On Book: Seattle-Area Bookstores
Our area boasts a huge selection of independent bookstores, with curated selections, book groups & author events.
Author Events Coming Up
Book Reviews & Coverage
Local Bookstores – see below
Pictured above: Elliott Bay Books, a literary destination on Capitol Hill, features great shelves for browsing and loads of events with local and touring authors. Photo by Chase D. Anderson.
Ada’s Technical Books (Seattle – Capitol Hill)
Neighborhood bookstore, cafe, and event space; hosting sci-fi book clubs (classics, 21st-century, and queer sci-fi/fantasy), social groups, silent book club (4th Mondays), and occasional author events.
Arundel Books (Seattle – Pioneer Square)
Long-running bookstore specializing in rare books.
Ballast Book Company (Bremerton)
Bookstore with several book clubs, each meeting off-site at one of Bremerton’s local businesses: a wine & cider bar (horror, general fiction, and silent book clubs), a pub (sci-fi book club), and a movie theater (movie lovers’ book club).
Book Larder (Seattle – Fremont)
Food-focused bookstore, featuring talks with cookbook authors, demonstrations, and other culinary-oriented events.
BookTree (Kirkland)
Established bookstore on the Eastside.
Brick & Mortar Books (Redmond)
Established bookstore, with wide range of book clubs (general, non-fiction, romance, cozy mystery, true crime) and occasional author events.
Charlie’s Queer Books (Seattle – Fremont)
Specialty bookstore focused on queer authors, with wide range of book clubs and author events.
Eagle Harbor Book Co. (Bainbridge Island)
Long-running bookstore with large selection, hosting book clubs and occasional author events.
Edmonds Bookshop (Edmonds)
Long-running bookstore, with book club and occasional author events.
Elliott Bay Books (Seattle – Capitol Hill)
Landmark independent bookstore with near-daily author events and long-running book clubs; with a small cafe in store. Also sponsors off-site events.
⭐️ Must-visit bookstore: Breadth of stock, quality and breadth of author events.
Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery (Seattle – Georgetown)
Storefront of established Seattle-based comic and graphic novel publisher, plus comics and graphic novels from other presses; with occasional book release and signing events.
View upcoming store events here (Facebook)
Island Books (Mercer Island)
Established bookstore with book clubs (general, cookbooks, knitting, kids) and storytime.
Left Bank Books (Seattle – Pike Place)
Long-running bookstore collective, specializing in leftist politics, global and local movements, and small presses; located right at the Market entrance.
Liberty Bay Books (Poulsbo)
Long-running bookstore with wide-ranging book groups (general/daytime, history and historical fiction, mystery, Nordic, romantasy) and occasional author events.
Madison Books (Seattle – Madison Park)
Neighborhood bookstore with book club; sibling of Phinney Books.
Magnolia’s Bookstore (Seattle – Magnolia)
Established neighborhood bookstore with focus on Pacific Northwest, outdoors, and fiction.
Nook & Cranny Books (Seattle – Capitol Hill)
Neighborhood bookstore with community focus, hosting open mics and book clubs.
View clubs & community events here
Open Books (Seattle – Pioneer Square)
Long-running bookstore focused on poetry.
Page 2 Books (Burien)
Established, community-focused bookstore with book groups.
Paper Boat Booksellers (West Seattle)
Neighborhood bookstore with book club and off-site classics (books/movies) club.
Phinney Books (Seattle – Greenwood)
Established neighborhood bookstore with book club; sibling of Madison Books.
Queen Anne Book Company (Seattle – Queen Anne)
Neighborhood bookstore with book club and patio.
Ridgecrest Books (Shoreline)
Neighborhood bookstore hosting book club, storytime, and occasional author events, in-store or at the bar next door.
Saltwater Books (Kingston)
Newly opened bookstore across the water.
Secret Garden Books (Seattle – Ballard)
Long-running bookstore, specializing in children’s books.
Third Place – Lake Forest Park
First and largest location of three-store independent store features popular author events and large selection; surrounded by shops in Town Center and events with Third Place Commons.
Third Place – Ravenna
Cozy location features large selection and frequent author events; with cafe on lower level.
View store’s upcoming events here
Third Place Books – Seward Park
Bustling neighborhood location with large selection (new and used), frequent author events, and wide-ranging book clubs; with Chuck’s Hop Shop (taps and bottle shop), food, and coffee shop.
⭐️ Must-visit bookstore: Friendliness of staff, environment, breadth of stock, and quality of curated selections.
View store’s upcoming events here
Three Trees Books (Burien)
Tiny bookstore surrounded by bakeries and shops in the south end.
University Book Store (Seattle – U-District)
Large campus bookstore adjacent to UW campus, with academic and general titles; hosting book club and author events.
Wise Owl Books & Music (Seattle – Green Lake)
Specialty bookstore focused on sci-fi and fantasy, mystery, and music.
(Used Bookstores)
These independent shops are known for their stacks of used books. Many of the shops above also sell used books, but these ones focus on them.
BLMF Literary Salon (Seattle – Pike Place)
Piled-high used bookstore tucked away in the Market.
The Couth Buzzard (Seattle – Greenwood)
Long-running bookstore, with small cafe and frequent community events and music.
Magus Books (Seattle – U-District)
Long-running bookstore near the UW campus.
Mercer Street Books (Seattle – Lower Queen Anne)
Established used bookstore near the Seattle Center.
Ophelia’s Books (Seattle – Fremont)
Established bookstore in the heart of Fremont, with store cats, workshops, and art classes.
Paper Portal (Seattle – Madrona)
Recently opened used bookstore, specializing in fantasy works.
Pegasus Book Exchange (West Seattle)
Long-running bookstore in the heart of West Seattle.
Twice Sold Tales (Seattle – Capitol Hill)
Long-running bookstore with rooms and crannies full of books, known for its half-dozen (or so) store cats.
Twice Sold Tales – Ballard
Ballard spin-off of the long-running bookstore, with a store cat.
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⭐️ Note: NWT’s “must-visit” stores are a starting place if you are in Seattle and say I want to visit an amazing bookstore. They have enormous selections in general interest and curated sections, while also showcasing our unique flavor as a city. There are plenty of other stores on this list destined to be your favorite, depending on what you’re looking for.
Happy browsing! 📚