Daedalus Books

What a dream bookstore for book lovers indeed! Founded in 1971, Powell's is such a Portland staple,…read moreand this location in the Pearl District is ginormous. You can seriously spend hours perusing all the books and choosing your next read, coffee table book, or whatever your heart desires. My favorite section of the bookstore hands down was the Rare Book Room, a special temperature and humidity-controlled room filled with some of the coolest books I have ever laid eyes on. And yes, they are for sale! To me, the room felt alive as I stood in the presence of historical literature, just as when I stand in the presence of great artifacts at a museum. Access to the Rare Book Room is granted as long as you grab a pass, and no food, drink, or unpaid books/merchandise is allowed inside. You can spend as long as you like (as long as it's not crowded in the room), and there is also a staff member present to answer any questions you may have. Of course I had to purchase a book from Powell's, called Freeway Birding, San Francisco to Seattle (it was even signed)! As an avid birdwatcher, this was the perfect book to add to my ever-expanding library. I also grabbed one of their wooden postcards and a couple of stickers to commemorate our time spent at this amazing bookstore. While the entire store was bustling, even on a weekday in August, take your time at Powell's and get swept away by any and all genres of literature that call to you. You never know what you may find next.

Powell's City of Books is kind of a must for any book lover! Whenever I visit a city, I try to…read morefind a local bookstore, and I knew before we even arrived that I had to check out Powell's. It was within walking distance of our hotel in the Pearl District, so we didn't need to contend with parking. It's overwhelming at first - I had heard of how large it was, but you don't quite get the scope until you start walking through - here are books and people everywhere you look! You can just wander, or make a plan of attack and strategically try to visit every corner of the store. We kind of did a combination of both, and started at the top floor and worked our way back down to ground level. The prices are typical of an independent book store, but they had a nice selection of used books and some great value books to snap up, too. There is literally something for everyone. There are lots of local authors and books set in the region. There are bookmarks around each info station with suggested/popular reads for each section of the store. There was a nice selection of local and bookish items and gifts, too - totes, t-shirts, postcards, stickers, etc. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. I'll be stopping in any time I'm in Portland!

0.7 mi•Downtown, Southwest Portland

Rare Books

True

See all

Inspiration is everywhere

Kinokuniya Bookstores - Portland

4.5(85 reviews)

LOVE this bookstore!! It has such a good selection of books in Japanese and English too! It is so…read morefun to look around in and prices aren't terrible, they're pretty standard. Staff is super friendly too! I'll definitely come back if I get the chance!!!

I'm not the target audience for this store, but I stopped by when shopping for a gift…read more Located off Director's Park, in the historic Guild Theater. It's cool that they kept the sign but it is a little hard to realize this is now the Kinokuniya. They've got a wide array of items - including movies and books/manga, pens and stationary, stickers and charms, mystery boxes of various kinds, items related to popular media, decor, etc. It's fairly narrow aisles and a lot to look at. They have another location in Beaverton.

1.7 mi•Industrial District, Central Eastside, Buckman, Southeast Portland

See all

Mother Foucault's Bookshop

4.3(50 reviews)

•$

I love recommending this spot for people who visit Portland because it's got its own style. It's a…read morevery academic layout, books are stacked beside full bookshelves, older worn out copies of books have hand-written annotations on the side. The owners are very friendly and clearly love to talk about local events and their book selection. Couple things to note: - Hours shift a little bit than what is listed on Google, always worth calling in advance if unsure. - Phones are not encouraged on the shop floor (which I think is great). - The new location is a lot larger and has plenty of seating to promote spending a nice quiet afternoon surrounded by books. If you're looking for newer copies of books, Portland has plenty of other options. This selection is obscure and eccentric, it likely won't have the new titles in fiction. If you want to find a book or author you've never heard of, this is your spot.

a magic book store. i feel right at home here. i always find too many books here and that's a good…read morething.

0.7 mi•Downtown, Southwest Portland

Is this heaven, no, it's Mother Foucault's Bookshop!

See all

New address!

Friends Library Store

5.0(15 reviews)

•$

Reasonable prices and a good cause, even if not the widest selection of books. The workers here…read morewere friendly enough, and I enjoyed browsing. May be worth visiting frequently to find an occasional gem.

Friendly volunteers and irresistible book paraphernalia. Portland literature goodies for everyone…read more Careful. It's addictive!

0.5 mi•Northwest, Alphabet District

Stickers

Library-themed Shirt

See all

Cookbooks

New Renaissance Bookshop

4.3(144 reviews)

The atmosphere is welcoming and the staff provides outstanding customer service. They go the extra…read moremile to help find items I was looking for. If you are looking for a respite from the stress of life, come into this space and get re-charged.

It's expensive, and quite cramped. They seem to have gone from pagan/witchy to woo woo healing,…read moreand readers that are over 200/hour.

0.7 mi•Downtown, Southwest Portland

See all

Full Moon Farms cleanse your sacred space sprays essential oils in purified water

Grand Gesture Books

4.9(14 reviews)

Small bookstore with a large selection of curated material that I loved seeing that support the…read morecommunity. The staff was helpful in directing me to a few new book ideas to consider.

The selection is amazing all different romance genres and even supporting local authors with I…read morelove! The service was great I met the owner there and I got a book by a local author I'm so excited to start it. Amazing value.

See all

Hello From Portland

4.5(92 reviews)

0.6 mi•Pearl District

This store was as good as its reputation, filled with amazing collection of Portland souvenir…read moregoods, stationary items, apparels and local made food products. The store was clean and organized. The prices of the items were comparable to other shops we had visited in and around Portland. Among the products, I loved their magnet wall full of unique designs. There were really nice stickers and postcards. After exploring the store for several minutes, we picked few magnets and stickers. Staff members were friendly and interacting with guests. The checkout was quick and easy. Highly recommend this store to anyone looking to do souvenir shopping in downtown Portland.

stumbled across the door while coming out from Barry's Boot Camp…read more I really like their service and selection of apparel the apparel has great value and great colors available also

0.9 mi•Downtown, Southwest Portland

Cool spot

See all

Hi Books

5.0(2 reviews)

Sure, there's Powell's. But for me, nothing is more totally and absolutely Portland than Hi Books…read more It's tiny. It's curated. It's off the wall cool. And Fawn is a jewel. Make sure to drop by during the weekend and check out Portland's tiniest bookstore, which punches way above it's square footage.

I learned of this small bookstore from my friends. It is a small storefront in the vintage…read moreapartment building resident between Broadway and Park. They have art journals and books placing them in my small bookstores collection. They have a specialty in contemporary Japanese artists. Their selection is continuously rotating so stop in often.

2.3 mi•Sullivan's Gulch, Broadway District, Northeast Portland

See all

Broadway Books

4.6(42 reviews)

This was a cute bookstore. They had some good cards and postcards which I appreciate because I am…read morealways looking for postcards. The book selection was pretty good not comparable to places like Powells though who have a way larger selection. If those spots overwhelm you because of all the choices then this would be a better spot. I got a softcover for 18.99$. They do have a punchcard though where if you get 12 books your 13th is free.

A cute local bookstore right off Broadway St…read more Great place for buying a book for someone special! I recently came here on Independent Bookstore Day + they had some special deals and a wheel to spin for extra prizes. I was looking for a sci-fi book for a birthday gift for my dad - and they were able to recommend one with the space theme I was looking for. I was also able to get 20% off the book that day. They even offered to wrap the book, and did a lovely wrapping job for no charge :-)

Cooking section (7/8/26)

See all

(7/8/26)

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

3 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Bob P.

58

5

0

4 years ago

Outstanding service. I ordered a book from them via Alibris. Not only did it arrive in less than two days (to Wisconsin), but it was impeccably packed. This is now my preferred bookstore. Amazing work! read more

Charles T.

58

8

22

6 years ago

A great place to find books, wish I could say more about it but your better off going in and experiencing it for yourself.

Tima D.

0

7

0

8 years ago

Wonderfully well selected used bookstore for serious readers.

Daedalus Books - bookstores - Updated October 2026

People who viewed Daedalus Books also viewed

Friends Library Store

(15 reviews)

•$

Reasonable prices and a good cause, even if not the widest selection of books. The workers here…read morewere friendly enough, and I enjoyed browsing. May be worth visiting frequently to find an occasional gem.

Friendly volunteers and irresistible book paraphernalia. Portland literature goodies for everyone…read more Careful. It's addictive!

Broadway Books

4.6

(42 reviews)

This was a cute bookstore. They had some good cards and postcards which I appreciate because I am…read morealways looking for postcards. The book selection was pretty good not comparable to places like Powells though who have a way larger selection. If those spots overwhelm you because of all the choices then this would be a better spot. I got a softcover for 18.99$. They do have a punchcard though where if you get 12 books your 13th is free.

A cute local bookstore right off Broadway St…read more Great place for buying a book for someone special! I recently came here on Independent Bookstore Day + they had some special deals and a wheel to spin for extra prizes. I was looking for a sci-fi book for a birthday gift for my dad - and they were able to recommend one with the space theme I was looking for. I was also able to get 20% off the book that day. They even offered to wrap the book, and did a lovely wrapping job for no charge :-)

Crooked House Books & Paper

(5 reviews)

So much fun! An amazingly library-like collection of books in its meticulous completeness!…read moreMagazines, other printed materials and books, books, books, but organized in a tidy living/reading room that would grace any Victorian manse. He had cookbooks going back to the late 18th century. We found a fascinating copy of a 19th century guide to housekeeping that ranged from cooking and cleaning to tonic and tincture making and advise... which... shockingly given its age... proclaimed the health risks of smoking and included a picture of blackened lungs of a smoker after autopsy for effect! 150 years ago and people knew this? I guess it will take us another 100 years then to finally accept that climate change is real ...

I really love visiting Rachel's delightful bookstore. The little shoppe is full of beautiful new…read moreand vintage books, as well as literary ephemera. The books are well-organized, pricing is clear and fair, and visitors will likely find books they didn't know they wanted or needed! (I never leave the shop empty-handed) Crooked House Books and Paper is an homage to the bookshops of a bygone era. Take note of the store's collection of whimsical miniature books, as well as a wonderful selection of publisher bindings. Please visit this charming bookstore!

Annie Bloom's Books

4.4

(81 reviews)

There is more than one bookstore to choose from…read more There are even many bookstores in Portland beside the big one. Anne Bloom's bookstore is a small well-curated classic. Their sections are well organized and the staff know where things are on the shelves. They have a large selection of fiction, nonfiction, then specialty sections. They have a nice children's area with a young reader engrossed in a book. They have the little table and chairs. They are up to date with a graphic novel section. I stopped in for a new book in high demand. As in sold out online, at Barnes and Noble, at Powells, and with a 6 month wait for the audio book at the library! In its first day, the book sold 150,000 copies, and by day three, it is, for now, a rare book. Annie Bloom's had it! Annie Bloom's is in a pedestrian-oriented neighborhood. So you can bring your book to nice bars and restaurants, dives, cafes, pizza shops, sandwiches and beer/wine at John's, the Multnomah Art Center, and gift shops, or book shop after those. Annie Bloom's is an approachable bookshop which has what others do not.

Visited this spot for the first time last weekend. As an avid reader, I was excited to check out an…read moreindependent store. The bookstore itself was quite large, but I felt as though the selections were limited. Nobody from the staff greeted us upon arrival or checked in. There were a few fairly priced books, but none that caught my eye. Not sure if I'll go back.

Spoke & Word Books

4.3

(11 reviews)

This is a great little independent bookstore nestled in downtown Milwaukie! Solid selection of…read morebooks and gifts, and the staff are very friendly and helpful. I took my young son here once, and he had fun in the kids section. I also came one time with a couple friends, and we enjoyed perusing together. I wish they had more used book options, but I always enjoy stopping by when I'm in the area!

I went to 6 different independent bookstores on independent bookstore day and Spoke & Word was my…read morefavorite by far. They had such a great selection and the staff was so friendly and helpful. I hadn't really been to Milwaukie before but this Main Street area was really cute.

Green Bean Books

4.9

(56 reviews)

This is the modern day Shop Around the Corner of Portland. My family was greeted upon entering and…read moreoffered recommendations. The knowledgable staff member sparked a memory when they mentioned a few books from my own childhood. They then instantly reminded me of a real life Kathleen Kelly. They ended up showing us a few books based on our daughter's interests. My daughter loved their suggestions. We ended up purchasing one book that they suggested because of their interaction with us. The store is cute itself but having someone with that excitement and knowledge makes you want to come back. Overall review: Very cute children's bookstore with fun creative displays. Great selection of books and calming patio. Highly suggest this store.

Need to find the perfect book for a young reader - or older human who needs the warmth, and…read moreelegantly simple punch that only a kids' book can bring? Go to Green Bean! The team there are readers, love kiddos and all kinds of families, and celebrate the magic of reading and play. From the vending machine of finger puppets, to the multitude of "minis" (tiny colored pencils, axolotyls, organs), and of course the books from baby to middle readers, you cannot go wrong! Plush-plushies, stickers, and tactile educational toys! We all need this place!

Bishop & Wilde

(4 reviews)

Darling bookstore with a lovely arrangement of books, new and used. Creatively and lovingly…read morecurated, owner is very kind and knowledgeable! Great pricing of course. A must stop- found a book I've been searching for. Free parking on street:) under a publishing business. Cute art on the walls. You must stop by !.!.

Don't sleep on this bookstore. It's awesomely curated and lovely. Melissa -- the owner -- has great…read morerecommendations and is just so great to talk to. I live many miles away and have come here to order books and to shop many times. It's everything you want a bookstore to be. Our kids love it, too.

Hi Books

(2 reviews)

Sure, there's Powell's. But for me, nothing is more totally and absolutely Portland than Hi Books…read more It's tiny. It's curated. It's off the wall cool. And Fawn is a jewel. Make sure to drop by during the weekend and check out Portland's tiniest bookstore, which punches way above it's square footage.

I learned of this small bookstore from my friends. It is a small storefront in the vintage…read moreapartment building resident between Broadway and Park. They have art journals and books placing them in my small bookstores collection. They have a specialty in contemporary Japanese artists. Their selection is continuously rotating so stop in often.

Always Here Bookstore

(3 reviews)

Super well curated selection of queer books! Loved that loud music wasn't blasting, the person…read moreworking was nice, quiet and masked, they offered free Covid tests, had very comfortable air-conditioning, and they had lots of other gifts. Possibly my favorite bookstore I visited during book week!

i found this place because of a flyer and i love it! queer focused bookstore with comics and books…read moreof all sorts. they also have fun stickers and magnets and such and the workers are friendly.

Downtown Brown Books