15 Must-Visit Bookstores in Los Angeles

The Last Bookstore

Welcome to The Last Bookstore, California’s largest new and used book and record store, ranked the tenth most beautiful bookstore by the 1000 Libraries community. It has four locations, but its flagship is located in downtown Los Angeles. It’s housed in a former bank and is Instagram famous for its whimsical book tunnel and massive marble pillars.

It offers over 500,000 books and a hefty collection of vinyl records. The labyrinthine space features a nice helping of hidden nooks, regularly hosting various author events.

Address: 453 S Spring St Ground Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 11AM – 8PM

Stories Books & Cafe

This independent bookstore makes its mark with its distinctive, haunted-house-esque choice of framed paintings and the offbeat wall mural of its outdoor café.

On the literary side of things, it offers a wide array of books, from classics to new releases. Meanwhile, the café brews up a mean cup of coffee alongside tasty pastries and free Wi-Fi. It also regularly hosts readings, book releases, and fun activities like drawing or comedy nights.

Address: 1716 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Opening hours:
– Sunday to Friday: 9AM – 9PM
– Saturday: 9AM – 10PM

Skylight Books

Founded in 1996, Skylight Books is known for its welcoming atmosphere, ficus tree centerpiece, and curated selections. It specializes in literary fiction, Los Angeles history, arts, and esoteric subjects, hosting frequent author events and supporting local writers.

It’s a beautiful space, from its uniquely modern take on a barrel vaulted ceiling crosshatched with wooden beams to the zigzagging lines that make its storefront exterior pop.

Address: 1818 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 10AM – 10PM

Barnes & Noble (The Grove)

For many, Barnes & Noble is a comforting and nostalgic bookstore chain, and this particular branch adds a bit of flair with a grand, sweeping entryway showing off three levels of a beautiful and elegant bookshop design.

As might be expected of a Barnes & Noble, you can find a wide selection of books, magazines, gifts, and children’s toys, plus a Starbucks-sponsored in-house café. The location itself is extremely popular for its regular events and seasonal displays, so it’s definitely a must-visit if you’re in the area.

Address: 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 10AM – 10PM

Duranno Bookstore

In a city often celebrated for its diversity of culture and lifestyles, you might be surprised to hear that it has a popular Korean Christian bookstore. Duranno Bookstore was established in 1986, focusing its stock on Christian books, Bibles, devotionals, and church supplies in both Korean and English. It also carries a nice selection of gifts, stationery, and Sunday school materials.

Its interior is stylish without being extravagant, creating a peaceful atmosphere with a simple, organized layout interspersed with house plants and multilingual decorative elements.

Address: 3130 Wilshire Blvd #100, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9:30AM – 5PM
– Saturday & Sunday: Closed

The Iliad Bookshop

With over 150,000 books specializing in literature and the arts, the Iliad Bookshop has been rocking the used bookstore scene in Los Angeles since 1987. It’s probably most famous for its creative book displays. And when we say “book displays,” we mean the massive book spines jutting out from the storefront’s walls alongside gorgeously intricate Greek-inspired murals.

Really, with as eye-popping as it is, it’s little wonder this bookshop makes so many appearances in film and TV productions.

Address: 5400 Cahuenga Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Saturday: 11AM – 7PM
– Monday & Sunday: Closed

The Book Jewel

For an intimate and cozy atmosphere, look no further than the Book Jewel. This shop is filled with plush seating areas, warm wooden floors and shelves, and even a grand fireplace (though not lit—book safety first!).

To make things even cozier, this shop has a resident cat. Alongside its broad collection of books of all genres and subjects, you can find a nice section with candles and merchandise, including shirts with the resident cat printed on them.

Address: 6259 W. 87th St, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Thursday & Sunday: 10AM – 6PM
– Friday: 10AM – 7PM
– Saturday: 10AM – 8PM
– Monday: Closed

The Artbook @ Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles Bookstore

Art lovers will definitely want to check out the Artbook @ Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles. Half bookshop and half art gallery, this former flour mill has since been converted into a cultural hub with a grunge vibe, specializing in contemporary and 20th-century art books. Some notable standouts in its collection are its rare catalogues, indie press books, and children’s books.

Spotlight displays change regularly to reflect current exhibitions and themes, and the store hosts events, signings, and talks by artists, curators, and critics.

Address: 917 East 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Sunday: 11AM – 6PM
– Monday: Closed

Chevalier’s Books

Opened in 1940, Chevalier’s Books is Los Angeles’s oldest independent bookstore. This place is a cornerstone of the neighborhood, bringing literary culture to life through engaging events, personalized recommendations, and a beloved children’s section.

It began as a lending library and expanded to a general bookstore, surviving changes in ownership and location but always remaining on Larchmont Boulevard. With a friendly atmosphere and lovingly decorated walls, it’s a great place to pick up a new read.

Address: 133 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 10AM – 6PM

Small World Books

Established in 1969 and relocated to Venice Beach’s boardwalk in 1976, Small World Books is a cherished independent bookstore beloved for its eclectic selection, knowledgeable staff, and true neighborhood spirit. Its book collection includes literary fiction, poetry, history, philosophy, and children’s books, and is big on supporting small presses.

Like a couple of other spots on this list, this bookstore has some live-in cats that add a touch of coziness to the simple but welcoming decor. It’s also connected to a café next door for anyone who wants to take a quick reading break on their travels.

Address: 1407 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 10AM – 8PM

Sideshow Books

Got the collector’s itch? You might just be able to satisfy it at Sideshow Books, an offbeat shop specializing in used and rare books. Its selection crams the shelves to the spilling point, with a little bit of everything but favoring alternative genres: pulp, art, cinema, music, beat literature, and even comics.

Visitors may be offered free espresso, and the cozy, overflowing store has a classic secondhand bookstore vibe, complete with offerings like records, vintage posters, and other trinkets.

Address: 1639 La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
Opening hours:
– Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday: 12PM – 6PM
– Friday: 12PM – 5:30PM
– Monday: Closed

Hennessey + Ingalls

Hennessey + Ingalls stands out as the largest art, architecture, and design bookstore on the West Coast, both in terms of the breadth of its collection and its physical space. This is the place to go to find titles on pretty much any visual art—from architecture and landscaping to photography and graphic design.

This place is a favorite of architects, designers, museums, collectors, students, and film professionals, as well as everyday readers, wrapped in a beautiful, modern space.

Address: 300 S Santa Fe Ave M, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 11AM – 7PM

Secret Headquarters

This boutique comic book store is known for its warm, wood-paneled interior and curated selection of mainstream, indie, and small-press comics, zines, and graphic novels. This is where you go if you want the best of the lesser-known and underappreciated titles, including a bunch of featured local artists.

Once in a blue moon, Secret Headquarters hosts book launches for said local artists, but most of its focus is on promoting comic book culture in LA. It even buys comic books in good condition for those who have something to sell.

Address: 3137 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 11AM – 7PM

Kinokuniya Bookstore LA

Though Kinokuniya Bookstore originally began in Japan, this bookstore chain now has locations all over the world—including in Los Angeles. Nowadays, it’s a crucial part of Little Tokyo’s Weller Court Mall, beloved for its in-depth selection of Japanese and English books, manga, graphic novels, art titles, stationery, and Studio Ghibli goods.

As part of the Japanese Kinokuniya chain, its LA branch connects readers with Japanese pop culture, literature, and gifts, serving locals, tourists, and anime fans alike.

Address: 2F The Bloc, 700 W 7th St g, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 11AM – 8PM

Lost Books, Plants & Vinyl

As an added bonus, though not technically in LA, you can get lost in a jungle of books at Lost Books, Plants & Vinyl. It’s exactly what it sounds like from its name: a whimsical independent bookstore filled with lush plant life, an expertly curated vinyl selection, and an abundance of new and used books.

Known for its mossy ceiling, sunlit nooks, and living plant tunnel, this shop offers a dreamy atmosphere and a quiet retreat from the bustle of the city. It also offers an array of tropical plants for sale.

Address: 1F Montrose Plaza Executive Office, 2233 Honolulu Ave, Montrose, CA 91020
Opening hours:
– Monday to Thursday: 10AM – 6PM
– Friday & Saturday: 10AM – 9PM
– Sunday: 10AM – 7PM