Best Bookstores in Kelowna

The best bookstores in Kelowna are Mosaic Books for new releases, Ted's Paperbacks and Comics for used books, and Once Upon a Bookstore for kids. This guide covers nine shops for new, used, rare and comic books, plus the downtown library, with prices, parking tips and the weak spot of each. It's written for new residents who'd rather shop local than order from Amazon, especially when summer smoke rolls in and the lake's off the table.

Mosaic Books

411 Bernard Ave | $20–$45 | Good for new releases. Skip if you hate paying for parking.

Mosaic Books is the place for new releases and local authors, and a better choice than the mall. It's a large independent store, and half of it is devoted to children's books. The shelves are well chosen and the staff read what they sell, so the staff picks are worth browsing. Bean Scene is a short walk away for a coffee downtown.

The catch is the location. Bernard Avenue is slow in July and parking is tight; pay for street parking on the app and watch the time, as enforcement tickets promptly. Summer brings tourist crowds, so go early in the morning. Check the store's website for current hours.

Ted's Paperbacks and Comics

1329 Sutherland Ave | $5–$15 | Good for a huge used fiction selection. Skip if you want pristine hardcovers.

Ted's is a Kelowna staple near the Capri Mall, known for used fiction and a large comic collection. The shelves are packed with used books, graphic novels and comics, with comics taking up a large share of the store. It's strongest on sci-fi, fantasy and offbeat paperbacks from the 90s.

The catch: the store is packed tight and the aisles are narrow, which makes it a poor fit for the claustrophobic or anyone in a hurry. Finding a specific title takes digging, so allow at least an hour. Check current hours before you go.

The Book Bin

500 Groves Ave | $4–$12 | Good for cheap beach reads. Skip if you want niche non-fiction.

The Book Bin is a small used bookstore in South Pandosy known for cheap paperbacks and trade-ins, a short walk from the lake. It's a natural stop before an afternoon at the beach. The shop is tiny, with shelves floor to ceiling, and it takes trade-ins for store credit. Non-fiction is thin; fiction, thrillers and romance are the strengths.

Parking around South Pandosy is usually manageable, but tourists fill the street spots on summer weekends. Winter is quiet, which makes it a good time to browse.

Robbie Rare Books inside Pulp Fiction Coffee House

1598 Pandosy St | $10–$500+ | Good for rare literature and espresso. Skip if you just want a cheap quick read.

Robbie Rare Books is an antique and rare book shop inside Pulp Fiction Coffee House, just past the main Bernard strip downtown. The coffee is very good, but the books are the reason to go: antique, rare and unusual literature, including leather-bound classics. It's aimed at collectors and people who want a piece of history, not current bestsellers like the latest Colleen Hoover.

The seating area fills with university students studying, and Saturday tables are hard to get. A weekday morning is the best time for an Americano and a look through hundred-year-old books.

Pandosy Books

1889 Springfield Rd | $8–$20 | Good for quality second-hand finds. Skip if you hate left turns on Springfield.

Pandosy Books is a second-hand bookstore known for classic literature and history in good condition. Despite the name, it's on Springfield Rd, not Pandosy, which makes it an easy stop on the way from downtown to Rutland. The books are in much better shape than typical thrift-store stock, and the owner knows where every author is shelved.

The catch is access. A left turn onto Springfield at rush hour is difficult; go around the block and turn right into the lot.

Okanagan Sportscards & Comics

1795 Harvey Ave | $5–$30 | Good for serious comic collectors. Skip if you want actual novels.

Okanagan Sportscards & Comics is the shop for pull lists and special orders: anything in the Previews catalog can be ordered in. It has a good back-issue section and plenty of graphic novels. The stock is strictly comics, trading cards and collectibles, with no general books.

The store is right on Harvey, and getting in and out of the lot depends on the traffic light. Pulling out onto the highway takes some patience.

Mad Hatter Bookstore

2483 Main St, West Kelowna | $5–$15 | Good for used book trade-ins. Skip if you don't want to cross the bridge.

Mad Hatter is a used bookstore in West Kelowna's Plaza 97 South, known for a big paperback selection and trade-in credit. The obvious drawback is the bridge. It's not worth a special trip from Glenmore, but it's a good stop for anyone already in West Kelowna.

Avoid crossing the bridge between 3 PM and 5:30 PM, when traffic is bumper to bumper.

Indigo

2271 Harvey Ave (Orchard Park Mall) | $20–$45 | Good for gifts and magazines. Skip if you want to support local.

Indigo, the national chain inside Orchard Park Mall, is best for gifts and a big magazine rack, and it's the practical choice for a trip to the mall. There's a Starbucks, a toy section for kids and large fiction sections. It feels less like a bookstore every year, though: roughly 50% of the floor is now throw blankets, candles and water bottles.

It's very busy around the holidays, and mall parking in December is difficult. A Tuesday morning is the quietest time to go.

Okanagan Regional Library - Downtown Branch

1380 Ellis St | Free | Good for free reading and studying. Skip if you want to be loud.

The Okanagan Regional Library's Downtown Branch is a large public library, free with a library card, and a card is one of the first things to get after moving here. The building is large and architecturally striking, air-conditioned during heatwaves, and the digital library is excellent.

The catch is the surrounding area. Ellis Street and nearby downtown blocks can feel unsafe at night, so stay alert walking to your car after dark. The attached parkade is convenient, but daytime parking is paid.

Once Upon a Bookstore

2795 Tutt St | $10–$30 | Good for kids' lit and YA. Skip if you want adult non-fiction.

Once Upon a Bookstore is a dedicated children's bookstore in the Pandosy area, stocking everything from board books to young adult novels, and the first choice for kids' books or a baby shower gift. The staff know children's literature and recommend by reading level rather than by what's trending on TikTok.

The adult section is very small, mostly a few thrillers and parenting books. It's not the place to shop for yourself beyond a quick beach read.