Steve and I were on 6th Ave a few weeks ago and came across Grit City Books purely by accident. We…read moredidn't know of it's existence but it was a very pleasant surprise to come across. The bookstore is sleek, clean and very well organized with a good selection of books. The staff member was very friendly and eager to assist me in getting a special order started for a book I was looking for. The special order came in a few days ago which is going to prompt a return visit and perhaps even additional books to purchase. Looking forward to continuing being a customer at this lovely bookstore!

This is a really cute local-owned bookstore. When I visited yesterday, I was pleased to see how…read morecozy and well-organized the store was. I appreciated that the different staff members had various books that they recommended highlighted throughout the shop. Service was great as I was greeted immediately and offered help while I was there (but not in a pushy/annoying way). The two paperback best seller's I purchased came out to just under $40 after taxes which seemed to be on par with/ slightly more than the big book chains, but spending a few extra dollars was worth it to me to support a local shop.

Truly a HUGE selection!! I felt overwhelmed right when I walked in and opted to ask the employee…read morewhere to go instead of wandering around. She was insanely helpful! She clearly knows the store very well and was able to give great directions of not only which aisle I needed, but the exact section. They don't have everything, but it's definitely a great place to stop first!

Love this place. No, they don't have public restrooms, look at the area it's in and think if you…read morewere an employee, would you let everyone that walks in to use the bathroom you'd have to clean. Customer service is good, they are not overly friendly but very helpful when you ask them to help you find something. The place can be confusing as to how it's arranged but to me that's part of the fun. As for pricing, I think they're fair, about the same as the other more popular discount book store.

Elliott Bay is by far one of the best bookstores you can visit in Seattle for literary lovers or…read morethose just looking to chill and stay dry. Street parking will be your best here and there is a good amount of it around the area. Inside, they have a very spacious setup with books organized nicely by genre. Prices here are very reasonable and their selection is pretty diverse. You could definitely spend a good couple hours here just perusing everything. If you are ever looking for a book in the Seattle area, this spot should be first on your list!

We were so lucky to even find parking near Elliot Bay Book it made our trip that much more…read moreseamless. Visiting Seattle it was my mission to check out local bookstores and as soon you enter Elliot Bay Book you are greeted with shelves and shelves of books. It can overwhelming but it was really nicely organized, I was looking for a specific book I just finished on my e-reader and wanted to get a trophy, I searched and couldn't find it so came up to a book buyer and they mentioned that didn't have any in stock. Everyone was super friendly and they even had a cute little cafe in the book store but I opted not to get anything, which was a shock for me. Definitely want to come back it's just so beautiful in there.

THE DUSTY SHELF: WHERE COFFEE MEETS CARVED SWAYZE SANCTUARY…read more Listen, their pour-over coffee is a masterpiece - each cup meticulously prepared with water so pure it makes angels weep. BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE LIFE-SIZED HAND-CARVED CEDAR STATUE OF PATRICK SWAYZE FROM "POINT BREAK" DOING A PERFECT BACKSIDE AIR WHILE HOLDING AN ESPRESSO CUP? It's positioned by the cream and sugar station with such precision that when the morning light hits it, even the FBI agents would cry. Their Earl Grey is sourced from a secret garden tended by tea mystics. Whatever. Because I just witnessed the unveiling of their newest masterpiece: a mahogany Swayze in full "Dirty Dancing" lift pose, holding aloft not Jennifer Grey, but a perfectly balanced chai latte. The craftsmanship on those wooden dance pants is UNPRECEDENTED. Sure, their single-origin Ethiopian beans are hand-selected by monks who've taken a vow of excellent taste. But let's talk about what's really important: the rotating display of "Road House" Swayze carvings, each depicting a different roundhouse kick frozen in pine and oak. The one where he's simultaneously bouncing a troublemaker AND pulling a perfect shot of espresso? *chef's kiss* The baristas can discuss coffee varietals with scholarly precision, but can they explain why I just spent three hours staring at the intricate detail work on the "Ghost" sculpture where Swayze's wooden hands are simultaneously throwing pottery AND tamping espresso grounds? The artist even carved tiny clay spatter on his rolled-up sleeves! Their matcha ceremony is a testament to tradition. Cool. But have you seen the walnut Swayze from "Black Dog" arm-wrestling a bear while balancing a French press on his head? They say it took seven master carvers and one Patrick Swayze historian to get the mullet exactly right. The wall of Swayze isn't just art - it's a timeline of cinematic history carved in exotic hardwoods. They've arranged the statues chronologically, with special lighting that makes them appear to dance at exactly 3:17 PM every day. I've rearranged my entire work schedule around this miracle. Five stars for their beverage program - their commitment to craft is outstanding. But INFINITE SWAYZE stars for creating the world's first coffee shop/Swayze sculpture garden. I've started hosting guided tours. Tuesday's theme is "From 'The Outsiders' to Outer Bark: A Journey Through Wooden Swayze Evolution." P.S. I heard they're commissioning a new piece: Swayze from "To Wong Foo" carved entirely from rare purple heartwood. I've already taken out a second mortgage to fund my daily visits during the carving process. P.P.S. The pastries are excellent too, but have you seen how they're displayed on shelves supported by brackets carved to look like Swayze's perfectly chiseled jawline? That's attention to detail. Note: To the health inspector who questioned whether wooden Swayze statues belong near food preparation areas - clearly you've never experienced the purifying power of Patrick's carved gaze watching over your coffee grinding technique. Special Addendum: I'm not saying they should add more, but I am saying there's a conspicuous lack of "Steel Dawn" Swayze wielding a sword made of coffee stirrers. Just an observation. Remember: Nobody puts Swayze in the corner. They put him on handcrafted pedestals made from reclaimed barn wood, illuminated by vintage Edison bulbs that make his wooden muscles glisten like morning dew on a coffee leaf.

Love this business! A cute, not so little bookstore cafe at the bottom of Mt Rainier, and we…read moreenjoyed every minute of it. So many books to choose from, new and old, and a glass of wine, some yummy fudge and good conversation. Emma was so sweet and shared lots of good information to these out of towners.

King's is an absolutely lovely bookstore! I was hoping to pick up a couple of books used, but alas,…read morethey only had them new and one needed to be ordered. The employee was super friendly and even took a minute to look in a to-be-sorted pile just to make sure that they really didn't have what I wanted. The best part of the store? They have shop kitties!!

Really cool bookstore connected to a vintage clothes and bag/purse store that's much bigger than it…read morelooks from the outside. When you walk in, there's a small lobby area with the cashier, but then you walk to the back and find a whole new room full of books! Great selection of reads, you can easily find some hidden gems in this bookstore. Everything was reasonably priced for being used and new books, and they offer dollar books in the back on a shelf with some of the very used books. Would love to come back someday when I'm in town!

A plethora of books you can choose from. They create a pathway around the bookstore to ease people…read moretraffic. Definitely took time to read through books to figure out whats next in my book queue. All books are reasonably priced and not in terrible condition despite them being used. Overall, recommend!

Amazing selection and amazing prices. Friendly staff and great atmosphere. Always a great time…read morehere.

I was really impressed after stepping into this store on small biz saturday!…read more The clerk behind the counter was super friendly and helpful, and was keeping a cool head with a rather large crowd! They had a great selection. I was in there to find a birthday present for a friend and easily found the perfect book and cute little bday card. They had a lot of the big hitters (fiction and non) but also a large local authors selection and unique picks. Also an adorable children's and YA section! Look in the back for those. Prices were pretty much on par with new books these days, probably between $15-35 for the majority of titles.

It is a pretty small bookstore and it started to pile in with people about 30 minutes before close…read more Each bookshelf was marked with genres and a small blurb of why a certain book was a staff's favorite. I was able to navigate around, but one section was more popular than the others so it was harder to browse the one section. Some decided to give up waiting for the aisle and browse elsewhere, while some decided to just grab closest to them as they looked around. Nobody was bothered and I didnt mind since we are all in our own browsing world. Overall, will definitely come back! Was a good stop on Seattle Independent Bookstore Day!

Eagle Harbor Book Company feels like the kind of place that would show up in a rom com or cozy…read moremystery. A sweet, attractive independent bookstore on a beautiful island, where you might meet a handsome stranger, a dastardly murderer, or even a handsome stranger who turns out to be a dastardly murderer. I spent a few hours on Bainbridge Island during a family trip to Seattle, and we enjoyed a leisurely browse at this bookstore. It was well stocked with books of every genre, as well as a strong selection of gifts and toys. My Seattle friend told me Eagle Harbor had carried my book, at least when it first came out, so I forgave them for no longer having it on the shelves six years later. I was very happy to see my friends Kara Loo and Jennifer Young's novel in the romance section. It's their first book, and I think it's a good sign that the store stocks new releases by debut writers. I really just love a good bookstore, and being in Eagle Harbor Book Company made me happy, even as my children demanded I buy them every colorful thing that entered their field of vision. I'd be a regular if I lived on the island. I could rent a space next door and start solving crimes.

What a lovely bookshop! Nestled amongst other stores in downtown Bainbridge, this place is a gem…read more They have a great selection of books, alongside other delightful "bookish" paraphernalia. I loved the way the store was organized. Lots of fun featured and staff recommended titles! And as a local author, I especially appreciated that there was an entire section dedicated to local storytellers. We bought a stack of treats, and we're looking forward to coming back on our next trip to the area. Support your local bookstores, folks! We need these spaces in our communities.

ADORE this bookstore so much!! Always make a morning or afternoon of it when I am in town. Huge…read morespace with focus on books, books, and even more books! So many shelves throughout the store, but also up high. Ask for help to get them and their ladder to reach up high and low for all the choices you are about to bring home. This makes our options more than most bookstores. WIN WIN! The cafe area is a good size and what a great selection of treats! Pick your drink, a snack, and a seat. Dive into those new loved books you just grabbed.

Beautiful store, friendly staff, well laid out. I love a local store but they aren't always as user…read morefriendly as Elliott Bay.