Tucked away deep in Pike Place Market, Lamplight Books is one of those charming little spots you might walk past a few times before realizing it's there. My cousin and I were basically playing hide and seek because I couldn't find where she was. Lol. I had a hard time finding it, but once I finally did totally worth it! This cozy bookstore feels like stepping back in time. Shelves are stacked with a mix of used, vintage, and classic books, and honestly... they smell like it too. Lol. There's just something comforting about that old-book scent. You'll find everything from fiction and poetry to rare finds and children's titles tucked in the corners. It's small, quiet, and slightly perfectly imperfect in the best way because every shelf feels like a treasure hunt! The nostalgic vibe makes you want to linger a little longer. Priced fair, service is fast. If you love books with history and personality, this is a sweet little hidden gem worth discovering inside Pike Place. A nice escape from the Market's buzz just you, the books, and that unmistakable paper and ink smell. read more

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I am a sucker for a good bookstore, so this one had my number. It's a small space crammed with books which is my happy spot. I walked in and didn't expect much, but we were exploring the levels of Pike Place because I didn't realize they had levels upon my last visit. I was also looking for a biscuit spot that was across the street. So we went back and forth, floor by floor and found this gem where we stopped to peruse the books. My husband found some books and bought them. The person working there was nice and helpful. It was clear that he knew his inventory, as my husband asked about a book and he led him to it. The value was good as well. I know that we will definitely be back, next time, I hope to spend a bit more time there. This isn't the most organized place, but if you are willing to look through the books and are open to the surprise find that awaits you, then this is the spot for all of that! read more

Lamplight Books - Books, books, books galore.. - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I tend to divide independent bookstores into two categories: those for people who like to talk about books and those who like to think about books. The former usually sell new books, and stock more RBG socks and tote bags that joke about alcoholism than, you know, actual books. As for selection, they feature a lot of celebrity endorsed titles blazoned with non-removable "stickers" advertising said endorsement. All their "classics" are not readably bound but rather prettified and priced to be admired. That, and whatever title is trending on BookTok or, even worse, hot on LinkedIn because some CEO won't stop mentioning the latest junk science that they've just had ChatGPT summarize for them (and your worst colleague endorses every one of these posts). Am I being oddly specific? Yes I am. Then there are the good book stores like Lamplight. I knew I would love this place when I saw a shelf dedicated to NYRB Classics. These are not big sellers as they tend to feature overlooked or forgotten books that the editors of NYRB want to reintroduce to the public. It's one of the few imprints I will purchase blindly because I've had a great experience with every title I've read from them. The books in Lamplight are all used, but almost every book is pristine, probably because they were gifted to and unread by someone who prefers the first category of bookstores. Lamplight is a bookstore for people in love with the written word. I like to imagine it's owned by a frustrated MFA who clearly doesn't think like an MBA because there isn't a single live laugh love pillow to be found there. read more

This is a smallish but well-organized used bookstore. I purchased a bunch of books and the prices were fair. I have a deep love for all bookstores, especially ones with used books, because that's where you find the gems. And they have some gems. This place is well worth a visit. read more

Lamplight Books - Outside. - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I appreciated how the staff kept an eye on the cleanliness while still helping customers. One person cleaned the reading tables between visitors. It made me feel respected and safe while browsing. read more

I love this bookstore and happen to work in the market. I called today to see if they might have a book in stock while I was at work. It's hard for me to leave my shop to go look so I just wanted to see if they had it and could put it on hold for me. When I called the woman who answered the phone was so rude! She said we don't have a way to look at inventory ( I totally knew that) and I have to go look so I need author name etc ( which I had) and she sounded so unbelievably irritated. I said never mind you sound irritated. I'm bummed because I like to give my money to local shops especially since I work in the market but I refuse to do so when treated like crap. Off to Amazon I go! read more

This bookstore is tucked into the corner on one of the many levels at Pikes Place Market. I had passed by it & decided to come back as it grabbed my attention & I found it welcoming & cozy. I found two books that were on my list to read. It's a nice little place to stop by with a bit of everything. The girl who rang me up was super friendly & kind. I felt comfortable in the store & the check out process was quick. Also, they use paper bags for check out! Yay for no plastic bags. :) read more

Lamplight Books - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Getting lost in a bookstore that's below pike place market, filled to the brim with books? Yes please!! I've been to this market a bazillion times and never noticed ! Till now. Glad I did. Such a cute little spots with all things favorites from my childhood. A type writer you couldn't type, resist the urge! $1 books outside. Travel books. Mainly the young adult section around all the Harry potters book, diary of a wimpy kids and so on. Such a cute little spot!! read more

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Tucked away in Pike Place Market, this is such a cute little shop with a ton to offer. Cheap books on the outside, and your typical genres on the inside. But! There are a couple of display cases with older books, which were fun to look at. There's also a typewriter that you can't use, but it just adds a bit of charm to the shop. They also have older children's books, which was fun to look through! I'm a huge sucker for book stores, and Lamplight definitely did not disappoint! read more

Lamplight Books - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Pretty respectable selection with strong range. Great to look through when visiting the area. Service was helpful. read more

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By far my favorite bookstore in Pikes Place Market. First, for the size, I felt like it had such a good variety and definitely didn't seem to favor certain genres over the others - making it a good choice for most book browsers. Second, the staff was fantastic. I just asked their favorite book and she was able to give me so many recommends...one of which I ultimately bought. I wish I had more time to browse, but, should I ever return to Seattle, would definitely head back to Lamplight! read more

I came here on a Saturday morning during my first time at Pike Place with my boyfriend since we've been living in Washington and wow! I loved the selection. I didn't get to browse the whole store because I was beginning to take pity on my nonreader boyfriend who had already patiently waited as I looked through two other stores but I picked up two books. however, I'm definitely coming back. The person working the cash register was so passionate about reading and books which filled my heart with joy. I love to buy from stores that feel personal. This place is so much better than Amazon or Barnes and noble. So many great paperbacks at good costs. I paid $18 for two books which I was more than happy with. read more

I am a sucker for book stores and it doesn't matter where I am- if we see a bookstore, we end up going in. We had just got into town and our first stop was Pike Market and this was the second shop I wandered into. John found a couple of books and I found some children books I used to read when I was little that I couldn't resist buying for my grandson! Happy buying and even happier reading! read more

this bookstore was so nice!! the prices of these books were super fair for the great condition most of them are in. would recommend stopping by! read more

Can't believe I forgot about this place!!! I like this little indy book store inside of Pike Place Market, a lot of used books and a pretty good selection, I was sure I would find a little gem in here. I was looking for a book to read on the bus(because its nice to put away your cell phone for a while), so I asked the friendly gentleman if he could recommend something. I wasnt sure what my mood would be, do I want something historical, self-help, humorous, adventure, fiction, non-fiction, I just dont know...he gave me some recommendations to check out and we chatted briefly on some items that I may be interested in. No pressure to buy something and gave me plenty of time to check out the store. Im sure you'll be able to find something to your liking in here. I got me a book, pricing was fine, condition was fine too. I really like this little shop and plan on coming back. read more

Lamplight Books - Bus reading material - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Loved this quaint little place! Stumbled across it while looking for somewhere to eat at the market. Super organized even though it's super packed with books everywhere. Saw old favorite series that I loved in school and brought back memories(: Glad I got to stop by for a short while! read more

Lamplight Books - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Owner is a knowledgeable Italian woman who amusingly had her little kids there that day helping out. It is a little difficult to find things as the shelves in some spots are double stacked, so it's best to just ask for help finding what you want. Not as comprehensive a collection as a mass market bookstore (as they stock many more obscure titles), but I think you'll appreciate the helpfulness of the staff in finding you most everything you want. Come out and support your local used book seller, and even if you don't find exactly what you came in for, I am sure you will be surprised by all of the treasures a little patience can help uncover. read more

Lamplight Books - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Out of a movie. Bookstore tucked away in a busy market with vendors selling tourist bait. Then you have a used bookstore selling great books for great prices. Had a lovely chat with the staff about Lolita. That was a crazy 5 minutes. Anyways I picked 3 books for only $12!!!! read more

Small spaces but big treasures in this bookstore. I love their prices because the condition of the books is still nice for half the price. People are welcome to sit on the floors to read because there are no chairs to sit. read more

Cool independent bookseller located at Pike Place Market. They have a lot of used books here. There are even stacks of books hidden behind the rows of books so be sure to look around. I don't think this is the cheapest bookstore in town. The books tend to be half off the cover price (on par with half price books) and sometimes the books aren't in the best of shape so I'd just watch for that. read more

I ended buying from this bookstore. The owner said hello to me while he walked out the door and didn't exactly come swiftly back (I mean you should be a little worried about your store, but it made me feel a bit more welcomed). When he came back he left me to browse and didn't bother me. I loved the selection and ended up getting a unrevised copy of a book that just spoke to me. Many of the books here when I was in the actual store: drew me in. But, I got a book that resonated well with me. I asked to me rung up and he told me they only have received two copies of that book even while he was there. The owner is a really nice guy, a bit quiet, but it was still a nice experience. The book places at pike place are definitely worth coming to: they all have their different charms. And this one might have what you're looking for. read more

Found exactly the book I wanted! This little shop is so adorable and the staff is super friendly and helpful. I couldn't find the book I was searching for so one of the employees circled the store with me several times looking for it until she found it shoved behind some other books. Greatly appreciated! read more

Here you are, downtown Seattle--Pike's Place specifically--, and you're unsure of which bookstore to spend your money at. Sure, you could go into each and every one and find something you'd like to purchase. But alas, like me, you have a very particular set of desires in terms of atmosphere. You want a quiet little corner in the middle of the bustle that is the great city Seattle to hide away. Somewhere filled with the smell of old books and surrounded by paperbacks stacked to the ceiling. Maybe you prefer used books to new editions, and getting them at affordable prices? Look no further. Lamplight Books is a haven for people like us. I've been to used bookstores across the states and this one definitely makes the ranks of my top three. They have such a wonderful selection for the size of the place that my arms were filled with editions of books I had been lusting over for some time. There's something incredibly quaint about the ambience created in this hideaway beneath the market. It's indescribable. So, seriously, just go there. read more

Lamplight has an amazing selection of books, most of which are in great used condition. Organized, friendly staff, they had some books here that I couldn't find in any other used bookstore nearby. I also didn't realize once that I was there past closing time. The person at the counter didn't rush me or even say anything to me about closing time which I thought was really nice. My favorite bookstore out of all of the bookstores at pike place. read more

Hidden within the market, Lamplight books offers and amazing collection of some new and mostly used books. I can seriously spend hours here perusing all the shelves --but I tend to find myself more often than not in their surprisingly well stocked philosophy section (seriously, I've found some gems hidden in there). The stock is well organized, prices are fair (especially considering you are in Pike Place), and the staff introverted but for the most part friendly. Definitely worth a stop over if you like old books and want to find something worth keeping in your bookshelf. read more

Lamplight is filled to the brim, well actually it's spilling over with books. I think this is why I just give them an A-OK. While I do loving digging and finding quirky and rare copies of books. Sometimes I just want to know where Bukowski lives, and the fact that he could "possibly be in three different locations" shows me a lack of organizational skills, and is a little distracting, from that fact that Lamplight is a true gem in the market. read more

This little bookstore always has surprises in it for me when I visit it, and that is hard to do, as I haunt used and new bookstores. The owner and his employees are all up on their authors and know their stuff - ''Joe'' the owner for example really knows Borges and his works well. He is also approachable, with a infectious laugh, and the women who work for him are helpful and really know the stock. This is a little bookstore in the Pike Place Market you should not miss- can be hard to find, but go BEHIND Left Bank Books, and there it is. the Market has shops behind shops, which is a fun discovery on its own. read more

I love used bookstores. There's just something about the smell of old books and the sight of so many great titles, both known and yet to be discovered, crowded together on shelves. We visited Lamplight Books on our trip to Seattle and it was wonderful! They had several of their older books on display in the window, a sale cart outside the door, and shelves from floor to ceiling filled with books; there was everything from classics to cookbooks to popular titles. I found a 1906 Engineer's Handbook -- a pretty exciting find for me. read more

This little shop down at Pike Place is a real jewel. This is the used book store I have been looking for my entire life! This is an impressive collection in such a tiny area, and I could not tear myself from the shelves. As I began to go through everything, I was noticing that she had all my favorite authors, and not just some of their books, but all of them! Don Delillo, Thomas Pynchon, Kurt Vonnegut, Philip Roth, David Foster Wallace, Michael Chabon, Bret Easton Ellis, and the list goes on and on. Never before had I come across a used bookstore that actually took the time to build a collection of seriously good writing. My past experience with used bookstores, and the reason for my general disdain for them is that they usually specialize in fluff. Things such as what is being churned out of the assembly line at James Patterson Inc. or yet another book about a cat who can solve a murder. Those types of books were hard to find in this tiny shop, and the owner herself professed a dislike of them as well, claiming 'I keep them secluded in the back'. Great, cozy little shop with an excellent selection of books and a very friendly and knowledgeable owner. If you are a reader, you must check this out. read more

Lamplight Books has everything but "niche, lovable, corner bookstore" written on its front window. If you have a few books, throw them this way. You will not be disappointed. The only criticism I have is that some of the best titles were at the bottom of some sizable stacks. Not only am I a bit taller than your average bear, but I don't have eyes at my ankles. Put those good titles at the top! read more

Ran into this gem while browsing the neighborhood. Wish it were bigger. They had rare collectibles under lock and key including children's books from the 50s and back. I thought my collection from the 60s was valuable... Scored The French Chef for $20 but it wasn't a first printing. read more

Lamplight books is what my house would look like if I traded 3/4 of the square footage for a metric shitton of awesome books and a few shelves. But mostly books. If you ever visit Lamplight books, make sure to carve out at least an hour's worth of time for browsing. I visited for 45 minutes, was chased to the cash register by many interesting tomes, and felt like I had barely scratched the surface (quite literally, some books were double-stacked on the shelves). I detected a very distinct organizational scheme of some sort, though I would need more time to fully explore the nuances. There were definite history, food, and "everything else" sections, though. 5/5, Would come again. read more

This is such a lovely used bookstore, and if you work downtown, a great lunch break detour. I'm not sure if she is the owner, but it's always the same cashier at the counter, and over the years, it's as if I've seen her kid grown up in the store (and been more than a little jealous of a childhood spent among old books). She is gracious and helpful, and today told me she always has a copy of every A.S. Byatt book published on her shelves. Perfect, since this afternoon I came specifically to look for "The Virgin in the Garden". I also love the back wall of pocket paperbacks, my favorite book format. My lunch hours have been a little lackluster since Elliot Bay moved up the Hill. It's nice to know there's still a good used book store with in walking distance of my office, and I'd much rather shop at Lamplight than Borders. If you're looking to browse, go in! If you have something specific in mind, you might be pleasantly surprised with what this tiny store has in stock. read more

Great bookstore, with wonderful, eclectic selection and some great buys. Very knowledgeable and friendly bookseller too. Tucked away in Seattle Market, but worth finding! read more

This little store reminds me why I need another bookshelf. My own personal collection is not going to be too far off from the cramped displays of this little bookstore if I'm not careful. Though the overflowing piles of books can seem a little intimidating, there is an order to them for the most part. I enjoyed having to poke and prod to see the whole selection on a shelf. It made me pick up, look at, and consider more books than I otherwise do when just glancing through the titles of neatly lined up spines. The shop owner was very friendly and while content to let folks just browse, she was also able to answer questions and make recommendations to the other customers. You're definitely going to have a little bit of a scavenger hunt in here, but that's half of the store's charm. read more

This is one of my favorite bookstores. Each time we go down to the Market, I make way to the hidden gem. The feeling I get when I step in,smell and friendly staff are all apart of what makes this bookstore so special. Not to mention all the words just waiting to be read. I always come out of there with something great. I hope this store is around for many years to come. What a great place for beginner readers to discover a favorite book and just as great for seasoned readers to find something new or that book that they remember from times past. read more

Within the pocket of Pike's Market, Lamplight bookstore covers a wide range of books and topics, compacted within its walls. Great prices for used books with the host being acceptionably friendly and accommodating. Whenever I am in town, I never miss an opportunity to browse through the variety of books from this store. read more

They had a wonderful collection of unique and classic children's books. We were able to find some of the Peter Rabbit stories as well as some Winnie the Pooh stories for our friend who is expecting. A lovely gift, and happy to support this local shop! read more

Adorable little bookstore. It's much easier to find books here than at the other used book store in Pike Place. Great books at great prices! read more

Had a terrific transaction with the owner, Lidia, over an internet purchase. Can't wait to get down to Seattle to check things out for myself. Sounds like she has a great shop there in Pike Place. Chris B. read more