About the Secret Book & Record Store
The Secret Book & Record Store is a compact, delightfully eccentric corner of Temple Bar where records and books meet. It specialises in secondhand and vintage vinyl alongside a carefully chosen selection of used books, particularly music biographies, design titles and cult fiction. The shop’s vinyl bins are well organised and the staff are enthusiastic about both music and print, ready to recommend an LP to match a book for the perfect cross-media purchase. The ambience is intimate and slightly retro, with posters on the walls, turntables spinning, and an easygoing, informed vibe that draws both students and seasoned collectors.
What to Expect
Expect to spend a little time digging through vinyl crates and leafing through stacks of books. The selection of books is smaller than a dedicated bookshop, but thoughtfully chosen. You can often find music-related rarities, small-press art books and graphic novels. Prices span budget to mid range; vinyl pricing varies with rarity and condition. The store is ideal for gifts: a sought-after LP paired with a paperback coffee-table book can make a memorable present collected from the heart of Temple Bar.
Insider Tips
- Talk to the staff about recent arrivals; they often rotate new stock from private collections.
- Check the shop in the late afternoon when they may be testing records on the speakers; hearing a record can make the decision easy.
- Combine your visit with a stroll down Eustace Street for smaller galleries and independent cafés.
The Secret Book & Record Store is an attractively idiosyncratic stop for anyone who loves both books and music. It embodies Temple Bar’s creative spirit in a compact, easy-to-love package.