City Basement Books

City basement books a treasure trove of great finds.one of the best bookstores in Melbourne city.

Has lots of interesting books.
Particularly has a large collection of local history booklets etc from historical societies etc.

I hate everyone on Reddit who recommended this bookshop. It had zero Houellebecq, Nabokov & Bret Easton Ellis.

Saw a book I wanted on Abe Books which this store had and after a 'phone call at 5: 55pm to confirm- the staffer went to the shelves to check- it was held for me for two days until I could train it in to collect it. My guess is, a portion of the purchase price of any thing one buys here goes to help fund the work needed to maintain and refresh the website, which I found most convenient. Fair enough too.
Thank you, Underground Books.

Love this place! Great place, great prices, with a relaxed atmosphere to browse and find a pleasant surprise.

City Basement Books is one of those rare treasures that are hard to find these days. Books in any and every category, time and style that you could wish for. Even for someone with the weird eclectic tastes and interests as me can find a dozen books in one visit. And if your inclinations are more mainstream, they have so many novels, travel books, cookery books, biographies etc, it'd take you a couple of days to get to the end. Of course, you usually don't have a couple of days to look, but guess what? They'll still be there when you come back next time. Plus you can view their offering online and they'll put books aside for you and you can pick them up next time you're in town. City Basement Books is always on my list when I visit Melbourne - put it on your list too.

Second hand bookshop. Good collection of books but not many self help books available. Prices are reasonable. Good staff.

HIDDEN GEM! Love the feel of this place. Tall shelves of old books you can get lost in. Smells like old books- childhood and nostalgia.

Only gripe was that it was Unclear how much books are, I initially thought i was overcharged $2 on one because it had a $5 sticker still left on it, but it's a second hand book store with great selection and vibes, an interesting selection- so what more can I expect?

Every time I go in I come out with a treasure and a treat. The quiet is breathtaking and delightful

Huge selection of books at good prices. Knowledgeable and friendly staff and an online catalogue. If you love books, make sure you go here.

Gives distinct messy dark academia vibes. Good but not particularly wide selection. Excellent customer service to help you find what you're after though.

A must. You will lose time here in the best way possible. Thousands of books to browse, touch, smell and want. Very well priced and in a perfect location. Always drop in if you get the chance.

Massive collection of books. I could’ve easily spent hours going through the shelves.
They have a wide range of genres available so great store for all kinds of readers.

What a gem of a place. Next time my brother comes to Australia will take home here. Sad to see so many book stores closing but this is well worth a visit.

A book lovers dream! Never have I seen such a large and varied collection of books before. The shelves are so overflowing that there are stacks of books everywhere. A wide collection of both fiction and non-fiction. Very easy to spend a couple of hours browsing in here, and you would still miss books. The workers are helpful if you ask, otherwise you get left alone to browse and get lost in the books which is perfect. Very close in Flinders station. Already planning my next visit.

One of my favourite hidden gems in Melbourne. Great place to buy second hand books at very reasonable prices, or brows around and enjoy the smell of old books. Friendly staff that will help with all kind of inquiries. They open everyday except Sunday, so keep that in mind if you plan on visiting.

A fantastic store of cheap second-hand books near to Flinders Street. I rarely get off the station without immediately making a beeline here. Pass the clocks and turn left-you'll love yourself for it.

Grab your hunting gear (face mask, gloves, magnifying glass), you're about to embark on a journey towards discount and discovery for used books. Allot a minimum of an hour for a serious dive.

Amazing bookshop, so far they are the only bookshop i've found in Melbourne that have books on music theory that aren't aimed at beginners. They have books on counterpoint, 20th century harmony, figured bass and systems outside of western music. I highly recommend.