You might think the home of Hollywood would only care about movies, but there are a surprising number of outstanding bookstores hiding in LA.
The City of Angels has its own fair share of amazing bookshops; these are our picks for the top 10.
Skylight Books
Located in LA’s Los Feliz neighborhood, Skylight Books is a beloved independent bookstore, well-known for its eclectic collection and unique interior. And by “unique interior,” I mean specifically the large ficus tree standing tall in the store’s center, its twisting trunk as old as the roof over its head.
Skylight is always happy to promote local authors and features nationally recognized programs to showcase them along with major touring authors and debut writers. Its welcoming and community-focused atmosphere makes it a perfect stop in the neighborhood.
Book Soup Bookstore
Get ready to be star-struck, because Book Soup is the largest general interest independent bookshop in Hollywood and is a popular stop among entertainment industry professionals. It’s hosted celebrity authors like Muhammad Ali, Howard Stern, and Annie Leibovitz.
This store has been sitting pretty on Sunset Boulevard since 1975 and has a curated collection of fiction, non-fiction, and books on music, film, memoir, biography, art, and design.
Hennessey + Ingalls
Talk about upscale! You can see your reflection off of this store’s smooth flooring. Hennessey + Ingalls has been around since 1963 and specializes in art, architecture, and design. In fact, it’s probably the largest bookstore with that niche focus on the West Coast, U.S.A. It’s especially known for its stock of rare and out-of-print architecture books, which makes it popular among architectural firms, museums, art galleries, and collectors.
Iliad Book Shop
Can’t get more “bookstore” than a row of giant books sticking out of the wall. The inside of this flamboyantly colorful secondhand shop is just captivating, with a collection of over 125,000 books. It also has some comfortable reading couches, making it easy to sample a few pages before you commit.
Just note that if you’re allergic to cats, you might want to skip this one. The Iliad likes to keep two cats in its walls, and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon.
Stories Books and Cafe
Stories Books and Cafe is a charming independent bookstore and café located in LA’s Echo Park. Selling both new and used books, it offers a cozy and inviting atmosphere for book lovers and coffee enthusiasts alike. Its large back patio (paired with the sunny Los Angeles weather) makes it a great place to relax with a book alongside some pastries, coffee, beer, or wine.
One of its most notable features is that it carries some very niche sections, like Los Angeles Non-Fiction History and Metaphysics/Occult.
Now Serving
Head down to Chinatown and you’ll find Now Serving, a bookstore with roughly 1,500 book titles on cookbooks and the culinary arts. That includes imports from Asia and Europe for those who like to dip into different cuisines every now and then.
Now Serving also features book signing events with renowned chefs and cookbook authors, plus a curated selection of kitchen tools and accessories for professionals and home cooks everywhere.
Larry Edmunds Bookshop
This Hollywood bookshop specializes in film, television, and theater-related materials—pretty fitting, given the location. Its collection holds over 20,000 books, 6,000 original posters, and 500,000 photographs, including movie memorabilia and posters.
Larry Edmunds Bookshops happens to be the last remaining of many bookstores that once lined Hollywood Boulevard, and has had many celebrities over the years as customers. Think Quentin Tarantino and J.J. Abrams, for starters.
Mystery Pier Books
Here’s another on Sunset Boulevard: Mystery Pier Books. This family-owned bookstore is run by father-and-son team Harvey Jason and Louis M. Jason, and their collection is locked exclusively on first edition books. They also happen to be members of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America.
Like other stores on this list, Mystery Pier boasts of having celebrities shop here. Though perhaps that shouldn’t really be a surprise given how many big stars live in Los Angeles.
Lost Books, Plants & Vinyls
You read that title right. While some bookstores might sell stationary, gadgets, or games alongside their books, Lost Books sells plants and vinyl records. In fact, the whole store is an oasis of books and greenery in a busy urban area, with vines climbing the walls and a literal tunnel of plants greeting you as you walk in. You can even find a fish tank and bird atrium, making it feel almost more like a miniature jungle than a library.
That’s all just part of its charm, though—the other part being its varied selection of books, some of which feature nature or plant themes, and others which are simply great reads in their own right.
Last Bookstore
This might be the “last” bookstore, but it is far from the least. Located in downtown LA, this two-story shop is filled with creative book sculptures, most notably a book tunnel that, by itself, makes a visit worth it.
In addition to the 250,000 or so new and used books in its inventory, the Last Bookstore sells vinyl records and graphic novels. It’s one of the most adored bookshops in LA, and the amazing book-themed photo-ops are just one small part of it.
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Odessa
K Lou
K. Lou is a writer born in the U.S. who found her way to Japan through a spiritual calling—or, more precisely, better access to tea. She writes about travel, culture, and the occasional creative piece, inspired by her enduring love of books. This love began in high school when K. Lou carried books around to avoid seeming odd while lost in thought. Once she started reading, she never stopped. With zero regrets, she continues to explore the written word and invites others to join her in celebrating its varied forms.
