Classic Berkeley bookstore! They have a range of fiction, nonfiction, and rare books to choose from. Whether it's for class or for your own personal pleasure, they have something for everyone. Sometimes they have some amazing sales (like 6 Poirot books in a set for $22 as of 02 May 2026). The workers are very polite too, and they're willing to hold books for about a week if you need to sleep on it. Definitely check it out! It's very close to campus and you'll find what you need. read more

What an incredible store. When I was younger and spent a fair amount of time on Telegraph, Moe's was less appealing to me than the shinier, more well-organized (and now long deceased) Cody's. I don't think I really gave Moe's a second thought. What a mistake! Four floors of books, any and every genre you can imagine, and they have pretty cool merch. If I lived in the area, I think I would become a regular. Go here when you're in Berkeley and give them your money. And while you're there, give the photo of founder Moe Moskowitz who, at least according to Aaron Cometbus, was a real character, a grumpy griping dude who didn't care too much for pleasantries, didn't care too much about literate, but was authentic and able to build a really fabulous shop that's been going strong for nearly 70 years. No small feat. read more

This bookstore has felt like home for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I would browse the used record area for hours, while having my paper "Moe Money" burn a hole in my pocket. Today, it's still a comforting and welcoming place. The lower level is my favorite place to start. There is a great collection of greeting cards, postcards and book bags spread around new arrivals. The new, used and antiquarian books spread throughout the four floors, and there's even a rare book room. If you're looking for a true taste of Berkeley atmosphere, this is a must stop. Sometimes I swear I smell a faint odor of Moe's intoxicating cigar as I pass the shelves. read more

Moe's Books - A picture of the store front in the late 1990's. - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

Founded in 1959, it's one of the Bay Areas and also one of the BEST used bookstores in the US. It's been a long time since I've been to Moe's, the last time was when I moved to Seattle. On the drive to Seattle I made it a point to stop at Moe's and still own the two use books I got here. One was Japanese Packaging design showing very interesting "natural" packaging and bindings from feudal Japan and the other was a book about ceramics by Eva Zeisel. I was in the area and Moe's happened to be about a 15 minute walk away so I cam to check it out. It's in the cool downtown area near UC Berkeley and still filled with excellent used books, posters, rare old books. It's mutli-level inside with newer books being on the floor you walk in on. I highly recommend headed up to the higher floors because they are most known for their used book selection. The pricing is excellent and the curation is well done, with the arts section being particularly interesting. I didn't get to check out the posters but they have a very nice collection with many hippie era screenprints! read more

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This is one of the best bookstores I've ever been in!!! Located on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, this place has multiple levels, accessible by stairs or an elevator!!! There are literally books everywhere, new and used!! And you will find people all over the place in here reading. They greet you when you walk in, very friendly, makes you comfortable from the start. Also, the books are very reasonably priced,. I've been to Telegraph Avenue lots of times and never had checked this place out, definitely gotta come back and spend some more time in here!! read more

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This bookstore has four floors. There's a vast collection to look through. The kids section was fun and nostalgic. The topics are labeled and easily finable. I definitely got deep into the higher floor sections for science. There's even a top section for rare and old books. The staff were friendly and polite. I can't speak much on the value. Some books I checked didn't have a price. But I would still return here. read more

Moe's Books - Rare and old books - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Such a cool bookstore. Staff is incredibly helpful, signage is easy to read, and the shelves are immaculate. They have a great selection of new and used books. It is a little pricey but it is also a small business and that is expected. I don't have an issue with this place but the people that shop here? A whole other issue. They are pretentious and lack spatial awareness. You're not the only person shopping in the store! read more

Several floors including an open and well lit basement lower level of books, rare journals, rare publications, and comics await here to be found! I had heard about this place from another local bookstore owner so decided to stop in when I was in town. There's metered parking available on the street or on nearby side streets depending on which direction you're traveling in from. Upon entering the store, the store owner's little dog smiled up at me as I paused to decide which level to explore first. On the lower level, I discovered interesting music magazines from the 90's, art journals from many years, and rare comics. Each floor offered great book selections at every price level. SO glad I found Moe's! read more

Moe's Books - a rare comic find - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This is a very fun bookstore for both new and used editions! They have a strong focus on activism and positivity, particularly in their new book section. Mixed into the books are a good number of gifts and trinkets, some San Francisco themed and some more generic gifts. A little expensive in my opinion, but there is a very good selection and it supports a local business. While we didn't need any help from the staff, the person working checkout was very personable and interested in our plans for the day once he heard we were just visiting the area. read more

I got lucky with parking on a weekend, but it was worth the gamble. This place is a treasure hunt in the best way. The staff are mostly women and talk with every patron about what they have read and recommend something else for your future reading stack. Every floor has something you'll want to take home with you. All my favorite subjects, all at great prices. Honestly, it's the kind of place where you tell yourself you'll "just browse" and walk out with a stack you swear will fit on your shelves. (They won't. But you'll be happy anyway.) read more

Where can you spend an hour totally lost in books and leave with a yellow slug decal, California tea towel, and super cool postcards? I'm going back tomorrow to pick up artwork from Gaza, and a Rajneesh bible- volumes one and two- and a few Buddhist texts. And a bunch of awesome children's books in different languages. I had to pace myself. Very reasonably priced. The selection is mind-boggling. 4 floors. Super staff. The books and other items like maps and art are perfectly organized, tidy space, and the store is open and smells clean. Not like a stuffy old used bookstore. It's awesome. read more

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I absolutely love this bookstore! It has the best selection that I've seen in Berkeley. Additionally, the staff is super friendly and helpful. As an English student, I'm so grateful for how close it is to campus. I thought that the prices were fair for an independent bookstore. read more

Great bookstore near the Berkeley campus. 4 floors of books, mostly used, under every topic you can imagine. Top floor has a rare/collectible books section which is available only by appointment. Have been here twice now, and will definitely be part of my itinerary for any future Berkeley visits. read more

Moe's Books - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

Moe's Books isn't just a bookstore--it's a four-floor wonderland where you can lose yourself for hours. Their carefully curated used sections (especially philosophy and literature) feel like hunting for gold, and the staff's encyclopedic knowledge makes every visit a learning experience. read more

Moe's Books - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

Vast selection of books on art and architecture This shop is well kept, organized and the staff is very attentive and helpful. I spent quite a bit of time just wandering and exploring the many options on the table tops as well as the various floors. It's a great neighborhood staple and i would recommend stopping by especially if you park in the garage next door. I believe you can enter the shop from the back way and exit onto telegraph It's worth the stop :) read more

Moe's Books - Top floor - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

Popped in to explore a bit and stayed longer than I planned . An amazing selection across 4 floors. Will be coming back to continue the exploration. read more

Moe's Books - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

What a fantastic bookstore! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm and cheerful hello. Bonus points for that! We explored every floor, amazed by the wide variety of genres and the thoughtfully curated selection. We even found the most adorable Kiki's Delivery Service journal... too cute to pass up! I'll always support local businesses, and this place is a perfect reminder of why. Skip the corporate giants and shop small! read more

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I could spend all day here. Each floor is organized by subject & there is definitely something for everyone! read more

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The book buyer was condescending and awful. Told me that my books were "new age fluff" and barely looked at my books. The owner was pretending to be nice. I did get a good parking spot though! read more

I ordered the complete writings of John Muir in the Sierra Edition of 10 volumes. Johnny in the antiquarian books section was tremendously helpful along with the staff of the main store. The books arrived clean and tight in perfect condition for editions 100 years old. I live in Los Angeles, but if I head to the Bay Area for any reason, Moe's will be on my itinerary. I would most definitely order from them again, and I cannot wait to see the store in person. Thank you, Moe's! read more

If you like "underground" culture, history specially local history, banned books type of thing, just browsing for a nice read, Moe's got you. Every single time I wanted Sylvia Plath or Jack Kerouac, they're there. My favourite section is the cooking section. Very simple to browse as they break subcategories down. For cooking, there's Asian, East Asian, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, etc pretty much every cuisine is almost represented. And I have to love the little sale tables. Everything is very organise, by category, new books, and pretty much nearly everything under the sun. You got at least 3 full floors of good stuff. The history here is phenomenal, especially for the area. Even if you got nothing in particular, it's always fun seeing the sale items and discovering something new. As a french major I didn't find much. I mean there's plenty but huge plethora of classics and essays. Every time I stroll around on a nice day I pay Moe a visit and then some lunch on a sunny day while I enjoy my content. Posters and postcards are something that is worth looking as well, as a postcard collector. Thanks Moe! AC Transit 6 is easily accessible as well as the 36, 51B, and 79 are adjacent. Nearest BART would be downtown Berkeley and perhaps Rockridge read more

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The first time I brought in about 120 books. Got $35 for it. Today I brought in about 40 books. There is always that slight pressure to get store credit rather than cash that makes you feel already they will not give you much because you want cash. But hey they might buy for $ 0.50 a used book and sell it for $5 - pretty good margin in my book. Pun intended. The buyer Jake was telling me none of those books were worth anything - not even store credit. The tone in his voice was slightly off putting making it overly clear how bad and unworthy of a cent my books are.... I donated it to the books for prisoner project but I left with a slight sour feeling. It just sometimes feels like those used book stores take advantage of people and who knows if they really donate all or try to sell some after all.... Will not bring more books there. I'll put the rest on the side of the road for people to take for free... at least then I know someone picking it up is happy to have it. read more

Moe's books is an institution in Berkeley! Love them multiple levels and layers of books, the staff is always so kind and friendly, and we really appreciate that at their front door. They share pre-release books with their visitors for no cost, what a sweet and gentle Way to share access to books! read more

I love Moe's! I always have! It's got that je ne sais quoi ambience/vibe/atmosphere that sets it apart. If you're the kind of literary soul who's sought out City Lights Books in San Francisco and Shakespeare and Company in Paris, you have to go to Moe's in Berkeley. It's a treasure, a landmark and a really fine, independent bookstore! read more

Super helpful staff. Found a old, semi rare book for me and set it aside. Great price. Super easy experience

Great seller. Book was purchased online and shipped out immediately and arrived in 3 days. Good price too.

Excellent book store. Devendra really agent out of their way to find my book and call me back twice to make sure we found the correct one. 5/5 customer service 5/5 atmosphere 5/5 selection. There's a reason this place has been in business forever. Love it and will be back many times. read more

We ordered this book late last week for a (rather finicky!) customer. The book arrived within days and he is delighted, as are we, with the speed of delivery and its condition. Thank you so much, Moe's, for the quick turnaround for this order, and the care in describing and packing it for shipment. We at Sutton Books look forward to doing business with you again very soon. Best wishes, Susannah @ Sutton Books, Norwich, Vermont read more

Moe's is legendary. In a town filled with intellectuals, authors and even more readers, this is book store A number one, the top of the heap! A great place to buy books. What a selection - four floors of books! I used to have more leisure time and spend hours in bookstores. It's a little sad that I'm zipping and dashing everywhere all the time, but this would be a great place to lose yourself in the tomes if you are so inclined. Moe's is also a fantastic place to sell books. You can receive cash or a store credit. They didn't take most of what I brought in on today's visit, but I did leave $28 richer. I guess you could earn more if you were hocking them online and shipping them yourself. But did I mention that I don't have a lot of leisure time? But it's a lot easier to make time for spring cleaning when there's cash at the end of the rainbow. Love the staff. Very knowledgeable literary folks. They know a great deal about almost any of the books I ever inquire about. And they're good for recommendations too. read more

Best used bookstore in the Bay. The only other bookstore that rivaled Moes was Black Oak. But, it closed. Moes has been my refuge for 20 years. My area of study is philosophy, ancient Greek in particular. They have texts in multiple languages. Great section for Greek, Latin, French, etc. I went yesterday and bought another treasure trove. Please continue to support this gem rather than the big bookstore. read more

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I'd heard about Moe's from a local friend who shops there often, but you can tell as you walk up that it's a beloved local institution. I was there while orange tier restrictions were in place. They had an assistant at the door keeping track of numbers and they ask you to use hand sanitizer on the way in. There was space for a line but we walked right in. It's split across a few levels, with the till at the ground floor level. Feels a bit like an old record store. They have a great used selection with all kinds of categories. I mostly browsed fiction. I quickly spotted a pristine looking copy of a novel I bought new that morning. There was also a good selection of classics. They're obviously careful about what they buy in - nothing looked too tattered - which I appreciate in a used bookshop. Downstairs there's a nice new selection, not very large but decent curation. There's also a couple of displays of discounted books which are in new condition but mostly priced around $7-10, about half price. Nice store, and I can see why the locals enjoy it so much. read more

Moe's Books - Downstairs - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This store has been around forever and I like coming here. It's not new looking like HPB, but it is a little tired looking. But I love books, so for me it's a great place. The prices are OK and honestly, I like to come here because of nostalgia. I miss Shakespere and some of the other used book stores that existed. Occasionally, I find a book to buy, but their selection of spiritual and language books are kind of lame. I do like the art and cook books, but I don't by them. And the bathroom is gross! But, I like to walk through and peruse the books. I find that some of their selection is lame because it's old and the same. I tried to sell books to them and they said that my books were too old, I had just used these books in grad school! And the musty old books they were rocking let me know that it's possible that they only accept some people's older books, but not everyones. That's why I don't buy from them. read more

This is the absolute best bookstore I've been to -- they have every book you're looking for (new fiction is in the basement) as well as 8-10 books you didn't know you were looking for :D I love browsing and could easily spend a couple hours getting lost in everyone's cast-off UC Berkeley required reading texts. Highlights include an extensive history section, obscenely large philosophy section, and curated new fiction. I'm so grateful Moe's has survived through the years. Every other bookstore's closure emphasizes the value of Moe's in the community. We always visit when we are back in town, are grateful they still have a restroom for customers, and spend freely knowing we are supporting an institution. read more

Pretty cool book store! It's four stories of well stories. They've got everything here for all ages and interests. It looked like they even accept books on the top floor. If you're interested you can even get some swag which includes postcards of writers. They've got a ton of stuff to look through. I ended up asking the man behind the register for his recommendation. Things are a bit pricey so if you don't want to spend a lot, try the shelves out front. read more

Moe's Books - First floor - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

I have loved Moe's Books since the time of Moe. I used to go there quite a bit in the 90s and periodically thereafter, having happily returned again recently. With a few floors of books, a great space, and friendly, helpful staff, it's a wonderful place to spend some time and get some more books that you may not have expected to get. read more

Popped into Moe's books today for a favor completely unrelated to the store and the staff were incredibly welcoming and kind. The owner then went out of their way to help me with a last-minute Christmas gift mission. Strongly recommend and will definitely be returning! read more

on a whim since i was nearby, i decided to visit Moe's again after a 10 year spell. elsewhere, i wasn't getting the quality of books i sought. not all book stores are fully opened. since the libraries are closed, the free libraries seldom have great books. interesting yes. Moe's was limiting the amount of people inside. i was able to get in with no problem. got 4 interesting books. lst wasn't eye opening:Asian American odyssey. it's therapy 2. Stranger from a different shore: a history of Asian Americans" by Ronald Takaki is a blockbuster tell-all 3.The Cornel west reader-sound be intereting' 4:"the New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the age of colorblindness" (Michell Alexander) articulates why the police have to be " defunded". -how "the war on terror" has especially target black and brown communities for minor drug offences. $ incentives for random stop & risk arrests by police. read more

Moe's Books - Books reading - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

My partner loves this store. He calls it his favorite bookstore in the Bay Area and always leaves the store with a stack of used books. We went yesterday to support after they were closed for a while during the early pandemic and left with another stack. They have new books on the bottom floor for cover price, as well as 3 floors of used books. Their collection of used books range in price from as low as $1-3 to much more for rarer books. My partner particularly loves the wall of shelves with books on philosophy/critical theory and psychology, finding a lot of old books on psychoanalysis or varieties of books about subjects that you'd be hard pressed to find in your average bookstore. This is a Berkeley landmark (been around since the 60s) and deserves all the support it can get during these tough times! read more

Moe's Books - Most recent purchase at Moe's. - Bookstores Near Me - Berkeley, California

I cannot leave here without spending at least $75. It's a problem. It's a really good problem. Huge selection of used fiction and nonfiction (including some deep cuts in history and religion), all at reasonable prices. New fiction skews literary, and used SFF skews pulpy. Art, science, and music sections have a consistently broad range of good choices. Their stock is regularly updated, so even though I am a frequent visitor, I always find new things. I always pick up a handful of weird postcards, too. read more

One of the best bookstores ever built. I always find something to take home. I always seem to find something unexpected and wonderful every time I visit. read more