's literature.

Students get 30% off, non-students 20% off. The owner runs a book-finding service for hard-to-locate titles.

Address: 2-315 Wilbrod Street, Sandy Hill (second floor)
Best for: Students, Indigenous literature, families (free kids' books)
Discounts: 30% students, 20% general

Comparison

Bookstore	Location	Size	Specialty	Café	Price
All Books	Rideau St	Small	General used	—	$
Book Bazaar	Bank St	Large (55,000+)	Used, rare, out-of-print	—	$–$$
Black Squirrel	Bank St (South)	Medium	Used + new, events	✅ Espresso bar	$–$$
Patrick McGahern	Murray St	Medium (30,000+)	Rare, antiquarian, maps	—	$$–$$$$
Barely Bruised	Wilbrod St	Large (80,000+)	Indigenous, discounted	—	$

Tips for Book Shopping in Ottawa

Bring cash — Some shops (especially All Books) may prefer cash
Ask the owners — Ottawa's used bookstore owners are famously knowledgeable. They can find titles you didn't know existed
Check hours — Patrick McGahern is only open Friday–Saturday (or by appointment). Black Squirrel and Barely Bruised have varying hours
Sell your books — Black Squirrel and Barely Bruised buy used books. Bring them in for store credit or cash
Combine trips — Book Bazaar and Black Squirrel are both on Bank Street. All Books and Patrick McGahern are both near the ByWard Market

FAQ

What are the best used bookstores in Ottawa?

The top used bookstores in Ottawa are All Books (327 Rideau St), Book Bazaar (417 Bank St, open since 1974 with 55,000+ titles), Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar (1073 Bank St, used books with café), Patrick McGahern Books (11 Murray St, rare and antiquarian), and Barely Bruised Books (315 Wilbrod St, 80,000+ titles with student discounts).

Where can I buy cheap used books in Ottawa?

All Books on Rideau Street has some of the lowest prices in Ottawa, with most books under $10. Barely Bruised Books on Wilbrod Street offers 30% off for students and 20% off for everyone else. Book Bazaar on Bank Street also has affordable used books.

Is there a bookstore café in Ottawa?

Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar at 1073 Bank Street in Old Ottawa South combines a used bookstore with a full espresso bar. They also host live music, open mic nights, and author readings.

Where can I find rare books in Ottawa?

Patrick McGahern Books at 11 Murray Street in the ByWard Market specializes in rare, out-of-print, and antiquarian books. They have over 30,000 titles with strengths in Canadiana, Arctic exploration, Irish literature, and antique maps. Open Friday–Saturday or by appointment.

Where can I sell used books in Ottawa?

Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar (1073 Bank St) and Barely Bruised Books (315 Wilbrod St) both buy used books from walk-ins. Bring your books in for store credit or cash.