Ashleigh S.

This place is so cute! This is like a dream spot and I wish I lived closer so I could visit more often. We went for Halloween as they had some themed activities/books out. There were cozy seating options but since it was fairly packed, we sat at the bar. Loved to see such a big turnout but this place feels like it only has space for ~20 people comfortably. We got the popcorn and I tried out some of the wine tasting on the wall. They give you a tap card so you can control how many tastes you want. They offer 1 oz, half glass, or full glass pours for each of the wine on tap. The wine on tap is mostly their wine pairings for the month. I love the concept and definitely tried a couple wines to decide which book I should read! Overall pretty cozy and intimate. The book selection is pretty small and curated. The shelves are tall and they have the moving ladder! Very beauty and the beast library-like! Would be good to come with one other person or solo to have some cozy reading time. I could only imagine this place would be a dream for a small book club! I know they have a couple events like that every month and would love to come check one out someday.

Jojo P.

Book lovers paradise! Book Society Berkeley is a dream come true and unassuming from the outside. The vibe is so chill and the chairs and layout is chic. I love how they pair books with wine - getting a library tap card to refill your glass of wine through a dispenser? genius! Plus, no pressure to buy while you're reading. Perfect spot to curl up with my book buddy and get lost in a good story. Can't recommend enough! Quick tip: nestled on a pretty busy down town street. Metered parking available but might have to circle around.

Miranda L.

My friend and I decided to check them out at around 1 pm on Sunday and we found out about them through Tiktok. After we walked in, the owners who were two sisters were super kind, greeting us and giving us a run down on how everything works. They choose 8 different wines each month and pair it with a book where there is a small description about each and a theme every month. They give you a card that you can tap at the top of their wine dispenser machine and can select how much you want from each type from a taste to a full glass. I'd never seen a machine like this to dispense wine before so it was fun trying different wines varying in flavors and styles. After getting the explanation, we walked around the store looking at the different book selections and it was peaceful to enjoy a book and be in a space that is recommended to be technology free. I tried some of their red wines and it went down smoothly for me. If I was looking to spend a relaxing afternoon and read a new book, I would definitely be here.

Jocelyn G.

Visited this spot with my friend yesterday because it has great reviews, we love books and most definitely wine. It is indeed a very beautiful space. You can tell that much thought went into the designing of it. They host many book events from puzzle nights to book signing and reading. They also have a membership, if interested. There was a good amount of customers driving wine, chatting and/or reading books when we arrived. We were greeted with s wave from the back where the cash register is located. That was a nice touch because it means we were acknowledged straight from the start. Sarah came out and talked with us about the wine thar they had for the month and the books that were paired with it. She was indeed knowledgeable. Sarah also explained to us that you can go online to see their past book and wine pairings. My friend and I both began with Reds tastings. We won't be doing that again because you have to pay for them each time and I do believe that although it is profitable for the business, it is getting over in the customer because it is like $3 and up.. got a sip..smh We both felt that out of the 4 they had of Reds, only 1 stood out. The others all tasted the same. There was no variation in them at all. We decided to go and locate our book to sit and enjoy both wine and reading time. They gave an assortment. However, majority of the books are by White authors. I feel that is not okay by any means merely because the business is located in the area it is. All ethnicities visit from everywhere. They really need to expand in this area. I will go back in a diffrent month to see if the wine curation is better.

Krysten H.

This may be one of my new favorite places! Wine, books and conversations about books?! What more could I want. Came here on a Saturday afternoon was able to meet the owner and get some of her insight and recommendation of books. Loc the concept where you can hang out, drink wine, look and talk about books! Wish I had something closer to me, but will be back!

Alexzandria T.

I'm so happy my friend found this place! We had such a great time here. Stopped by just before closing and enjoyed a few tastings of the wine selection. I love to read, and I love wine. What a perfect combination! What I found awesome was the automatic dispenser for wine (paid for with your keycard and then charged after) and the hundreds of books available to read and purchase. The venue looks really small but it's quite spacious, and I love that it is a LAPTOP FREE ZONE. It encourages conversation, exploration, and chill vibes without it feeling like you walked into a Starbucks to study. The wine options were delicious and I like how they were paired with novels. The only reason I didn't give an extra star was because the pours for the tastings were too small for the price. I go wine tasting all over CA (including Napa and Paso). I think it should be a little bit more for $3-5 each.

Rosalind C.

Book Society is such a much needed concept! After brunch me and my friend decided to stop by to check it out! Parking is tricky since it's on a busy street but we got lucky and found a spot across the street. They did a great job maximizing the space with seating and books and a bar area . As soon as we walked in someone came over and explained everything to us...we grabbed a card in exchange for our drivers license and that is what you use for the self pour wine station. You can choose how many ounces and they have pricing listed. They explained they switch out the wines each month. They had a good selection of whites and reds and they even had a non alcoholic option. Me and my friend grabbed a seat on the couches and checked out their book selection...I gravitated toward the cook books! 1 of their book clubs was about to meet when we got there. Just a FYI since this is technically a lounge kids are not allowed. Very cool spot in Berkeley, I will def. be back!

Mariana D.

Absolutely love the concept of The Book Society--where else can you sip wine while flipping through a great book and maybe even catch a reading group? It's giving literary lounge meets cozy wine bar, and I'm here for it. What Makes It Special * You check in with your ID and get a wine card, then pour wine from their rotating tap of 5 selections--total vending machine vibes, but classy. * Wines are priced by the ounce, and each one comes with a recommended book pairing, which is such a thoughtful touch. * The interior is beautiful--elegant, modern, and just warm enough to feel inviting. Good to Know * Food menu is limited--think light, pricey charcuterie, so don't come starving. * It's intimate and cozy, but can get a little loud if you're there purely to read in peace. * Tons of hooks at arm's reach (small detail, big win for bags and coats). All in all, it's a perfect spot for book lovers and wine nerds alike--just don't expect full meals or quiet library vibes. Highly recommend for a solo wine date or a cute meetup with a literary twist.

Gina G.

What a cool new spot located on College Ave in Berkeley, and woman-owned! While I hate to admit I'm not an avid reader, my bestie and I had a sweet Gal'entines day moment at Book Society. I absolutely fell in love with the idea of giving a 'library card' that also is utilized for the self-serve wine. You tap the card and pick what type of wine you would like/how many ounces, and voilà! They have monthly book/wine pairings, and incredibly yummy snacks (we enjoyed curated local cheese/crackers/popcorn/chocolates) while we sipped and lounged. My bestie purchased Pamela Anderson's new cookbook, as we saw groups/potentially book clubs come in to chat collectively, as well as just people who seemed to bring their own book for a solo read/cozy moment. I love that this spot also hosts events by authors and super cool experiences within like an upcoming Sunday in the Stacks: Sound Bath & Bubbles. You can book the space too for small groups, and I saw online, join a themed Book Society Book Club like Cookbook Lovers Book Club or The Leading Ladies Book Club. To note, this is a laptop-free spot. Think: unplug and plug into something new. I just love the mantra of elevating the bookstore experience. Think Barnes & Noble with Starbucks, but with wine, snacks, and a more intimate space. Hoping to come back for an event sometime or a mommy moment :)

Andrea R.

I recently learned about Book Society and knew I had to visit! A few of my friends and I stopped by on a Saturday. The bar was full, but after waiting and browsing the books for a few minutes, a table opened up and we were able to sit. We all ordered half glasses of wine. My half glass was $9, and it was a lot less than half a glass. The wine was great, and each wine is paired with a book, which I enjoyed looking through. But it really was not enough wine for the price. The full glass was extremely expensive (some wines $20+ for the full glass), and since the half glass was such a small portion, I can only assume the full glass would be too. It was disappointing because I was so excited about this bookstore/bar! Even though the pours were really light, Book Society is a very cool place. The book selection is great, the space is comfortable and beautiful, and the people who work there are so friendly and attentive. My friends and I ordered the cheese place, as well. Although it was definitely expensive ($28) for the amount of cheese we got, the cheeses were super tasty and the crackers were so good. Overall, I'm really glad I tried this place. I hope they reconsider their prices and their portion sizes, but it's a great space with great people.

Bob K.

Last night (Monday) I went to Clio's, a used book-and-bar joint, which was he closest I've seen to a beatnik experience. Book Society is a more feminine space, with a limited number of titles, but enough to keep the intensive browser busy for half an hour. Or maybe longer, if you visit the wine bar. They have eight bottles on tap, each paired with a book (nothing obligatory however). You can get one of three pour sizes, and the wines run from moderate to expensive. The staff is available for chatting. They have book clubs that meet, and occasional author experiences (Niall Williams will be here in March). They close by 8, so you can book/bar hop to Clio's or North Light if you want. Small plates are also available, but nobody seemed to be having these when I was there. Well insulated from outside madness, so this becomes a valuable safe place to enjoy the sofas and company.

Jessica G.

Book Society is the perfect haven for book lovers and wine enthusiasts. As someone who's always loved to read and has recently started getting into wine, this was such a special place for me. I love a beautiful space and Book Society is exactly that. The decor, the lounge-y seating along with the book nooks and separated table spaces make this a reader's dream. Whether you want to sit alone to read or chat with a friend over some light bites and wines, they've got a space for you. Not to mention, the music choice is perfect - relaxing enough to not distract you from your book but sets the perfect vibe for the space. It's got a library vibe where everyone is speaking in relatively hushed tones so as not to disrupt anyone else. You'll get a "library card" that lets you self serve wine (think: the self-pour beer taprooms, but with wine) and they feature a rotating selection of wines that they've paired with books they're highlighting. You can choose from 8 different wines and 3 different size pours ranging in prices. They have both reds and whites and they even had a non-alcoholic options available. Bonus points that they also tend to feature local, women-owned wineries. You can browse their shelves for a book to purchase or you can even just sit and read for awhile. They also offer a bunch of events like book clubs (for every genre) and author visits. A couple of rules: + No laptops here - unplug, read, or w(h)ine with friends. + the space is 21+ so the kiddos will have to stay home My one con of an otherwise flawless experience: the book selection is small. They have a lot of books variety wise, yes, but not a ton of each copy out on the shelves so if you find a book that you want, be sure to get it! They can also check to see if they might have something stocked that's not out. Another thing to note: books here are sold at full suggested retail price. That's likely higher than what you'd find on amazon or a big box store, but we're all about supporting local businesses here and I'm down for my dollars to go to the folks who brought this amazing shop to the East Bay.

I loved this place and will be back. I'm in town visiting and I love checking out bookstores. What a cool concept, wine, read, and buy the book if you like it. Loved the cozy vibe and that it's a laptop free place. I also love how peaceful it was in there. Definitely recommend.