First opened in 1971 as a small, nook-and-cranny bookstore, the Tattered Cover has since then become a literary institution in Denver! This independent and used bookstore has opened three additional venues in the past thirty years; in addition to being well-stocked in indie titles, it has hosted a wide variety of community cultural events, including appearances by Barack Obama, Joan Didion, Buckminster Fuller, Julia Child, Margaret Atwood and astronaut John Glenn (among many, others). Bookworms, you've got a home here!

Mutiny Now is the only bookstore on the trendy midtown Broadway stretch, but it deserves to be there as much as the other trend-setter shops nearby. Mutiny Now specializes in used and rare books, with over one thousand used books alone in stock, and the owners run daily book groups, donation drives, and other events to help promote literacy in Denver. The atmosphere is more like an indie coffeehouse than a bookstore, the staff is well-informed and friendly, and the chairs and reading areas in the store make it a great alternative place to meet up with friends. Mutiny Now both is the edgiest bookstore in Denver and a cause worth supporting.

Park Hill Cooperative Bookstore is a non-profit bookstore designed to give the community an active part in running a bookstore. Book loving volunteers run the place, along with one paid employee who manages the operation. Patrons bring in their old books and trade for new ones. For local or out of town bibliophiles, this hidden gem is a true find. From fiction to history, all genres are offered.

The faint scent of old paper comforts readers coming to The Hermitage Bookshop from far and wide. Lining the shelves are titles from a forgotten time lovingly preserved by the keepers of this book house. Nestled into the leather chairs or propped on a stool, readers are yet again taken on journeys through time and tradition at one of the oldest bookstores in the city. The store also seeks to keep alive the art of reading with read aloud sessions for students and children.

This record shop is a solidly independent store that recently expanded into two buildings. The value of over 20,000 pieces of vinyl is enhanced by the collection of new and used turntables for sale, alongside dozens of lava lamps. The motley selection of music at Twist & Shout is too much for even one room. Dealing in over 100,000 new and used CDs, it offers a skilled staff to help customers find obscure treasures. Used CDs are updated daily and generally sold at a reasonable price.

This is the premier children's bookstore in Denver, stocking over 85,000 titles. Most books are generally discounted 10 to 30 percent. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, making this a common destination for parents and teachers. The store, located in a strip mall, is brimming with unusual oddities as well as all the traditional favorites such as Curious George and Good-Bye Moon. In addition, there are pretzels to snack on and the stuffed characters from popular books patiently wait for story hour with the kids.