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The 12 Best Bookstores in Chiang Mai That’ll Capture Your Imagination
To be honest, good books are hard to find because it’s harder to find a good bookstore nowadays, especially if you’re in a place like touristy Chiang Mai. After all, getting around a foreign land for the first time is already challenging enough.
Sure, it can be an uphill climb as wandering around aimlessly to locate the best bookshops is rather frustrating compared to enjoying the sights the famous province has to offer. If you’re a passionate bookworm like me, then you know this pain too well.
Heave a sigh of relief though. We’ve rallied our elite book detectives to track the top bookstores Chiang Mai has to offer, so read o!.
The Lost Book Shop
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Address: 34/3 Ratchamanka Road, Si Phum Subdistrict
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 52 010 184
Pricing: ฿฿
The Lost Book Shop is an accessible roadside bookstore in Chiang Mai Old City. This sizable 2-story shop offers a large selection of secondhand Thai and English books on a wide range of subjects and genres.
Think arts and crafts, autobiographies, natural history, medicine, and more. Plus, their large catalog includes numerous books written in other foreign languages like French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and more.
They also have dedicated sections for popular genres like science fiction and horror fiction which fans of these books will definitely appreciate. It’s also a great place to look for old and out-of-print books.
Pro Tip:
Please note that some copies can be hard to track due to the sheer number of books in their shelves. If you’re looking for a specific book, be sure to ask the staff at the counter for help because they know where each book is exactly located.
Suriwong Book Center
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Address: 54/1 Thanon Sridonchai 1
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 62 603 2276
Website
Pricing: ฿฿฿
Suriwong Book Center is arguably the most popular bookstore in Chiang Mai. It’s a shopping center, so expect to find a massive catalog of English and Thai books, magazines, and stationeries.
Here, you can find all kinds of books, from children’s literature to school textbooks, anthologies, fiction books, and more. However, this place focuses on brand-new books and recent publications, so expect higher prices than other bookstores in the area.
There’s also a cozy cafe on its basement floor where you can enjoy a relaxing sip of coffee while reading your favorite book in peace. Plus, next to it is an izakaya so you’re covered for Japanese food once you’re done book shopping.
Pro Tip:
If you regularly visit Bangkok or plan to stay for a while, we suggest paying for Suriwong Book Center’s membership plan. This will give you a 10% discount on all your book purchases.
The member discount may also go up between 15% and 55% during special promotions and holidays. You can check out their official Facebook page for announcements of their latest promotions.
The Booksmith Bookshop
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Address: 5, 7 Nimmana Haeminda Road Lane 5, Su Thep Subdistrict
Operating Hours: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 53 223 292
Website
Pricing: ฿฿฿
The Booksmith Bookshop is a sleek independent bookstore in the trendy Nimman area. It’s known for its vibrant and modern industrial-style interior boasting a nice selection of curated English and Thai books.
This bookstore focuses on artsy titles, so expect to see numerous books on architecture, art theory, crafts, digital art, and more. Don’t worry, you’ll still find fiction books and other nonfiction works like cookbooks, travel guides, gardening books, etc.
There’s also a section for visual titles like magazines, picture books, graphic novels, and comic books. Also, it has a small cafe inside where you can indulge in a cup of coffee and numerous sweet desserts, from cupcakes to brownies, muffins, and macaroons.
Pro Tip:
The Booksmith Bookshop’s cafe only has 2 small tables with 2 chairs each, so be sure to visit early if you want to secure a seat for reading and snacking during your visit.
Moreover, they only have 2 streetside parking slots, so visiting early will give you the best chance to secure a slot if you plan to drive a car to get there.
Rare Finds Bookstore and Cafe
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Address: 18, 2 Chang Moi Kao Road, Chang Moi Subdistrict
Operating Hours: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. (Thursday – Tuesday)
Contact Number: +66 83 879 9521
Website
Pricing: ฿฿
Rare Finds Bookstore and Cafe is a small independent bookstore near Chiang Mai Old City. It’s tucked away in a narrow street 750 meters northeast of the Tha Phae Gate, so it’s a convenient option for bookworms sightseeing around the walled city.
Moreover, this bookstore and cafe is owned and managed by an English literature major, so expect to find numerous classic books in its catalog.
Its cafe also boasts a cozy bohemian-style interior filled with potted plants which is great for people who want a charming nature-like atmosphere. The shop’s friendly resident cat, the exquisite selection of drinks, and souvenir items are also a massive plus.
Pro Tip:
Some of the shop’s cafe guests may talk loudly so this place might not be the best option if you prefer to read without too much noise pollution. Also, it’s usually packed due to its small indoor space so it may be difficult to move around during peak hours.
Vehicle parking is also limited to the side of the narrow street, so it’s best to ride a rental scooter to this place for a more convenient parking experience.
Shaman Bookshop Chiang Mai
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Address: Kotchasarn Road, Chang Moi Subdistrict
Operating Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 52 068 506
Website
Pricing: ฿
Shaman Bookshop Chiang Mai is a local haunt for old and used books. This Greek-owned bookstore is known for its enormous selection of English books, including popular fantasy and science fiction novels like Game of Thrones and Dune.
The store has 2 floors, so expect thousands of shelved and stacked books from all kinds of genres. Their collection also includes titles written in various foreign languages: Italian, German, French, Spanish, and more.
If you’re looking for dirt-cheap books, you can also check out the store’s bargain bin which contains copies already in rough but serviceable conditions. There’s also an old-school computer database so you can check if they have the book you want.
Pro Tip:
Due to the store’s enormous collection, finding your desired book can be tricky, so we suggest visiting only if you have plenty of time and patience. Otherwise, you can return when the Greek owner is present since he knows the locations of the books.
It’s also worth noting that there are plenty of friendly cats inside the store, so it might not be ideal for those with cat allergies.
Gekko
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Address: 2/6 Chang Moi Kao Road
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 95 519 9894
Website
Pricing: ฿฿
Gekko is a tiny bookstore east of Chiang Mai Old City. Still, this store has 2 levels so you should find a nice selection of books covering a wide range of topics, from sports to philosophy, science, politics, and more.
But their biggest section is dedicated to books about Thailand and Asia. It’s also worth mentioning that their collection focuses on books written in English and other international languages like Dutch, French, German, Scandinavian, etc.
All the books in their collection are also recorded in an accessible computer system so you can easily confirm whether or not they have what you’re looking for. Their approachable English-speaking staff is also a plus.
Pro Tip:
Although they have a computerized database, their collection isn’t well-organized so you might need to spend more time to find the specific book you like. Also, they offer store credit for customers who return the book they bought within a month.
Keep in mind that this credit is 50% of the book’s price and it can only be used on your next book purchase, so don’t expect to receive cash.
On The Road Books
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Address: 34/3 Ratvithi Road, Si Phum Subdistrict
Operating Hours:
- 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Monday – Saturday)
- 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 94 624 8484
Website
Pricing: ฿฿
On The Road Books is one of the more popular bookstores in Chiang Mai when it comes to secondhand books. It boasts an impressive collection of English paperbacks of classic novels and modern best sellers for readers of all ages.
Their books are reasonably priced but you can also find a remainder bin with lower-quality copies at significantly cheaper pricing.
However, the best part about this bookstore is its impeccable book organization. This lets you find the books you want easier so you don’t have to spend all your time looking around.
Pro Tip:
If you keep your book in good condition, this bookstore will buy it back from you at 50% of the price you originally paid. Please note that it’s only a store credit so you can only use it to pay for your next book purchase.
Also, keep in mind that the store has a strict “no camera” policy for some reason. Their staff will tell you off even if you’re only taking notes, so we suggest not taking your phone out while you’re browsing their store.
Ran Lao
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Address: 8/7 Nimmanahaeminda Road, Su Thep Subdistrict
Operating Hours: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 85 034 9555
Website
Pricing: ฿฿
Though it offers a limited selection of English books, Ran Lao is definitely worth checking out for its charming atmosphere and massive collection of Thai classics.
The store also has a wooden chair and stool so you can read books during your visit.
Sometimes, they also have copies of Western classics by influential authors like Homer, Miguel de Cervantes, and Charles Bukowski. Still, Ran Lao’s standout feature is its large catalog of travel-related books.
These are centered around Thailand and its neighboring countries which is perfect for tourists traveling around Asia. This independent bookstore also offers a wide range of stationery, from notebooks to bookmarks, postcards, stickers, and more.
Pro Tip:
Ran Lao sells used and brand new books so some of their items may still be wrapped. In this case, you can ask their staff to unwrap new books so you can inspect them before buying.
SE-ED Book Center
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Address: 4th Floor, Central Chiang Mai, 99/3 Lampang – Chiang Mai Superhighway, Fa Ham
Operating Hours:
- 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (Monday – Thursday)
- 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Friday)
- 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Saturday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 53 288 809
Website
Pricing: ฿฿฿
SE-ED Book Center is one of the more popular bookstore chains in Chiang Mai. Its massive catalog consists mostly of Thai and English titles but you can also find other types of books, from Japanese light novels to children’s storybooks, comic books, etc.
Moreover, most of their collection is centered around young adults, so expect plenty of science fiction, romance, fantasy, and horror novels. It’s also worth noting that this branch also has an accessible location inside the Central Chiang Mai Shopping Mall.
Aside from books, you can also buy various stationeries, school supplies, and toys at this store.
Pro Tip:
Be sure to check out SE-ED’s official website to keep in touch with their ongoing promotions. It also has a list of all the books in their collection, so it’s a great way to confirm if they have your desired title.
Asia Books
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Address: 3rd floor, Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center, 55 Moo 5, Huay Kaew Road, Chang Phueak
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 62 603 2275
Website
Pricing: ฿฿
Asia Books is a bookstore chain with a decent selection of English books, from modern best sellers to children’s books, travel guides, juvenile fiction, and more. Its best branch is in Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center which is accessible to newbie tourists.
You can also find numerous books about arts and design, dictionaries and languages, business and management, and Thailand and Southeast Asia.
Their books are also available for purchase online via their website if you don’t want to travel to their store.
Pro Tip:
We recommend checking their official website regularly for ongoing flash sales with significant discounts. It also lists their recent and upcoming releases which is a plus.
Book Zone
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Address: 4 Thapae Road Soi 5, Chang Moi Subdistrict
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Monday – Sunday)
Pricing: ฿฿
Book Zone is a solid choice for cultural, historical, and travel-related books. In fact, it’s best known for its broad range of Thai and English publications centered around Thailand and its Southeast Asian neighbors.
Their best-sellers are language guidebooks and bilingual dictionaries that are popular among tourists. Plus, you can browse from their massive selection of Thai postcards.
Pro Tip:
This bookstore has a limited selection of fictional books, so it might not be the best option for fans of fantasy and science fiction.
Silkworm Books
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Address: 430/58 Soi Ratchaphruek, Moo 7, Mae Hia
Operating Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
Contact Number: +66 53 271 370
Website
Pricing: ฿฿
Silkworm Books is a unique bookstore in Chiang Mai. It doesn’t have a permanent physical store, so its massive book catalog is mostly available for sale via its official website and various local online-selling platforms.
However, they also set up book-selling booths at special venues and events like the SEA Junction, Thailand Book Fair, and International Book Sale. You can also find them at academic and book-signing events hosted by universities all over Chiang Mai.
They focus on English-language books in history, political science, anthropology, and various fields of study about Southeast Asian culture and society.
Pro Tip:
Silkworm Books announces the events they’re going to attend through their Facebook page, so be sure to check it out if you like to buy their books in person.
