I love going to bookstores, there is something about bookstores that are so calming. I can stay in there for hours looking around, finding an amazing spot to just sit and read. So here are all my favorite bookstores I love to visit in San Francisco:

Green Apple Books: (506 Clement Street)

• In 1967 Richard Savoy founded Green Apple Books at the age of 25 years old. The bookstore continued to grow, and the store today is 10x the original size of 750 square feet. You can find new and used books, music and more. It’s every book lover’s dream, and if you are ever in the city, I would highly recommend checking it out.

City Lights: (261 Columbus Ave.)

• In 1953 City Lights was founded by Poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin. City Lights now offers three floors of both new-release hardcovers and paperbacks with an impressive range of titles. During the pandemic, City Lights almost went dark forever. Still, the people of San Francisco raised nearly half a million dollars to keep their lights shining bright.

Books Kinokuniya:

• Former President Moichi Tanabe founded Books Kinokuniya, January 22, 1927, in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo. They opened their first overseas bookstore in San Francisco, California, in 1969. They offer a wide variety of books, magazines, and stationery from Japan. Along with an extensive collection of manga, graphic novels, art and design books, cookbooks, travel books, children’s books, and more, both in English and Japanese. I LOVE Books Kinokuniya; this is where I get all my manga from, and the atmosphere here is the best! Yes, you can find other locations, but I do love this bookstore.

The Booksmith: (1644 Haight St.)

• In 2007 Christin Evan and her husband Praveen Madan purchased The Booksmith in the Haight-Ashbury district. This bookstore is the one I visit the most because it’s close to where I work.

Do you have a favorite bookstore to visit?

-Dezi