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Verbatim Books

4.6 (343 reviews)
Closed 12:00 pm - 6:00 PM
Updated 2 months ago

Verbatim Books Books, Mags, Music & Video Photos

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Recommended Reviews - Verbatim Books

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Henri V.

Verbatim Books in North Park when in the area is a must visit. After getting iced strawberry lemonade from Subterranean Coffee across the street, I stopped in for a looksee. This books store has new and used books for all ages and a menagerie of stuff, some nostalgic vintage, comical, nonsensical and just entertaining. I'm a collector of lots of things, mostly luxury items and or things that have value. I've been at this bookstore many times but this time I was curious to see what valuable $$$$ books was available. The staffer Jon was pointed to the locked golden book case. Next to The Sexual Key to Tarot was The Ritual Magical Manual $650., appeared to be $$$$...but FYI There's a collection of books: The Bible, Dante, Dickens, Emerson, Molière, Poe, Voltaire, to name a few...all reproductions in golden edge pages, classically bounded for gifting or to showcase in your new library. Verbatim is not a hugh book store by comparison to The Last Bookstore in Downtown Los Angeles. Despite its moderate size, it still takes multiple visits to see and appreciate everything vintage, quirky and most of all enlightening. Worth visiting. Recommend

Eliko S.

I stopped in today for the first time and I loved the quirky & cute decor, and the overall atmosphere of this very special bookstore. Great selection of vintage and new books, and I noticed some real treasures here & there. I didn't purchase anything today, but several of the employees smiled at me and made me feel welcome. Browsing the stacks on the right side of the store is a little tight when people pass by each other, but c'est la vie. They have a great selection of cute merch and other bibliophile-types of accoutrements. If you are a book lover, or even a book liker, you will love this place. Peace.

Jeannie L.

Stumbled upon this randomly while walking around North Park and so happy to have found it. It's the cutest spot! I love the decor and everywhere you look, there's something interesting. I ended up buying a romance book that was lightly used for only $12! It looks next to new. Prices here seem very fair & the employees were very nice.

Stop #2 on the San Diego Bookstore Crawl!
Pam S.

Probably my favorite stop on the San Diego Bookstore Crawl! The cozy decor inside and the warmth of the service. Plenty of space for you to 'cop a squat' if you find a book you want to dive into before committing to purchasing. The books are in a orderly fashion. Lots of cool bibliophile gift items too in case you are looking for stationery as well, they offer a few items to select from; ie; Journals etc. Respectfully Reviewed

Verbatim Books
Patrick M.

Made it over to the North Park Farmer's Market and noticed Verbatim Books for the first time and decided to go in. Wow. This is a very, very cool bookstore.

Exterior of shop, so fun!
Gail U.

By the time we found a parking space at North Park in front of this shop it had closed for the day. It has the coolest graphics on its exterior. Had to take a selfie here. Need to come back earlier during daylight hours to visit inside of the shop.

Nathalie Q.

Never thought I'd write a review about a book store but here I am. Verbatim Bookstore. It's the kind of place that reminds you why physical bookstores still matter It's one of those places that instantly slows you down--in the best way. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt intentional, almost cinematic. The collections are beautifully curated, and every aisle feels like its own story unfolding. You don't just browse here--you wander, you pause, you discover. There's a quiet depth to the space that makes you want to stay longer than planned. Each section flows naturally into the next, and you can tell real thought went into how the books are placed and how the store holds its energy. It's not overwhelming or chaotic--just rich, thoughtful, and inviting.

Audrey B.

Walking into Verbatim Bookstore feels like stepping straight into a Harry Potter scene. The smell of old books and the whole atmosphere instantly gave me the most nostalgic feeling, like being back in our grade school library all over again. We spent a good chunk of time just browsing and soaking it all in. I even stumbled upon a series of Sweet Valley High tucked away in one of the racks, which was such a fun surprise! Needless to say we walked out with a couple of books in hand. The price was super affordable and the quality was good even though they were second hand. Staff were welcoming and friendly! If you're a book lover or just looking for a cozy and unique spot to explore, this place is a must visit. Absolute hidden gem in North Park!

Outside
Wendy H.

SUCH a great selection of books. They had so many great books and everything was so organized for easier browsing. The inside of the store was so aesthetically pleasing, including the big "Verbatim Books" made out of books when you enter the store. You do have to place your drinks on a table before entering the store, since they're not allowed into the store. They also had so many cute stickers and postcards, as well as pins. Employees were very nice and helpful to find books recs and inventory. Prices vary, but I bought a book for $8 and another for $12, which I think were pretty good for "like new" conditions

Plant Nook
Renee N.

I love discovering classic bookstores when I travel. I believe it's very important to keep these small businesses open. I openly admit that I will always prefer holding and reading a book versus a Kindle or any other kind of electronic reading device. Entering San Diego's largest independent bookstore felt like I was going to be hanging out with a good friend. From the old building smells to the classic books on the shelves, it just felt comfortable. The bookstore is divided into two large rooms. Loved the plant nook with a comfortable chair just inviting you to have a seat and relax. So many treasures on the shelves waiting to be read. A fun kids area awaits young readers searching for their next good book. The selection is huge and offers books on most subjects. They also have a sell and trade your books offered twice each week. Staff is friendly and helpful. Most of the books are gently loved but you will find a couple more popular titles as well. Pricing varies and some books were really pricey. There is other merchandise to purchase as well like journals, stickers, totes, t-shirts, and gift cards. Location is in North Park and parking will be on the street or in a lot. I really enjoyed my time here and would recommend. I plan to return next time I visit.

Leilani M.

A must stop when in the area. Luvd our visit here last month on a light rainy day with coffee in hand but remember to leave it at the table by the door while you browse around. Luv the reading spaces and backdrops around the shop. Inviting & immersive to dive into a good read. Cute space for children to listen to an adventure and follow along. Well organized genres, coordinated and easy to find what you're looking for. Service was welcoming and friendly.

Michelle M.

I love this place and this is my second or third time visiting. The perfect place for spending hours browsing looking for a used book. The bookish decor is beautiful and the staff are available to help you look for a particular book.

Back wall inside the bookstore
Noelle B.

I happened to walk by this bookstore when I took my daughter thrifting in the area. She went thrifting; I went book shopping. This place is amazing. I absolutely love their exterior paintings and the back wall where books spell the word Verbatim. Ended up buying some books. I could spend hours in there just browsing the shelves.

Cool mural on the side of the building

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Great selection of books. Staff helpful to find the location of the subject of interest.

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Verbatim Books Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Verbatim Books

Do you buy used books?

Yep! At a pretty affordable price too :)

Do they sell manga?

Yes they do:)

Any children's books?

Yes, there's a kid's section with books, stuffed animals, and games.

If I'm buying a book, is it okay to sit down and hang out for a while?

Yes. Plenty of people kind of lingering and just enjoying the vibes.

View All 8 Questions

Review Highlights - Verbatim Books

The interior is well-designed, very cozy and inviting, and super organized.

Mentioned in 6 reviews

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Bluestocking Books - More books

Bluestocking Books

4.6(150 reviews)
1.8 miHillcrest
$

What a nice independent bookstore! I can't tell you the last time I held a book in my hands (I…read moreknow! I kind of suck!), but I do love books and try to shop at them whenever I can. I love to give books or gift cards to bookstores to children. Bluestocking Books is the kind of bookstore I would specifically go out of my way to buy gifts for people, or to (gasp) buy a book for myself. There are little cozy nooks around the bookstore, as there should be in a bookstore. There's also a section for kids, with a little table and some reading material to peruse. Inexplicably, Bluestocking Books is closed on Wednesdays! What an interesting day to be closed, but I guess you have to be closed at least one day, right? Why not Wednesday? The people who work here are very friendly and helpful, and there's just a palpable welcoming vibe emanating from the store. It's a nice place to browse and find the perfect book.

Bluestocking Books is an awesome indie bookstore located in the Hillcrest area. There is no parking…read morelot here, but a ton of street parking all around. Inside, they have a cozy and welcoming setup with both new and used books organized neatly by genres. The books are priced very fairly here and they have a good amount of books to dig through. All of the staff are friendly and welcoming. Definitely stop by and you will most likely not leave empty-handed!

Photos
Bluestocking Books - Cozy and wint'ry bookshop

Cozy and wint'ry bookshop

Bluestocking Books - The stairway to Heaven. Oh and great books on tippy top shelves

The stairway to Heaven. Oh and great books on tippy top shelves

Bluestocking Books

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Bookstar / Barnes & Noble

Bookstar / Barnes & Noble

3.7(109 reviews)
4.7 miLoma Portal
$$

Cool little Barnes and Noble in an old theater space! I love that they kept the theater marquee out…read morefront. It looks super cool! The bf also got a kick out of it since he worked as a theater manager for years and loves checking out different theaters. The inside of the store was pretty similar to other Barnes and Nobles, maybe a bit smaller. Good amount of book merch and themed table sections, but I think the lighting could have been a bit brighter. They were running some great deals before new years so I picked up a few new books. I have noticed that sometimes Barnes and Noble doesn't pick up the discounts listed on the stickers on the front covers of books, so I pay extra attention when those are rung up. The guy at the register was super nice and corrected it, no problem!

Loved how this old movie theater was repurposed into a bookstore/Barnes and Noble. The interior has…read morethe old remnants of the theater, pretty evident through the decor running along the ceiling. Super cool! And of course, the Bookstar sign out front giving it old theater vibes. Selection was similar to what other B&N have. Their record section was cute, displayed in the front window. The store was well organized, easy to navigate, and had all the featured table displays. I was searching for The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig when I went, but they were out of stock. The employee who helped me offered to call another store in the area, which was really nice of her! I ended up getting it at the Mission Valley location. Overall worth a visit, if only to take pictures of the cool sign. Otherwise, it's like any other Barnes & Noble.

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Bookstar / Barnes & Noble - Cool old movie sign

Cool old movie sign

Bookstar / Barnes & Noble
Bookstar / Barnes & Noble

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Verbatim Books - bookstores - Updated May 2026

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