Marcus Books

Decided to drag myself from my desk and get some much needed fresh air for lunch. While walking I…read morecame across this gem of a bookstore and decided to stop in. Great selection of books and the woman at the register was really kind. I didn't bring my wallet, as I had no intentions on spending money, but after seeing a few titles that were worth bringing home to my book collection, I asked if they accepted Apple Pay - they do! FYI, Apple Pay requires at least a 2.00 minimum purchase. Checking out was a breeze, and I now have three new books. I will definitely return the next time I'm in the area!

I did not know when I first arrived that this was the Friends of the Oakland Library system…read morebookstore, so the stock would consist of extras, castoffs, etc. It took me a while to go inside l, because the dollar books on the racks outside are of excellent quality, and buy two get one free! That's 66¢ each. Inside, the organization is pretty good, separating mysteries and thrillers from general fiction, for instance. I didn't see a film section though. A "vintage" section, without much of interest. Still, I spent $6 and walked out with four books, so I'm grateful.

The Bookmark Bookstore / Friends of the Oakland Public Library

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Dan Webb Books

4.6(19 reviews)

1.7 mi

Dan has the best prices and and a superb selection of books ,postcards , pamplets and CDs along…read morewith thousands of books including fiction ,history and science . His selection of books on ships , trains and WW2 can not be beat.The best place in the Bay Area to find valuable gems . There is something for everyone at Dan's on 15th St ( plenty of parking) in the middle of Oakland's Cultural District

The best selection of books on war and the military in Oakland. Covers many wars historical and…read morecurrent, many countries armed forces. Both old and new editions. Great place to browse.

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Clio’s

4.1(136 reviews)

1.6 mi•Adams Point

After a long walk around Lake Merritt with my niece, I was on a mission to find a restroom. She…read moresuggested we stop by Clio's Bookstore & Bar, describing it as part bookstore, part reading lounge, and part bar. I expected a quick pit stop--I ended up wanting to stay. This place is an absolute gem. The atmosphere is eclectic, cozy, and full of personality. The shelves are lined with books spanning more eras and genres than I even knew existed, making it feel like a literary treasure hunt. Every direction I looked revealed another fascinating title or beautifully aged collection. One of my closest friends is a librarian, so I found myself snapping photo after photo to send her because I knew she'd be completely enamored with this place. I didn't order food or drinks during this visit (I rarely drink), but I already know I'll be back. The ambiance alone is worth experiencing. It's the kind of place where you can lose yourself browsing vintage books, settle into a chair with a good read, and simply enjoy the unique energy. From what I could tell, many of the books are also available for purchase, which makes it even more tempting to return. I also noticed that Clio's hosts community events, so I'll definitely be checking their calendar before my next visit. Whether you're a book lover, a history buff, or simply someone who appreciates unique spaces with soul, Clio's Bookstore & Bar is well worth a stop.

Came to Clio's for book club and we were actually having a really good time. The place is super…read morecute and we all ordered drinks from the bar. Since the only food they really had were $24 charcuterie boards, we DoorDashed some food. A lady came over and told us we weren't allowed to have outside food, which okay, fine -- but there are literally no signs anywhere saying no outside food or drinks. What really bothered us was that other people came in with outside food and were eating it and nobody said anything to them. If that's the policy, then it should apply to everyone, not just certain tables. Such a shame because we really liked the place and were having a good time. We were buying drinks and would've definitely stayed longer. If outside food isn't allowed, just put up a sign and enforce the rule for everyone.

1.6 mi•Grand Lake, Lower Hills

Blackberry sage shrub

A Friday night at 10pm, busy and loud. Nice bartenders.

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Interior

Walden Pond Bookstore

4.4(258 reviews)

After all these years, Walden Pond Books is still a place I like to go into to see if I can find a…read morebook to purchase and read on BART. I always find a good book to read. Good reason to take BART and walk over is the Grand Lake is a great place to sit around as if we are tourists from a planet named Saturn.

I was browsing Grand Avenue past the Grand Lake Theatre and landed in here. I'm much more of a…read morelibrary goer than a book store spender, buuuut, I love books regardless. That ended up not being what I browsed, though. I went over to their small but sufficient record selection. They had top albums and artists, like Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life. I kept looking and looking and found The Internet's Ego Death for $32. Yep, found what I needed and almost left but checking out their used albums they had Kendrick's good kid, m.A.A.d city and Drake's Views for about $27 or $28 each. Idk what a good used album price is really going for these days, but I was happy with my selection, went to the counter and checked out. I can't really say much for service because I was in and out so quickly and there didn't appear to be many employees, which I get that these days.

When my kids were young, they played in the little Playhouse. My granddaughter found her own spot.

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Bibliomania

3.3(78 reviews)

1.5 mi•Uptown

I often went to the Fox Theatre but somehow always missed the bookstore across the street! So often…read moreolder books (those published 20+ years ago) are often super pricey. But many of these books are very reasonably priced, like $7.50-$25! Almost all of the stock is older, even obscure books. But it's a book lover's treasure hunt. I picked up a really interesting book about San Francisco's history from 1948 for only $10! Definitely recommend this place and it's a very quick walk from the Broadway BART station. The only thing I'd "change" is recommending that the owner put more of their stock on ThriftBooks.com to enhance their profits. But that would be at the peril of Bay Area bookworms! :)

I ordered a book from them in Aug 2024. It never arrived, and after multiple attempts at contacting…read morethem, they finally said they had moved and couldn't find the book at the moment. (Luckily they hadn't run the charge through on my credit card yet). Every couple of months or so I'd follow-up--sometimes they'd respond, sometimes they wouldn't. Still couldn't find the book, and kept asking me to be patient. I was patient for a long time. Now it's July 2025, about 3 weeks shy of ONE YEAR since I ordered the book. Wrote to them again, no response. But they still have it listed for sale on their website, so I took a shot and ordered it again. Then they wrote me a snotty note and told me to quit ordering it, they haven't found it yet. I wrote back and asked how they can possibly still be looking for a book after one year? Then they wrote back and said they were canceling my order! Very crappy customer service. Zero stars.

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JH&F: Jessica Hische & Friends

5.0(3 reviews)

1.7 mi

I've been following Jessica Hische's work and career for a while now, and I was super excited to…read moresee that she opened up a shop. At the time, I was pretty sad, because I lived on the east coast. Little did I know, I'd find myself in the area after all. This shop is a nice little oasis for designers who just love nicely designed little every day objects. Hische stocks this place with all kinds of delightful things. I think the best part is that there are things at all price points. It's not just some snobby place, where nothing costs less than $100. There are solid quality and affordable pens, as well as some specialty items that are on the more expensive side. There is even original designs/works of art from Hische herself. Definitely a fun spot to check out if you're in the area. Highly recommend!

Do people give any less than 5 stars to local arts and crafts, woman owned businesses? Anywho, any…read moredesigner knows who Jessica Hische is but her store is for anyone. There's actual art supplies, pins, art books and kids books, some branded items like shirts, totes, onesies, and cool stuff like gorgeous desk clocks or hourglass timers that I can't afford lol. Anyways, worth a visit if you're in the area. I ended up getting a bunch of my holiday shopping done for my creative friends.

A view of the shop interior including the wall of artwork, most of which is printed on site in our print workshop!

Beautiful and useful gifts fill every corner of the shop.

JH&F: Jessica Hische & Friends - Our children's art supply section with beautifully illustrated children's books including NYT Best-selling books by the shop owner Jessica

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Our children's art supply section with beautifully illustrated children's books including NYT Best-selling books by the shop owner Jessica

Oakland Chinese Book Store

4.6(5 reviews)

2.0 mi•Oakland Chinatown

It's hard to find the place, IMHO. I circled the block twice. Here are my directions, if you are…read morebad with directions like me: First the address is misleading. It's not REALLY on 9th street. To me, it's on Franklin Street. It's facing outwards from the Plaza, (which has restaurants , including Peony, and the Chinatown library) on the corner of 9th street and Franklin. The bank is right across the street. HOWEVER, it's on the perimeter of the plaza so you can't actually SEE it or ACCESS it if you're INSIDE the Plaza. Don't be inside the Plaza. You just leave the plaza and circle the block even though technically it's ATTACHED to the plaza. The East West Bank is directly across street. Hopefully this makes sense. Maybe my explanation was unnecessary because I'm the only idiot who couldn't find it. I don't have a lot of experience with Chinese bookstores but I was pretty happy with experience. I felt like I was in a tool shed but it's Chinatown so that's normal.

Date: 10/14/2023. Time:3:30 PM. 68°. Sunny…read more My sister and I were searching for Chinese wedding envelopes. This book store had plenty of red envelopes. We decided to go with the gold instead of the red envelopes. For six envelopes, the price was $3.50. We were in and out of there in less than five minutes. The only item we could not find was a Chinese wedding card. We figured the gold envelope (money enclosed) was good enough to give my nephew and his bride-to-be their wedding gift. I'm just glad that we did not spend a lot of time shopping for those envelopes in Oakland Chinatown.

0.9 mi•Piedmont Ave, North Oakland

Storefront

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Spectator Books

4.3(142 reviews)

Very helpful staff, lovely selection of new and used books. I got help finding a very niche book as…read morea gift and was directed to exactly what I was looking for.

I fell in love with Spectator Books as soon as I walked in!…read more I love that there's a station to leave your water bottles and drinks. I also appreciate that they have masks available if needed and offer them proactively. On top of that, they provide free drug testing kits, like fentanyl test strips -- which is so vital, especially with the spike in fentanyl overdoses and contaminations in recreational substances. It's just really nice to see that kind of care in the community. The range of books is massive -- both new and used. The selection of new books is decent, but the used book selection (and price) is phenomenal. They also have a whimsical collection of bookmarks, stickers, and random stationery, which is super charming. Honestly, it's just a really solid bookstore. The first time I visited, I'm pretty sure I spent like two and a half hours just browsing all the sections I was interested in -- and there were so many. Lots on religion and spirituality, metaphysics, physics, psychology, cookbooks, music, art, fashion -- so many topics that caught my eye. I took my time and walked out with maybe $125 worth of books and oracle cards, which was such a joy. They also have a book exchange policy where you can trade in books for store credit, but you need to make an appointment to do so. The last time I visited was maybe a month ago, but I'm thinking about going again... tomorrow! XD

Children's section

Used books!

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Barnes & Noble

3.4(234 reviews)

1.4 mi

This bookstore is a nice addition to the Bay Street mall in Emeryville. It is one of the anchor…read morestores. In terms of square footage it is the largest retail store, with perhaps the exception of Tokyo Central. The sections are well separated, and the books are well curated. The staff is sparse but helpful. I like how the upstairs spills out into the food court area. The prices here are slightly higher than Amazon, but it's worth it to be able to flip through the books and peruse.

I'll always have fond memories whenever entering a Barnes & Noble. I am just a lover of all book…read morestores, and I mean the ones that aren't online! There's a massive parking garage to use. It's not free if you want to do more than 30 minutes but thankfully you can get your card validated at Barnes & Noble. Incredibly organized as is all B&Ns are. It's two stories so there's an escalator. There's the cafe there too. Super helpful people work here. Feels cozy and safe in here. Plenty of seating at the cafe and a couple of chairs around the store. Loved stopping by the 50 percent off section! The value there is great. I was able to get a book for less than $7. 5/5

1.3 mi•Rockridge, North Oakland

Facade of the store

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Pegasus Books

4.3(151 reviews)

Conveniently located near Rockridge BART station, you will find this gem of a bookstore. They have…read morea book for every budget, from signed exclusive editions to used books to cheap books. My favorite section is the local interest! The staff is friendly and always ready to answer questions, make suggestions, or help you find what you need.

I've been to the Shattuck Ave Pegasus a few times, but there was something about this location that…read moreI loved. I walked out with only one book, but it could have been a dozen. Maybe they get a better selection of used books from the neighborhood? Or perhaps I prefer density in my bookstores. Whatever the reason, I left there without having looked at half the store, because that would have been another half hour at least. In summary, great selections, a layout ideal for bookworms, and a friendly neighborhood vibe.

Cute canva bags

Used books for sale!

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

7 reviews that are not currently recommended

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

James H.

12 years ago

Perfect place for African American literature. A part of Oakland that gives us rich history and pride. Please support Marcus Books and keep history alive. read more

Kendall J.

13 years ago

Nice bookstore, in good location. I found the book I was looking for, and the staff was very welcoming. Will return for a future visit.

Nae F.

145

10 years ago

I received wonderful customer service! Everyone is always helpful and I am never disappointed on the selection!

Adam S.

3 years ago

Great selection of books here & the people are very helpful. Definitely coming back. Plenty of diverse authors read more

Bryana W.

2 years ago

Haven't even been to this store yet but it's BLACK & so am I! I support whole heartedly

Jakeya C.

16 years ago

dang, GOOG-411 changed the listing! boo.

Kitty P.

12 years ago

This place is a true gem!

Marcus Books - bookstores - Updated November 2026

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Dan Webb Books

4.6

(19 reviews)

The best selection of books on war and the military in Oakland. Covers many wars historical and…read morecurrent, many countries armed forces. Both old and new editions. Great place to browse.

Black Swan Books

4.3

(14 reviews)

•$$$

I used to pass this store all of the time when I hung out on the street back in the day, and never…read morereally went in. This is because there were some stores earlier down and I rarely went up past Fentons. Well, I happened to go to Fentons for a cup and my husband and I ate outside, instead of taking it to go like we usually do. So as we were walking off the beginnings of a sugar coma, we came into this gem of a bookstore. I love a good used bookstore because it is a mystery as to what you will find. And this place definitely has that mysterious air about it. So we searched and in between the gems (stuffed toys and other artifacts sharing space with the books, my husband managed to find a couple that he wanted. The people who were there were pretty chill. Yes, they have a sign reminding us to wear a mask, thank you. And yes, they had to remind my husband that he had to put his on, he forgot or just ignored my reminder. But, all in all it was a good day and going to this store was a nice endcap to our wonderful afternoon on Piedmont Ave.

Date: 7/20/2025 Time: 3:20 PM 63° Cloudy…read more After Fentons, my sister and I decided to browse in Black Swan Books. This store reminds of Holmes Bookstore that used to be on 14th Street near the downtown Oakland area and Wilmot's Books at 478 Central Avenue in Alameda. Both these stores have been closed for several years. Black Swan Books reminds me of a nostalgic time of the 60's - a library of used books, antiques, record albums, 45's, collectibles, etc. Based on my observation, the owners were helpful with other customers. I wouldn't mind returning to look through their collection of record albums and 45's. Another thing I want to ask is whether or not they accept donation of cookbooks. Return visit? Yes.

Womb House Books

5.0

(8 reviews)

Every time I try to convince myself that I'm on a book-buying ban, I get pulled right into Womb…read moreHouse whenever I'm in the area. You'll feel like you stepped into a turn of the 20th century time-capsule the moment you walk into the store. It's really warm and inviting. As the name would suggest, you'll find curated selections of mostly female authors. Although I did score some vintage copies of Freud and Lacan. The owner is really nice and personable and knows her stuff so she'd be able to give you good recommendations. Shout out to Jessica!

This is such a magical space. I was taking a stroll during my lunch break and happened to walk in…read more It smelled divine, the staff member was so kind, and the energy of the shop felt like a warm hug. I could have spent hours looking through their amazing book selection and enjoying the ambiance. I'm so happy they're in Oakland.

The Book Tree

4.6

(28 reviews)

Back on my annual pilgrimage. Got wonderful recs and bought a collection of essays by Ursula…read moreLeguin I am thrilled to have found. I am only sad that the other bookstore across the way has closed after 25 years. I love supporting small business.

Me and my Mrs. Have been increasing our reading time lately. Stumbled on this place, we were…read morelooking for book in picture. We found it!!!! They also have a huge variety of titles. Cool service and value as well. This is my kind of data centers lol. Definitely recommend

Tally Ho Books

4.1

(10 reviews)

Let us set the stage…read more It's 1986. You head to the local bookstore with a mission: find a gift for a friend. Your friend is a mystery buff, and you are a Town-loving nerd, so you want to pick up something that combines these two criteria. But you don't know a book like that personally. Nevertheless, you are unfazed because you have faith in the fearless bookstore staff. You know they'll help you. The cheerful Tally Ho! front window, studded with irresistible and thematic front covers, catches your eye from across the street. It's quarter to closing time o'clock and the place is packed. You are by nature distractible when it comes to beautiful units of reading material. And boy howdy, do they ever have the most beautiful and attractive books. How do they fit so many books within these walls? Will you remember your quest, or will you get sidetracked by the Richard Scarry bags and the Edward Gorey books? Not to worry; the friendly co-owner recognizes the book-trance on your face, and immediately collects the information. They are methodical and efficient and hella smart, and within two minutes, they are showing you the exact spot on the shelf wherein lies the perfect cozy local mystery novel. There is a line at the till, so you get the opportunity to take in the very wide selection of books in the center display. It would be impossible to leave without this graphic novel, right? Oh, this magical realism book was so important to the community, you get that one, too. You do manage to exercise discernment and restraint within the gently used book section, but the smug feeling dissipates when you notice the fistfuls of funny cards you've pulled from the rack. You hear the co-owner tell another customer not to stress about it being closing time o'clock. It feels great to pay for a small stack of books and greeting cards, you think to yourself, as you reemerge onto the sidewalk. But then you remember it's actually 2026. The oasis you just exited is even more rare and precious today. You hear your spouse say, you know, they only just realized that Richard Scarry and Edward Gorey are actually two different people. Your hand finds theirs. You realize that you haven't exhaled that fully or laughed that hard in weeks.

If I could give it zero stars I would and that's just based on customer service. I work at the…read morehospital down the street come in often to check out books. NO ONE EVER GREETS YOU OR EVEN GIVES A SMILE. first impression terrible and I rather give my money to other local places than to people who think they're too good to at least offer a smile to people walking in. This is the person I got today who didn't even bother to turn her head towards customers, you all have got some Serious training to do and if they don't like to greet you're in the wrong job.

Bibliomania

3.3

(78 reviews)

Bandung Books

4.7

(3 reviews)

By far the best bookstore I've been too, with extensive anti-imperial reading and an extensive…read morePalestinian section and anything else I could want. It also had a gorgeous rare book section. The vibe was overall fantastic, thankful for this store in a continuously (negatively) censored world.

The vendor from Bandung Books was at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center earlier this afternoon. I…read morewas at this venue to enjoy a celebration of two cultural gathering - Chinese Lunar New Year and Black History Month. I like the collection of books that were on display at this event. Even though I did not purchase any books, I am more than eager to stop by the business to browse and shop. Support this black owned business by giving back to the black community. It's nice to have two black owned bookstores in Oakland - northside (NSO) and eastside (ESO).

Pegasus Books Downtown

4.1

(241 reviews)

The way brick and mortar bookstores are dwindling these are becoming unicorns…read more I have to admit that the last few books I bought were all online - one because it was independently published and no bookstore carried it - but the other two I didn't even bother looking after that first hunt. We need to support these bookstores. Let them know what you want and they might hear you for next time. I liked the cards and other items they had in stock too. Its great to pick up before you make a decision. Right now I have a few books in my 'to read pile' and once those are finished I will come back here for some more. Great to have this in the neighborhood.

A really good bookstore in Downtown Berkeley!!…read more I came in here looking for a calendar, and ended up browsing through the books. It's a classic old school style bookstore, with very friendly people working here. I didn't spend as much time in here that I wanted to, definitely have to come here again!!

Moe's Books

4.5

(486 reviews)

Absolutely delighted with my experience with Moe's Books Website…read more I ordered a beautiful book from France and everything was perfect from start to finish. The team was kind, responsive and very professional throughout our exchanges. The set arrived in wonderful condition, and I was especially impressed by the care taken with the packaging. It was extremely well protected for its international journey. Thank you very much to the Moe's Books team for your kindness, your attention to detail and the quality of your service. I would happily buy from you again and would definitely recommend Moe's Books.

I fell in love with this bookstore. I'm sure my sons regretted we went in because I spent time…read morehere. They have so much new and used selection. All types of books. I'm a non-fiction bookworm and this place is a heaven. The value for most books is reasonable and lower than a regular book store. I loved how organized it was on each floor and there were posted guides if you wanted to see more what floor to find them. They have a top floor with staff by appointment for special books. Other than that there's no staff interaction except at payment. I also loved they had table and chair seatings in random places be use you will get tired of checking out everything. Yes, I left with 7 books, no regrets and wish I could've taken more. I will def be back! They have straits and elevators but I recommend taking the stairs as they have interesting frames on the way and shop on lower level by stairwell.

Revolution Books

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