8 Great Santa Fe Bookstores
Most people are familiar with Santa Fe’s stellar arts scene, with world-class art museums and galleries scattered all over the city. But you may not know that Santa Fe has an equally vibrant literary scene, home to a wide variety of independent and used bookstores that carry everything from academic texts on Ancient Greece to New Mexico history to the latest literary best-sellers. These bookstores are the perfect place to while away an afternoon in, and have a little something to offer everyone, no matter what kind of books you like to read. Like Santa Fe itself, these bookstores are diverse and eclectic, so you’re sure to stumble across something that strikes your fancy.
The Best Bookstores in Santa Fe
Best for academic books: St. John’s College Bookstore
Best for hidden gems: Big Star Books & Music
Best for children’s books: Bee Hive
Best place to spend an afternoon: Collected Works
1. Collected Works Bookstore
Where to find them: 202 Galisteo St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Located just a few blocks away from the Santa Fe Plaza, Collected Works is in many ways the best-known independent bookstore in the city. They’re the oldest locally owned bookstore in Santa Fe, and have been a fixture for over 40 years. Collected Works has a nice mix of recently-released titles along with classics and best-sellers. Inside the same building as the bookstore is an outpost of local coffee chain Iconik Coffee, where you can order freshly-roasted coffee, tea from ArtfulTea, pastries, breakfast burritos, and more. There’s plenty of seating, making it a great place to curl up with a cup of something caffeinated and a good book. Collected Works also hosts a variety of literary events and readings throughout the year, all of which are listed on their events calendar.
2. St. John’s College Bookstore
Where to find them: 1160 Camino De Cruz Blanca, Santa Fe, NM 87505
St. John’s College is a small liberal arts college located on the east side of Santa Fe, just a few miles outside of the city center. Best known for its “great books” curriculum, the school is renowned for its emphasis on books and reading, which makes it the perfect spot for a world-class bookstore. The St. John’s College Bookstore is located inside the Peterson Student Center, and is open to both students and visitors. It carries all of the required reading that students need for their courses, as well as an eclectic collection of other titles, with a robust selection of academic texts, poetry, and speculative fiction in particular. It also features a variety of notebooks, postcards, gifts, and more.
3. Big Star Books & Music
Where to find them: 329 Garfield St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Big Star Books & Music is located in between downtown Santa Fe and the Railyard District, in a small house on the corner of Guadalupe and Garfield Street. It carries used books of all sorts in a small, cozy space that feels at once compact and easy to lose yourself in. We’ve found that Big Star Books excels at turning up hidden gems - books you’ve been looking for for ages or never ever knew you needed until you stumbled across them. There are also a variety of collector’s items and specialty books on offer. For music fans, it also carries a wide selection of CDs, and customers can even listen to new CDs in the store before purchasing.
4. Garcia Street Books
Where to find them: 376 Garcia St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Garcia Street Books is another popular independent bookstore located on Santa Fe’s historic east side. In business for over 25 years, they’re nestled in between Canyon Road and Acequia Madre, on a tree-lined street about half a mile from the center of town. Garcia Street Books features friendly, knowledgeable staff who can help you find the perfect book to suit your needs. They’re located right next door to Downtown Subscription cafe, so once you grab a book or two you can head on over to read on their beautiful patio.
5. Op Cit
Where to find them: 157 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501
In business since 1994, Op Cit is located inside the DeVargas Mall on the north side of Santa Fe. They carry thousands of new, used, and assorted books of all sorts. Op Cit is a great place to browse, with high shelves lined with rows upon rows of books. They have a robust section of books concerning New Mexico history, and also feature books by many local authors. No matter what genre you’re interested in or topic you like reading about, there’s sure to be something to strike your fancy at Op Cit.
6. The Ark
Where to find them: 133 Romero St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
In a city full of indie bookstores, The Ark stands out for its commitment to the eclectic and offbeat. Claiming the title of “Santa Fe’s metaphysical wonderland,” they offer a variety of books in addition to crystals, tarot cards, candles, incense, and more, with an emphasis on soulful, thoughtfully curated new age items. If you’re interested in tarot, yoga, meditation, alternative healing, or just want to spend some time browsing, The Ark is a fun place to explore.
7. Jean Cocteau/Beastly Books
Where to find them: 418 Montezuma Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Located right next door to Jean Cocteau Theater, Beastly Books is owned and operated by local Santa Fe luminary George R. R. Martin, the best-selling author behind the Game of Thrones series. Beastly Books puts a special emphasis on science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction, and carries signed copies of works by authors including Connie Willis, James S.A. Corey, Neil Gaiman, Neal Stephenson, and many more. Beastly Books hosts regular author events, and also offers tea, coffee, and pastries for you to snack on while you browse. Beastly Books hosts frequent author events, while next door Jean Cocteau Cinema hosts screenings of art films and cult classics.
8. The Bee Hive
Where to find them: 328 Montezuma Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501
If you’re visiting Santa Fe with kids, the Bee Hive is a wonderful place to visit, full of kid-friendly books for all ages. Located in a small adobe house off of Guadalupe Street, the Bee Hive offers a thoughtfully curated selection of new and classic books for kids and young adults (and some for older adults, too!) There’s plenty opportunity for families to explore, read, and maybe even come come with a book or two.
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