B Street Books remains an absolute gem. While I certainly miss having them right in downtown San…read moreMateo, their new Burlingame location is well worth the trip. They have a fantastic, curated selection where you can truly get lost in the stacks. I rarely leave without finding one or two obscure titles that feel like once-in-a-lifetime finds. What I appreciate most is the atmosphere: the owner and staff are incredibly knowledgeable if you have a question, but they truly respect the "browser's right" to wander in peace. No hard sell, no hovering--just a quiet, welcoming space to discover your next favorite book. It's the kind of local shop that makes a community better.

Good new location. Great prices, lots of books for everyone, and really helpful staff.read more

A small well stocked bookstore. The store is located in the San Francisco airport. It carried…read moreobviously books, magnets, greeting cards, and a few small souvenirs. San Francisco was my homebase at one time . It was very nostalgic to see some of the books they had on the neighborhoods of San Francisco.

In this day and age, a honest to goodness bookstore is always a refreshing find…read more Prices are in line with what you would find on the outside, in general, decent selection of new releases and other books, and a friendly staff to help if you need it. Simply fun to browse and see what is still out there in print

The Barnes & Noble Cafe at the Tanforan location consistently delivers good service. The baristas…read moreare friendly, polite, and welcoming every time we visit. They make the experience pleasant and enjoyable, and it truly sets this location apart (whereas Hillsdale location don't seem to like repeat customers). P.S. There's also a young gentleman at the bookstore register who always goes above and beyond with customer service. He is consistently helpful, polite, and professional. His attitude really stands out and deserves recognition. So overall we truly appreciate the entire team for making each visit enjoyable.

Sad. Last day is May 2, 2026. Closing sale in full swing. Can only access/exit bookstore via the…read moreoutside exit of Barnes & Noble. The mall entrance is closed. The next closest B&N is in Burlingame. Sad.

We come here once a week, my three year old and I. We usually split a pastry and I get coffee at…read morethe Starbucks, then he plays with the Brio trains and toys. If I get the chance, I'll browse any books that catch my attention, but we mostly go for the third-space aspect. It's a great place to just walk around and occasionally pick up a book, toy, or game. I will say that books have gone up in price (across the board, not just B&N). But the board books and games for young kids aren't bad. I also recently bought a chess set that was half off in their sale section. Customer service is generally good. They don't give us a hard time about playing with the toys, and they're friendly at the coffee shop and checkout. We like this spot and we'll keep coming back.

Functional bathroom inside and probably the last toy store on the Peninsula. But textbook supply is…read morelimited, this is not a good place to get educational materials such as a calculus textbook. Despite B&N's large catalog, the in-store selection is still lacking compared to the larger public libraries around here.

Reach and Teach is truly a local gem and one of the most inspiring shops on the Peninsula. They…read moreoffer a carefully curated mix of progressive books, educational toys and games, eco‑friendly products, and other high‑quality gifts you won't find in big box stores. Every visit feels like a treasure hunt--you'll discover something meaningful, fun, and thoughtful. The two owners are not only super friendly but also deeply civic‑minded, always ready to share knowledge and support community causes. Their passion for education, sustainability, and social justice shines through in everything they do. If you're looking for a place that combines heart, purpose, and great finds, Reach and Teach is a must‑visit.

The first thing you'll appreciate is the service. The owners are friendly and incredibly…read moreknowledgeable about everything they sell. Next, it's the selection. These aren't just toys, games, and books; they've got the best toys, games, and books curated for developing and broadening minds of all ages. They don't just sell what's hot, they sell what's good. I'm not sure who enjoys going more, my 4 year old son or me!

I found bunch of New books and bought 11 today for less than $25. But books are not organized at…read morethe shop so you will have to spend time to look for them. It's like going to a thrift bookstore except these are brand new books

I LOOOOOVE China Books!!! I bought my first Chinese dictionary there at the old bookstore on 24th…read moreStreet in the Mission. They seemed to disappear since they moved, but I just found their website, and it's so much better than it used to be. I'll admit, in the old days, I loved all the campy propaganda stuff....the little Red Book, the peasant posters etc., but they've updated themselves. I just found all these cool Chinese comic books (did you know that there were comics in China--I didn't!) and they still have those cool posters. Apparently they don't have a store anymore, just the website.

This was a hidden gem in downtown San Mateo! Great curated offerings on Asian American history,…read moreAsian cultures and languages, fiction, cookbooks, children's books, etc. They keep up to date on new releases as well. I saw plenty of titles I would expect in an Asian American bookstore, as well as many others that I was glad to learn about. The offerings seemed to be majority East Asian though were not restricted to that. The shopkeeper was welcoming and gave a tour of the different sections, and found some good picks for us. I wish I had taken photos of the interior, but I was preoccupied with browsing! If I wasn't on a schedule I could have spent a lot longer there. This is definitely worth a visit and they're doing important work!

I was so excited to see the Asian American Curriculum Project when I looked up bookstores in the…read morearea while we were visiting San Mateo today. I used to visit East Wind Books in Berkeley often before they closed, so I was happy to see another store that focused on writings by Asian authors. It was a great selection to choose from in every category! I wish I had taken some photos! The gentleman working was super friendly and explained where everything was and how it was organized. We had a great time browsing and found some great books to bring home. We were even gifted some handmade knitted bookmarks! We will definitely be back when we have even more time to browse!