The saying that Nigerians don’t read isn’t true. Or how else do you explain the number of bookstores that dot the Lagos landscape? Yes, the reading culture can do with some help but literature is well and alive.
Personally, bookstores have always been my happy place; so it was fun to compile this list of bookstores in Lagos. If you are looking for your next great read, check out any of the options below.
1. Ouida
Ouida is a three-floor cultural space in Ikeja GRA. It houses a bookstore, a cafe, a workspace, a publishing house, a walkthrough art exhibition, a recording studio, and a seminar room.
They have the latest books in stock and you can also request a book when you can’t find it on their shelves. You can always find foreign authors’ bestseller books in this bookstore. The bookstore is open from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm, while on Saturday, it is open from 10 am to 5 pm but closed on Sunday.
Ouidah’s monthly Open Mic Night is also popular for being a creative space for poets, writers, and artists.
2. Roving Heights
This is a family-owned bookstore located at Surulere and Victoria Island. They also have outlets in Abuja.
This bookstore stocks different genres, and original books at affordable prices. They have an online store. You can also purchase from their various social media platforms and have your books delivered to your doorstep.
The store is open from 9am to 6pm, during the week, on Saturday, it opens by 10am and closes by 5pm, while on Sunday it opens 12pm and closes by 6pm.
3. Glendora
This bookstore has several outlets in Lagos, in Ikeja City Mall, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, and at the Murtala Muhammed Local Airport.
If you are looking for self-help, non-fiction, biographies and autobiographies, Glendora is the best place for you. They rarely stock trendy books, but you can always find something interesting to buy here. They have an active Instagram page where you can place an order or request your preferred books.
It opens from 9am to 4pm on Mondays to Saturdays, and it is closed on Sundays.
4. Patabah books
Located in Surulere, this bookstore has been around since 1987. They host monthly book readings and also have a children’s book club. You can purchase books from their website or social media pages.
They stock fiction, nonfiction, children, self-help books, greeting cards, stationery and gift items. From Monday to Saturday, the doors of the bookstore open by 9am and close by 5:30pm. It is closed on Sunday.
They have an active Instagram page and you can also order books via their website.
5. Terra Kulture
This bookstore is located in Victoria Island, Lagos. It is quite popular for its cultural ambience. Besides the bookstore, Terra Kulture houses an art gallery, a theatre and a restaurant.
This bookshop stocks mainly books written by African authors. It opens at 9am and closes by 9pm. There is also an arts and crafts store inside the bookstore where you can purchase beads, bracelets, neckwear, headgear and other accessories.
The bookstore is open from Monday to Sunday, from 9am to 10pm. You can also buy books from their online store.
Note: As of June 2024, Terra Kulture has closed its bookstore.
6. Book Nook
Book Nook is a bookstore you can’t miss when you walk up the stairs of Gateview Plaza in Lekki. The transparent wall and door glass frames around the bookstore make it easy for you to see the interior before stepping inside.
The bookstore’s cosy seating arrangement is perfect for friends and lovers and their books are quite affordable. You can get all kinds of books in this store, from the latest trendy books on Instagram to cookbooks, children’s books, and even cute birthday and wish cards for your loved ones. It opens from 9am to 8pm during weekdays. On Saturday, it opens from 10am to 8pm, while on Sunday, it opens from 12pm to 8pm.
The last time I was there, there was a basket filled with free books for you to pick from after making a purchase.
7. Vog and Wod
This bookstore is located at Opebi, Ikeja. They offer retail and wholesale fiction, nonfiction books, school curriculum books, children’s books, and stationery.
During the weekdays, it opens by 8:30am and closes by 6pm. On Saturdays, it opens by 9am and closes by 6pm. The bookstore is closed on Sundays. You can place an order for books via their website and on Instagram.
8. Page Book Connoisseurs
This is the bookstore of Parrésia Publishers Limited and it is located at Allen Avenue, Ikeja. They stock the latest books, from fiction to nonfiction, and even children’s books.
It is closed during the weekend and open during the weekdays from 9am to 5pm.
9. Books and More
This bookstore is located at Freedom Park, Lagos Island. They stock new releases of fiction, nonfiction, children and Christian books. You can pre-order your preferred choice from their website.
They offer a bespoke library building service for private and commercial clients. If you are an author, publisher or distributor, you can reach out to the bookstore to have your books sold there. The opening and time of the bookstore is not indicated on their website or their social media pages.
10. Book fever
This bookstore has a vast collection of books to choose from. You can find African fiction, autobiography, children’s books, Christian, fantasy, romance, thriller, and more at their stores in Surulere and Lekki.
They have a space at the top of the bookstore that you can book for literary events, workshops, seminars, and training. Their social media pages are active, and you can place an order for books via their website.
The store opening and closing time isn’t specified on the website or their social media accounts.