The best bookshops to visit in Delhi

The Bookshop Inc is what BookTok wishes it was. For more than fifty years, it's thrived on a simple premise: trust readers to want more than just the obvious bestsellers. Sure, they stock bestsellers, but much of their collection is sourced from all over the world, including smaller presses that publish books you've probably never heard of before. And they're good. Very good. But in truth, it's the staff here that set The Bookshop Inc a class apart from the rest. Between them, they've probably read every book on the shelves, and they know more about them than you know about your own grandmother. If you catch them on a light day, be sure to take your stack up to the counter to ask them what they think. You may be in for a  surprise and end up buying something you never thought you would. 

Time Out tip: Don't go here looking to buy a specific book. The fun's in the browsing. 

Timings: Tue-Sun 11am-7.30pm. Closed Monday.

Address: Main Market, 26, Near Guppy, Block 13, Lodi Colony, 110003

Midland's just one of those behemoths you can't ignore – not in size, but in reputation. It's been around for donkey's years, and anyone who's a serious reader knows they're not going to walk out of here empty-handed. This is the bookstore your grandfather went to and secured a lifetime discount at, and because the owner's kind enough, you've nabbed it too. Midland's got two floors, and those two floors have just about any kind of book you can imagine. Yes, all bookstores stock fiction and nonfiction – Midland's got them too, but what they've also got are books seldom found anywhere else: alternate histories, subaltern narratives, books on design and gender identity and birds and caste and maybe even things that hadn't crossed your imagination yet. 

Time Out tip: If there's a book you can't find for the life of you, Midland probably has it. And if it doesn't, the owner’s going to be only too happy to order it for you. 

Timings: Daily. 10.30am-8.30pm

Address: Shop No, 20 & 24, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Main Market, Block C 2, Bhim Nagri, Hauz Khas, 110016

It's interesting to note that though Promenade's only been around for just over a year, it's succeeded in luring quite a crowd to Hauz Khas – a feat, given that it shares the neighbourhood with the beloved Midland Book Shop, which you've already encountered on this list. The store looks like and feels like an oversized matchbox, but packs a surprisingly sleek punch in selection. The two young men who run it are on a mission to reacquaint the world with books that have gone out of print or become exceedingly rare, and some of the books you'll see on the shelves are ones they've printed on their own tiny press. A lot of the shop's charm comes from their enthusiasm, right down to the vinyls and cassettes that line the walls (but are lamentably not for sale) and the playlist they clearly think you need to hear while you're browsing.

Time Out tip: If you're a sweet talker, the owners might cave and sell you a vinyl. Maybe. 

Timings: Daily. 11am-8.30pm

Address: H54V+2RX, Hauz Khas Village, Deer Park, 110016

May Day's not for the fainthearted. It's a niche bookstore, it acts like it, and that's probably why it flies under the radar. If you visit, you'll know what I'm on about. The selection here is unabashedly political and veers left-wing, so what you’re going to get is lots of books on Marxist theory, incisive commentaries on class and caste, as well as some outstanding translation work, plus several books that explore ideas dating back to the Indian Independence Struggle. May Day's not just a bookstore, though – it serves as an active space for dialogue, and often hosts lectures, readings, and discussions. It's not unusual to run into academics and even some politicians shopping here. It's also safe to say that this isn't the sort of bookstore for casual browsing – there's no way you're going to find the latest Emily Henry on these shelves.

Time Out tip: If you happen to be in Delhi on May 1, don't miss the most legendary sale the store has to offer.

Timings: Daily. 11am to 7pm

Address: May Day Bookstore, 2254/2A, Ground Floor, West Patel Nagar, Shadipur, 110008

Kunzum originally opened as a travel cafe in 2007, but has since expanded into a bookstore of repute, with several outlets across Delhi. The Greater Kailash outlet's the nicest, with a new, exclusive HarperCollins floor, as well as an in-house coffee shop and a cosy space to sit while you read or browse. The books at Kunzum are very neatly divided into sections, which makes for an efficient in-and-out, if you're that sort of book-shopper, and besides your usual suspects, they've also got a pretty great selection of books on science, astrology, astronomy, and tarot – plus lots of books for kids and young adults. 

Time Out tip: Check out their monthly review on their website – it's got great author reviews and interviews. 

Timings: Daily. 11am-9pm

Address: Block M, Greater Kailash II, Greater Kailash, New Delhi, Delhi 110048

Fakir Chand's red-and-white signboard needs no introduction – it's synonymous with Khan Market, which, in turn, is synonymous with Delhi. And fair enough, it's well deserved – the bookshop's been around in the subcontinent since the 1940s, and moved from Peshawar in Pakistan to its present location in 1951. Really, it's a tiny hole in the wall that connects the front of the market to the back, and it's almost always packed to the brim. The chaotic display of books – they're stacked in random, lopsided pillars – looks accidental, but in a strange, endearing way, the devil-may-care attitude's what makes the bookshop so uniquely charming. The collection is diverse, but leans more towards Indian fiction and nonfiction – you'll find some particularly good translated Indian poetry books here, as well as lots of historical nonfiction. 

Time Out tip: If you're not buying anything, it's admittedly fun to get snapped standing outside. Don't laugh! It's local tradition. 

Timings: Daily. 11.30am-9pm

Address: 15/A, Khan Market, Rabindra Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110003

Every Sunday, the Daryaganj book market rears its beautiful, dusty head, and budget book-hunters swarm to it like moths to a flame.  Yes, this isn't a bookstore, it's technically more of a book fair – a book bazaar, if you will – one that traces its origins to 1964, when it began as an informal, unorganised street market. It shifted from its original Daryaganj location to across the road in Mahila Haat in 2019, and has luckily retained its name as well as its hallmark – cheap books! There's absolutely everything to be had here, from textbooks to ₹20 novels to the odd rare collectible edition, but you've got to be prepared to hunt for what you want. Bargaining, of course, is expected, and discounts are rife, depending on if you've managed to sufficiently charm the bookseller in question. 

Time Out tip: Be sure to carry water and sun protection. It's an open air market, after all. 

Timings: Sundays. 8am-6pm

Address: Kamla Devi Bhawan, 5, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Marg, Turkman Gate, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi, 110002

Chapter 101's been around since 2017 but it's recently seen an uptick in popularity on social media, because it's one of the few places that have a very, very large stock of old and rare editions, artfully bound hardcovers, and even some seriously pricey signed first editions. It's also got a wonderfully-stocked selection of classics. Again, this bookstore isn't really meant for casual buying – although it most definitely encourages casual browsing, because the entire place is done up like an English lord's personal library. The heavy woodwork, leather spines and threadbare carpets create quite a heady ambience – so definitely give this one a visit if you're willing to spend a bit extra on a luxury edition. 

Time Out tip: There's no better bookshop than this one if you're hunting for a gift for your bibliophile friend. 

Timings: Wed-Mon 11am-7pm. Closed Tuesday.

Address: 101D, 1st Floor, Golf Course Rd, DLF Phase 5, Sector 53, Gurugram, Haryana 122009

Overwhelming, in the best way possible – that’s the experience of stepping into any Bahrisons bookstore. Yes, the Khan Market store is steeped in history, but if you want a more relaxed browsing experience without the tight quarters, head over to Bahrisons Galleria in Gurugram. Overlooking the lively market, which also has some good eating spots, you'll be sure to walk out with a book – or five – from this meticulously organised store. The shelves are bursting with books, with even the smallest nook housing an 80-page hidden literary gem. The new releases greet you as soon as you walk in, the non-fiction shelves are heavy – literally and figuratively – and there’s no shortage of fiction from both India and abroad. At the back of the store, you'll discover a Blue Tokai café – for grabbing a coffee and eavesdropping on a meet-cute (speaking from firsthand experience). 

Time Out tip: Café seating is limited, so keep an eye out for an open spot while you browse if you’re set on enjoying a coffee.

Timings: Daily. 10.30am-9.30pm

Address: Second Floor, R1, Galleria Market, Sector 28, DLF Phase IV, Gurugram, Haryana 122009