City Lights is one of my favorite bookstores in San Francisco. There's something about wandering…read morethrough it that makes me feel like a kid again. With every twist and turn, another staircase or room appears, filled with books and entirely new worlds to discover. It always brings me back to the days I spent with my grandmother at our old library. We would sit together on the stairs and read to each other, completely content to spend hours surrounded by books. I think that's part of why City Lights feels so special to me--it brings back that same sense of curiosity, comfort, and excitement I felt with her. I rarely come here looking for one specific thing. The fun is wandering the shelves until a cover, title, or completely unexpected book catches my attention. Somehow I always leave with another story I can't wait to disappear into. There are bookstores you go to simply to buy a book, and then there are bookstores you experience. City Lights is the latter. It's a little piece of San Francisco that I hope never changes.

One of the neatest bookstores in the US. The Poetry room upstairs is wonderful. So much fun…read morehistory here to learn about. And this bookstores has some amazing staff book recommendations with little tags on the bookshelf telling you why they loved that book so much; found some great new finds that way. Dont forget to get your books stamped with their bookstores stamp on the way out!

Heard a lot of good things about Dog Eared Books so I decided to stop by. There's many options…read moreinside that I could spend a lot of time just looking at everything they have to offer! I ended up getting a small notebook and a couple postcards. The staff was nice and I'd definitely recommend this spot if you're in the area!

While visiting the city of San Francisco came across Dog Eared Books and decided to stop in to see…read morewhat they had to offer. The bookstore was small and pretty busy with customers reading and selecting books to purchase. I walked around the bookstore to see what would catch my eye and they had so many good books to choose from. Walked over to their clearance section and found two books that peaked my interest. Ended up purchasing, the portrait of Dorian Grey and animal farm. They we're both a steel at a discounted price. These two books were on my list of books that I've been wanting to read, and now they have been added to my personal library. The employees here are welcoming and friendly. They are also very busy, keeping the store while organized and appealing to the eye.

When I was in San Francisco recently, I made a special trip to Kinokuniya Bookstore in Japantown!…read moreAlthough I have a Kinokuniya near me in Los Angeles, I was super excited to check out the San Francisco location and hunt for some exclusive Sanrio merchandise! Unfortunately, they were out of the San Francisco Hello Kitty mascots I wanted, but I was still able to get quite a few exclusive Sanrio goodies! I got a tote bag, a wallet, a keychain and a mascot featuring another Sanrio character mascot. Needless to say, I was one happy girl. Aside from shopping for Sanrio merchandise, I also enjoyed browsing the bookstore's two floors. There was so many cute things to discover! This place is a true paradise for collectors and anyone who appreciates all things cute. Definitely worth a visit if you're in San Francisco!

Super cute interesting finds, pretty pricey. Such as $25 for a small cloth tote or $35 for a normal…read moresize shopping tote Calendars, toys, plushes, and oh books of course. A lot of people go for the items more so than books

Goat bookstore. Go get your books here. No other bookstore comes close!…read more All the people are great and their recommendations and displays are super helpful if you're going in without a plan.

If your idea of a good time is an afternoon spent rambling around in a 5000-plus foot maze among…read morethe books, then Green Apple Books is for you. What I love here are the carefully curated staff selections that are found everywhere. There are always unexpected finds and books you'd never unearth online all housed in this labyrinth of a store. The tables of discounted and used books upstairs are worth a browse. The atmosphere is welcoming, dusty, and this old Victorian house is perfect for wandering. One of my favorite Sunday rituals: browsing until I find something unexpected, and then heading down Clement for dim sum, some thrifting, maybe a Kamei treasure, a strawberry crepe, and some Asian groceries. A Green Apple visit makes the outing complete. San Francisco still has a few good remaining bookstores, and the selection hidden in the winding nooks and crannies at Green Apple, keep it near the top of my list.

Just loved this charming and delightful spot! Enjoyed a Delicious peqch matcha latte and spiced…read morechocolate donut. Tasteful selection of books and gifts. Lovely aesthetic inside, beautiful garden in the back. Very kid-friendly with several spaces for children to frolic. I saw a sign that they have storytime and a boba book night for older kids- plus more events. Packed on a Saturday morning, parking was a challenge, but worth the effort.

My colleagues and I were walking through the Sunset, and caffeine was on our minds. One of my…read morecoworkers recommended we stop by Black Bird Bookstore and Cafe, which was a vibe! This is a popular cafe among locals and nonlocals. They have an ordering window, so you line up on the sidewalk. Menus are posted outside the window. The inside is super neat! It's a bookstore that sells a variety of books and other creative goods. We walked around while we waited for our drinks. The line moves fast, and they make the drinks really quickly! Everyone is nice and efficient. I got their seasonal drink, an Iced Pear Matcha with Oat Milk. The matcha was smooth and not too earthy, definitely creamy. The pear was all on the bottom and was mild and subtle. For the size, it was a bit expensive. Definitely wish the cup was bigger! Black Bird Bookstore and Cafe is a cute spot for a quick drink and shopping. It's great to support local, and I'm glad I could try it, but it's definitely on the pricey side. Find them off Irving Street with a line out the door and street parking around.

Can't give a bookstore less than 5 stars because bookstores are such a rarity these days. So much…read morecontent is now online that walking into a physical store with books is like sighting a dinosaur. Especially so when it's not a used bookstore. Books Inc in its different locations host readings from different authors, so that's pretty cool. Not related to this store, but related to author readings, I met several famous authors when I used to attend readings. I don't do so much now because I dislike crowds. This bookstore is next to a Peets Coffee. So you can also enjoy some coffee after your purchase.

This little book shop is amazing. We found it on a stroll after a show down the road and it was…read moregreat. From the moment you walk in, you smell Peet's Coffee. Such a good combo! ;) They have a variety of genres at good prices. Friendly staff too! We will be back.

We visited for the first time and we loved it. Great book store. It's clean and well organized and…read morehas a great selection.

One of the best book stores in SF! If you're looking for anything fantasy/sci fi/ horror related,…read morethis is the place to go. Amazing selection and even better recommendations (I can't remember the number of times my finance and I have stopped in and chatted with the staff about new releases and recommendations). They also occasionally have events (like the Onyx Storm release party this week)!

This bookstore has been open since 1976 for a reason! The selection of books it's modern and also,…read morecurated. The store ambience and decoration invites you to take your time and enjoy your visit. The staff is friendly and happy to make suggestions. It's priced fairly. There is something special about the place. The selection, the decoration, the layout you name it. I always spend a bit more than I expected, with no regrets, as I always come back.

Located right on Haight Street, The Booksmith is a great bookstore. When you walk into the space,…read moreyou're overwhelmed by all the great titls that they have and are offering. This space is broken up into two main rooms. There's the room you enter when you come in off the street, and then there's the secondary room over to the left. Both are filled with a great collection of literature and/or nonfiction. The focus of this bookstore is really on literature. Though they, of course, have other subjects, as well. This being said, they have a great collection of fiction and poetry. It's really very-very vast. So, if you're in The Haight, and you want to grab a great piece of reading material, this may be your place to go.

Great bookshop in the heart of the Mission, with something for everyone! In addition to their…read moregenerous selection of English-language fiction and literature, they also feature a fairly extensive Spanish-language section. Each genre features both new and used books, so you can find a good read within your budget; YA + children's books, too! Staff are friendly, allow you to browse as long as you like, & are glad to answer any questions you may have. A large space in the back of the store is also designated for literary and community events. If you are in the area, I highly recommend checking out this bookshop.

This place has an really interesting and curated selection of books, zines, and a few other cool…read moreunexpected things like records and typewriters. They have some neat art and music events from time to time in a good size space in the back. It's a great place and fun thing to have in the neighborhood.

Lovely and cozy little bookstore atop a Potrero Hill street corner. Small but potent collection,…read morecarefully curated, and helpful staff. Support your local small businesses!

The sweetest bookstore on a quiet corner of Potrero Hill, sandwiched between pizza joints, cafés,…read moreand good places to sit and read. The proprietor is lovely and generous with her time, and will point you to whatever kinds of books you are looking for. She will even make recommendations depending upon your literary appetite. They are open into the evening and even on July 4!! Who doesn't love a great neighborhood bookstore?? support local everyone!!