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    Capitol Hill Books

    4.3 (206 reviews)
    InexpensiveUsed Bookstore
    Open 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Capitol Hill Books Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Capitol Hill Books

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    Jesse W.

    Great store, really amazing collection of books and wonderful employees. The prices are fair and they have very interesting rare books that would definitely entice any collector.

    Kassidy K.

    Absolutely love random bookstores that have so many different twists and turns with more and more books ! It is a little overwhelming since there is soooo much- but it seems quite organized (for as best as it can). They were quite busy when we stumbled in- but there was a little art market on that block that day. The prices were fairly cheap. Their new books were regular price (duh), the other books like ranged a bit between like 30-60% off ? Give or take the type of book it was- vintage or just slightly used or slightly damaged. I really only saw one lady sitting the table and couldn't quite see if anyone else worked there. But the lady was quite nice and was welcoming to everyone who was there.

    lol
    Jill H.

    If you love books and shops in which every nook and cranny is stuffed with books and more books, this used book store is for you! What a fun place to peruse while at the Eastern Market. Today's discoveries included: 1. A book with photos still tucked inside (A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton). I can't help but wonder if the people pictured are missing those photos and if they'll ever be recognized or reunited?! 2. The law books were located inside the bathroom, much to my amusement as my browsing companion is an attorney. (I think they rotate because I've seen pics with other subjects located here) 3. Cheeky, spot-on political commentary 4. A book my son has been hoping to read, now purchased 5. Numerous other books of all genres waiting to be discovered by YOU!

    Second Saturday's wine and books
    Katie W.

    Fun and quickly secondhand bookstore. You can find books hidden in every crevice, including in the bathroom! They also recently restarted second Saturday's which has been on hiatus since the pandemic. It's a lovely event with wine, cheese, and crackers and 10% off purchases during the event.

    Today's haul
    Michelle W.

    I love this place so much, such a great place to find deals on used books. They have some new books as well, but I love the hunt of secondhand books & also the discounted price. Spent 2 hours here today and got 8 books for $72.50. I'll definitely be back, as we recently moved to DC and I have a number of new bookshelves that need filling. Great spot for any book lover.

    Toya D.

    There are books EVERYWHERE. Upstairs. Downstairs. In the closet. On the floor. In a box. In the other closet. In another box. In the damn bathroom. If you like the smell of old books, this is it. Not a tablet in sight. It was quiet. It was refreshing. Cookbooks. Religion. Women's Studies. US History. Children's books. All the books. All the subjects. This place is full of gems, both old and new. Not sure if you can quickly find what you're looking for, but it's an adventure just to look. If you've got time, stop by and roam around. __ IG: @f.hux I #yelp and I know things. Keep reading... https://linktr.ee/f.hux #foodieHUX #yelpelite #yelpeatsdc #yelpdc

    Madeline Z.

    This was such a fun used book store! I was a little worried based on the pictures if it would be hard to find anything, but all books are placed in different sections and alphabetized- making it easy to look through the chaos (chaos used in a positive way). I was able to find two books I've been wanting to read in great condition for half retail price. The cashier was so kind, the selection was amazing, and the experience was overall a 10/10!

    Books.
    Jennifer J.

    I love a good bookstore in a new city, so Capitol Hill Books fired on all cylinders during my recent visit to the DC area. Tucked into an old house-turned-store in the Eastern Market neighborhood, this place features multiple levels of books. So. Many. Books. It's the type of place you could get lost in for hours, or even days, if you wanted to. The building itself is old, with narrow stairs and lots of little rooms tucked away. They've tried to keep it organized, but there was definitely room for improvement - I found myself putting books away on a few shelves which were so disheveled it was impossible to find anything. Perhaps that's what adds to the charm of this place!

    Naomi M.

    Absolutely love this book store. I'm constantly reading so having a solid used book store has been on my list of things to find now that I'm a new DC resident. I also liked that they do also have new books so you can still find new & upcoming books all in one bookstore! Came on a Friday afternoon and the guy at the front desk was helpful and explained what type of books were on each floor. There are so many options to choose from. There isn't a ton of space for hanging out and reading inside, but there is a cafe right around on the corner. Can't wait to read the books I got today and come back for more.

    Kate H.

    There's a reason this spot is a local favorite! Its tucked into a small space in Eastern Market, around the corner from Pitango, and it's seemingly been there forever. It's the kind of quirky, unpretentious hole-in-the-wall of a bookstore that serious readers will love. The shelves are overstuffed, rickety, and crowded together. There are snarky handwritten signs all over the place. It's a maze that can be difficult to navigate and fun to get lost in, and it's super rewarding when you find a treasure for super cheap. They've got everything, especially the obscure and the academic. My favorite features include the "Wacko shelf" of books by extreme political figures, the rare book display, and their Twitter account which is sarcastic and hilarious. Actually, no, my favorite part is they have a public restroom without a keypad code.

    Upstairs at the book store.
    Damien P.

    Let's just say if you can't find the book you are seeking. Or a book in the genre that you are searching for then it doesn't exist. Capitol Hill Books is filled from top to bottom with some of the most amazing books ever written. Book lovers of when you are in the DC area make sure Capital Hill Books are on the agenda.

    Reading chairs for hunters.

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    10 months ago

    Very quality used book collection and actually respects good books and classics. Cool nook that you can get lost in for hours

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    4 years ago

    A very small but beautiful bookstore right by Eastern Market! Great selection of books and very well curated displays as well.

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    3 years ago

    Obscure selection. Find what you weren't even looking for! Cool building. Lots of nooks and crannies to pop a squat and relax for a few.

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Capitol Hill Books

    Can one donate books?

    Yes if they are left leaning/progressive in nature.

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Capitol Hill Books

    the foreign language section is in the bathroom, I think international affairs in the closet.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Carpe Librum

    Carpe Librum

    5.0(2 reviews)
    2.1 miDowntown

    Washington, DC - L'Enfant Plaza - Dolly Parton!! Yes! Walking past this small outpost of Carpe…read moreLibrum located amongst the fast food offerings of L'Enfant Plaza, I spotted the book I didn't know I needed- Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors. Sure it's a kids book, but sometimes that's what we need - a reminder that everyone deserves love and respect. I glanced around this small shop - books are organized by topic with kids on the left and grown up options on the right. The person in the line ahead of me seemed to be dropping off some books and purchasing others. So maybe they have trade in options? When it was my turn the employee noted they had a lease for the next month or so. They're going to see if this location works out. Checking out was quick and easy. I was asked if I wanted to donate extra to the charity they fund. My kids book was $3 as it was a softcover. This seemed like a pretty good value. I plan to return.

    What a great used bookstore! Across Franklin Park from The Washington Post, Carpe Librum sells…read moregently used books, vinyls, CDs, and DVDs all under $7. Shelves are filled with books in every category, including children books in hardback and paperback. Vinyls are $5 each and CDs and DVDs are $3. The space is inside the old Leon restaurant and the signs on the walls speak to that. It's a no-frills space, but worth a visit. Proceeds help education non-profit Turning the Page.

    Photos
    Carpe Librum
    Carpe Librum
    Carpe Librum

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    Lost City Books

    Lost City Books

    4.3(48 reviews)
    3.5 miAdams Morgan
    Locally owned & operated
    Pet friendly

    I stopped by Lost City Books with a friend yesterday, when we spent a beautiful spring Sunday…read moremorning on a walk and mini bakery crawl through Adams Morgan. We both love to read and love bookshops. I love big bookshops, little bookshops, romance bookshops... Lost City Books was a wonderful surprise and immediately became one of my favorite bookshops in DC. Why? It isn't huge, but it makes such good use of its space that I found it to be one of the best stocked independent bookstores I've visited in a long while. I always try to support local independent bookstores when I can, and some of them are tiny (if your neighborhood bookstore is one of the tiny ones, remember they'll probably place orders for you if you want/need something they don't have in stock). But - at the risk of sounding silly - we got lost in time at Lost City Books. We meant to just pop in and quickly pick something to take home. But we wandered through their fiction section and staff picks, pointing out books to each other we loved or have been meaning to read and all of a sudden a half hour had passed and we only really explored one tiny section of the shop. We walked out with four books between us, too. The customer service was friendly to boot. Just a great independent bookshop and another reason to love Adams Morgan.

    Great selection and wonderful vibes. The best part all of the staff recommended books throughout…read morethe store. The reviews are thorough and helpful and makes you feel lol they care.

    Photos
    Lost City Books
    Lost City Books
    Lost City Books

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    Second Story Books & Antiques - Stacks and stacks of used books

    Second Story Books & Antiques

    4.1(111 reviews)
    13.3 mi
    $

    This bookstore is awesome! When I went on a Friday afternoon recently, it was pretty calm and…read morequiet. Not too crowded which I liked as it can get pretty tight since there's many books and many shelves. Service was fine although I didn't really talk to many people while there (was more preoccupied with finding the books and checking them out). I'd say this place has great value as the books i got (3) were charged a total of just under $5. I can see why the staff put up flyers stating to be mindful with how many books the customers get as they're priced pretty low, allowing you to collect a decent amount. I'll definitely be back to check this place out again :)

    Second Story Books is worth the drive or long Metro ride from Washington, D.C. Housed in a large…read morewarehouse within walking distance of the Twinbrook Metro station, Second Story Books houses over 500,000 used books on literally every topic. Want three aisles of kids books like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys? Go here. Need every book C.S. Lewis wrote? Stop by Second Story Books. After visiting nearby ZavaZone with our seven-year-old daughter, we stopped into Second Story for a few minutes, which easily turned into an hour. Every book is 50% off. We left with 15 books for just under $21. The books are well organized and maps help navigate visitors to each section, but know that the warehouse's narrow book aisles can get cramped. It adds to the appeal! There are even harder-to-find rooms with other items like posters for sale. They also sell CDs and DVDs. Staff are helpful. I lost my wallet and within an hour a staff member messaged me on Facebook letting me know they found it and it was safe at the checkout desk. If you have used books, Second Story Books buys them from people.

    Photos
    Second Story Books & Antiques - Rows on rows on rows

    Rows on rows on rows

    Second Story Books & Antiques - Holiday Room 1/2 Off !

    Holiday Room 1/2 Off !

    Second Story Books & Antiques

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    Capitol Hill Books - usedbooks - Updated May 2026

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