Garcia Street Books is a cornerstone community bookstore, owned and operated by a local couple who used to run one of the biggest independent store chains in Canada. They specialize in books about Santa Fe, collectibles, and artists' books. Their "Readings and Conversations" series has attracted several high-profile authors, including Margaret Atwood and Seamus Heaney, in addition to film stars like Jane Fonda and Shirley MacLaine. Visit the coffee shop next door and stop in here for a leisurely morning. Then go for a stroll up art mecca Canyon Road, located just around the corner, and check out the galleries.
Travel Bug is the perfect shop in Santa Fe to satisfy all of your travel needs. Equal parts cafe and shop, Travel Bug serves up delicious lattes and offers travel guides, illustrated maps, language classes, books and more to help you research and prepare for your next big adventure. Sip on some delicious latte as you build your travel itinerary at the cozy confines of Travel Bug. Outdoor apparel, flags, travel essentials and USGS maps also available for sale here.
Collected Works is the oldest independently-owned bookstore in town and has been voted as one of the best one in the state of New Mexico. They specialize in the literature, history, travel and architecture of Santa Fe and New Mexico. The place has a community feel: despite having over 15,000 titles in stock, it is a smallish space, and they host book signings with notable authors, both at the store and during community events.
If, upon first glance, you mistook Big Star Books and Music for a private home, you're not alone. This small, locally-owned, used bookstore is situated in a pitched-roof, former residence that is painted with a cute blue trim and decorated with window boxes. The contents spill out onto the tiny front porch, with $1 CDs and books on display outside to lure you in. Inside, there are small sections of rap, blues and country, plus a larger pop/rock section, but books comprise the majority of the stock. You can buy, sell or trade any day of the week, with no advance appointment required.