Exclusive Books Hyde Park — Local services in Gauteng

Johannesburg's flagship bookstore.

This shop has been in Hyde Park since Exclusives expanded from their modest roots in Hilbrow a few decades ago.

It's as big as they get in this part of the world. If you're from out of town expecting a massive international bookstore you'll be disappointed. But it's well stocked and has especially rich African and South African literature best sellers. They keep all the latest best sellers, the history section is good, so's the cooking and classics sections. They have international magazines like Harvard Business Review and The Spectator but availability is patchy. The children's books are not amazing but they're OK. You can browse freely with your kids. Anything you don't see is on the internet, thankfully.

An annoying aspect has been the number of useless gadgets and overpriced stationery. But Exclusives has cut back on that recently and its not as bad as in the past.

This store like the others has a Seattle Coffee counter with great service and legendary coffee. Browse the books and newspapers while sipping a coffee but don't spill.

More unique is the recently added Olives and Plates restaurant in the back of the store. It's been designed to allow guests to seamlessly walk between the books and the restaurant. The space greatly expands the architecture and makes visiting all the more grand. Olives and Plates deserves a review on its own.

All in all a recommended destination for a romantic coffee or fine dining meal combined with shopping for your...

Immediately after crossing the till desk, and receiving typical welcome gestures, the female security honed in on the tall Brown lady. She looped around the bookshelf, reappearing on the same aisle as me despite having already passed on the other end. When she inched closer, I said it plain: “There is much else to do, do not care to be trailed.”

She moved on, yet the energy throughout the store stayed thick with suspicion. The one item I lingered over happened to be at the tills, where three female employees were stationed — one a little nearer, a mlungu at the end. Behind me, could hear the same security now whispering with another Brown woman. My words rose without hesitation: “Absolutely a task more important than mind the Brown shopper?”

Thereafter, retrieved the shopping bag in plain sight of everyone from on the counter, turned, and left.

Out of all the high-end, luxury, well-established brands that fill Hyde, it is the so-called book store that chooses to shadow Brown customers.

Did go on shopping elsewhere, yet the one magnetic bookmark needed, was found nowhere else. Reluctantly, … returned. Walked immediately over to the same book marks, selected two, then stepped seven steps to the till, …and paid. The exchange was civil, but the welcome strained, tinged with the residue of backroom words.

This branch does not greet Brown shoppers — it watches...

This is the best bookshop in SA!! By far.

Amazing vibe. Many people reading books, working, drinking great Seattle coffee and going to the excellent Olives and Plates.

I don't know what is wrong with many customers who take a book/magazine/newspaper off the shelf and can't be arsed to return it... Don't be one of those mindless people!! Be better!

There are no plug points to charge laptops at the Seattle tables. But please support Seattle if you are going to sit there!!

It would be nice if they had toilets there, but toilets are only for Olives And Plates guests. But I do understand that toilets need space and more effort... And people are irresponsible and messy.

Really excellent and I hope people are buying enough books to keep...