Book shopping in Seattle
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Open Books
Open Books in Wallingford is devoted totally to poetry; call to ask about readings and events.
reviewed
-
B
Seattle Mystery Bookshop
The name gives it away – Seattle Mystery Bookshop is a specialty store for page-turners and whodunits.
reviewed
-
C
Bailey/Coy Books
This is a general bookstore with a good gay and lesbian section and a really classy, well-chosen supply of literary fiction.
reviewed
-
D
Queen Anne Books
This quiet little nook is a charming neighborhood bookstore, with frequent special events and a nice selection of children’s materials. The adjoining El Diablo coffee shop, a Cuban cafe, has a lovely little patio where you can sip a coffee and pore over your latest book purchase.
reviewed
-
E
Alphabet Soup
Alphabet Soup is a darling little cottage dedicated entirely to children’s books, with both new and used, reasonable prices and helpful staff.
reviewed
-
F
Beyond the Closet Books
Beyond the Closet is the city’s primary gay-focused bookstore. It also holds readings and book signings; check local papers for a schedule.
reviewed
-
G
All For Kids
Near the University District, All For Kids has one of the largest selections of children’s books in town and also stocks a lot of children’s music.
reviewed
-
H
Secret Garden Bookshop
The children’s collection, especially the fiction selection, is excellent at this bookstore, and the staff will order you anything they don’t have.
reviewed
-
I
Flora & Fauna Books
Seattle has some great theme bookstores. Flora & Fauna, a longstanding underground favorite for nature-lovers, has books on natural history and local field guides.
reviewed
-
J
Fremont Place Book Co
This is a friendly little place with a relatively small but interesting collection of new fiction and nonfiction. Ask about in-store author readings and monthly discussion groups.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
Magus Books
Magus is a great used-book store, the kind of place where you can literally spend hours getting lost in the crooked, narrow aisles on the hunt for that obscure title you’re not sure you can even remember anymore.
reviewed
-
L
Peter Miller Architecture & Design Books
This store, whose window arrangements can make a bibliophile or a design fiend drool, specializes in luxurious architecture books. It also sells gorgeous stationery and writing instruments, sketchbooks and some art supplies.
reviewed
-
M
University Bookstore
University Bookstore is vast and all-purpose, though lacking the time-worn charm of many of Seattle’s other, quirkier bookstores. It does have absolutely everything, though, including textbooks and highlighter-abused secondhand books.
reviewed
-
N
Twice Sold Tales
Twice Sold Tales’ Capitol Hill location has moved, but it’s still a cozy den full of used books at excellent prices, stacked haphazardly along narrow aisles. A book ‘happy hour’ discount kicks in after 6pm. A bunch of aloof cats roam the shop, actively ignoring everybody.
reviewed
-
O
Wide World Books & Maps
Travelers will want to make a pilgrimage to Wide World Books & Maps. In addition to a great selection of travel guides, this pleasant store offers a full array of travel accessories and a staff of seasoned globetrotters. Ask for a calendar of events such as slideshows and author readings.
reviewed
-
P
Left Bank Books
This 35-year-old collective displays 'zines in español, revolutionary pamphlets, a 'fuck authority' notice board and plenty of Chomsky. You're in Seattle, just in case you forgot.
reviewed
-
Q
Kinokuniya
A great source for hard-to-find imported books and magazines in Asian languages (and in English about Asian culture), this bookstore inside Uwajimaya Village is also one of the few shops in the country where you can buy the lesser-known films of Kinji Fukasaku and other masters of Asian cinema on DVD. It has a fabulous supply of wrapping paper, cards and notebooks, not to mention imported comics and toys. Hello, Kitty!
reviewed
-
R
Elliott Bay Book Company
Perish the day when ebooks render bookstores obsolete. What will happen to the Saturday-afternoon joy of Elliott Bay books, where 150,000 titles inspire author readings, discussions, reviews and hours of serendipitous browsing?
reviewed