Secondhand bookshops in Pretoria worth visiting
Lifestyle book cafés, large bookstores, and local favourites.
Pretoria’s secondhand bookshops are defined by structure, value, and volume rather than ambience. Many stores are highly organised, with clear categorisation, consistent pricing systems, and large inventories that make browsing efficient and straightforward.
Across suburbs like Centurion, Faerie Glen, Riviera, and Villieria, you’ll find everything from large, high-volume bookstores and multi-branch systems to compact, discovery-focused shops and the occasional café-style hybrid. Some are built for fast, structured browsing, while others reward slower exploration through densely packed shelves or curated collections.
Below are some of the most distinctive secondhand bookshops in Pretoria, grouped by the type of browsing experience they offer.
Lifestyle bookshop experiences
Rainbow Books is a hybrid secondhand bookstore and café-style space in Centurion, offering a wide selection of books alongside a strong focus on food and drinks, particularly its well-known milkshakes. The shop combines browsing with a relaxed social environment, making it as much a leisure destination as a traditional bookstore.
The selection includes a broad range of secondhand books across genres, with additional stock such as toys, gifts, and miscellaneous items. Books are generally well organised and in good condition, with a mix of older titles and more recent secondhand arrivals.
The browsing experience is informal and family-friendly, with many visitors highlighting the ability to browse books and then spend time sitting down with drinks or treats. The atmosphere is shaped as much by the café element as by the book selection itself.
Pricing is mixed but generally sits in a mid-range category, with some books considered good value and others slightly higher priced depending on condition and type.
This is a lifestyle-oriented browsing environment best suited to readers who enjoy combining book browsing with food, drinks, and a relaxed social setting.
Local franchise
Lizmar Books (Pretoria – multiple branches)
Lizmar Books is a multi-branch secondhand book system in Pretoria, with locations including Doringkloof, Monumentpark, Equestria, and Wierdapark. Each branch follows a consistent retail-style structure, offering a neatly organised and easy-to-navigate browsing experience across all stores.
The selection spans a wide range of genres, including children’s books, school and educational titles, fiction, collectables, and general reading. Stock is generally well maintained, with many books described as being in excellent or near-new condition.
A defining feature of Lizmar Books is its trade-in system, where customers can return books for credit toward future purchases. This creates a continuous circulation of stock and encourages repeat visits across branches.
Service quality is consistently highlighted across locations, with staff described as friendly, helpful, and proactive in assisting customers in finding specific titles or sourcing books from other branches.
Prices are generally competitive and value-driven, especially when you consider the condition of the books and the trade-in credit system, making it accessible for regular readers and collectors alike.
This is a structured, multi-branch browsing system best for readers who prefer organised layouts, consistent service, and the flexibility of multiple convenient locations.
High-volume browsing bookshops
Rutland Books is a large secondhand bookstore set inside a converted house in Riviera, offering an extensive, room-by-room browsing experience across multiple floors. The store has a very high book inventory, with reports of tens of thousands of titles across numerous rooms and sections.
The selection covers a wide range of genres, including fiction, nonfiction, classics, dictionaries, and coffee table books. Books are generally well organised by category and often arranged alphabetically by author, allowing for structured browsing despite the size of the collection.
The browsing experience is highly immersive, with visitors often describing it as easy to spend extended time exploring the different rooms and sections. The scale of the collection creates a strong sense of discovery while still maintaining internal order.
Pricing is widely regarded as very affordable, with many visitors noting strong value compared to mainstream retail bookstores, particularly when purchasing multiple titles.
Service is consistently described as helpful and knowledgeable, with staff assisting visitors in locating specific books and navigating the large inventory.
This is a high-volume browsing environment best suited to readers who enjoy extensive, structured exploration and discovering books across a large, multi-room setting.
MegaBooks is a large secondhand bookstore in Faerie Glen known for its extensive, well-organised selection and strong focus on value-driven pricing. The store offers a high-volume browsing experience with clearly marked categories and a layout that makes it easy to navigate despite the size of the collection.
The selection spans a wide range of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, study guides, religion, self-help, and more niche categories. Books are generally in good condition, with many visitors noting consistent quality across the stock.
A defining feature of MegaBooks is its pricing structure, which is widely regarded as very affordable compared to mainstream retailers. Many titles fall within a low-to-mid price range, and regular promotions or sales further enhance their value appeal.
The store is consistently described as clean, well organised, and easy to browse, with a structured layout that supports efficient searching rather than a chaotic browsing experience.
Staff are frequently praised for being friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable, contributing to a smooth, guided browsing experience for both casual readers and regular visitors.
This is a high-volume structured bookstore ideal for readers looking for organised browsing, consistent value pricing, and a large selection of secondhand titles under one roof.
Compact curated discovery bookshop
Magic Tree Books is a small secondhand bookstore in Villieria offering a wide and eclectic selection of books within a compact, well-managed space. Despite its size, the store carries a broad mix of genres, creating a browsing experience that rewards slow exploration.
The selection is described as varied and unusual compared to mainstream bookstores, with many visitors highlighting the presence of unexpected titles and “hidden gems” that emerge through browsing rather than targeted searching.
The shop is generally well organised and carefully maintained, with a cosy and slightly characterful atmosphere that reflects its independent nature. Stock is compact but frequently refreshed, making repeat visits worthwhile.
A defining feature is the personalised service, with the owner often assisting customers directly and offering to source specific books or notify them when requested titles become available.
Pricing is generally affordable, with most books positioned in a low-to-mid range, though some variation exists depending on rarity and condition.
This is a compact discovery-focused bookstore best suited to readers who enjoy personal service, browsing at a slower pace, and uncovering unexpected finds in a smaller, curated space.
Stay home and browse thousands of secondhand books
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Once you’ve got the gist of how Bookle works, scroll down to our FAQs for more information — then hit the button to start exploring thousands of secondhand books online.
FAQ: Buying secondhand books in Pretoria
Can I buy secondhand books online and have them delivered to Pretoria?
Yes! Bookle delivers nationwide, connecting you with sellers across South Africa — so you can access thousands of titles without leaving home.
How long does delivery take?
Once your seller dispatches your order via The Courier Guy lockers, delivery usually takes 1–4 business days.
Can I bundle books to save on delivery?
Absolutely. Add multiple books from a single seller to your cart and pay just one delivery fee — a smart way to fill your locker.
Do I still benefit from local shops?
Definitely. Visiting your favourite Pretoria stores is a great way to discover hidden gems, but Bookle gives you city-wide and nationwide access to books you might not find in-store.