5 Best Bookstores in Singapore: For All Book Kinds

Best Bookstore Singapore
Best Bookstore Singapore
Image: Juhan Sonin

It is said that “Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light.”. The aforesaid may match Singaporean’s belief since Singaporeans read a lot and thus bookstores are grown everywhere throughout the country. They can be spacious stores of large bookstore chains or beautiful independent bookstores offering good selections of books.

Herein are the 5 best bookstores in Singapore which are highly voted.

See also: 7 Best Children’s Bookstores in Singapore Your Kids Will Love

1. Kinokuniya Bookstore

kinokuniya-bookstore
kinokuniya-bookstore
  • Best for
    Japanese books
  • Phone
    +65 6276 5558
  • Website
    www.kinokuniya.com.sg
  • Email
    sims@kinokuniya.com
  • Renowned as the best bookstore chain in Singapore, Kinokuniya offers such a huge range of books and magazines that you can find almost any title there, from English and Chinese books to French novels, and Japanese comics and Taiwanese magazines. Quality stationery imported directly from Japan is also on sale in this place.

    Highlights

    • The mega-bookstore Kinokuniya at Ngee Ann City is the biggest bookstore in Singapore and one of the largest bookstores in Southeast Asia, providing the widest selection of valuable books and magazines uneasy to find elsewhere. This store usually stocks 400,000 books and attracts more than 200,000 visitors every month.
    • The best place to buy Japanese books,  mangas, magazines, and stationery.
    • It’s convenient to check Kinokuniya’s catalogue using its BookWeb website https://singapore.kinokuniya.com/. You can also order books online and then pay and pick them up at the store.

    KINOKUNIYA PRIVILEGE CARD: Kinokuniya members enjoy benefits like buying books at 10% off retail prices and selected products at special discounted prices, attending member sales events organized periodically by Kinokuniya and its partners. Membership cost is S$21.40 for 1-year, S$38.50 for 2-years, and S$55.60 for 3-years.

    SERVICE: Kinokuniya staff is efficient and friendly.

    STORE LOCATIONS:
    @ Ngee Ann City

    Address: 391 Orchard Road, #04-20/20B/20C Ngee Ann City, Takashimaya Shopping Centre
    Phone: (65) 6737 5021
    Opening hours: Sun to Fri 10:00 to 21:30; Sat 10:00 to 22:00

    @ Liang Court
    Address: 177 River Valley Road, #03-50 Liang Court, S179036
    Phone: (65) 6337 1300
    Opening hours: Mon to Thu 11:00 to 20.30; Fri, Sat, Sun & Public Holiday 10.30 to 21.30

    @ Bugis Junction
    Address: 200 Victoria Street, #03-09 Bugis Junction S188021
    Phone: (65) 6339 1790
    Opening hours: Daily 10:30 to 22:00

    @ JEM
    Address: 50 Jurong Gateway Road, #04-23 JEM (Jurong East) S608549
    Phone: (65) 6430 0868
    Opening hours: Sun to Fri 10:00 to 21:30; Sat 10:00 to 22:00

    2. POPULAR Bookstore

    popular-bookstore
    popular-bookstore
    Image: POPULAR Bookstore
  • Best for
    Chinese books
  • Address
    Block 231 Bain Street #04-23/33 Bras Basah Complex, Singapore 180231
  • Phone
    +65 6339 0772
  • Opening hours
    Mon to Thu 10:00 - 19:00
    Fri to Sun & PH 10:00 - 21:00
  • Website
  • Email
    popcentral@popularworld.com
  • POPULAR is a leading Singapore bookstore chain with a long history and a part of many Singaporeans' childhood. Its bookstores are "popular" places for pupils, students, and local readers to spend their leisure time.

    Highlights

    • POPULAR is the largest and oldest bookstore chain based in Singapore with an extensive selection of books of all genres, from novels, science fiction books to non-fiction books like business books, biography books, travel guides, language guidebooks, to parenting books and cookbooks. Newspapers, magazines, music CDs, stationery, and computer accessories are also available at their stores.
    • A bookstore of choice for buying Chinese books: Among well-known bookstores, POPULAR offers the greatest range of different genres and titles of Chinese books.
    • POPULAR bookstores are conveniently located across Singapore: With more than 27 retail stores available all over the city, it is easy for you to visit a POPULAR bookstore near your place.
    • The best place to buy school textbooks, assessments books, papers, and school materials. Besides retail stores, POPULAR also operates educational-focused bookshops in many schools and colleges.

    POPULAR MEMBER CARD: There are many privileges for POPULAR members like enjoying 10% off at all of its bookstores, 15% off Chinese books, 5% off school/tertiary textbooks, and 5% off at CD-RAMA stores.

    Its adult member card is available at S$12.00 for 1 year and S$30.00 for 3 years while the student member card is at S$8.00 for 1 year and S$20.00 for 3 years.

    STORE LOCATIONS:
    @ Tiong Bahru Plaza

    Address: 302 Tiong Bahru Road #03-20/30 Tiong Bahru Plaza, S168732
    Phone: (65) 6375 3910
    Email: poptbp@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11:00 – 21:00; Sat, Sun & PH 10:30 – 21:30

    @ Bishan Junction 8
    Address: 9 Bishan Place #04-02 Junction 8 Shopping Centre, S579837
    Phone: (65) 6478 2500
    Email: popj8@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Daily 10:30 – 22:00

    @ Causeway Point
    Address: 1 Woodlands Square #03-29/30 Causeway Point, S738099
    Phone: (65) 6767 1250
    Email: popcp@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11:00 – 21:30; Sat, Sun & PH 10:30 – 22:00

    @ Compass Point
    Address: 1 Seng Kang Square #03-13 Compass Point, S545078
    Phone: (65) 6315 6700
    Email: popsk@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Thu 11:00 – 21:30; Fri, Sat & PH:10:30 – 22:00; Sun 10:30 – 21:30

    @ Heartland Mall
    Address: Block 205 Hougang Street 21 Heartland Mall-Kovan #03-00, S530205
    Phone: (65) 6287 1664
    Email: pop2hg@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 10:30 – 21:00; Sat, Sun & PH 10:00 – 21.30

    @ Hougang Mall
    Address: 90 Hougang Avenue 10 #03-15 Hougang Mall, Singapore 538766
    Phone: (65) 6287 0830
    Email: pophm@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11:00 – 21:30; Sat 10:30 – 22:00; Sun & PH 10:30 – 21:30

    @ Jubilee Square
    Address: 61 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 #02-07/12 Jubilee Square, Singapore 569814
    Phone: (65) 6592 5712
    Email: pop2jc@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11:00 – 21:00; Sat, Sun & PH 10:30 – 21:30

    @ NEX 
    Address: 23 Serangoon Central #04-59/60 NEX Mall, S556083
    Phone: (65) 6514 6718
    Email: popnex@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Sun & PH: 10:30 – 22:00

    @ Northpoint
    Address: 930 Yishun Avenue 2 #02-16/17/18 Northpoint Shopping Mall, S769098
    Phone: (65) 6852 2100
    Email: popnp@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11:00 – 21:30; Sat, Sun & PH 10:30 – 22:00

    @ Sembawang Shopping Centre
    Address: 604 Sembawang Road #02-14/15 Sembawang Shopping Centre, S758459
    Phone: (65) 6465 1486
    Email: popssc@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11:00 – 21:00; Sat, Sun & PH 10:30 – 21:30

    @ Thomson NTUC
    Address: 301 Upper Thomson Road #01-01 Thomson Plaza, S574408
    Phone: (65) 6459 6167
    Email: poptn@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri & Sun 10:30 – 21:30; Sat & PH 10:00 – 21:30

    @ Toa Payoh HDB Hub
    Address: 530 Toa Payoh Lor 6 #02-01, S310530
    Phone: (65) 6358 1709
    Email: pop2tp@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 10:30 – 21:00; Sat, Sun & PH 10:00 – 21:30

    @ United Square
    Address: 101 Thomson Road #02-22/25 United Square, S307591
    Phone: (65) 6478 2318
    Email: popus@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11:00 – 21:00; Sat, Sun & PH 10:30 – 21:30

    @ Bedok Mall
    Address: 311 New Upper Changi Road #B2-02/35/36 Bedok Mall, S467360
    Phone: (65) 6702 5011
    Email: popbdm@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Daily 10:30 – 22:00

    @ Marine Parade Central
    Address: Block 86 Marine Parade Central #02-101/102, S440086
    Phone: (65) 6344 9884
    Email: popmp@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11:00 – 21:00; Sat, Sun & PH 10:00 – 21:30

    @ One KM
    Address: 11 Tanjong Katong Road #03-30 One KM, S437157
    Phone: (65) 6702 2518
    Email: popokm@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri & Sun 11:00 – 21:00; Sat & PH 10:30 – 21:30

    @ Singapore Post Centre (Closed)
    Address: 10 Eunos Road 8 #B2-07 Singapore Post Centre, S 408600
    Phone: (65) 6846 3690
    Email: popsp@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11:00 – 21:00; Sat, Sun & PH 10:30 – 21:30

    @ Tampines Mall
    Address: 4 Tampines Central 5 #03-17 Tampines Mall, S529510
    Phone: (65) 6788 7091
    Email: poptml@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Thu 11:00 – 21:30; Fri, Sat & PH 10:30 – 22: 00; Sun 10:30 – 21:30

    @ Bukit Panjang Plaza
    Address: 1 Jelebu Road Bukit Panjang Plaza #03-01, S677743
    Phone: (65) 6765 9040
    Email: popbp@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11:00 – 21:30; Sat, Sun & PH 10:30 – 21:30

    @ Bukit Timah Plaza
    Address: 1 Jalan Anak Bukit #01-16 Bukit Timah Plaza, S588996
    Phone: (65) 6468 2663
    Email: popbt@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11:00 – 21:00; Sat, Sun & PH 10:30 – 21:30

    @ Clementi Mall
    Address: 3155 Commonwealth Avenue West #05-01 to 05 The Clementi Mall, S129588
    Phone: (65) 6514 6710
    Email: popcle@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Daily 10:00 – 22:00

    @ IMM Building
    Address: 2 Jurong East Street 21 #02-37 IMM Building, S609601
    Phone: (65) 6514 6744
    Email: pop2im@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon – Fri 11:00 – 21:30; Sat, Sun & PH 10:30 – 22:00

    @ Jurong Point
    Address: 1 Jurong West Central 2 #B1-41 Jurong Point Shopping Centre, S648886
    Phone: (65) 6793 5280
    Email: popjp@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Daily 10:00 – 22:00

    @ Lot One
    Address: 21 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4 #03-13/14 Lot One, S689812
    Phone: (65) 6765 9160
    Email: pop2l1@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11:00 – 21:30; Sat, Sun & PH 10:30 – 22:00

    @ Westgate
    Address: 3 Gateway Drive #04-26/27, S608532
    Phone: (65) 6375 4836
    Email: popwgt@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11:00 – 21:30; Sat, Sun & PH 10:30 – 21:30

    @ West Coast Plaza
    Address: 154 West Coast Road #01-68 West Coast Plaza, S127371
    Phone: (65) 6514 6626
    Email: popwp@popularworld.com
    Opening hours: Mon to Fri 11: 00 – 21:00; Sat, Sun & PH 10:30 – 21:30

    3. Times Bookstores

    times-bookstore
    times-bookstore
    Image: Times Bookstores
  • Best for
    Travel books
  • Address
    438 Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 1, #02-01,
    Singapore 569619
  • Phone
    +65 6459 1355
  • Website
  • Email
    timesbookstores@tpl.com.sg
  • With 10 outlets across Singapore, Times Bookstore is another major book retail chain in prime locations like Orchard Paragon, Plaza Singapura, Holland Village, and Changi Airport.

    Highlights

    • Specialized in travel books: Times bookstores, especially Times Travel bookshops at Changi Airport terminals, are popular places to buy traveller-books, travel guidebooks, maps, and travel-related items.
    • Interesting events are organized regularly like healthy lifestyle sharing sessions, meet author sessions and exciting children activities such as 3D paper crafting and stained glass kite making lessons.
    • Good return policy: Times Bookstores return policy allows customers to return or exchange the purchased books within 7 days of receipt date with no questions asked.
    • Free gift wrapping service provided at all Times Bookstores. House wrapping paper is also complimentary.

    TIMES PRIVILEGE CARD: Times members enjoy 10% off all full-priced books and stationery products, 5% off magazines, and 20% off birthday voucher. Membership costs S$15 for 2-years.

    SERVICE: Times Bookstores staff is professional and helpful.

    TIMES BOOKSTORE LOCATIONS:
    @ Centrepoint

    Address: 176 Orchard Road, #04-08/09/10/11, S238843
    Phone: (65) 6734 9022
    Opening hours: Daily 10:30 – 21:30

    @ JCube (Closed)
    Address: 2 Jurong East Central 1, #03-04, S609731
    Phone: (65) 6684 4150
    Opening hours: Daily 10:00 – 22:00

    @ Jelita
    Address: 293 Holland Road, #02-16/17 Cold Storage Jelita, S278628
    Phone: (65) 6466 5702
    Opening hours: Daily 09:30 – 21:00

    @ Paragon
    Address: 290 Orchard Road, Paragon #04-41, S238859
    Phone: (65) 6836 6182
    Opening hours: Daily 10:00 – 21:30

    @ Plaza Singapura
    Address: 68 Orchard Road, #04-05, S238839
    Phone: (65) 63368861
    Opening hours: Daily 10:00 – 22:00

    @ Tampines 1
    Address: 10 Tampines Central 1, #03-06
    Singapore 529536
    Phone: (65) 6782 7017
    Opening hours: Daily 10:00 – 22:00

    TIMES TRAVEL LOCATIONS
    @ Terminal 1, Changi Airport

    Address: Departure Transit Lounge, after immigration
    Phone: (65) 6546 3720
    Opening hours: 24/7

    @ Terminal 2, Changi Airport
    Address: Departure Transit Lounge (level 2), after immigration
    Opening hours: Daily 06:00 to 01:00

    @ Terminal 2, Changi Airport
    Address: Departure Check-in Hall, public area
    Phone: (65) 6542 2955
    Opening hours: Daily 07:00 to 23:00

    @ Terminal 3, Changi Airport
    Address: Departure Transit Lounge, after immigration
    Phone: (65) 6242 8211
    Opening hours: 24/7

    @ Terminal 3, Changi Airport
    Address: Departure Check-in Hall (North), public area
    Phone: (65) 6214 0098
    Opening hours: Daily 07:00 to 23:00

    4. BooksActually Bookstore

    BooksActually
    BooksActually
    Image: BooksActually
  • Best for
    English literature books
  • Address
    9 Yong Siak Street, Tiong Bahru, Singapore 168645
  • Phone
    +65 6222 9195
  • Opening hours
    Monday 11:00 - 18:00
    Tuesday to Friday 11:00 - 21:00
    Saturday 10:00 - 21:00
    Sunday 10:00 - 18:00
  • Website
    www.booksactually.com
  • Email
    booksellers@booksactually.com
  • If you are looking for a lovely good bookstore in your leisure time or to buy a nice book, BooksActually is a good choice. This is a favorite place of avid readers and literature students.

    Highlights

    • BooksActually stocks the largest collection of English literature books with rare and unique titles of Murakami, Salinger, Capote, Nabokov, and Sweeney. You can also find many local novels of Singaporean authors.
    • A vintage quaint bookshop with a warm relaxing atmosphere provides visitors enjoyable and pleasurable book-browsing ambience. The back of the store is a small charming area with attractive vintage and retro items on sale.
    • Located at the nostalgic and hip Tiong Bahru estate: You can spend your whole weekend morning or afternoon enjoying all the best things Tiong Bahru neighbourhood has to offer such as art cafes, beautiful classic bakeries, fashion boutiques, cosy restaurants, and lively wet market.

    SERVICE: BooksActually staff are book lovers themselves, they are always willing to recommend good books that suit your taste.

    NOTE: The bookstore is quite small so it’s difficult to move around when crowded.

    GETTING THERE:

    • Buses: 120, 147, 167, 196, 197, 961, and 961# (Walk 6 mins from bus stop B10069)
    • Nearest MRT Station: Tiong Bahru MRT (EW17) (Walk 8 mins from Exit A)

    5. Basheer Graphic Books

    Basheer Graphic Books
    Basheer Graphic Books
    Image: Basheer Graphic Books
  • Best for
    Graphic books
  • Address
    231 Bain Street, #04-19 Bras Basah Complex
    Singapore 180231
  • Phone
    +65 6336 0810
  • Opening hours
    Mon - Sat 10:00 to 20:30
    Sun & PH 11:00 - 18:30
  • Website
    www.basheergraphic.com
  • Email
    enquiry@basheergraphic.com
  • Located at Bras Basah Complex, Basheer Graphic Books is an independent bookstore, offering excellent and unique art-related books. All designers, photographers, copywriters, artists, art students, and professionals working in the creative industry must pay a visit to Basheer Graphic Books bookstore.

    Highlights

    • The one-stop shop for all art, graphic, and creativity books and magazines: Basheer Graphic Books offers the best specialized titles of graphics, cartooning, animation, illustration, architecture, interior design, landscape design, fashion design, product design, graphic design, typography, photography, art & craft, picture books, drawing books, sketching books, copywriting books, and inspirational books.
    • Besides visiting the bookstore, you can patronize interesting fairs held at Bras Basah Complex weekly like second-hand book fairs, stationery fairs, and antique fairs.

    SERVICE: Basheer Graphic Books owner and the staff are welcoming, friendly, and helpful.

    NOTES:

    • The bookstore has a clearance section at the back of the shop offering old stocks at cheap prices.
    • If you are a student of NAFA or Lasalle, you may be entitled to good discounts.

    GETTING THERE:

    • Buses: 7, 32, 51, 61, 63, 80, 145, 175, 197 and 851 (Walk 1 min from bus stop B01029)
    • Nearest MRT Station: Bras Basah (CC2) (Walk 4 mins from MRT Exit A)

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