Top 5 Bookstores Near Providence, RI

Providence, Rhode Island, is home to a host of charming bookstores carrying everything from children’s books to epic series. Whether you prefer browsing the new releases and bestsellers or scouring the shelves of used bookstores for an unexpected new favorite, there’s something for you. Here’s our roundup of the top five bookstores near Providence, Rhode Island, where you can find a great new read to devour.

Cellar Stories

A Providence staple for 35 years, Cellar Stories is your destination if you’re looking for one-of-a-kind books on niche topics. Their specialty is rare books, especially those focusing on the history of Rhode Island and New England, as well as math, poetry, and modern first editions of books. The store carries books in a variety of specialized categories, though, including:

• Fashion.
• Essays.
• Religion.
• Gardening.
• Economics.
• Sports.
• Transportation.
• Women’s studies.
• Occult.
• Photography.

You can expect around 70,000 used and rare books to be in stock at Cellar Stories, so you could spend hours exploring their shelves of unique reads.

• Hours:
  • Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
• Location: 111 Matthewson St., downtown Providence.

Riffraff Bookstore and Bar

If you love curling up with a good book and a glass of wine, Riffraff Bookstore and Bar might be the spot for you. Riffraff sets itself apart from other independent bookstores in the area with a full bar, complete with a menu of beloved cocktails. You can pick from beer, wine, or house cocktails, and the menu rotates regularly.

There are also nonalcoholic favorites, like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, available. The bookstore itself is cozy and curated, with an intentional selection of books, both fiction and nonfiction, designed to elicit conversation among neighbors. Though the store offers a smaller selection than others, you can find a variety of genres, including poetry and cookbooks. The full bar menu is available all day.

• Hours:
  • Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 10 p.m.
  • Friday and Saturday from noon to midnight
  • Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
• Location: 60 Valley St., Suite 107A, Providence

Twenty Stories

If you want recommendations for some of the best new books but don’t know where to look, plan a trip to Twenty Stories. This small business offers a curated shopping experience, as the owners select 20 contemporary books from exciting authors to sell each month. When the next month rolls around, they choose 20 new titles to add to the collection. The next month, they replace the oldest collection with a new collection, so there are always 40 hand-picked titles available for you to shop.

The physical shop isn’t the only way you can access Twenty Stories’ monthly collections. There’s also a mobile van that hosts pop-up sales throughout the area on the weekends. Plus, you can stop by the store for literary events like readings and workshops. Twenty Stories aims to showcase diverse new authors and create access to the literary community for Providence-based book lovers and writers alike.

You can check the store’s online schedule for the van’s pop-up visits.

• Hours:
  • Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
  • Friday and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m.
• Location: 107 Ives St., Providence.

Symposium Books

A family-owned indie bookstore on the lively and picturesque Westminster Street in downtown Providence, Symposium Books is a charming spot for readers of any age and interest. They stock both new and used books in a variety of genres, including cookbooks, fiction, children’s books, and nonfiction in areas like business, nature, and history. Locals love the prices here, with affordable titles and special bargain book selections for price-conscious shoppers.

You’ll find more than just books at Symposium Books, too. There’s an array of records for audiophiles to peruse. You can also shop a curated selection of magnets, totes, and T-shirts to show your support for the store or display your favorite literary quote. There are also a few food and drink items, like imported tea and chocolate from Ireland and Great Britain.

• Hours:
  • Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Location: 240 Westminster St., Providence.

Paper Nautilus Books

Named for an obscure sea creature, Paper Nautilus Books is a cozy new and secondhand bookstore where you can find everything from rare vintage books to the latest bestsellers. Located near Brown University, Paper Nautilus is a great place to look for scholarly texts, with extra attention paid to the following topics:

• Arts.
• Culture.
• Rhode Island history.
• Cooking.
• Architecture.
• Philosophy.
• Poetry.
• Fiction.
• Gardening.
• Film theory.
• Foreign language.

Paper Nautilus also aims to maintain an ample supply of books by Providence and Rhode Island authors, especially famed gothic horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. You can also peruse the store for unique gifts, art pieces, plants, and antique items. They also buy books, so if you have a large collection of gently used titles that might be valuable to your neighbors, consider selling them to Paper Nautilus. The store requires appointments for selling, and you can check the website for the latest information about the genres, topics, and presses the shop is most interested in purchasing.

Availability changes regularly, so to learn more about what’s in stock, you can review titles on the shop’s online store.

• Hours:
  • Sunday to Tuesday from noon to 5 p.m.
  • Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Location: 19 S. Angell St., Providence.

That completes Nucar Toyota of North Attleboro‘s recommendations of five of the top bookstores in and around the Providence area. Do you know a hidden gem where book lovers can find the latest hits or scour shelves of secondhand treasures? Contact us and tell us all about it. If you’re looking for a new or used vehicle to take you to all your favorite local bookstores, visit us at Nucar Toyota of North Attleboro. Explore our inventory of family-friendly SUVs and sleek sedans fit for the city streets.

woman in brown coat reading book in library by haticehuma is licensed with Unsplash License