Muirs Bookshop
Muirs Bookshop
4.5
About
Opening in 1905 Muirs Bookshop is New Zealand's oldest operating bookshop. Set in a long, narrow colonial building the shop is full of the very best literature for adults and children. The many thousands of books are accompanied by a large selection of magazines, cards, wrap and some games.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
26 reviews
Excellent
20
Very good
3
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
1

HarryD
Harrogate, UK14 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
Excellent bookshop, lots of good second hand books. Friendly staff, but I think the cafe may have closed for good.
Written 22 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jahill128
Pahiatua, New Zealand34 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
I loved the selection of unusual books in the children's section. The cafe was great. We all enjoyed our cake choices. Definitely worth a visit.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks jahill128 for you review. So glad you enjoyed your visit with us. Kind regards Kim Pittar
Written 12 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

nigruk
Nelson-Tasman Region, New Zealand54 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
Good food selection and nice setting with a great balcony area. Service was good and the book shop had an odd range of outbid the way books which was nice
Written 23 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

hmb896
Sandringham, Australia6 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
Wonderful bookshop and cafe. Spent far longer here than we’d planned. Great books, coffee and cakes. What’s not to like
Written 17 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RachieEvo
Auckland Central, New Zealand140 contributions
Jun 2018 • Friends
Pleasant staff and nice balcony for lunch, however tables hadn’t been cleared and staff forgot half the order made upon delivery ( it was left sitting next to cabinet waiting to be served) but over all nice atmosphere
Written 23 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi RachieEvo - thanks very much for your comments. Always good to get these criticisms to remind us of basics! I'll pass on to my staff. Kim Pittar Muirs Bookshop & Café owner
Written 24 June 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Peyps
Napier, New Zealand83 contributions
Apr 2018 • Friends
We were only in Gisborne for two days and I was keen my visitor from England experienced a visit to Muir’s Bookshop and cafe, a bit of a Gisborne institution. We weren’t able to go on the Saturday so delayed our Sunday departure and waited in the car outside for Muir’s to open at 10am (as per their website). At 10:10am we checked the door to discover they are only open Sunday’s prior to Christmas. Changing this information on their website would be the work of moments and would have meant we left town 2 hours earlier.

Rant over if you like interesting books and good coffee, in a building with some character, you should visit.

But be warned, on our brief trip to Gisborne we discovered you always need to phone and check website and motel leaflet information- we had 3 instances of incorrect information in two days.
Written 28 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Peyps - How frustrating and annoying for you to find we were closed on Sunday. Very sorry to have done this to you. Your comment has made me check our website. It does say we are open 10 til 2pm December and January on our contact page. If you can tell me where the information is wrong, I'll fix it promptly. We have the sign on the door. Google also has the correct opening times and our Facebook page also has the correct opening times. Thanks Kim Pittar Owner
Written 29 April 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

DavidGSI
Greater Wellington, New Zealand77 contributions
Nov 2017 • Friends
We went in for the cafe and found great coffee and home cooked food. We then spend longer that we expected browsing the eclectic collection of books.

This was a place we visited several times during our time in Gisbourne.
Written 11 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello DavidGSI So glad you enjoyed our bookshop and café. Thank you for your review. Kim Pittar
Written 12 November 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Colin C
5 contributions
Jan 2017 • Family
Always enjoy my visits to Muirs. Friendly staff, nice coffee and cake options and even a little toy box for the little ones ☺
Written 20 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks Colin for you kind review. Glad you enjoy your visits. Kind regards Kim Pittar Owner
Written 22 January 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Diane D
England, UK18 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
We are from the Uk Great Coffee and was lovely sitting on the terrace watching the world go by , we will definitely call again
Written 15 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks Diane - so glad you enjoyed your visit. Kind regards Kim Pittar Owner
Written 22 January 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

samandhenry
Dunedin, New Zealand589 contributions
Dec 2016
Great bookstore in the Main Street of Gisborne. Fantastic selection of whatever type of book you fancy. Friendly and helpful staff with good recommendations - and great coffee and cake upstairs
Written 31 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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MUIRS BOOKSHOP: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Muirs Bookshop


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