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Nothing can outperform the experience of visiting a brick-and-mortar bookshop, not even the best online bookstores.
The feeling of going through different sections, sifting through a large number of books, reading the titles, caress the covers is incredible.
You go to a bookstore and you’re sure that you will go back home with books likely. To a bookworm, carrying back home a bag full of books that are checked out at the counter by a human in a bookstore fulfills a purpose.
And how can you not feel satiated breathing in the smell of crisp new paper, over which only bookshops have a monopoly?
Los Angeles has bookstores for every bibliophile, for every bookworm.
Different neighborhoods of Los Angeles offer different bookstores for the readers living in Los Angeles.
Readers can skip work, or college on a beautiful weather day and spend the entire day in any Los Angeles bookstore. I bet they will have a great time.
I have compiled a list of 19 Los Angeles bookstores so that you don’t have a hard time looking for them from various other sources.
All of these Los Angeles bookstores are worth visiting. You can visit them in the same order as they are mentioned in the below list. |
The Last Bookstore
I am putting in the first spot the largest new and used bookstore in Los Angeles - the Last Bookstore.
Before I tell you about the Last Bookstore, I warn you not to go inside this grand bookstore if you don’t have at least 2 hours in hand.
The Los Angeles’s Last Bookstore spawns across an area of 22,000 square feet in a building that is a century old.
The Last Bookstore has a lot to offer to bibliophiles and bookworms.
The store boasts a massive collection of more than 250,000 new and used books. You name a genre and you will find it here. If you are looking to sell or trade your books then this is the right place for you in LA.
You will spend a considerable amount of time looking through the bookshelves of art and rare books, a huge collection of graphic novels, books of horror, and many more in this bookstore.
The bookstore is rich in collectibles too if you are fond of spending money on them.
Travel guides that are getting extinct due to the evolution of online maps find a place in the second-floor discount bins.
All the old chaps who believe in using conservative paperback travel guides can buy them at a discount.
Second-floor discount bins are also a place for sci-fi buffs to look into.
I can’t go without mentioning the ‘Labyrinth’ mezzanine floor from which you can get books for only $1.
The Los Angeles Last Bookstore has an intact collection of thousands of vinyl records for you to buy.
Book readings, author book signings, concerts, and various other book community events find their host in the Last Bookstore that also happens to be one of the largest independent bookstores in the world standing still and standing tall.
Phone: +1 213-488-0599
Address: 453 South Spring Street Ground Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90013, United States
Website: The Last Bookstore
Small World Books
Bliss is reading a book on a beach on your day off.
But you know what is more fascinating? Visiting a bookstore that is on the beach.
If you’re intrigued by the combination of beach and bookstore then Small World Books in Los Angeles is where you should visit.
Located in the famous Venice Boardwalk, Small World Books is a famous Los Angeles bookstore that has a massive collection of books from major and small publications.
Emerging authors offer fresh creativity and thus, local authors should be encouraged regularly. Small World Books have a section of titles from local authors on the front so you may want to check them out.
The staff is well-read to offer nice recommendations and supports your preference of browsing books in calm.
Overall, this bookstore offers a calm destination for book readers who want to break from the Venice boardwalk’s bustle.
Phone: +1 310-399-2360
Address: 1407 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291, USA
Website: Small World Books
Hennesy + Ingalls
Are you searching for books on art, architecture, design? If yes, then your destination should be Hennesy + Ingalls.
Hennesy + Ingalls is the largest bookstore in the western United States that offers on sale books on art, and architecture.
Hennesy + Ingalls is a bookstore in downtown Los Angeles located in the famous Arts District.
The bookstore provides books on visual arts to its clients. The clients include museums, art galleries, interior design firms, and schools.
However, the bookstore is heaven for those readers who read about photography, interior design, graphic design, architecture, and any form of art. You should visit this bookstore for rare and out-of-print titles as well.
Phone: +1 213-437-2130
Address: 300 S Santa Fe Ave M, Los Angeles, CA 90013, United States
Website: Hennessey Ingalls
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Vroman’s Bookstore
Vroman’s Bookstore is the largest independent bookstore in Southern California with its roots going back to 1894 which makes it the oldest bookstore in Southern California too.
The collection of titles in Vroman’s Bookstore is massive and spreads across the genres like history, self-help, true crime, cooking, historical fiction, literary fiction, romance, science fiction, and many more.
Vroman’s also boasts a large collection of books for children under different categories such as picture books, middle-grade fiction, young adult books, and early chapter books.
However, Vroman’s is much more than a Los Angeles independent bookstore. You should watch out for author signing events as this bookstore has already hosted authors like President Bill Clinton, President Jimmy Carter, Barbara Walters, Salman Rushdie, Ray Bradbury, Neil Gaiman, Anne Rice, etc.
The store also hosts launch parties, craft classes, trivia nights, and a myriad of community events throughout the year.
Phone: +1 626-449-5320
Address: 695 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States
Website: Vroman’s bookstore
Book Soup
You enter Book Soup and you will be greeted by two golden dogs which look after over 60000 books placed in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
Located on the incredible Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, this bookstore in Los Angeles, CA has been serving and serving well bookworms, artists, writers, and even celebrities.
Visit Book Soup to browse and buy titles on art, film making, photography, music, controversial non-fiction, and the most loving literary fiction.
The staff of the bookstore is friendly and provides healthy book recommendations if you are looking for one.
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You will also find here several limited editions and exclusively autographed books for your book collection.
When you visit Book Soup, don’t forget to check out its impressive outdoor newsstand where along with Magazines you will find both domestic and international newspapers.
Phone: +1 310-659-3110
Address: 8818 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, United States
Website:Book Soup
Iliad Bookshop
Over 150,000 titles are held inside this brick-and-mortar bookshop for you that has also appeared in various movies and TV shows as well as in AT&T commercials.
Stationed in the happening North Hollywood, California, Iliad Bookshop has gained the status of one of the largest Los Angeles used bookstores.
Literature and arts are the genres to which most of their book titles belong to but don’t worry as they have books on other genres as well.
You can show up with your used books collection and Lliad bookshop will be happy to buy and trade your books.
Phone: +1 818-509-2665
Address: 5400 Cahuenga Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601, United States
Website: Lliad Bookshop
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Sejong Bookstore
Sejong is the Los Angeles’ Korean bookstore.
Located on the 2nd floor in the Galleria mall, Sejong is a place of delight for book readers who read Korean books.
Sejong has a good collection of Korean novels, magazines, and most importantly, Korean children’s books.
A cool selection of Korean learner workbooks is fun to browse and buy if you are learning Korean or want to teach the language to your kids.
You might find books in Sejong bookstore a bit on the expensive side but don’t let that stop you from buying them as the owner imports these books directly from Korea.
The worker staff in the bookstore is the nicest and you will love interacting with the owner about books.
If you have a Korean book in mind, not available in the store, then you can place an order with the staff. They will import the book for you from Korea within 3-4 days.
Phone: +1 323-735-7374
Address: 3250 W Olympic Blvd #326, Los Angeles, CA 90006, United States
Mystery Pier Books
If you are a Hollywood buff and visiting Los Angeles to breathe in the same air as the Hollywood stars then you don’t want to miss visiting this amazing bookstore.
I will come to the bookstore later but first I would address the enthusiasm of the two owners Harvey and Louis, father-son duo.
Harvey and Louis find pleasure in greeting you, show you their amazing book collection as well as their bookstore. When they interact, you will feel as if you are the only person important to them.
Mystery Pier Books is one of the few first edition bookshops in the United States.
The bookstore specializes in modern and rare first editions. If you got money in your wallet and believe in maintaining a collection of first editions, this bookstore is for you.
Apart from the first editions, Mystery Pier Books also offer the best books from the genres of true crime, mystery and detective fiction, antiquarians, uniquities.
One attraction of Mystery Pier Books is that it offers for sale the scripts signed by many Hollywood personalities. I have never heard of any other bookstore offering scripts of classic movies.
You would be pleased to know that the books from this bookstore have been adorning the bookshelves of celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Micheal Caine, Anthony Hopkins, Cameron Diaz, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Martin Scorcese, and several others.
Phone: +1 310-657-5557
Address: 8826 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, United States
Website: Mystery Pier Books
bx-zone.com
BX-ZONE is an online used bookstore using which you can sell your used books in Los Angeles.
bx-zone helps you sell second-hand books to people living around you in Los Angeles at prices decided by you.
All you need to do is list your second-hand books in its used bookstore and they get exposed to thousands of visitors who look forward to buying books at a second-hand price.
Once you start receiving interest emails on your listed used books, you talk to the potential buyers, fix the deal with them, meet up at an agreed place and sell your books.
bx-zone is a commission-free used bookstore so the money you receive on selling used books is entirely yours.
Website: bx-zone.com
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World Of Life Christian Bookstore
World Of Life is a Los Angeles Christian bookstore that presents for sale all the necessary items necessary for your child’s baptism or any religious function or communion.
World Of Life serves more than 400 churches in Los Angeles as well as in the United States. They have a good stock of Bible, Christian books, gifts, greeting cards, music, church supplies, robes, and other items available at reasonable prices.
The customer service is great and if you buy Bible from this bookstore then you will love the engravings they do on it.
Phone: +1 323-295-8223
Address: 6321 West Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90043, United States
Website: World of Life
Skylight books
Skylight Books is one of the good Los Angeles independent bookstores that is located in the Los Feliz neighborhood.
Go to this bookstore to browse and buy books on literary fiction, history, and culture of Los Angles as well as California.
The collection of books inside this store is curated (pleasure for bookworms), however, they can order pretty much any book you have in your mind.
Skylight Books is composed of two shops next to each other. The shop next to their main one has a good stock of books on arts, architecture, photography, filming, acting music, theatre and a lot of graphic novels.
Magazines, zines, and books from local presses are another feature of Skylight Books.
You can check their website for various community events that this bookstore hosts such as book readings, author signings, and debuts.
Tip - For those of you searching for a french bookstore in Los Angeles, Skylight books has a good, well-stocked collection of classic French novels.
Phone: +1 323-660-1175
Address: 1818 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027, United States
Website: Skylight books
Children’s Book World
Children find the right books for their age in Children’s Book World, which is one of the Los Angeles independent bookstores specializing in books for children, parents, and teachers.
Housing more than 80,000 titles within its walls, the books inside are well organized and categorized by ages that help parents find suitable books for their children.
Books of famous children authors such as Mo Willems, Judy Blume are readily available at reasonable prices in Children’s Book World that also hosts various book events such as book launches, story hours, author signings.
Visiting and sinking in the ocean of books in this bookstore along with your kid is a total delight.
Phone: +1 310-559-2665
Address: 10580 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064, United States
Website: Children’s Book World
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Eso Won
Eso Won is a Los Angeles black-owned bookstore; I should say rather Eso Won is one of the largest black-owned bookstores in the USA.
In case you are wondering what the name Eso Won is, it means water over rocks in an Ethiopian language.
This Los Angeles independent bookstore has got a great collection of books - for both adults and children - written by African American and African authors.
Come to the store to shop for Biographies, and history books. The children’s section is particularly good because it has books written by African-American/ African authors on African-American and African heroes.
Popular personalities such as President Barack Obama, Toni Morrison have graced this bookstore with their presence for book-signings.
Phone: +1 323-290-1048
Address: 4327 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008, United States
Website: Eso Won
Secret Headquarters
Ever watched the comic bookshop in Big Bang Theory which the nerd gang regularly visited?
I wondered if such a bookshop existed until I heard about Secret Headquarters located in Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles.
Visiting Secret Headquarters is nothing less than pure fun, which the owners with their enthusiastic demeanor enhance exponentially.
The bookstore has a great collection of comic books and graphic novels in a small space.
DC or Marvel, Batman or Spiderman, Secret Headquarters have all the classic comics you need.
If you have been a comic buff throughout your life then visiting this Los Angeles comic book store is a must.
Tip - Do check out the comic zines they keep in the front as you’ll find some of them amusing.
Phone: +1 323-666-2228
Address: 3817 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026, United States
Website: Secret Headquarters
Diesel, A Bookstore
Located in Brentwood, Los Angeles, `Diesel, A bookstore` has a wonderful collection of titles within its small space.
You will find board books for your child, and some rare, invaluable reads for yourself which you wouldn’t get online. Board books help induce the reading habit in your children so you may want to buy them.
If you don’t find a book you’re looking for in their bookshelves then will happily order it for you. The bookstore staff is the right amount of friendly and you will love to receive suggestions of alternatives from them.
Phone: +1 310-576-9960
Address: 225 26th St Suite 33, Santa Monica, CA 90402, United States
Website: Diesel, A Bookstore
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Arcana Books On The Arts
Arcana Books On The Arts is an art bookstore in Los Angeles that is popular for out-of-print books on art, be it pop art or fine art.
Arcana has one of the finest and largest collections of books on art, painting, architecture, sculpture, photography, fashion, design, cinema, and culinary art.
The books inside the bookstore are well categorized and organized which makes it easy to find the book you’re looking for but I suggest, you check out all the bookshelves on both sides of its wide aisles to find the rare gems, those which you were not looking for but get by serendipity.
Good staff and ample parking space are the two additional features of this bookstore.
Also, you will find books here from overseas publications.
Phone: +1 310-458-1499
Address: 8675 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232, United States
Website: Arcana Books
Pop Hop Books and Print
Pop Hop Books has a good stock of new and used books. In addition, the bookstore also offers on-sale books from local publishing houses.
Browsing books on finely painted wooden shelves is a treat to a bookworm.
Pop Hop Books also has a well-curated collection of children’s books, zines, and handcrafted items which you can buy to gift someone special.
Phone: +1 323-259-2490
Address: 5002 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042, United States
Website: Pop Hop Books
LA Libreria
La Libreria is a Spanish bookstore in Los Angeles keeping books primarily for children in the age range 1-15.
La Libreria has a well-curated selection of picture books, graphic novels, chapter books, and comics, most of which are imported from well-known publications from Latin America and Spain.
Discount tables adorn this bookstore offering discounts as high as 50% and you might want to talk to the owners who will give you insights on how to introduce your children to books or build a reading habit in them.
Phone: +1 310-295-1501
Address: 4732 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016, United States
Website: La Libreria
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Kinokuniya Bookstores
Interested in buying Japanese books?
If yes then drive to Tokyo Village located near Los Angeles City Hall to visit Kinokuniya bookstore that has such a nice collection of Japanese books and magazines.
You can also call Kinokuniya the manga bookstore of Los Angeles because the collection of books is rich in manga and anime.
The collection of books is not only limited to the Japanese language because you will find several Japanese books translated into English, which makes Kinokuniya a bilingual bookstore.
You will love going through the shelves where you can get your hands on Japanese books on art, travel, history, food, and culinary art.
Kinokuniya also sells Japanese stationery items such as fountain pens, pencils, colored papers too. With a 25$ annual membership, you can get a 10% discount on book purchases.
The bookstore is nothing less than a heaven for bookworms and book readers. If you’re in Los Angeles and are a voracious reader then a visit to this bookstore is a must.
Phone: +1 213-687-4480
Address: 123 Astronaut Ellison S Onizuka St #205, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States
Website: Kinokuniya Los Angeles
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Angel City Books and Records
Located beachside on Pier Avenue, Angel City Books and Records offers its customers new and used books both paperback and hardcovers.
The book collection in the store, which has a vintage look-and-feel, covers genres such as philosophy, art, music, drama, filming, acting, photography, history, children’s literature, mystery, sci-fi, and many more.
You may want to also visit this bookstore for checking out their vintage books collection, collectibles, and first editions.
Once inside, do look for the supercool display cabinet that puts on display some first editions.
Angel City Books and Records also has a highly curated collection of vinyl records albums both new and used. Those looking for vintage vinyl players may feel elated at seeing them for sale in this bookstore.
You can sell, trade both books and vinyl records with them but before you show up with your used books at their store, call them first.
Phone: +1 310-399-8767
Address: 218 Pier Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405, United States
Website: Angel City Books and Records
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Taschen bookstore Los Angeles
Taschen is one of the best art book publishing houses.
Taschen books are popular for giving great aesthetic pleasure.
Their appealing book covers, high-quality paper, subjects covered, and different book sizes are a few factors that make their book look gorgeous from the perspective of looks as well as the content.
If you are a collector of rare art books, exclusive limited editions, first editions, and signed copies then a visit to the Taschen bookstore is a must.
Taschen offers a good collection of some of the best art books ever published.
The phrase ‘Never judge a book by its cover’ doesn’t hold for Taschen books as their book covers are equally gorgeous as the writer’s body of work on the pages inside.
High ceilings and glass interiors will captivate your attention and you would feel like not leaving this bookstore ever.
Phone: +1 310-274-4300
Address: 354 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States
Website: Taschen bookstore
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Final Word
Los Angeles offers many worlds to a true bookworm to explore in the form of its independent bookstores.
You choose a genre and Los Angeles bookstores will offer the greatest collection of books from it.
The above list of the best bookstores in LA guarantees fun-filled as well as productive weekends for you.
In exchange, all they need is support from you in the form of regular visits so that they don’t become the dinosaurs of the future.
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