The staff keep the shelves stocked with a terrific selection of contemporary and classics, cookbooks, poetry, and non-fiction, and for a store this small you'll be surprised at the selection. Read more.
Wall-to-wall books are as much about good reading as warm atmosphere, and Adobe is perfect for its spirited comedy nights, poetry readings, and even live music shindigs. Read more.
The "Beckett" is Samuel and the "Bird" is Charlie "The Bird" Parker, and that should tip you off that, in addition to being a classy bookseller, this Glen Park gem is also a jazz haunt. Read more.
While of course they're known for their wide selection of books, their program of author events is really remarkable, with stops from niche-y, cult writers and mass-market stars alike. Read more.
Books Inc describes itself as "the world's oldest independent bookstore," with an origin story that begins during the Gold Rush era. Each store has their own sets of book clubs and events. Read more.
A helpful, friendly staff will help you find the latest twee periodical or the hottest beach read, and don't miss bizarre literary happenings like Shipwreck, a fan-fiction take down. Read more.
While anyone can shop there or take in their author events, sponsors get all sorts of benefits, including free movie passes, table reservations at their neighboring cafe, and even package acceptance. Read more.
Founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin, the independent bookstore and publisher specializes in world literature, the arts, and progressive politics. Read more.
Dog-Eared Books is an oddity: It's a bookstore... that's growing. In addition to its Valencia Street shop for new, used, and discount books (plus odds and ends like maps), there's a new Castro store. Read more.
Green Apple has thrived and grown to ten times its original size, making it the biggest single-location independent bookseller in SF, with new and used books for sale. (They also ship for 99 cents). Read more.
These purveyors of smutty, sleazy, and scintillating paperbacks are John Waters' favorite bookstore, as he once told Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air. "It's the most amazing bookshop," he said. Read more.
With a huge selection of new and used cookbooks — including a fantastic collection of California vintage cookbooks priced according to their rarity — Omnivore is a home cook's dream. Read more.
