Denver has long made room for bold ideas and creative minds. Long before the city filled out its skyline, Denver staged Shakespeare—Macbeth included. The city’s arts scene has only grown more layered. Through it all, books remain a constant. Writers from every genre have come to the Mile High City for inspiration. The zine scene is alive and well, and book clubs, stores, and events are always welcoming locals and visitors alike.

If you’re a bookworm at heart, consider this your curated route to Denver’s best book stacks, with The Crawford Hotel at the center of it all. 

Denver’s bookstores are many, and wonderfully varied. But with a lively mix of new and used shops, there’s something for every kind of reader.

Unique and Quirky Bookstores

• Mutiny Information Cafe, 3483 S.Broadway, Englewood, CO

• Petals & Pages, 956 Santa Fe Dr., Denver 
• West Side Books & Curios, 3434 West 32nd Ave, Suite A, Denver, CO

Independent Bookstores

• Printed Page Bookshop,1416 S Broadway, Denver, CO
• The Hermitage Bookstore, 290 Fillmore Street, Denver, CO
• Capitol Hill Books, 300 East Colfax Ave,  Denver, CO
• Tattered Cover, (Union Station) 1701 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO (Just downstairs from The Crawford)

Niche Bookstores

• Spicy Librarian, 3040 Blake Street, Unit 110, Denver, CO
• The Shop at MATTER, 2114 Market Street, Denver, CO
• Kilgore Books & Comics, 624 E. 13th Ave., Denver, CO

Every great day in Denver begins with a first chapter. Make yours the Tattered Cover. Located right downstairs from The Crawford Hotel in Union Station, this is an easy first stop before you head out. Browse for a new release, a Colorado author, or a page-turner paperback you’ll finish before checkout. Then take it back upstairs, order breakfast, and read a few chapters in bed.

Insider Tip: Crawford guests receive 20% off at Tattered Cover in Union Station—just mention you’re staying with us when you shop.

With 26 locations across the city, Denver Public Library is easy to bookmark for any itinerary. Its central branch, known for its unique postmodern design and eye-catching facade, is just 1.3 miles from The Crawford Hotel. Geometric shapes and big windows invite you to come in, whether to read or just explore.

Come to dig into local history, map your next stop, or simply settle in for a quiet chapter.

Traveling with kids? The central branch has an expansive children’s section for young readers, stocked with toys and activities.

Have a day to spare while visiting Denver? Take a page from our book and use this guide to Denver as your own.

A One-Day Book Lover’s Itinerary

Wake up at The Crawford Hotel and start slow with a quick browse at Tattered Cover and breakfast ordered to your room.

Get ready at an unhurried pace, and don’t forget a book.

Head to the Denver Public Library

1.3 Miles, 34 min by foot, 15 min by transit, 7 min by car 

Take your time walking to the library. Check out the side streets, shops, and cafes along the way. When you arrive, admire the bold postmodern architecture and browse the shelves. Then, sit down to read or rest before your next stop.

Visit Poet’s Row

0.5 miles, 11 min by foot, 8 min by transit, 2 min by car

Poet’s Row is a neighborhood lined with Art Deco and Streamline Moderne apartments, each named after literary figures like Mark Twain and Emily Dickinson. A walk here is a great way to get into a literary mood.

Read at The Botanic Gardens

1.8 miles – 39 min by foot, 21 min by transit, 7 min by car

A wonderful place to explore. Find a quiet corner and let the afternoon unfold a page at a time. 

Shop at Local Bookstores

After relaxing in the gardens, choose a few bookstores from our list or discover your own and start shopping. Visiting a new city is the perfect excuse to bring home a book as a souvenir.

On your way back, make one more stop at the Tattered Cover—a final chapter before returning to The Crawford. 

End the Night With a Drink

Hooked on Colfax to The Crawford: 3 miles, 71 min by foot, 25 min by transit, 15 min by car

Fiction Beer Company to The Crawford: 5.4 miles, 124 min by foot, 36 min by transit, 20 min by car

Back at The Crawford, you are always more than welcome to have your book accompany you at dinner. If you are hoping to explore a little further, Hooked on Colfax and Fiction Beer Company are fantastic options. 

Don’t want to walk or take transit? Take the RTD Light Rail or book our complimentary car service. Learn more.