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    Bay Books

    4.4 (110 reviews)
    ModerateBookstores
    Open 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Recommended Reviews - Bay Books

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    Richelle S.

    Came here on a weekend after lunch around 1PM and there was no line. It was a cute little cafe at a bookstore. We got the lavender matcha and horchata matcha. We couldn't really taste the matcha and it was a little bitter but the horchata taste was good. The worker was very friendly. Parking is street so it could be a little hard to get a closer parking.

    Nayeli R.

    Fantastic bookstore with an amazing selection of books. My favorite section is the historical fiction genre. I love when bookstores have their staff review books/make recommendations. Without these recommendations, I wouldn't have picked up these books by Kristin Harmel, which turned out to be phenomenal.

    Of course I found myself here!
    Pam S.

    Such a cute little bookstore! We went in right before closing after our Afternoon Tea outing and (per usual me) I wanted to hop over the bridge and see one of the Independent Bookstores I had heard about. This place did not disappoint. Plenty of selections from all genres, including popular books seen on bookstagrams & reels on IG and TikTok. Also, you will find staff recommendations which always come in handy when looking for your next read. Aisle can be tight but... I like that in a bookstore (yea, I know call me crazy) Service was kind and I must also mention that they have gift items here for any bibliophile. BTW they are also participating in the San Diego Book Crawl April 26th -28th, 2025 I'll be heading back down for that. Respectfully Reviewed.

    Outside
    Marci A.

    Gorgeous book store in the neighborhood with all the best sellers and some gems. They have stickers and clothing and the people who work here are really nice and helpful. It is a bit pricier than your local b&n but it's more personable so that works. They do cute little recommendations as well. Loved it.

    Carmen V.

    I had not been in Coronado for a while and noticed this book store/coffee shop. Not sure if new but was totally new to me and I was looking for coffee break while talking to some friends from back in the Bay Area:) I loved perusing the books. There are tons of other gift type of items to buy and the transition to coffee shop is very smooth, very well blended. I like they have several tables to sit outside and people watch. I was not very happy with my coffee because it was a little bit burnt but the croissant was really good and I was not even expecting that. Overall, it's a very pleasant place to visit and have a coffee. I found parking nearby and was able to spend some time visiting some stores too. Great place to stop when you are in Coronado Island.

    Kathleen Y.

    Came here sometime last year when I was visiting San Diego, and I loved this area in Coronado! Had to stop by Bay Books, and it's such a cute little bookshop! It is on the smaller side, but they have a good selection of all genres, and a huge YA/Children's section. I didn't have much interaction with the employees at the store, but I wasn't in any need of assistance so it wasn't a big deal. I ended up not buying anything this visit, but I found a few gems while I was browsing. I did, however, grab a drink from their adjoined coffee shop and really enjoyed sitting outside people watching. Parking is a bit limited since it's street parking, but it's easy to walk over if you've parked a bit farther. Overall, a great bookshop to stop by if you're in Coronado!

    Book and tote bag
    Romina T.

    Stumbled across this cute little books store while in Coronado. They have a cute coffee shop they are connected to and it's a perfect place to buy your Summer Beach Reads! My daughter found a book she wanted and I picked up a cute shopper tote!

    Vegan chocolate donuts
    Victoria G.

    VEGAN PASTRIES!!!! Vegan pastries! Did I mention they have vegan pastries!?!? I was so excited to hear they have vegan pastries. I bought 4! The chocolate donut is amazing. No one would even know it's vegan. Excellent service.

    Non-fat latte
    Shelby S.

    Stopped in here for some coffee while walking around Coronado. Looked like a popular spot with a few people already in line and some sitting at the tables out front. The coffee shop is at the beginning of the library, so it'd be a great place to hang out and get work done. I tried their non-fat latte and it was really good! The staff was very friendly and even shared that the drinks may take some time to come out because there were a few orders already ahead of us. It looked like they have a great selection of pastries and even savory options of pizzas. Really cute spot and the coffee is tasty!

    Entrance of Bay Books!
    Claudia V.

    I've been reading so many books due to covid and now my goal is to visit all the bookstores in San Diego. Especially small businesses like Bay books Coronado. I found out about this book store from a delivery my daughters got. A few books for them to read while heir dad was gone. Being in beautiful Coronado alone is amazing. I found parking right in front of the store which was nice! As you enter the store you are greeted by so many am amazing books. It was magical. So many to choose from and they also have a kids section in the back. They also sell mugs, smalls gifts and book marks. There's a little section with puzzles and toys as well. I also noticed there was a small coffee shop that sells coffee and pastries. Staff was nice and we walked out with lots of books and goodies. You can also order online and get your books delivered to your house!

    Front of store with plenty of seating!

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    2 months ago

    One of my favorite San Diego independent bookstores. Bay Books is a charming stop in Coronado. Well organized and very friendly staff.

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    Thank you for your great review!

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    Thank you Romina!

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    2 years ago

    The most charming bookstore. Great selection. A little of everything! Picked up a book for myself and one for my daughter.

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    3 years ago

    Lovely lady the store owner is such a sweetheart amazing stuff and cute bunny stuff . Love their selection

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    2 years ago

    Great place for books, gift ideas, or a treat. Love the little area to sit outside. They also have a nice selection of jewelry.

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    2 years ago

    the cashier on friday night on 11/8 was the sweetest lady! i got one book and will come back again!

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Nice little bookstore with friendly staff. I like independent bookstores and this one is good

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    4 years ago

    Great lattes! Walked the street and tried a few places. This one rocked!................................

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    3 years ago

    Charming and well organized indie bookstore. Highly recommended. Lots of excellent employee recommendations

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Bay Books

    Review Highlights - Bay Books

    Remember the cute little book store The Shop Around the Corner that big, bad Fox Books put out of business?

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Bluestocking Books - More books

    Bluestocking Books

    4.6(150 reviews)
    4.4 miHillcrest
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    What a nice independent bookstore! I can't tell you the last time I held a book in my hands (I…read moreknow! I kind of suck!), but I do love books and try to shop at them whenever I can. I love to give books or gift cards to bookstores to children. Bluestocking Books is the kind of bookstore I would specifically go out of my way to buy gifts for people, or to (gasp) buy a book for myself. There are little cozy nooks around the bookstore, as there should be in a bookstore. There's also a section for kids, with a little table and some reading material to peruse. Inexplicably, Bluestocking Books is closed on Wednesdays! What an interesting day to be closed, but I guess you have to be closed at least one day, right? Why not Wednesday? The people who work here are very friendly and helpful, and there's just a palpable welcoming vibe emanating from the store. It's a nice place to browse and find the perfect book.

    Bluestocking Books is an awesome indie bookstore located in the Hillcrest area. There is no parking…read morelot here, but a ton of street parking all around. Inside, they have a cozy and welcoming setup with both new and used books organized neatly by genres. The books are priced very fairly here and they have a good amount of books to dig through. All of the staff are friendly and welcoming. Definitely stop by and you will most likely not leave empty-handed!

    Photos
    Bluestocking Books - Cozy and wint'ry bookshop

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    Bluestocking Books - The stairway to Heaven. Oh and great books on tippy top shelves

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    Bookstar / Barnes & Noble

    Bookstar / Barnes & Noble

    3.7(109 reviews)
    4.5 miLoma Portal
    $$

    Cool little Barnes and Noble in an old theater space! I love that they kept the theater marquee out…read morefront. It looks super cool! The bf also got a kick out of it since he worked as a theater manager for years and loves checking out different theaters. The inside of the store was pretty similar to other Barnes and Nobles, maybe a bit smaller. Good amount of book merch and themed table sections, but I think the lighting could have been a bit brighter. They were running some great deals before new years so I picked up a few new books. I have noticed that sometimes Barnes and Noble doesn't pick up the discounts listed on the stickers on the front covers of books, so I pay extra attention when those are rung up. The guy at the register was super nice and corrected it, no problem!

    Loved how this old movie theater was repurposed into a bookstore/Barnes and Noble. The interior has…read morethe old remnants of the theater, pretty evident through the decor running along the ceiling. Super cool! And of course, the Bookstar sign out front giving it old theater vibes. Selection was similar to what other B&N have. Their record section was cute, displayed in the front window. The store was well organized, easy to navigate, and had all the featured table displays. I was searching for The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig when I went, but they were out of stock. The employee who helped me offered to call another store in the area, which was really nice of her! I ended up getting it at the Mission Valley location. Overall worth a visit, if only to take pictures of the cool sign. Otherwise, it's like any other Barnes & Noble.

    Photos
    Bookstar / Barnes & Noble - Cool old movie sign

    Cool old movie sign

    Bookstar / Barnes & Noble
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    DG Wills Books - front entrance

    DG Wills Books

    4.2(131 reviews)
    12.0 miLa Jolla
    $$

    I have no pictures because the owner requested no phones out in the store…read more The staff were extremely helpful in directing us where to go and what sections held what genres. I was also informed of sloped floors and uneven areas since I am a cane user which I GREATLY appreciated. This store is stacked with literature and poetry, I'd say that's definitely their forte here. Their lit section for new releases is huge and they had so many different editions for so many popular literature books. They also had a lot of lit and non fiction used options. Everything is great pricing. Basically either list or discounted for used items. The store is cozy and small with memories, photos, and clippings everywhere on the walls. It you are a wheelchair user it is not accessible for you, but if you use a mobility aid like a cane or crutch you can manage. There are very small tight sections. Next time I'm in the market for a classic book, this will be my go to.

    Be prepared to be judged here if you appreciate the art of photography. Came here to find our book…read morefor book club. The bookstore and the outside is beautiful. I personally love to take pictures, especially on vacation. As do many others. When we came in, they literally have a gate to enter the book part (talk about gatekeeping in real life lol). They give you a set of rules before you enter and there are signs that you can't take pictures. Only once you listen to those rules can you enter... I overheard the men working here complaining about young people taking pictures in front of their book cases outside while a young girl was doing just that. Basically making fun of anyone who does that. I said "you all have a beautiful place, it's so photo worthy." They just said ya, but if you're not looking for books then don't come in here and start taking pictures. lol - can you not do both....? They didn't have the book I was looking for, I was going to buy a journal but ended up not wanting to after hearing all that negativity. 2 stars simply because the space is pretty. Enjoy the pics:)

    Photos
    DG Wills Books - Books

    Books

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    Footnote Books - Hiding spot

    Footnote Books

    3.8(97 reviews)
    4.7 miHillcrest
    $

    Amazing selection of books! There were so many hidden gems in this bookstore, you have to really…read morelook. The man who attended us was very nice. If you have a big bag or drinks, you give them to him and put them in a box and you collect it at the end of your shopping! Got 2 books for $16!

    Hidden Gem for Book Lovers - A True San Diego Treasure…read more Footnote Books in University Heights might not catch your eye from the street, but step inside and you're entering a book lover's paradise. It's a small, tightly packed shop, stacked floor to ceiling with everything from quirky romance to vintage collectibles--and that's exactly the charm. AND what increiible value here! Nothing was overpriced even when you know you found a real gem. Don't let the curb appeal fool you--this place is the real deal. My wife scored a stack of fantasy romance novels (SJM, Ana Reyes, etc), and I stumbled upon a first issue of Sports Illustrated and a beautiful 1950s first-edition history of some of baseball's most iconic early legends. Talk about treasure hunting. The owner? An absolute gem. Super knowledgeable, approachable, and clearly someone who lives and breathes books. You can feel the passion in every corner of this store--Footnote is truly a labor of love. If you're in San Diego and love books with character (and characters), do yourself a favor and visit Footnote Books. 10/10 I highly recommend.

    Photos
    Footnote Books
    Footnote Books - Books

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    Shelves

    Bay Books - bookstores - Updated May 2026

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