The best bookshops San Francisco

This bookshop is reminiscent of a literary salon. In the entrance hall, there's a sofa inviting you to read, smoking tea and a few cookies or dried fruit. We sit and chat about the next poetry reading or acoustic guitar concert. The shelves are filled with second-hand books on eclectic themes. At the far end of the store, a small opening leads to the Backroom Gallery, a tiny room where local artists are exhibited.

It looks like a rangé attic that hide many treasures. Novels, photo books, children's spaces, travel books. A great selection of books on music and dance, especially opera and classical music.

At once stationery, bookstore, exhibition space and clothing shop, Needles and Pens you immerse you in the world of trend rock and punk graphics. A versatile space maintained by a horde of volunteers.

This small independent publishing house specialises in graphics and stationery. The Valencia Street store sells maps, calendars and notes of graphic artists who win to be known. Here you'll find thousands of cute little things.

Here's the address you need, the Japanese BD Temple, Kinokuniya has hundreds of copies in Japanese but also in English. You will also find your favorite Japanese magazines. The floor is reserved for more classical literature on everything that affects Japan: art, history, travel, etc. From the first floor, cross the hall to the stationery section opposite the left. Cards and fabulous silk papers for sale among pens and miniature gadgets.

Here we sell new, old, magazines, Cds and, obviously, books. Many books. Take the time to search among the shelves and do not hesitate to ask for help from booksellers. They will surely be better off than you in all this mess.

Opened in 1976, this pretty bookstore sells second hand books and new books. Cosy atmosphere in this small store that gives you a chance to sit down for a few moments.

Bookshop that promotes anarchist ideas, you will find all the literature on the subject: theory, history, art, magazines as well as CD, DVD, etc. Do not hesitate to ask questions to volunteer staff who will be happy to enlighten you on any point of theory. Also do not miss the anarchist fresco outside the store where the great names of the anar movement in the United States are represented.

Until 2021, the charming Alley Cats Books was located here. In the wake of the pandemic, it has been replaced by another bookstore, Medicine for Nightmare, which aims to offer radical political writing, local poetry, books telling the story of the modern world, and bilingual English-Spanish literature. Above all, the bookstore hopes to ward off all sorts of "societal" nightmares: "colonial nightmares, patriarchal nightmares, worldly nightmares. A particularly ambitious program!

Opened on the pier and in the magnificent vintage building, this large and bright bookstore offers activities around readings, signatures, and even culinary practices. There is a beautiful section dedicated to San Francisco, the Bay Area and Northern California, a cooking section, an important nature section, another on organic farming, cool books for kids, etc. Book signings by authors such as Chelsea Clinton, George Saunders or Dave Eggers are regularly organized there.