Capitol Hill: Three Shops, One Easy Walk
Elliott Bay Book Company
Step into 1521 10th Avenue and look up at the timber trusses and tall ceilings of a 20,000-square-foot former Ford truck service building from around 1918. The original cedar shelves came along when the store moved here from Pioneer Square in 2010, decades after Walter and Maggie Carr opened it in 1973. Browse roughly 150,000 titles, read the handwritten staff picks tucked along the shelves and check the calendar, since the store hosts more than 500 author readings and signings a year.
Settle into what the store calls Seattle's first bookstore café, or join one of the book groups that meet to talk about global issues, young adult fiction and science fiction. Come with a specific title in mind or simply a free afternoon to wander.
Twice Sold Tales
Head to Harvard Avenue for Twice Sold Tales, a used bookstore known for its sprawling collection, rare titles and a fair number of collectibles. Shelves stacked high across many genres form a maze that rewards slow browsing. Resident cats roam the aisles, one even stars on the storefront sign, and animal lovers tend to linger.
Ada's Technical Books and Café
Ada's takes its name from Ada Lovelace, often called the first computer programmer, and happily embraces its geeky side. Browse shelves devoted to computer science, engineering, architecture, math and science, with a dose of science fiction and fantasy mixed in. Grab something from the café in the bright space, and keep an eye on events, which have stretched as far as cocktail mixology workshops. Engineers, students and curious browsers all feel at home here.
Downtown and Pioneer Square: Rare Finds and Radical Reads
Arundel Books
Stroll a short way from Elliott Bay's original Pioneer Square home to reach Arundel, where graceful archways and vaulted ceilings give the room an elegant feel. The shop began with art and poetry, then grew into rare and out-of-print books, photography and Pacific Northwest literature. Look for children's books and prints by local artists too.
Left Bank Books Collective
Inside Pike Place Market, one of several booksellers there, Left Bank is owned and run by its workers, with no bosses or managers. Its stock leans toward radical and independent publishing, pairing anti-authoritarian and anarchist titles with trans, queer, feminist and multiethnic subjects. Make it a stop while you explore the market if you are a politically curious reader.
North End Used Bookstores
Ophelia's Books
Ophelia's started in Fremont as a way for neighbors to resell books they no longer wanted, and it still buys used books from the public. Today you will find new and used titles, and staff can order anything not on the shelves. Climb the spiral staircase to the mystery, fantasy and history sections, then sink into a sofa while the resident cats keep you company. Planning to sell? Check the shop's own site first for current buying times.
Magus Books
Just off University Way NE, the street students call the Ave, Magus is a small, much-loved used bookstore in the U-District. Its slightly dusty stacks feel like a favorite old library, and readers chasing a rare or out-of-print title often come here first. A smaller annex in Wallingford has started carrying new books as well.
Specialty Shops Around Town
Book Larder
Stay in Fremont for Book Larder, a shop devoted to cookbooks, from new releases to vintage finds. Sign up for one of its frequent cooking classes if you want to learn as well as shop. Pair it with Ophelia's for an easy Fremont book outing.
Estelita's Library
In the Central District, Estelita's Library grew out of a collection its owners built for their daughter. This socially conscious bookstore centers on diversity, community and social justice. Seek it out for books on those themes or for a neighborhood space with a clear mission.
Paper Boat Booksellers
Find this family-owned shop on California Avenue SW in West Seattle, a cozy place to grab a novel before heading to nearby Alki Beach. Browse the colorful cards and prints from local artists while you are there, handy for small gifts.
Plan Your Bookstore Day
Start on Capitol Hill, where Elliott Bay, Twice Sold Tales and Ada's sit close together. From there, link Pioneer Square and Pike Place Market into a downtown loop that also takes in several well-known Seattle landmarks. Make Fremont your second cluster, and save the U-District or West Seattle for a half-day trip.
- Mix in a break: Elliott Bay and Ada's both have cafés, so you can open your new purchase on the spot.
- Check event calendars: author readings, book groups and classes fill up, so look at each store's website before you go.
- Bring a bag: the used stacks at Twice Sold Tales, Ophelia's and Magus make it easy to leave with more than you planned.
- Head outside: pair Paper Boat with time at Alki, one of many Seattle parks and beaches made for reading.
To see where each shop sits, browse our guide to Seattle neighborhoods, or fill out your trip with more things to do in Seattle.
Hours, events and services change, so check each bookstore's own website for current details before you visit.
