Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    City Lights Bookstore

    4.7 (23 reviews)
    ModerateBookstores
    Closed 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    City Lights Bookstore Photos

    More like City Lights Bookstore

    Recommended Reviews - City Lights Bookstore

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Huge variety of books. Always pleasant service. Used and new books. Atmosphere is welcoming .

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Great staff. Wonderful selection. Interesting events. A "must hang" location in Sylva!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Nancy S.
    23
    69
    96

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Liz E.
    0
    37
    1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris C.
    33
    117
    53

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    I love this place! They have a large used book section, the cat is adorable, he is chunky and just hangs out. The atmosphere is calming.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mona G.
    129
    5
    0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marie B.
    0
    222
    89

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of K L.
    0
    7
    0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - City Lights Bookstore

    Review Highlights - City Lights Bookstore

    The best part is that it's connected to City Lights Cafe which has coffee, pastries, wine, beer, a great menu serving breakfast, lunch & dinner & a large dining area.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe - Setting up for an event near the cafe.

    Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe

    4.4(260 reviews)
    40.7 mi
    $$
    Established in 1986
    Free estimates

    Malaprop's will forever be one of my favorite indie bookstores. I first fell in love with it back…read morein 2021 when I lived in AVL. I liked the name so much because I was the type of person who used malaprops a good amount. It's extra charming because you're able to order something from their cafe while reading your book. This spot is deceptively huge. The different sections are very intentional and beautifully organized. I had an especially great time looking at the "Beautiful Books" section this visit. I ended up falling in love with a short stories book by Chips Hardy that I took home. I also adored their graphic t-shirts here. I am not a big t-shirt person, but always want more graphic tees, so was so excited to love this one so much. I had a really special experience with one of the booksellers here on my recent visit too. I could not find The Enchanted April in the fiction section and when I asked, one of the booksellers got really excited about the author and that book. She passionately told me how wonderful the book was. We were sad to see it was sold out, but suggested I check a bookstore a block over. I love this bookstore and think everyone should make it a stop on an Asheville trip.

    Very cool independent bookstore in downtown Asheville complete with an adjacent cafe and tables for…read moresipping, reading, or conversing. It seems as though it's only open until the afternoon though, as it wasn't staffed when we were there. But there's still plenty of seating if you wanted to sit a spell. The bookstore portion is really well curated with a nice "local" section featuring local writers and interest. I love checking out this section when I travel and there was a ton to dig into here. They also have a good sized kid's section most notable thing is how many books they offer with autographed copies. That means they seem to bring in a ton of writers which is so exciting for the Asheville community. Speaking of community, I peeked at their events calendar and it looks like they have a ton of book clubs in a variety of different genres that meet regularly. So no matter your interest (romance, science fiction, mystery, horror, etc) you can find a meetup. Some are hosted in store but others in local breweries, libraries, and other third spaces in the area. Excellent offerings across the board!

    Photos
    Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe - This is the first counter you see inside the doors

    This is the first counter you see inside the doors

    Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe - Coffeeshop seating area

    Coffeeshop seating area

    Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe - Interior. Photo by Kevin Dern.

    See all

    Interior. Photo by Kevin Dern.

    City Lights Bookstore - bookstores - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...