Seattle is full of incredible bookstores that we love, from indie bookstores that we celebrate every April on Independent Bookstore Day to cozy used bookstores that are perfect for a rainy day. Some bookstores stand out from the crowd, however. We’re talking about the bookstores that specialize in one niche genre, such as poetry, or the bookstores that welcome you to stay awhile with the help of a cafe, free events, and community spaces. You’ll find something at these Seattle bookstores that you won’t get just anywhere.
Read on for the most unique bookstores in Seattle!
1. Ada’s Technical Books & Cafe
Ada’s Technical Books & Cafe in Capitol Hill is a cheerful, welcoming space for all—but nerds and introverts will feel especially at home here. The bookstore specializes in non-fiction, sci-fi, and technical books and the cafe inside offers vegetarian fare as well as coffee and tea. Ada’s also builds community by hosting regular events such as a silent book club, a board game night, and a social skills class.
🕰️ Open daily from 8 to 8
📍 425 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112
2. BLMF: A Literary Saloon
Tucked underneath Pike Place Market on the lower level, BLMF is a secondhand bookstore and literary saloon. Owner J.B. Johnson has curated this bookstore’s inventory for over 25 years and is happy to help visitors find a specific book from the many vertical stacks and crowded shelves in his overflowing shop. You might even get your picture taken with your new book for the BLMF Instagram.
🕰️ Open daily from 10 to 5
📍 1501 Pike Pl #322, Seattle, WA 98101
3. Book Larder
Looking for a cookbook? There’s a Seattle bookstore for that. Book Larder in Fremont doesn’t just sell new, used, and vintage cookbooks. It also hosts author talks and book signings, cooking demos, and cooking classes.
🕰️ Opens daily at 11:00 (noon on Sundays)
📍 4252 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
4. Charlie’s Queer Books
Charlie’s Queer Books in Fremont is dedicated to “creating community connection through queer literature.” In addition to stocking LGBTQ+ books, Charlie’s also sells unique gifts, offers a queer co-working space, and regularly hosts events such as author talks, workshops, open mics, and book clubs including Seattle’s Queer Silent Book Club.
P.S. Charlie’s Queer Books is also home to the most fabulous bathroom in all of Seattle.
🕰️ Opens daily at 7:00 a.m. (closed Tuesdays)
📍 465 N 36th St, Seattle, WA 98103
5. Couth Buzzard
The Couth Buzzard motto is “books and community.” This bookstore in Greenwood has an all-day cafe that offers food, wine, and beer in addition to coffee, plus a kids’ menu, weekend brunch, and a daily happy hour. They also have an absolutely stacked events calendar, with open mics, live music, book clubs, classes, story time, and more being offered every day (and evening events as well).
🕰️ Opens at 9:00 a.m. on weekends and 10:00 a.m. on weekdays (closed Tuesdays)
📍 8310 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
6. Kinokuniya Bookstore
Looking for a bookstore in Seattle that stocks anime and manga? You have to check out Kinokuniya Bookstore, which is located in the Uwajimaya grocery store in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. This spacious, two-story Japanese bookstore carries Japanese books, magazines, stationery, home goods, and plushies in addition to Chinese books, K-POP music, and English books. Kinokuniya USA is the official retail partner of Studio Ghibli so you’ll find lots of adorable Ghibli-themed items here as well.
🕰️ Open 10:00 to 8:00 daily
📍 525 S Weller St, Seattle, WA 98104
7. Left Bank Books
Looking for radical literature? Left Bank Books at Pike Place Market specializes in “anti-authoritarian, anarchist, independent, radical and small-press titles.” You’ll find entire sections focused on a wide variety of niche topics ranging from environmentalism to disability and deafness. It has some cozy seating upstairs with a view, so if you’re lucky you can find a spot to curl up with a book and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the Market.
🕰️ Opens at 10:00 daily (11:00 on Sundays)
📍 92 Pike St # B, Seattle, WA 98101
8. Open Books: A Poem Emporium
Of course Seattle has a bookstore entirely dedicated to poetry. You’ll find new, used, and rare poetry books at Open Books in Pioneer Square, plus a friendly staff who are always helpful to make recommendations. Open Books organizes regular events such as poetry readings and book clubs. They also offer access to a cozy private studio that you can pay to reserve if you need a quiet place to read, write, or work.
🕰️ Opens daily at noon (closed Mon-Tues)
📍 108 Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98104
9. Third Place Books
Finally, Third Place Books is known in Seattle for offering a community-fostering hub in not just one but three locations. The bookstore’s original location in Lake Forest Park has a large public commons, a community room, a stage, and more than a thousand free public events every year. All three locations are designed to make you want to stay and hang out when you’re done perusing the shelves: in addition to free events, the Lake Forest Park bookstore has three restaurants, the Ravenna bookstore has a cafe and a pub, and the Seward Park location has 50 beers on tap at the on-site Chuck’s Hop Shop. Check out the events page to see what’s going on at a Third Place Books location near you.
🕰️ Opens daily at 9:00 a.m. (all locations)
📍Seward Park: 5041 Wilson Ave S, Seattle WA 98118
📍Ravenna: 6504 20th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98115
📍Lake Forest Park: 17171 Bothell Way NE, #A101, Lake Forest Park WA 98155