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City Lights Bookstore

Bookstore

Chinatown, San Francisco

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9.1^/10

922

ratings

Ranked #5 for bookstores in San Francisco
The experts at Michelin Travel & Lifestyle and SF Weekly recommend this place
"Love the poetry section upstairs."(4 Tips)
"... (app) called The Beat Generation and visit City Lights to learn some history..."(4 Tips)
"Poetry room upstairs is unique"(4 Tips)
"OMG. Absolutely worth it for beat generation fans."(3 Tips)

122 Tips and reviews

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St. Martin's PressAugust 28, 2014
Meet Nayomi Munaweera on Monday, September 22, 2014 at 7:00 PM as she reads from her debut novel Island of a Thousand Mirrors. Also in conversation with Paul Yamazaki. Read more
Jess LMarch 15, 2016
Gorgeous, great for browsing. Not really much in the way of kids books.
Smith BlarneyOctober 3, 2010
Just swim in the incredible selection, fantastic feel & history, be sure to have a drink at Vesuvio's next door & read yr new book
TiffanyJune 29, 2012
Been here 25+ times
Amazing literature in translation section. One of the best I have seen in the US.
Matthew GidleyOctober 25, 2010
City Lights isn't so much 'stocked' as 'curated'. For its size this has to be the best independent bookshop in the world. When you're finished buying go next door to Vesuvio and get drunk.
💕Linds💕June 29, 2016
Lawrence Ferlinghetti is the man! Thanks for everything Mr. Ferlinghetti!
Scott KuriharaOctober 13, 2010
Look across the street behind the big tree to see a banksy piece. "at first you don't succeed -call in a airstrike"
Contemporary Jewish MuseumJuly 6, 2013
City Lights Bookstore is the epicenter of Beat History, founded by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin in 1953.
California GirlAugust 6, 2012
Excellent bookstore and with a rich Beatnik history. Photos of Kerouac et.al. abound.
Olivia MezaJuly 8, 2017
Loved the second floor ❤️
Alex KimMarch 18, 2013
There's a picture with a funny caption about breakfast on the stairs that lead up to the poetry section..
Jay MinerMay 3, 2011
Been here 5+ times
Go to the third floor and find a copy of Ginsberg's "Howl" - the book that embroiled City Lights in an obscenity trial. Sit in the Poet's Chair and read it from start to finish.
MazdaDecember 3, 2010
Both the store and the publishers became widely known following the obscenity trial of Ferlinghetti for publishing Allen Ginsberg's influential poem Howl and Other Poems (City Lights, 1956).
Anita YuemingJanuary 2, 2016
You can find books that you can't find else where!
Bastian Greshake TzovarasSeptember 2, 2017
An institution that's worth every visit.
Jan Shaw-FlammMarch 12, 2015
One of a kind. Go for the books and the history.
Farrar, Straus & GirouxSeptember 16, 2013
Meet literary critic John Freeman on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 7:00 PM as he reads from his new book, How to Read a Novelist. Also with Robin Sloan. Read more
Martín HunterApril 13, 2016
Are you a "beatnik"? This place is a MUST.
Diego RufoMarch 25, 2011
If you love books, this is one of the best bookstores in the world to visit. Read more
Chris SmithNovember 12, 2016
Been here 5+ times
Support local bookstores & local printers & authors.
Aaron DraczynskiOctober 9, 2012
Such an incredible bookstore, you'll never want to leave.
Mason BatleySeptember 25, 2014
Excellent wide selection of books.
Jussi HäyhäJanuary 7, 2016
Great place to spend tome and cash.
Roger Man HausAugust 30, 2013
Reading books may change your life!
Mariah MOctober 16, 2014
their book selection is great.
Enda NasutionSeptember 22, 2015
Come and smell the beats generation breathing behind your neck
Helio MedeirosJune 24, 2017
The infant books are downstairs
Farrar, Straus & GirouxFebruary 12, 2014
Meet David Grand on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 7:00 PM as he reads from his new novel Mount Terminus. Also with Wesley Stace. Read more
JonesJune 8, 2016
Poetry room upstairs is unique
Finella Jianna VillaluzApril 4, 2017
Brings me to the past. Great selection of books. 😊
Laura BarnesMarch 30, 2016
Book heaven
SaliemJanuary 18, 2016
Small kids section in the basement
Jessica AndersonJuly 24, 2011
Check out the poetry/beat poetry room on the top floor. Grab a copy of HOWL while you're there.
Heidi De BruyckerApril 4, 2019
Oh I wished there were more stores like that
Carl MackiOctober 3, 2016
Willis, Tony, and Aliki Barnstone Reading this Thursday evening!
Kirstie O'DonnellJanuary 15, 2015
Cool wee bookstore. Almost get lost in.
Laura LubarovMay 24, 2012
I can't leave this place! Every time I try to leave another great book I've been meaning to read catches my eye! Damn you City Lights.
Arix BiMay 24, 2016
Nice to visit
Carmen MyersNovember 21, 2012
Cut across jack Kerouac alley and you travel from Italy to china
Eli HickoxJanuary 22, 2019
Poetry room is upstairs!
Alix BloodworthJuly 8, 2012
Go in, grab a seat upstairs, and read Howl.
Logan KerrMarch 14, 2016
Really cute space.
Ana MontesMay 16, 2014
Love♡♡.. phenomenal bookstore
Claire JudsonDecember 21, 2014
Very cool place, love the recommendations posted
Margherita B.March 3, 2017
The Beat Generation place
SalvadorSeptember 5, 2015
Great selection!
Official smart USAApril 11, 2013
It’s more than just a bookstore, it’s a forum for free thinking.
Dominic NanniMarch 18, 2012
Buy a book by Allen Ginsberg and other Beat writers!
Tom BevilacquaDecember 20, 2009
Been here 5+ times
Go to City Lights Books, go upstairs to the Beat Generation section and buy a copy of On The Road, Howl and Naked Lunch.
Foodie PilgrimJune 15, 2013
A great source for modern communist thought

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