Definitely one of my favorite places to visit in DTLA, and I love taking friends from out of town…read morehere because it's so spectacular inside, especially with the "arch of books". You can take some great photos here. If you are into unique books, this is paradise! It's famous for the swirling book tunnel, the giant book arch, and there are original bank vaults that now house true crime, horror, and rare collectible books. The Last Bookstore is California's largest new and used independent book and record store. Josh Spencer founded the OG bookstore in 2005, and it moved to this massive space inside Spring Arts Tower (a converted 1914 bank building) in 2011. The inside feels like a castle of books, with high ceilings and marble columns, and heavy bank vaults. It's a must see if you're downtown and want a unique shopping experience. There are thousands of new, used, and rare books, plus a huge selection of vinyl records, CDs, and DVDs. There is also a "Labyrinth & Art Annex". The mezzanine level features a maze like collection of indie artist studios, local art galleries, and a massive stock of bargain books, including a selection of $1 books. Parking in downtown LA can be a pain, and this store doesn't have its own parking so I think the easiest place to park is the surface parking lot next door at 449 S. Spring St. You can quickly pay on site via the ParkMobile App.

My girlfriend and I were very excited to visit The Last Bookstore and drove a long way to spend an…read moreevening there. After paying $15 for lot parking, we discovered the store had closed several hours early. There was no notice on the door, and we couldn't find any announcement on their social media. We called their sister location in Los Angeles, and the staff seemed just as surprised as we were that the downtown store was closed. They didn't know why it had closed early either. I understand that unexpected circumstances can require a business to close early. A notice on the door or a quick online update would have helped us avoid a wasted trip. Afterward, I left a voicemail and sent several emails asking for an explanation. In those emails, I also asked whether they would be willing to offer some type of store credit as a goodwill gesture for the wasted trip and parking expense. I received no response to any of my messages. My disappointment is with the lack of communication and follow-up. An explanation or even a brief acknowledgment would have gone a long way, regardless of whether they chose to offer store credit. We had been looking forward to supporting the store, and the experience left a bad taste in our mouths. I hope they improve their communication so other visitors don't have the same experience. Unfortunately, we won't be trying again. They've lost two customers who were excited to visit.

New location is massive, take your time and enjoy all the super cute stuff....great place to do any…read morekind of gift shopping and variety of prices from low to high. They also have paid membership too so if you frequent a lot, consider it. My sister was able to do her Christmas shopping all in one go.

This Kinokuniya is located by little Tokyo. I have no idea what it's like during the weekdays, but…read morethe weekends are packed full of people. Luckily, because of its large size, you don't feel too overwhelmed. They have an assortment of books, collectibles, arts & crafts, stationery and gift items. It's a really fun place to be in whether you're into anime, comics, reading or even journaling. It's your one stop place to shop. Definitely fun to roam around with friends, or even by yourself. It's clean, has plenty of air conditioning, and has a lot of things to view. Items at Kinokuniya can be a tad bit pricier, but it's understandable. I only wished that they had more fountain pens. Other than that, pretty cool bookstore to check out if you're in the area.

Hennessey + Ingalls Bookstore is a one stop shop for some of the best selection of art and…read morearchitecture books. This spot is located in the Arts District of LA where street parking will be your best bet. Inside, they have a pretty spacious setup with a wide selection of books. Their books are organized really nicely with different categories ranging from Fine Arts, Art History, Graphic Design, Photography, Fashion, Cooking, Architecture, and more. All of the staff here are friendly and welcoming. You could definitely browse around and spend up 1-2 hours here!

Specialty bookstore for visual art books. Lots of cool coffee table style books with gorgeous…read morephotos of Googie coffee shops from the 50s, or all of Spielberg's movies chronologically, or local history in the LA basin (focused on architecture through the decades). Fun to browse for sure.

Definitely a hidden gem. There were so any cool books and reading material. Aside from books there…read moreare also cool trinkets and stationary items. The store is very organized and well kept. The prices varied on items. Definitely recommend for readers and people interested in cool books etc.

Artbook is a bookstore located inside the Hauser & Wirth gallery space. They are primarily focused…read moreon art style books, but they also have a lot of other books ranging from different genres. Definitely stop by to browse around after you walk around the galleries!

It's a Bookoff in name, sure they have figurines and books, but... that's it. It smells bad in here…read morefor some reason and like someone smoked multiple packs of cigarettes. I've been here 3 times while I was in Little Tokyo, but I've yet to find reasonable prices and I literally saw a used book listed for a dollar more than new... What? Everything in this store seems overpriced and the selection isn't great. You're better off going to Kinokuniya down the street especially when a used book is listed for new pricing. Employees don't seem helpful or care that they're there. Just not a great location... It's Little Tokyo, you NEED to have Japanese language manga here...

Ugh. I went in there hoping this location would have used Japanese books I could purchase…read more Nope. No luck. Just a bunch of figurines and other anime related memorabilia. Store smelled horrible too. Like a bunch of unwashed greasy hair. Hilarious I was literally the only Asian in there. Parking is nonexistent and it's just not worth the trip here unless you're one of those otaku.

Awesome cookbook only book store. It has a pretty vast collection for those of us that while are…read morenot Luddites, prefer a book now and then. Its in a small covered alleyway filled with other shops and parking can be a bear. On the other hand friendly, knowledgeable staff offset any inconvenience you may occur with the parking. Worth a stop if you like to cook and like books.

great little boutique shop with a very creative owner. All cook books, you can find everything you…read moreneed for every cuisine, food culture, wine, spirits, etc. - something for everyone interested in food! so many cool cookbooks for your collection. located in Far East PLaza across from Howling Rays. Worth a stop to add a book to your kitchen!

Another very cute bookstore that's located in Los Angeles. It's fairly difficult to find street…read moreparking, especially on the weekends. I used the ParkSmarter app to reload my hourly fees for my car. Just a little hint if you're visiting from out of town. I didn't walk away with a purchase, because nothing truly peaked my interest. As an indie bookstore, you are offered a variety of items: cards, books, Knick knacks, magazines, and more. I think the best part of this bookstore is that they have a study area located in the back of it. Combined with the study area is a coffee shop that also sells beer. How cool is that! I was hesitant to sit at the bar since we were in a time crunch, but h would have loved to enjoy it. There were numerous patrons sitting around and having conversations and enjoying their beverages. The vibes eye very vintage yet hipster. Loved it entirely and I absolutely want to visit again !

My Stories Books & Cafe Diary:…read more Week 1 - I bought the Robert Crumb book of Blues, Country & Jazz Artists, had an espresso. The espresso was only $3.50. I wish it was served in a tiny porcelain cup. Week 2 - Bought a pack of Tarot cards and laughed at Keith Morris' memoirs - highly recommended. Bought an espresso, which was still served to me in a paper cup. Week 3 - Bought a collection of Anne Sexton's poetry. When will they film a biopic about her? She's totally movie material. I didn't know Vashti Bunyan wrote a book, holy cow. Couldn't slurp my espresso because all the chairs and tables were taken by campers, so I took my $3.50 espresso and hung out at the huge parking lot next to the patio.

Bookworms and greeting card enthusiasts and library fans will love this little store inside the…read moreCentral LIbrary in downtown LA. Whoever does the buying deserves a huge shout-out; every item is cute, classy, or interesting (or a combination thereof). Many of the greeting cards may have literary references, there are scarves and jewelry and knick-knacks and toys for the kids. I tend to give away a lot of journals; there's usually a lovely selection of super expensive diaries, as well as discounted notebooks to jot down your thoughts or start that food diary. I believe that the profits support the library; your shopping may not be a charitable donation but your purchase supports a good cause. Retail therapy and a win-win for the public good. What could be better?

TRENDY LITTLE STORE w/ GREAT FINDS! Central Library's "The Library Store" is a current,…read morewell-stocked gift shop with buzzy reads and stylish merch. I loved seeing their pocket-sized collection from their genre-specific books to celebrity finds. I spotted a Chappel Roan book among other favorites. Additionally, they had a selection of Heated Rivalry novels and other fan-favorites. I definitely see myself coming here more often, too bad my booklist is currently full. My Mom and I got a few items (a small version of Macbeth, socks, mug, etc.). Staff were pretty polite but a little awkward, I think they're on high-alert for shoplifters. The store was neat and tidy. Lighting was dim and the store wasn't packed. As this is a gift shop in LA, library-specific merch is slightly pricy. However, the quality of the goods are great. If you're entering through the backside of the library go straight down the entrance hallway a bit and turn to your right. The Library Store is hard to miss!

Great selection of new and used books in this pocket sized space. Mostly books on art or made by…read moreartists but tons of other great things too. Totally scored on my visit!

This is a Korean Christian bookstore This place is…read moreawesome~~ I ordered books from Korea and they had it ready for me considering postage it was not expensive at all! If they don't have the book you need~ they help you order it from Korea ^^ I wish korean Christian bookstores had more gift items though...will recommend for your korean spiritual literary need

This is the Korean Christian bookstore. Very neat, very clean, good collection here. And so…read morepeaceful here. They have some cute stationary stuff here too as well as some English books. One book I was looking for wasn't here but the person quickly identified it and was able to ship to my address! Also Korean book covers are fire!! Typography and illustration is on another level. I appreciated it so much and was some good inspiration to me as a designer haha.