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
  • Loved for
    Japanese books
  • Phone
  • 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.

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
  • Loved for
    Chinese books
  • Address
    Block 231 Bain Street #04-23/33 Bras Basah Complex, Singapore 180231
  • Phone
  • 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.

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

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.

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
  • Loved for
    English literature books
  • Address
    9 Yong Siak Street, Tiong Bahru, Singapore 168645
  • Phone
  • 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.

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
  • Loved for
    Graphic books
  • Address
    231 Bain Street, #04-19 Bras Basah Complex
    Singapore 180231
  • Phone
  • 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.

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)
Written by Emma Lee
Enjoys uncovering wallet-friendly gems, hidden treasures, and smart deals worth knowing about.

More from Emma →

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