San Francisco Bookstores
From LoveToKnow SanFrancisco
San Francisco bookstores are famous all over the world. The city has long enjoyed a reputation as being one of the great literary hubs of America, and nowhere is this more evident than in the amount of bookstores strewn throughout the city. Knowing which ones to hit and which ones to pass by can tough, so follow our highly selective guide to the best bookstores in San Francisco.
Aardvark Books
277 Church Street (between Market Street and 14th Street) (415) 552-6733
This unassuming little used bookstore proudly boasts in its front window that it’s never won the “Best Used Bookstore in San Francisco” award from any of the free weeklies—who knew a bookstore could have such a sly, self-effacing sense of humor? Aardvark has an incredible selection of not only used fiction, but also new, best-selling fiction titles as well (just about anything you’d find on the New York Times bestseller list can be purchased here in mint condition). The store also offers loads of books on gay and lesbian subjects, show business, mythology and folklore, and world history. The staff is never intrusive and overly sales-oriented—in fact, most of the people that work there are so quiet and so immersed in their own reading they seem to fade into the walls. This is a wonderful place to browse while waiting for a table at the nearby Chow Restaurant to open up.
San Francisco Bookstores: City Lights
261 Columbus Avenue (at Broadway) (415) 362-8193 Official Website: City Lights
World-famous bookseller and publisher is widely known as being ground zero for the beat generation’s literary revolution. Founded by writer Lawrence Ferlinghetti in 1953, the shop was the first bookstore in America to sell only paperbacks (this has since changed), and has always been known for its staggering selection of titles on progressive politics, many of which are hard to find in most other bookstores. City Lights also has a vast array of poetry titles, more so than any other bookstore in the city. Be sure to check out the hard-to-see basement, which has music, film, mystery, and children’s sections.
A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books
601 Van Ness Avenue (at Golden Gate Avenue) (415) 441-6700 Official Website: A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books
Beloved Opera Plaza bookstore offers an enormous selection of books on every subject imaginable, as well as fiction and non-fiction, magazines and literary journals, stationary, calendars, and postcard sets. In addition to sales (keep an eye out for their popular twice-a-year 20% off everything sale), A Clean Well-Lighted is known for hosting some of the best author events in the city—past authors to read from their new work here include David Sedaris, Am Tan, Po Bronson, Myla Goldberg, and Ha Jin. This store also has one of the best sale racks in the entire city—find surplus hard and paperbacks for as little as $3.99!
San Francisco Bookstores: Cody’s Books
2 Stockton Street (between Market Street and Ellis Street) (415) 773-0444 Official Website: Cody’s Books
The legendary Berkeley bookstore has just added a San Francisco location (the store opened in early fall), and while it doesn’t exactly fill a void in its Union Square neighborhood (Border’s and Stacey’s are nearby), it’s name and reputation have been heartily welcomed by shoppers and book lovers alike. Cody’s has been in business since 1956, and gained international recognition in its fight against censorship and banned books during the tumultuous 1960s. The store is widely loved due to not only its massive selection, but also its knowledgeable staff, many of who are writers themselves. The new San Francisco store has set up shop in the gigantic space where Planet Hollywood used to be—you’ll have more than enough elbowroom while browsing the stock. Be sure to visit the store’s official website from time to time for word on author events.
Dog Eared Books
900 Valencia Street (at 20th Street) (415) 282-1901 Official Website: Dog Eared Books
Mission District booklovers paradise offers an incredible selection of books—85% of which are used—so if you’re looking for that discount copy of “In Cold Blood,” chances are you’ll luck out here. This is a very comfy, homey bookstore, one you can spend hours in simply browsing and reading without buying anything. The store also sells used CDs and records, calendars and stationary, underground comics, magazines, and zines, and new books in both paperback and hardcover at surplus sale prices. Do you have books you want to get rid of? Bring em into Dog Eared to sell for cash or trade. If you’re a pop culture junkie, definitely swing by—the store has a distinct array of titles on the various worlds of movies, music, television, and celebrities great and small.
Green Apple Books & Music
506 Clement Street (at 6th Avenue) (415) 387-2272 Official Website: Green Apple Books
One of the best of San Francisco bookstores, Green Apple lies in the rather inconvenient inner Richmond District neighborhood, but don’t let that stop you from walking, running, biking, or busing yourself over here—this overstocked shop literally has mountains of books in both new and used formats, many of which can be found at sale prices (a certain percentage is taken off New York Times bestsellers), or dirt-cheap prices (prices on used books are jotted down on the inside sleeve in pencil). You can unload books, CDs and DVDs (yes, there’s a music and movies section here too) you no longer want at Green Apple for either cash or trade, and be sure to check out the incredibly knowledgeable staff’s book and CD picks.
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