5 independent bookstores you have to check out in Seattle

Seattle is filled with incredible things to do, especially for anyone interested in the arts. It has lots of music venues, galleries and public art displays. That doesn’t even include all of the places to go for good eats.

But one thing Seattle has in mass quantities are great bookstores. Across the board, it is a literary town to day the least. There are seemingly endless independent bookstores to check out, one to satisfy virtually any literary tourist.

Queen Anne Book Company

SEATTLE, WA – APRIL 06: The Seattle skyline is seen at sunset on April 6, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. Windows of the Hyatt Regency Hotel are lit up in the shape of a heart. Washington State Governor Jay Inslee extended the Stay at Home order until May 4th to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images) /

When Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood lost it’s treasured independent bookstore in 2012, a new one rose to take it’s place in 2013. Queen Anne Book Company has become a community anchor for this part of the city as it nears it’s 10th anniversary.

While the store specializes in contemporary fiction and children’s books, it has stock to cover pretty much every genre. And Queen Anne also has great staff who share your love of books to help you try to find what you’re looking for.

Twice Sold Tales

While book fanatics love a good bookstore filled with new releases, there’s nothing quite like an amazing used bookstore. And Twice Sold Tales has a well earned reputation as one of the best in all of Seattle. That’s saying a lot.

It’s been in business for more than three decades, and reputedly has thousands of used and rare titles ready to be browsed by avid readers and collectors alike. Plus, this place has cats, a hallmark of great used bookstores around the world.

The Elliott Bay Book Company

Since 1973, the Elliott Bay Book Company has set the standard for independent bookstores in Seattle. It is a massive, stunning space that is overflowing with reading options to satisfy virtually any literary tastes.

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Keeping in mind the limitations of the pandemic, Elliott Bay has an incredibly active events schedule. That’s in addition to the in house café, Little Oddfellows, which is temporarily closed for the foreseeable future.

Lion Heart Book Store

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – MARCH 10: The Pike Place Market sits virtually empty of patrons on March 10, 2020 in downtown Seattle, Washington. The historic market is Seattle’s most popular tourist attraction and business has been especially hard hit by coronavirus fears. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) /

Pike Place Market is one of the most iconic spots in Seattle. While it’s famous for its fish market, there are an shocking variety of stores throughout the building covering pretty much anything you can think of. That includes Lion Heart Book Store.

It might not be the biggest bookstore around but it more than makes up for its size by cramming as many books as possible into the space it has. On top of that, most reviews of the store point out that the owner is one of the nicest people you will ever meet.

North Seattle’s Phinney Books

Located in north Seattle, Phinney Books is a wonderful neighborhood store. It’s the kind of bookstore every community needs at the center of its literary scene, even if that scene isn’t massive or extensive.

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Phinney is a positively classic bookstore experience. It has a great selection of books, a regular calendar of events and staff that are passionate about literature. This is an excellent neighborhood bookstore that gives visitors a great reason to head to Phinney Ridge/Greenwood in north Seattle.

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