Mary Martin is one of Adelaide's oldest remaining bookstores. While their city store has moved around a bit throughout the years, it's their newest Norwood Store that is now making a name for itself. The store opened in 2010, the year the store celebrated 65 years of independent book selling.
The Mary Martin Bookshop and Cafe is set inside the large Former Norwood Baptist Church. It's a lot larger than the Rundle Street store, meaning there is room for even more books. The Large ceilings, ornate details, and stain glass windows make a lovely atmosphere whether you're browsing for a book or grabbing a bite to eat.
Some of the food in the cafe
That's right. The larger space means that there is room for a full cafe, with indoor and outdoor seating.
The cafe is bright and open, and the crepe paper roses make a nice touch on every table. The meals are nothing fancy, but you can grab a range of light meals like sandwiches and small sweets. They do a delicious iced chocolate, made extra chocolatey with a scoop of chocolate ice cream.
Iced Chocolate
The book section is also large, giving you plenty of room to browse without worrying about knocking into bookshelves. Mary Martin is an independent bookstore which is usually a good indicator that you'll find a great range of new and classic literature, as well as many specialist books.
There is a dedicated kids section, so you quickly know where to send young bookworms. They might also want to check out the gifts sections, where you can find things like mugs, stationary, and other interesting items.
Books, books, and more books
To make the most of your visit, head into the book section first. This way you can grab a book before grabbing something to eat. A little reading material always makes a solo meal better.
As well as books and food, you can also come down for special events. Book launches and signings are common occurrences. If you're become a real regular you might also want to get
Mary Martin Bookshop Membership. You'll get 10% on all store purchases, as well as quarterly booklists, and special offers.
Seating indoors and outdoors
The bookshop and cafe are open Monday to Saturday 8.30am til 5.30pm and Thursday 8.30am til 8.30pm. They are now closed on Sundays.
