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    City Lights

    4.4 (816 reviews)
    ModerateBookstores
    Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    2026 Planner
    Chloe' A.

    Cute little bookstore. Lots of genres available upstairs and downstairs. Usually one of each book so get it while you can. Alittle pricey for me personally but I'd still feel better supporting a book store like this over Amazon. All books are brand new. Also they offer the cutest planners, I highly recommend you pick one up before the new year starts!

    amy T.

    This has been my favorite bookstore. It hasn't changed and shouldn't change. That's what makes it the best because truly a bookstore has sections that cater to people's reading needs. It's in North Beach. It's got three floors, but still crowded with local books. It's not an airport bookstore. It's not a Barnes and Noble. Don't expect that. If you don't see what you're looking for, find another book and buy it. Spend the day reading. I love, love, love City Lights and have since the high school.

    City Lights borders the famous Jack Kerouac Alley
    Dean W.

    What a gem! I had the opportunity to check out City Lights Booksellers during my visit to San Francisco recently. Considering that the independent bookstore is starting to become a thing of the past - it's bookstores like City Lights - that is definitely worth a visit if you're a bibliophile. Considering it's relatively small footprint - at the corner of two busy streets in Chinatown SF - they really do make use of the space here. Books and gifts are packed to the brim here - on multiple floors - up and down scary stairways. I actually stopped by twice over the past few months - my first time was during a rain storm - the floor was slippery, and I was too nervous to navigate the stairway from their entry room down to where the majority of their books were. Things were more dry, the floor more stable the second time I stopped by - and I found even more treasures on the ground floor/basement. The helpful clerk also informed me of another stairway - less scary than the first one - that takes you up to the Poetry room (with additional seating as well). Prices were fair considering this is probably one of the last few independent bookstores that you can still walk into, pick up a book and browse - before deciding to buy. You can't replace that feeling or experience on Amazon - although the prices are probably better there. There is also a section of titles of books that City Lights publishes in their own in-house production studio. While I didn't pick up any books (due to very light luggage) - I did buy a souvenir cloth tote bag with the City Lights logo. On a side note - if you're utilizing Waymo to get around - one of the six pre-determined Chinatown stops is actually one block over from City Lights, on Kearny Street. Overall - a nice stop - and a place I plan to visit again the next time I'm visiting San Francisco.

    San Francisco Noir is an everyday thing
    Juan V.

    I like to slide inside this bookstore anytime I am in the border of Chinatown and North Beach in San Francisco. There are lots of books which are not usually at most book stores .You will find a more alternative POV when it comes to book titles at City Light Books. I enjoy browsing and reading different titles at this classic San Francisco bookstore. You can also find a whole floor dedicated to the Beat Poets ( Beatniks) which has some interesting book titles. You can also spend lots of time just looking at all the good books available in all three levels of this place. Come to City Lights to light up your mind to the path of knowledge you embark as your mind sparks Enjoy reading a book at City Lights Bookstore one of San Francisco's Official Historical Landmarks

    Kimberly N.

    We have been going to this wonderful independent bookstore for years! We come by here every time we make our way into the city. With three levels of books ranging from new fiction, nonfiction, cultural studies, world history, politics, and books specializing in the Beat Generation, there is something for everyone. On our most recent visit, my daughter found a Mike Davis historical book about Los Angeles in the sixties (she wrote a thesis about the sixties in NY so was thrilled to find this one) and my husband found a book by Robin Kelley, a professor that my daughter is acquainted with, about Thelonious Monk. Great purchases! Founded in 1953 and becoming widely known following the obscenity trial after publishing Allen Ginsberg's Howl and Other Poems, City Lights was unsurprisingly designated an official landmark by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 2001. If you've never been here, check it out the next time you are in San Francisco! If you are a fan of books, we highly recommend it!

    Sue L.

    I decided to stop by this bookstore after work on my way home. Can't believe I grew up in the Bay Area and have never set foot inside until today. I wasn't looking for a specific book, but I wanted to see their selection. They have a wide variety to choose from, which is every book lovers dream. They have three floors total; second/ground floor, poetry room on the second floor and more books downstairs (non-fiction and autobiographies). Such a cute and cozy bookstore that is very well organized. I felt like I got transported into another world right when I walked in. I love the smell of books, and I know that I can easily get lost reading here. They have a few seats available too. I do recommend stopping by if you are ever in North Beach.

    Ivory B.

    This book store is special. Rare books are hard to find but here you surely can find it. You can almost find a book to take home with you. There's such great selection of books. If you can't find your books, just ask and someone will point you to the right direction. I love this antique bookstores! The building is beautiful and the book space is uniquely arranged. Take advantage of the bookstore and browse through it. You will appreciate the book collection here! Great value! Great buy! It's super convenient too!

    Beat poets door
    Liana M.

    City Lights is iconic. It's the quintessential San Francisco bookstore. I still have a copy of Allen Ginsberg's Howl from when my Dad bought it from City Lights in the 60s. There's a whole area just dedicated to Beat Poets. I really appreciate their dedication to poetry in general. When I was visiting last year, I purchased a copy of the surrealist poet Joyce Mansour's selected poems that was published by City Light's publishing imprint. Incredible stuff. There's so much here for true book nerds and writers. Go just to say you did, but buy a book or two, too! You can't go wrong!

    Cody J.

    For those who love reading like me, this bookstore is undoubtedly an ideal place. It is probably one of my favorite bookstores in the city, with a wide and unique collection of books, each of which can inspire different thoughts and interests. Here, you can discover many books that you may not have come into contact with, broaden your horizons and enrich your experience. The bookstore has three floors with a wide variety of books. The third floor is dedicated to poetry, the second floor is the novel area, and the first floor is mainly non-fiction and autobiography. The layout of each floor is very orderly and memorable, making people completely immersed in the fragrance of books and forgetting the passage of time. I especially like the way the bookstore recommends books. The recommendations of the staff and the "selected recommendations" are very worth referring to. They always bring me new inspiration and depth. If you are keen on continuous learning and thinking, this is definitely a place worth frequenting

    Arman Eli P.

    This is by far one of my favorite bookstores in the city. I've been to this place countless times. Bought books several times. Being an activist, an individual who loves history, cultures and humanity, I highly appreciate how preserved, organized and diverse City Lights is. Well, my simple and one review of this bookstore won't give justice as this place is always and forever worth visiting and browsing. For those of you who aren't much aware, City Lights has three floors and banned books. City Lights Bookstore is a publishing company too with diverse and wide selections.

    Great space for a variety of books. There are also open mic events featuring MFA students and other emerging writers. As well as author book
    Madis K.

    I purchased a copy of the surrealist poet Joyce Mansour's selected poems that was published by City Light's publishing imprint. Incredible stuff. There's so much here for true book nerds and writers. Go just to say you did, but buy a book or two, too! You can't go wrong!

    exterior
    Jessica T.

    I've seen many photos of City Lights before and was so happy to finally visit last week! City Lights has been a literary meeting place since 1953 and they're also a publishing company. I really enjoyed browsing and was surprised to see even more collections downstairs and upstairs. They have a wide variety of books from all genres, I highly recommend just walking through every aisle so you don't miss out on anything. The prices were pretty standard for the most part, and they also carry signed copies of certain books, which I found really cool. I loved the look and feel of the place, especially with all the rounded archways. It's become my favorite bookstore in SF. If you love books, this is definitely a must-visit location!

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    4 months ago

    Iconic for good reason. Would happily get lost in here every time I'm in the city--and always leave with a new good book.

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    Very curated selection of books, a lot of titles you won't find in mainstream stores, which I appreciate.

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    10 months ago

    A legendary SF spot. I could get lost in their Beat poetry section for hours. The history here is something you can actually feel.

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    Page 1 of 21

    City Lights Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - City Lights

    Is this also a publishing house?

    Take a peek at the name of the business and its website. :)

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    Review Highlights - City Lights

    Seems like their selection is geared towards fiction, politics, cultures, world studies, and POETRY.

    Mentioned in 115 reviews

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    This establishment prides itself as a "community friendly" space yet I, a Latina native San…read moreFranciscan was not greeted kindly in this store. They are in a predominately Latino neighborhood yet I felt judged in there. Probably performative activists that work here but I'd rather give my money to a large corp where at least their friendly with me than this independent bookstore.

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    Christopher's Books - Outside

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    I LOVE small bookshops! This one on the corner in Potrero Hill (SF) is adorable! We hadn't…read moreplanned on it, we had dinner at the French Restaurant across the street. ( Chez Maman -also sublime ). Anyway, after dinner we decided to check out Christopher's Books. . It was kind of busy for a weeknight, which is so cool. Love that people like to peruse books, actually feel books in their hand and turn pages. you are my people. So I walked the whole book store, they have a tiny children's section, my sister who is a teacher, and a new grandma , settled there and bought a few books. I saw a book that I had heard about (All Fours) and heard the author interviewed on the radio, I picked it up and settled on it. I love that they have little handwritten cards describing some of the books and that there are employees picks, and what they liked about the book. When we went up to make our purchases, that is when I learned of Jimmy Carter's death. ( he had died that day and I hadn't yet heard ). There was a little handwritten card with his books at the counter and the card said, Jimmy Carter - 1924-2024. I said, "Oh my God did Jimmy Carter die?" We chatted about what a wonderful man he was, dignified, honest, his service to the people, the Habitat for Humanity legacy. His love for his wife who had preceded him ..... I digress. Anyway, if you're in the neighborhood, and you love books, and quaint spaces, check it out!

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    City Lights - bookstores - Updated May 2026

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