If you’re looking for your next favorite spot in Old Ellicott City, let me put you on to Backwater Books. It’s one of my favorite bookstores in all of Maryland, and the space is honestly such a vibe. Picture an independent bookshop tucked into a historic building on Main Street, with a full bar upstairs called the Bibliopub. Yep, books AND cocktails under one roof!
It sits inside the old Times Building, which used to house the Howard County Times newspaper, so the whole place has that cozy, storied, creaky-in-the-best-way character you only get in historic EC. Whether you want to lose an hour browsing new releases, grab a glass of wine, or catch live music on a Saturday night, this spot delivers. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to slow down and stay a while, Nomsters.
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What Makes Backwater Books a Must Visit Bookshop in Ellicott City
Plenty of towns have a bookstore. What makes Backwater special is that it’s really two experiences in one. Downstairs you’ve got a thoughtfully stocked indie bookshop, and upstairs there’s the Bibliopub, a full bar serving beer, wine, and cocktails. It’s owned by Alli and Matt Krist, a pair of former teachers, and you can feel that community-first energy all over the place. They pack their calendar with live music, book clubs, open mics, and a literary festival, so it’s way more than a shelf-and-register situation.
What You’ll Find at Backwater Books
Here’s the lay of the land so you know what you’re walking into.
The Bookshop
This is a new-books store, so no dusty used stacks here, just fresh titles across pretty much every genre. Fiction lovers get fantasy, sci-fi, romance, mystery, thriller, and horror, and there’s solid nonfiction, poetry, comics, and graphic novels too. They’ve got dedicated kids and young adult sections, so it’s a great stop with the family! Most books run the usual $10 to $40 range, with some finds under $10. Give yourself time to browse, there are comfy spots to sit and flip through a few before you commit.
The Bibliopub
Head upstairs and this is where it gets really fun. The Bibliopub’s a full bar pouring beer, wine, and cocktails, plus some light bites, and there’s a happy hour with deals on wine and drafts if you time it right. There’s seating throughout the upstairs and an adjacent patio, so you can post up with a drink and your new book. On weekends, Dope Dough Pizza often sets up out on the patio, which is such a fun touch. Reading with a cocktail in hand? Yes please!
The Events
This is where Backwater really shines. They run live music every Saturday night (they call them the Backwater Sessions, and they even post recordings on YouTube), plus a packed lineup of book clubs, from mystery and thriller to romance and poetry. There’s open mic nights, storytelling, an audiobook walking group on the Trolley Trail, and they host the annual Patapsco Literary Festival with author talks and story times. Check their site before you go so you can catch whatever’s happening. And if you want to make an afternoon of it, another fun Main Street stop is Simply the Best, a colorful little boutique nearby.
Why the Space Is Such a Vibe
I said it up top, but that space really does have a magic to it, and it’s the main reason I keep recommending the place. That historic Times Building setting gives it so much character, all warm and lived-in, the kind of room that just invites you to linger. It doesn’t feel like a big corporate bookstore, it feels personal and local, and that’s a rare thing worth celebrating. Bring a friend, bring a date, or come solo and disappear into the shelves for a bit. However you do it, it’s a lovely way to spend an afternoon or evening in Old Ellicott City.
What Is a Bibliopub?
If the word Bibliopub threw you, you’re not alone. It’s basically a mashup of biblio (books) and pub, which is a fancy way of saying a bar inside a bookstore. So instead of picking between a bookshop and a cozy drink, you get both in the same building. It’s a growing concept, and it’s perfect for anyone who’s ever wished they could sip a glass of wine while shopping for their next read. At Backwater, the books live downstairs and the Bibliopub bar’s upstairs, so you can browse, then head up for a drink.
The Vibe and Experience
So who’s this spot for? A little bit of everyone, really. It’s great for a low-key date night (books plus cocktails plus live music is a strong combo), for book clubs and groups, and for solo afternoons when you just want to wander and read. It’s open late-ish most nights, later on weekends, and closed Mondays. It’s the kind of relaxed, welcoming place that’s easy to lose track of time in. That mix of a bookstore’s quiet and a pub’s warmth makes it feel really special.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍8156 Main Street, Ellicott City, MD 21043, in the historic Old Ellicott City district
- Hours: Sunday 11AM to 6PM, Tuesday through Thursday 11AM to 9PM, Friday 11AM to 10PM, Saturday 11AM to 11PM, closed Mondays
- What it is: an independent bookstore (new books) with a full bar, the Bibliopub, upstairs
- Drinks: beer, wine, cocktails, plus light fare and a happy hour
- Live music: the Backwater Sessions every Saturday night
- On the patio: Dope Dough Pizza often pops up on weekends
- Events: book clubs, open mics, and the annual Patapsco Literary Festival
- Parking: use the free public lots in historic Ellicott City, there’s no parking directly on Main Street
- More info: backwaterbooks.com
Is Backwater Books Worth Checking Out?
I highly recommend paying them a visit. It’s one of my favorite bookstores in Maryland for a reason, the combination of a great indie shop, a full bar, live music, and that historic, cozy setting is just really hard to beat. Whether you’re a die-hard reader or you just want a chill, different kind of night out, put this on your Old Ellicott City list. Make it part of a perfect day in Old Ellicott City and you really can’t go wrong.
Have you guys been to Backwater Books yet? Tell me your favorite bookstore in the comments, Nomsters, and if you go, grab a drink at the Bibliopub for me! Save this one and send it to your book-loving friends.