Find a new read or an old favorite at a used bookstore in Seattle.
There’s something so special about a used bookstore: the scent of old books, the friendly bookstore cat, the unexpected book from your childhood that you forgot about… Add the patter of rain outside (not exactly a tall order in Seattle) and you’re all set for a supremely cozy experience. Luckily there is no shortage of used bookstores in Seattle. These are the shops where we go when we want something fresh to read without breaking the bank.
Here are the top 10 used bookstores in Seattle that we love:
1. Twice Sold Tales, Capitol Hill & Ballard
Twice Sold Tales in Capitol Hill has multiple rooms of used books as well as several live-in cats. There is also a second location in Ballard.
Address: 1833 Harvard Ave (Capitol Hill); 1708 NW Market St (Ballard)
Hours: 11am-8pm daily (Capitol Hill); noon-7pm daily except Tuesdays (Ballard)
2. Ophelia’s Books, Fremont
This small but well-stocked used bookstore in Fremont has all the creaky floors and friendly cats that you could want. It’s right next door to Jive Time Records, so you can go home with quite the haul.
Address: 3504 Fremont Ave N
Hours: noon-7pm daily
3. Couth Buzzard Books, Greenwood
Couth Buzzard Books is a community hub in Greenwood selling new and used books, hosting events, and serving coffee and light bites. They almost had to shut down recently so be sure to visit and show some support if you can.
Address: 8310 Greenwood Ave N
Hours: 10am-9pm daily (opens at 9am Saturdays)
4. Mercer Street Books, Lower Queen Anne
This charming woman-owned used bookstore has been serving Lower Queen Anne since 2009, and the storefront has been a home for woman-owned bookstores for 40 years now!
Address: 7 Mercer St
Hours: noon-8pm daily (and 11am-7pm Sundays)
5. Left Bank Books Collective, Pike Place Market
This bookstore in Pike Place Market is run as a collective and specializes in radical, independent, and small-press titles.
Address: 92 Pike St # B
Hours: 10am-7pm daily (and 11am-6pm Sundays)
6. BLMF Literary Saloon, Pike Place Market
Tucked away on the third lower level of Pike Place Market is this well-stocked used bookstore that has towering stacks of every genre.
Address: 1501 Pike Pl #322
Hours: 10am-9pm daily
7. Magus Books, U District
Magus Books in Seattle’s University District is the best place to go if you’re searching for rare and vintage books!
Address: 1408 NE 42nd St
Hours: 10am-8pm daily
8. Paper Portal Used Books, Madrona
Paper Portal just opened in Madrona in April 2023. This used bookstore is small but has a really well-curated selection of almost every genre, including children’s books.
Address: 1105 34th Ave
Hours: noon-7pm Wed-Fri; 11am-5pm Sat
9. Third Place Books, Seward Park & More
Third Place books has three locations throughout Seattle, although our favorite is probably Seward Park since you can get a beer while you’re there from Chuck’s Hop Shop. Their Lake Forest Park location holds over 200,000 titles!
Locations: Seward Park, Ravenna, and Lake Forest Park
Hours: varies by location
10. Pegasus Book Exchange, West Seattle
West Seattleites have been loving this used bookstore for almost 40 years now! They have both new and used books, plus a great children’s section.
Address: 4553 California Ave SW
Hours: 10am-6pm daily (closes at 5pm Sundays)