10 beautiful bookstores to know in the Klang Valley

On the heels of the opening of the celebrated Tsutaya Books at Pavilion Bukit Jalil in 2022, the Japanese lifestyle bookstore brand’s second outlet in Malaysia opened at Intermark Mall in October 2023. A more casual and laid-back atmosphere compared to its sister store at Bukit Jalil, this latest branch boasts a trendy in-store café, and a curated selection of humanities paperback books, and an extensive stationery range. 

It didn’t take long for Book Xcess’ 8th bookstore at Sunsuria Forum in Setia Alam to draw stares of glee from all quarters—once inside, guests are greeted with a dramatic book tunnel housing nearly 500,000 books. Opened in 2019, the store offers bookworms all the familiar creature comforts: a cozy cafe, plenty of private reading nooks and even a book maze located at the Children’s section. The Book Xcess outlet at Gurney Paragon in Penang also boasts several stunning backdrops for your Instagram feed.    

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Located in Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, Cite Book Garden ticks all the boxes for book lovers with a taste for nature. Lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves of magazines and various selections from Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China, Cite Book Garden also has a dedicated events space on its second floor for book readings, wellness activities, dining pop-ups and other great events.  

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Call it a humble second-hand bookstore in Kuala Lumpur’s Jalan HS Lee, but Junk Book Store has entertained countless visitors since it first opened in the late 90s. Not only is it a well-known haunt for book lovers, but its time-worn interiors burst with a rustic charm that many find comforting, regardless of age.

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An off-the-grid independent bookstore in Petaling Jaya’s Section 17, Monsoon Books merges well into the neighbourhood with its discreet location above Wild Sheep Home ice cream store. The bookstore boasts a curated collection of Chinese books, along with a few English titles as well. A great spot here to snap photos or curl up with a book (and some ice cream if the weather permits) is the leafy green outdoor seating area. 

Hailed the world’s coolest bookstore, the Taiwanese bookstore chain opened at The Starhill in late 2022, an instant hit with Malaysian bibliophiles. It takes up the entire first floor of the upscale lifestyle mall in Bukit Bintang, spanning 70,000 square feet. The Eslite Spectrum bookstore in KL aims not just to be a bookstore, but a versatile space for small events and laidback gatherings for local creatives. 

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This eye-catching 3-floor bookstore in Bukit Jalil is a fierce contender amongst the rising trend of Instagram-friendly bookstores, bedecked in its warm colour palette with accents of red, blue and gold furnishings blending Eastern and Western influences.

Book lovers won’t mind spending an entire afternoon exploring the store's dazzling interiors, including a chic café concept on each floor, and a children's section on the third floor where a book-lined ‘Tree of Life’ stands proudly.    

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When in doubt, look for the quirky black bird decals splayed sporadically against a white facade shophouse along Jalan Tun HS Lee. There, you’ll see a simple sign indicating Riwayat, a peaceful haven offering used and rare books as well as new titles and signed editions by local writers. This independent bookstore opened in 2022, and has been a favourite haunt of tourists and local book lovers alike.   

Ready to get in touch with your inner child? Twigs bookstore is located in The Curve, Mutiara Damansara—a lifestyle store offering specially curated children’s books, toys, and gifts. 

If the store’s quirky bright interiors didn’t give it away, Twigs was founded as a space providing a wide selection of resources aimed at developing children’s early formative years. Aside from Malay and English books, the store offers a cute selection of stationery, stickers and more fun knick-knacks for those in need of a last-minute gift.

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