Smiths Alternative Bookshop

I had been spying Smiths Bookshop since touchdown, having very limited time I was hoping that I could make it there. I wasn't there to buy a book, but I desperately needed a good coffee. The shop has been there for twenty years (so the sign said) and has weekly poetry readings. As soon as I entered I felt relaxed and happy. This shop has a great chilled out vibe, a sense of humour, and lovely staff. The books are of a wide stock, reading you would be hard finding elsewhere, and very interesting topics (Tree Houses of the World stole my attention). There really was a book for everyone. Great if you are a fellow visitor looking for something to read on your travels. Every nook had something else hidden away, and you could let yourself go for a couple of hours of exploring. If I was a local, this would be my local coffee stop. We sat out on the footpath on comfy arm chairs, nicely shaded from the sun, and doing as much people watching as my eyes could enjoy. The coffee was fantastic, just what I needed. My friend had a great tea, served in a pot. The girl serving was a little sprite, and I wondered if she might have a little Faerie in her blood. Smith Bookshop felt like it had been plucked out of a trendy inner suburb of Melbourne, only with zero pretentiousness. It is a little outside the main mall area, so I guess it wouldn't get a great deal of passing traffic, but it takes you away from the hustle. The only negative aspect of the shop is that I could not stay longer and give my mind a good solid feed. Highly recommended.