About Gutter Bookshop
Tucked down Cow's Lane among the cobbles and pubs of Temple Bar, Gutter Bookshop is a small, fiercely curated secondhand bookshop beloved by locals and students from Trinity College. Opened in 2009, the shop has become a Temple Bar institution for anyone after out-of-print fiction, poetry and counterculture titles. The interior is cosy and compact, with low lighting, stacked shelves and staff who are happy to disappear into the stacks and return with an unexpected gem. You will find everything from classic modernist novels, a solid droplet of Irish literature, to odd pocket-sized pamphlets and chapbooks. The name nods to Oscar Wilde's famous remark, and the shop’s selection often reflects Wildean wit and a fondness for the unconventional.
What to Expect
Expect a narrow ground-floor space lined with wooden shelving and a faint perfume of old paper and coffee from the nearby cafés. There is a steady rotation of stock, so repeat visits are rewarded. The team are knowledgeable about poetry and independent presses in particular, and they keep a small section for local presses and zines. Prices are friendly; many items are budget or mid range, depending on rarity. Gutter is also a great spot to pick up a used travel guide or a battered novel for reading in a nearby pub or park.
Insider Tips
- Go early on a Saturday, when the shelves are freshly organised and weekend tourists have not yet swept through the lane.
- If you are hunting for poetry or Irish lit first editions, chat to the staff; they’ll often put aside finds if you leave a contact number.
- Combine a visit with lunch at the Winding Stair or a pint at The Palace for the full Temple Bar circuit.
Gutter Bookshop is small enough to feel intimate and lived-in, but it punches above its weight in character and selection. If you love pre-loved books and a properly local atmosphere, it is one of the essential Temple Bar literary stops.