The Language Book Centre stocks a huge range of learning materials (cassettes, CDs, dictionaries, videos, software, textbooks and cultural reference materials) in over 100 foreign languages. Geared for both students and teachers, there is also a big children's section and an excellent ESL (English as a Second Language) section. For the proficient linguist, the Language Book Centre has a fantastic array of foreign-language fiction. The Language Book Centre offers discounts for schools, students, teachers and libraries.

In case the name did not give it away, this shop stocks jazz, jazz and more jazz, everything from trad, swing and big band sounds, through to the latest Aussie talent. This is the place to come to track down recordings from that great new (or not so new) band you caught at the Basement or Round Midnight or Soup Plus. The staff have an in-depth knowledge of the local and international scene.

Dymocks is an institution in bookstores, a 121-year old megamart, stocking everything in books there is to be read. This George Street flagship city store spreads itself over three floors and carries more than 250,000 titles. There is a vast educational and computer department, a large audio book department, and almost an entire floor of fiction. If it is business, software, teaching, training, or learning information you are after, then this is where you will find it all.

Nestled in the very center of Sydney's bustling CBD area, Mojo Record Bar is a small and cozy bar on the basement level behind a record store. There are cool artistic posters on the walls and vinyl record singles on the ceiling that will definitely keep the conversation flowing as freely as their drinks which range from deliciously crafted creative cocktails, beers on tap and a good selection of wines. Accompany those drinks with standard bar food (hot dogs and sandwiches) and enjoy live music events (electric blues, vinyl DJs) held every Saturday.

You do not have to be a visitor to the Art Gallery of New South Wales to browse through this shop, located just inside the main foyer. The shop has, not surprisingly, some of the highest quality coffee table books on art, design and architecture available in Australia, as well as famous prints, postcards, gift items such as jewelery and T-shirts, and souvenirs of visiting exhibitions. This is a great place to buy some unique and unusual gifts for family and friends or just to spoil yourself!

A well established Antiquarian Bookshop, Berkelouw Books has been operating since 1812. This three-storied shop has a large selection of antique art books, rare books, contemporary literature, fiction, biography, crime and philosophy. If you need a respite from the books, there is always the neighborhood cafe for a bite of cake and a cup of coffee.

Ever been browsing the shelves at a bookshop and wished you had a cup of tea? Ever gone to a cafe and realized you've forgotten to bring your book? The people behind Ampersand Cafe Bookstore obviously have, and decided to solve both problems. Conveniently located on Paddington's Oxford Street, Ampersand caters for the literature-lover and coffee connoisseurs alike. The floor to ceiling shelves are stocked with around 30,000 used books of all genres, including books for the kids. The menu is somewhat smaller, but includes a good variety of cafe-style bites including eggs Benedict and gourmet sandwiches.

Gleebooks is located on two sites on Glebe Point Road. While the main shop specializes in new titles, fiction, art, history, philosophy and social theory, the other, located at 49 Glebe Point Road, sells children's and second-hand books. Friendly, informed staff is eager to help you find what you are looking for. If you want to save money, join the "Gleeclub", for discount off of all your purchases. Contact the shop for more information.

Collins Booksellers in Balmain is the biggest and the best of the wave of bookshops that has swept Sydney. The cosy shop is filled with a wide variety of books on various topics, all written by specialists. Check out the massive range of titles from all categories. Collins offers a customer loyalty program and seniors a discount. Check the website to find the other store locations across Australia. Call the store to check for timings.

Better Read Than Dead has shelves upon shelves filled with the works of emerging Australian writers, as well as a comprehensive range of classics and a huge kid's section down the back (lots of Winnie-the-Pooh and Paddington Bear titles including the originals, as well as the Disney-fied versions). Better Read Than Dead also has a good selection of cards and wrapping paper. It is located next door to the Dendy Cinema and adjoining Cinque Cafe, so you can easily find yourself spending an entire day indulging your favorite pastimes.

This unique little bookshop/cafe, named after Alice B. Toklas and Gertrude Stein, is a real find, even on Bondi's packed-with-cafes Hall Street. The cafe counter is squeezed in at the front of the shop, behind a row of welcoming chairs lining the street and will rustle up great eats and drinks including the ever popular soy chai latte. Everything about this place has been well thought through and seems to fit a divine blueprint of the best place to read in the world, with a long plush sofa, page-lined bathrooms, vintage teacups and saucers, and every single book you should have ever read, ever. Classics abound and so do readers as the vibe is laid back, practically begging you to pull up a rickety chair, select a book from the shelves and read, read, read!