When on vacation, where do you go when you want to learn about a country and its people?
A museum, yes, but literature tells a different story – and independent bookstores have realized that. These indie shops across Asia are known for curated stock to bring readers closer to themes and human experiences. Above all, they are known to foster creativity and community within their walls.
From Singapore to Cebu, here are some of the independent bookstores worth visiting across Asia.
Basheer Picture Books (Singapore)
Located on the fourth floor of Singapore’s Bras Basah Complex, Basheer Graphic Books has been around for over three decades. Over the years, this Singaporean bookstore has become a hub for reading art, design, culture, and anything creative. Think of any art form or subject – say tarot or insect anatomy – and Basheer is sure to have it.
Occasionally, it doubles as a zine and book launch venue, exhibitions, and all kinds of literary and art-related events.
You will spend at least 30 minutes browsing the shelves near the entrance before you even get inside. They are filled with print magazines from publications around the world, as well as zines printed by small presses.
In 2025, Singapore National Heritage Board it even called the business a legacy for its “commitment to enriching the creative landscape” – and a gold plaque now sits against a pillar towards the back of the shop.
Basheer Graphic Books is located at Block 231, Bain Street, #04-19, Bras Basah Complex, Singapore. It is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 6:30 pm.
moom bookstore (Taiwan)
If you are into art and all its disciplines, moom bookstore in Taiwan it’s the place to be. Here, you can find books on photography, film, food, interior design, music, tattoos and everything in between. They work with independent publishers from around the world to bring old and new titles to their space.
There is a full shelf of sines and brief readings located near the window near the door, and they come in several styles and formats. Just as the formats vary, so do the topics. You can find zanes on mahjong, little books about selfie-related deaths and Tokyo toilets – you get the context.
It’s a quiet place, and you’re free to browse all the books in the store (and maybe even take a few home). From time to time, they also organize talks and exhibitions of picture books.
Bonus: they have a resident cat!
moom bookshop is located at 16 Alley 8, Lane 251, Section 3, ZhongXiao E. Road, Taipei, 10654, Taiwan. It is open from Monday to Sunday from 12 pm to 8 pm.
Reluctant Bookstore (Thailand)
Vacilando Bookstore Thailand features art and specialty books on food, design, music, film, photography, heritage, human relationships, writing, and anything that fuels creativity.
If you are looking for Thai and Asian artist magazines and writers, consider coming here.
Vacilando can be hard to spot, so just keep your eyes peeled for the storefront’s most unique feature: an abundance of greenery tucked behind two hexagonal windows.
Vacilando Bookshop is located at 96/2 Chakkraphat Di Phong Road, Wat Sommanat, Pomprap Sattruphai, Bangkok, Thailand. It is open on Fridays (12:30 pm to 5 pm), and Saturdays and Sundays (12:30 pm to 6 pm).
Everything is fine (Makati, Philippines)
Makati is not only home to great restaurants, cafes, and concept stores. It is also the home of Everyone’s Fine – an independent bookstore and small press that stocks curated volumes of poetry, essays, fiction and non-fiction, with topics ranging from community, design and art, to feminism, queer voices, community and political struggles around the world.
Everyone’s Fine is hidden towards the back of Prince Tower along Tordesillas Street, and what catches your eye as soon as you enter is its themed book table in the center of the store. For women’s month, books and publications written by Filipino women took center stage. And at the height of the Iran war, they saved zane and Iranian artists published by Tehran Zine.
Everyone’s Fine is also a member of Publishers for Palestine, and by using literature, he set out to shed light on the ongoing genocide facing the Palestinians.
Everyone’s Fine is located at Unit G8, Prince Tower, 14 Tordesillas Street, in Salcedo Village, Makati. It is open every day from 12 to 7 pm.
Mt. Cloud Bookshop (Baguio, Philippines)
When readers visit Baguio on vacation, it is not surprising to see them drop by Mt. Cloud Bookshop during their trip.
Since 2010, it has served as a haven for locals and travelers in search of good reads, from poetry and essay collections to novels and non-fiction books written and published by Filipino authors and publishers.
What makes Mt. Cloud Bookshop to be special, however, is his special section to the literature of the Cordillera – fiction and non-fiction – so that anyone who visits them can immerse themselves in the same places that made these stories happen.
This Baguio-based bookstore also fosters community by hosting regular open mic events for artists of all genres, storytelling sessions for children, workshops for the curious, and book launches. Look at them Instagram page for advertising.
Mt. Cloud Bookshop is located at the Ground Floor of Tulip Place, 3 CM Recto Street, Baguio City. It is open from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm daily.
Lost Books (Cebu, Philippines)
In Cebu, there is cozy Lost Bookswhich features writers from the Visayas and champions of local history and culture. This bookstore believes that Cebu is home to many wonderful writers, and that the province is a great source of inspiration for storytelling.
“Personally, growing up, the books I read about Cebu were not written by Cebuanos. That’s why my partners, co-founders and I wanted to create a space for local literature to be front and center, to be celebrated for what it is,” Lost Books Cebu co-founder Donald Villamero told Rappler in 2025.
When you visit Lost Books, then, expect to see rare books, antiques, old Cebuano books, and a good collection of literature from the regions. And when you finally choose your book of choice, you can sit down at the store to enjoy a cup of coffee while flipping through the pages, too.
Lost Books is located on the ground floor of the CAO Mercado Building along Osmeña Boulevard, Capitol Site, Cebu City. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 7 pm. – Rappler.com
