Best book deals! I love the FriendShop in the Seattle Public Library as there's always something…read morehere that every bibliophile would appreciate and love. It's a great place to shop at for any book lover. Located in the Seattle Central Library branch on the main level, the shop is not large, but the selection is quality. First off, there are always so many treasured books that are discounted, like four bucks for a vintage hardcover of a literary classic or two bucks for paperback best seller! You cannot walk into this library branch and miss out on the book deals here. Selection always changes, too, so it's worth coming back on a frequent basis. In addition to a wonderful selection of discounted books, there are also library-themed items, including Seattle Public Library goods, like totes, prints, Christmas ornaments, etc. The gifts you can find for book lovers here are plenty! From stickers, to journals, to even a set where someone can build their own library, with old school library slips to place in books for checking out and so on. It's pretty darn cool. Friends of Seattle Public Library volunteers that work here check in with customers, offering assistance and so forth. If you visit on the first Thursday of the month, items are discounted. Gotta love it.

I love shopping at the FriendShop, it is full of the cutest, most unique items. Since they are…read moreobviously closed I was thrilled to find lots of online options. Last week I purchase one of the boxed sets they offer, the Cat box set. I asked if it was possible to change out one item and Lisa, the manager, could not have been more helpful. Eager for the next birthday a friend has so I can gift some of the spectacular items in this set. Thank you FriendShop!

It may be hyperbole but Elliot Bay Book maybe the best bookstore in the United States. That's…read moresaying a lot but after spending a complete afternoon here, I am comfortable in my decree. EBB is have to visit if you are Seattle. Skip the bubblegum wall and the original Starbucks. If you truly want to see Seattle, visit Elliott Bay Book and you will thank me later. I wish I had more time to visit every section and shelf. I wandered aimelessly at first then found myself in Queer True Crime. I ended up having a fantastic conversation with a lovely human at the information desk. I don't remember their name but they even spoke with my daughter on my iPhone as I was looking for a particular book for my wife. I was also on the hunt for Etna, a novel but it was sold out. I ended up purchasing per a staff recommendation, 'Attempt at Exhausting a Place in Paris' by Georges Perec Reading the first couple of pages instantly transported back to Paris, a place I know extemely well, and I saw every bus, man, woman, child, server worker, and heard every klaxon and shouted obscenity. Do yourself a favor and search out Elliot Bay Book when you visit Seattle, you'll be supporting a local business and feeding your mind and soul.

Elliott Bay Book Company in Capitol Hill is a great spot to check out if you love a solid,…read moreold-school bookshop atmosphere with a trendy modern feel. The place is massive, with high wooden shelves, endless aisles, and a selection that spans just about every genre you can think of. If you remember the golden age of independent brick-and-mortar bookstores, walking in here hits a really nice nostalgic chord while still feeling vibrant and full of energy. The handwritten staff recommendation notes posted along the shelves are a fun touch, and having a cozy cafe tucked inside makes it easy to grab a drink and get lost in browsing for an hour or two. It is definitely a cool, memorable stop in the neighborhood whether you are hunting for a specific read or just soaking in the literary vibes.

This is the coolest little store. I wanted to buy everything as soon as I stepped in the door. They…read morehave great paper goods (obviously) like cards, post cards, journals etc. but they also have a large variety of stickers, buttons, pens, graphic tees, patches, and other small gifts.

Perfect place to get some unique local gifts! I grabbed some fun postcards to share. It's a nice…read morelocation right off the street and easy access up to Pike Place

Staff: The man who owns the store was so incredibly nice…read more We chatted for a while and he shared some details about the store. 5 star customer service for sure. Quality/Quantity: They have ton of really great authentic Japanese items. Value: They have really good prices. I was able to pick up a really cool drawing of Otani that his wife drew in a frame for only $20 ($12 without the frame). When you buy anything baseball they throw in a cool card celebrating when Babe Ruth visited Japan. Outside be sure to check out the many Japanese books that they sell for only $1.00. Overall: This store is awesome and I definitely plan to come again the next time I visit.

Cute small shop with high quality merchandise. I especially loved the whimsical Pike Place Market…read morecat themed post cards. Imagine cats throwing fish! Also, they have a decent selection of Japanese tableware- a bit pricey but nice quality.

I absolutely adore bookstores and going to one of the most beautiful bookstores in Seattle was such…read morea treat. It may not be the largest bookstore I've visited, but the architecture makes up for it. Also I love the name Arundel, it's so stunning. Walking in here is a book lovers paradise with so many books available for purchase in a vast variety of genres. Bookstores are perfect to explore different genres, especially when you're in a reading slump. I took photos of so many books to add to my to read list. They also have some cute knickknacks like prints from local artists as well as postcards. Even if you don't pick anything up from here, it's definitely worth a visit.

I recalled Arundel Books previously located closer to the Seattle Art Museum before Harbor Steps…read moreexisted and also in the Grand Central Building. They have been at this current corner spot at 1st and S Jackson since February 2021. This bibliophile clearly has been very late to the party! I stopped in during Independent Booksellers Day (4/25/26) and it was packed full of people. Warmly acknowledged upon entering and later when departing. I briefly browsed the shelves. There's a decent selection, as well as, other merch available for purchase. What really caught my attention were the high curved ceilings. It gave a bright, airy feeling despite feeling a bit cramped with the current capacity onsite. My previous indie booksellers in Pioneer Square were Elliott Bay Book Store (moved to Capitol Hill) and the treasure trove owned by the late David Ishii. It was good to be reacquainted again with Arundel Books, a mainstay in Seattle since 1995.

We wandered into Swoon Books as part of the Ballard Book Crawl (incredible event, 10/10, highly…read morerecommend) and oh, what a lovely find. The store is so aesthetic and thoughtfully curated, it's like the kind of bookshop that makes you want to read every book on the shelves. The LGBTQ+ selection was excellent and very visible, not tucked in a corner, which immediately made the space feel welcoming and intentional. The vibe overall is just really pleasant and warm, you can tell it's a place that actually loves books and the people who love books. Left very happy with my finds and already thinking about going back.

This place is so cute! I love that they have a nice mix of books and merch. The staff was helpful…read moreand they offered to provide recommendations or order when I inquired about a book they didn't end up having in store. The value is pretty typical for books (no notable mark ups) but I love the vibes of shopping here. They also appear to be dog friendly which is a huge plus to me. Highly recommend! I joined their rewards program so I'll def be back!

Super cute store full of small local artists! They let them keep 100% of profits which is unheard…read moreof. There truly is something for everyone. I came here for the mini print machine, don't love that they don't accept quarters and you have to purchase tokens from the register with card only but they do let you swap out prints for other ones if you get dupes or simply want to trade which is nice.

This place is amazing. There are unique local artists selling their products at each shelf. There…read moreare about 25 different artist there. This is a great way to showcase individual work in a curated place like this. Everything is reasonably priced for the product and staff was friendly. I already want to go back!!

I had bookmarked this indie bookseller, Long Brothers Fine and Rare Books, and finally had the…read moreopportunity to check it out while wandering Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood. My favorite bookstores of years past were Elliott Bay Book Store (moved to Capitol Hill) and treasure trove run by the late David Ishii. It was great to browse onsite on Independent Booksellers Day (4/25/26). Loved the overall well organized flow of this retail shop. There's also a bar located towards the back, open only Wednesday through Saturday 3-8pm. I imagine this is well received especially during First Thursday art/gallery walk. I did not interact with any of the staff, but was happy to freely browse their well curated selection.

Love a good indie bookstore. This gem stands out from the other's in Pioneer Square by specializing…read morein old books. Though they didn't have the old story book I was looking for, David the Gnome, this is more of a shop to pop in to and meander.... Their offerings change frequently. Definitely a spot for true book collectors. The owners are cool, I might need to pop in more often.