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7 Insta-Worthy Bookstores In Malaysia To Buy Your Next Book

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Cheng Sim •  Jul 13, 2020

When it comes to finding our next read, we turn to our favourite bookstores in Malaysia to unleash our great love for reading. While all bookstores have its charm, there's something absolutely beautiful about walking into an Instagram-worthy bookstore.

Whether you find yourself in the heart of Kuala Lumpur or the bustling street of Penang, scroll down to see some of the most Instagrammable bookstores in Malaysia that are worth adding to your bucket list.

1. Junk Book Store, Kuala Lumpur

Update: As of July 2020, Junk Book Store is temporarily closed until further notice

Situated in Jalan Tun H S Lee, Junk Book Store is the largest secondhand bookstore in Kuala Lumpur. It's stacked with books of various genres, ranging from past copies of Reader's Digest to awesome Marvel comics. There are about 300,000 books here, so nudge the staff if you need help locating the books you want. Part of the fun at Junk Bookstore is taking the time to browse the shelves because you never know what you'll find. Here's the truth, there's no junk here, only treasures.

2. BookXcess Sunsuria, Selangor

Situated at Sunsuria Forum in Shah Alam, you've never seen a bookstore in Malaysia quite like BookXcess Sunsuria. A slight reminiscent of Starfield Library in Seoul, it's the first bookstore in Malaysia designed with a book tunnel concept. You can find plenty of fiction titles, autobiographies and cookbooks arranged around the exterior of the tunnel, but there are more books to be discovered when you take the escalator to the upper floors.

3. BookXcess Gurney Paragon, Penang

Since BookXcess is pretty known for some of their Instagrammable bookstores in Malaysia, we're not surprised that BookXcess Gurney Paragon is as pretty as the rest. Featuring the longest bookshelf in Malaysia, this 70-metre long bookshelf is stocked up with autobiographies, children's books, literature classics, cookbooks and more. Make sure to check out the Little Hippo augmented reality books at the children's section for an immersive reading experience for the kids.

4. Bookstores at Chowrasta Market, Penang

Update: As of July 2020, the secondhand bookshops at Chowrasta Market are temporarily closed until further notice. 

The secondhand bookshops at Chowrasta Market in Penang have been around since the 1980s and continue to stand the test of time. Find these hidden tiny bookshops on the first floor of Chowrasta Market, and be amazed by its floor-to-ceiling collection of secondhand books. It'll take a while to find an old Gandhi autobiography or Nicholas Sparks' novels, but the shop owners are always happy to help.

5. BookXcess Kong Heng, Ipoh

If you're making a road trip to Ipoh, make sure to visit BookXcess Kong Heng that now operates within what was formerly known as United Asian Bank at Kong Heng Square. Back in the day, it was known as one of the busiest banks in Ipoh. Today, it's stuffed with thousands of books turning it into a bookstore filled with novels, science fictions, thrillers, literature and more. For more on this Instagrammable bookstore in Ipoh, read our article here!

6. Me Books Nooks, Johor

Situated on the first floor of Sunway Citrine Hub in Johor, Me Books Nooks is more than just a children's book store. They believe in making children's content accessible, affordable and enjoyable to the masses. Your kids will enjoy flipping through a fairy tale pop-up book as much as they love playing the bugs bingo set and 3D puzzles.

7. BookXcess Sunway Big Box, Johor

Towering bibliophiles with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, BookXcess Sunway Big Box is one of the biggest bookstores in the southern region of Malaysia and marks the 9th bookstore under the BookXcess brand. Situated at Sunway Big Box in Johor Bahru, it's packed with one million titles, ranging from self-help and autobiographies to non-fiction and children's book. For more on this Instagrammable bookstore in Johor, read our article here!

Whether you're searching for books from your favourite author or secondhand copies of classic literature, we hope you'll find them at these Instagrammable bookstores in Malaysia. Perfect for your next trip, check out more amazing Instagram-worthy spots in Singapore, Japan and South Korea below!