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Comments (199)
Great store for books that you cannot find anywhere else on Earth. I cannot stop recommending this place to friends I know who love to read heading into San Francisco
This iconic bookstore has the same feeling as it did when the beatniks were in the basement, reading poetry. The store itself has some hard-to-find books. It is well curated and keeps in line with the Jack Kerouac Era.
You can found many funny books here. From lectures to fictional novels. It’s fun to read lots of books here.
We don’t get to see book stores any more much especially historical one. I love love love the mood and we bought some books to support the store.
This is a necessary stop for all the book lovers and history lovers visiting San Francisco! Besides all the history with the Beat Generation and an awesome selection of books, this shop has an awesome upstairs poetry room perfect for relaxing and reading, lots of unique spaces for exploring/browsing, and it has that awesome book smell (book lovers, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about!). You could spend hours here browsing!
Amazing bookstore with three levels of books arranged by genre and staff picks.
A Mecca for the true bibliophile. Three floors of books of every variety. Aside from its historic significance this bookstore is a great place to get a gift for the book lover in your life. They have a wall of staff recommended books and the team working there really know their stuff.They take covid restrictions seriously so bring your mask. Parking isnt too much of an issue since there are at least two parking garages within a 5 minute walk from the front door.
What a wonderful book shop! With books from editorials that are not that mainstream, this bookshop is a breath of fresh air in comparison with the now prevalent large bookstores.
Wide selection of books and very organized. They have a great section on Science Fiction and Fantasy in the back of the basement floor and they have a decent amount of fiction by non-white/non-western authors on the first floor. Definitely peruse those aisles if youre looking to decolonize your mind!
One of the all time great bookstores of the world. Its a treasure and it sits between Chinatown and North Beach. Across Jack Kerouac alley from Vesuvios, an awesome two story bar and across the street from Specs - another classic old bar/museum filled with maritime gewgaws, scrimshaw, and the like. Grab a book and then go have a drink or two. Toast Ferlinghetti for his beautiful repository of literary wonders.
A true treasure, City Lights Booksellers is a reminder of the incredible valued place of the independent book publisher & store front in American culture. While each with their distinct history and devoted clientele, common magical ties to others that remain, include the Harvard Square Book Store (Cambridge MA) and Politics and Prose (DC). Where one can wonder for many hours, through the carefully and lovely stocked shelves (and levels) of poetry, children’s books, fiction, philosophy, staff recommendations (my favorite!) and so much more. For someone who has converted to ebooks a while ago, I always leave in hand with a pile of new reads. After an experience of browsing the shelves, leaving those of us old enough to remember the dewy decimal classification as our ‘google’ or Amazon Prime search on index cards, yearning for a simpler time. Where a book was something to be physically handled with joy and care, a cover design appreciated like a fine work of art, without needing 5G or Alexa to browse.
Come for the Beats, stay for everything that this bookstore has to offer—the rich history of Beats, carefully curated selection of books with many recommendations by the staff, pictures that offer information aplenty about Beats history and a lot else on the walls and along the staircase, Beats merchandise that you can buy near the cash register, the smell of bookstore that wafts in the air and is amplified because of the cosy nature of the place, fellow bibliophiles whose overheard conversations make you feel like you’ve found a long-lost friend, I could go on and on. :)I spent 3 hours here on a Saturday in June and could’ve easily spent much longer, if I didn’t have other obligations. Baldwin, Shakur, Mistry, Orwell, Patty Smith—this place has everything. I bought a couple of books and some merchandise when I was here. I’ll be back here again soon.They were asking for people to put masks the day I went(June 19,2021).“Would you not howl, too?”
A charming bookstore filled with great books! A must do if you are in San Francisco.
I love old book stores and this one has the pedigree. You can find everything from new novels to political tracts, childrens stories to the newest in science.My only complaint is that most of the books are new and there wasnt much in the way of used books, at least that I found.
This bookstore is busy and eclectic where colorful titles line the shelves!
I suppose I shouldn’t post a review since I didn’t even get to go inside, but customer service is as important as the thing you sell. My husband and I tried to come in this while week visiting from out of town. I had just switched bags from traveling and forgot to put a mask in my purse before leaving. We didn’t get two steps in the door before getting an extremely curt “You have to wear a mask!” barked at me. I didn’t realize I needed it and genuinely forgot, and when I asked if they had any to give out or if there was one to buy, I was completely ignored despite being the only person in the room (can’t really argue you didn’t hear me). Just super disappointed that you’d be willing to lose a customer instead of, at the very least, making masks available to purchase if you’re going to require them. This was at the top of my list to visit while we were in town, and it was just a bummer.
Not sure why anyone would give this bookstore fewer than five stars. It’s perfect.
Fantastic Bookstore. Really enjoyed the opportunity to peruse all of the books. I wish there were more places to sit and read, but this was still a great bookstore.
This is one of those bookshops you have to do even if only for the experience. Make sure to check the walls especially in the basement, in order to truly understand the City Lights experience. And then know the hungry i used to be across the road. How times have changed.
This is my first time to visit SF. This Vintage bookstore is special in USA history and American west history. All the books are great. But I got 5 nice vintage postcards here. The owner is worm hearted and knowledgeable. And the staff was helpful.
Legendary bookshop, independent, thoughtful, and full of amazing selections. It has a great poetry section and lots of political and historical gems tucked away.
This bookstore had an amazing selection of rare and unique finds along with more mainstream titles. Its notable for being the epicenter of the beat movement, and they publish a lot of cool titles. To top it off, there are THREE STORIES OF BOOKS! If youre a book lover visiting San Francisco, its worth a visit.
Legendary City Lights Bookstore, founded by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti in 1953, is probably the best bookstore in the world. A shrine for booklovers and a Temple of reading. Books of all kinds, art, poetry, music, novels - all you can wish for. The staff make excellent recomendations. A must see when in San Francisco.
I had heard about City Lights Bookstore since moving to San Francisco but had never been before. I regret not going sooner -- it was fantastic! And steeped in history. In 1957, the owner of City Lights Bookstore, Lawrence Ferlinghetti (who turned 100 this year & still owns the bookstore) was arrested on obscenity charges for publishing and selling Allen Ginsbergs Howl and Other Poems. The charges were dropped, a win for free speech and lose for censorship.The bookstore has 3 floors and all kinds of books! The top floor is poetry and beat authors, with a few chairs to sit & enjoy reading. The ground floor is fiction, non-fiction, classics & European literature. There is also a small corner with a few chairs and table to enjoy reading. The basement is childrens, YA, music, film, and different cultural studies (Native American, LGBTQI, womens studies and a lot of others).The outside of the store posts banners at the top to spread a message. The current message is, Paper may burn, but words will escape.
Theres nothing as emblematic from SF (apart from the golden gate) than City Lights bookstore. Funded by Ferlinghetti in 1953 is a great legacy for the world poetry and literature. It started publishing paperback only blocks in 1955 something that was truly revolutionary at the time. Publishing alternative poets and artists unknown at the time; Allan Ginsberg to name an example. The spark that fuel the San Francisco literary renaissance and the Beat generation that followed. Ferlinghettis Sanctum.
A must stop for a bibliophile if you happen to be in the san Francisco area. It is pretty small just two stories but small ones. Love the vintage style store front. Has bookstore merchandise to purchase.
Historic bookstore thats a joy to browse. Bigger than what youd think given an upstairs and basement! Love the different staff recommendations peppered around the shelves especially, theyve helped me to discover some new reads.
Quite arguably the most famous independent bookstore in California, if not in the entire United States. A history that stretches back to the Beats of the 1950s, City Lights today is a great place to check out new titles, look for old classics, and a place to get lost in for hours with a book in your hand as you browse.
Great bookshop that has a long history in SF! Definitely worth a stop when you’re in town. The employees are very helpful if you need to find something.
Legendary... what else can be said about the most amazing bookstore in the US (Powell Books in portland.. a close second) and one of the most historic on the planet. The Beatniks made it their home as of 1953. Kerouac, Ginsburg, Burroughs, Ferlinghetti along with countless other thinkers, writers, poets, artists. If you’re in SF dont miss out. Located at end of Chinatown and beginning of North Beach. Still very active with a great selection of books but also readings and other events occur here.La librairie City lights a ne pas manquer si vous passez a SF. Proche du downtown, cette librairie est historique par sa contribution au movement des Beatniks des années 50. Toujours tres active. A decouvrir.
City Lights is a must-visit for me. The selection is excellent, with books from a wide variety of publishers. The atmosphere of the store is great. The staff is helpful and kind. Wonderful place.
Great spot to learn a price of San Francisco history. Books hand picked by the staff and arranged with love. Relaxing music and nice vibe to spend an afternoon :) a must visit for SF!
City Lights is the sine qua non of american bookshop culture. They dont have every book ever printed, but every book they sell is worth reading.
Despite being advertised as the must see bookstore when visiting San Francisco, I wasnt overwhelmed by the place.Its definitely a lovely laid out, cosy bookstore with some cute quirks. However, I left the store having purchased a single post card. The book selection is mediocre. There appears to be so many genres that there cant possibly be a solid selection of any of them.I saw posters advertising their poet nights, and they appear to have that aspect that attract people on other nights of the week.Theyre conveniently located in the centre of the city near bars and restaurants, and within walking distance of it hotel in the financial district, so if youre in the area its stilll worth checking out.That said, next time Im in San Francisco Ill happily take the bus to Green Apple Books.
Favorite bookstore in the world. Two stories of books with reading areas. Hit Vesuvio Cafe and Jack Kerouac alley for a dive into the 1960s/Beat Generation. Literary heaven.
What a wonderful place for bookworms!
Great, historic bookstore with a surprisingly big selection of books despite the size of the store. Be sure to read a little bit of history before visiting for the full effect.
This is a beautiful store to wander around. The categories that books are filed under are a call to thought and action. The employees were helpful.
A quaint bookstore with lots of classic books, both fiction and nonfiction. There are two stories. Downstairs they have kids section as well.
Back in the day ( way back) I visited this legendary location. Still have the faded t shirt and feel quite Kerouacy when I do! If you are a fan of Beat...then I need not say more.
Great shop. Books only no stationery or gift things. They do sell bags and some own gifts.
There was something absolutely magical about City Lights. The vibe was absolutely perfect and has me wanting to experience reading a physical book again... Something I havent done in forever. You can just feel the history of this place. Head uostairs to the Beatnik section!
Rather unpleasant experience during my first time here. The staff seems rude and unfriendly. It’s a small place and several times the staff would need to get by me and never even bothered to say “excuse me”. Their selections seemed small and looked like they only sold newer books.
When your neighborhood bookstore also happens to be one of the greatest publishers in the world.
The bookstore is a legend itself. It has a great collections of new books and books of great historic value.
Truly a gem of a place connecting the past and the future, the world and San Francisco, writers and readers, art and literature, the political and the personal, Chinatown and North Beach (Italian neighborhood), words and deeds.
When in town I set aside big block of time for this place. An iconic book store.P.S. I am in dire need if a new, black, 3x City Lights Bookstore tee shirt. Cmon folks.
What a lovely little bookstore! Unfortunately a little overrun by tourists and hardly the quiet, somber bookstore kind of experience, but definitely a great historical part of San Francisco. Its quirky and fun, though maybe an ideal place to pick up a postcard rather than your next good read.
Bookstore with eclectic selection that you wont commonly find elsewhere (especially not on Amazon). I always stop by when Im in the area. Youll also get exposure to books from smaller publishers or authors that makes the experience feel far more intimate than just another commercial bookstore.
Don’t miss this famous historical book store. Huge collections of books
Very cool indie bookstore, worth visiting if youre ever in the area.
Neat spot to get inspired to read something different, old book smells, tight rows of bookshelves and small spaces to hang with a book.
The Beats would be rolling in their graves if they knew their rebellious hangout and a place from where they launched their challenge to authority had now morphed into a nannying, schoolmarmish set of draconian mask enforcers, even when the mandates have been lifted. Humourless, anti-intellectual, ideological. And yet they want our money!? So very 2022.
The Beatnik Gen ground zero. Great bookstore to browse and discover. Prepare to send here a long time. Just immerse yourself...love the diversity of topics and disciplines. Lots of hard to find titles in non and fiction, current events...
City Lights is a famous bookstore for a reason. The selection is wonderful, especially for poetry, and the atmosphere is very nice. The staff cares a great deal about what they put on their shelves, and the quality of the books there shows that.
Nice bookstore, they have a very detailed selection and their own collection of poetry, can stay there by hours and never get bored, can read if you want and they have staff recommendations in every section.
I love coming back to this bookstore every time I’m in town !
It was amazing. It had three levels and all of them where filled with books. I bought a sequel I was needing.
Awesome piece of literary history in the heart of San Francisco. Tons of selection including a whole floor dedicated to poetry. Three levels of to peruse and great helpful staff as well. Make sure to check out the Jack Kerouac alley right next door.
Cool bookstore, a little disappointed the only self new books. Otherwise worth a visit.
Super nice place, cozy, has chairs for people to read
Landmark location and a must visit for book lovers. They carry an interesting selection and you can spend a fun afternoon browsing and discovering new things.
Such a unique bookstore! Great collection of poetry and new publications as well as being a historic location for 20th century beat poetry! Highly recommend stopping by and checking them out!
This is a must see bookstore for anyone visiting SF. They have later hours and a fantastic selection.
A must see for any book lover. If you buy a book it gets stamped with the shops logo which adds a nice touch.
Awesome selection and super unique selection of books. A must visit bookstore in san fran!!
Since studying the Beats in high school, Ive always wanted to visit. Be sure to go upstairs for beat literature and a more quiet atmosphere. Decent selection for a small bookstore.
Love the history of this place. I always enjoy finding a local bookstore to shop in when Im visiting a new city. The shelves are crammed with new and old favorites. Plenty of choices for every book lover.My only slight complaint is that I had the kids with me and no corner to put them in and look at childrens books. I mightve missed that section though.I believe there were at least 2 levels, but I only checked out the main level.
The smell of this place is intoxicating to anyone with even a hint of Buffys Giles in them
Best bookstore in the bay. No contest.
One of the best in the world. I’d live there if they’d let me.
Great book selection (though a bit pricey). However, unfriendly customer service which is unfortunate because the bookstore itself is a gem.
Amazing book store. This is were the beatnick movement started. Historical place and super cool to visit.
Awesome bookstore with curated offering for staying at the edge! Dont miss it.
Birthplace of the Beat Generation. A must see if you are in the area
What am amazing collection of books , very interesting place
This bookstore was founded by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who wanted to sell paperbacks so that regular people could afford them. The store also published books of poetry, including Alan Ginsbergs seminal 1957 work, Howl, which was initially seized by authorities and became the center of a free speech lawsuit. The store carries on this legacy of providing affordable books, with a large selection of contemporary works along with the poetry and Beat literature it was famous for, to San Franciscans, tourists, and pilgrims. The alley behind it is named after Jack Kerouac and is adorned with beautiful murals. Visiting during Covid, it felt safe with masks required and a partition for the cashier. Well-behaved dogs were welcomed.
When I was browsing, there were a lot of books that seemed to just have a single copy. There are several floors, so be sure to explore around if there isnt something you are looking for. I really enjoy the decor of the place and how it is mantained. Its a 5 star for me.
One of the very best. But a curated experience that may not be for everyone.
A must-visit place for any book lover! One of the coolest bookstores ever!
Still feels good to hold paper books. Smells like history.
Gem of a bookstore - a local bookstore with well organized sections and rare finds. Bought a book for urban planning and modern gender. Love the locale - Financial District SF, minutes walk right out of Chinatown.
Very little variety it just seemed as if every shelf was full of Politics and little else. Politics are important, of course, but I dont come to a bookstore at all to become more knowledgeable about it. Any sections that I was interested in had little to no books. Also some of the childrens books were displaying disgusting messages, so parents dont come here to get any child books
A living memorial to another era when books and writing were important.We stopped in to read a bit of Jack Kerouacs poetry while visiting SFI love seeing their China town neighbors wash being hung our nearby windows from the second floor
Their selection expands beyond best sellers. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Favorite bookstore in the bay area.
Great historical place. A must visit to pick up a new read and be a part of history.
I love window shopping here, seeing the latest literature in the windows. Then going in the alley behind the bookstore to have a smoke and look at the latest graffiti murals on the walls.
If you are in San Francisco you must visit this historic and iconic book store. Also have a drink next door where the Jack Kerouac drank.
Incredible bookstore I could spend HORUS in. They are very Covid conscious and made everyone in the store feel comfortable by asking everyone to sanitize their hands before entering. The history of this book place is unmatched and they truly have everything. A true San Francisco gem.
Great selections of books! To be honest the best bookstore in SF!
If you’re looking for chain store sameness do not come here, but if you’re looking for a unique environment with a well curated collection of books across a wide range of topics, this is the place for you. Tons of personality, plenty of people, but still some space to sit for a minute and page through a book or two.
Excellent selection, helpful and chatty staff. Be aware that they dont accept contactless payments.
The book selection is outstanding. but the snootyness of the white progressive staff is annoying. shout out to the young woman of color on the door. you made this trip very memorable....
Classic bookshop in San Francisco. A must go! I love the book selections and the vibe, but somehow I don’t feel super welcomed to stay and read a book there.
Incredible book store rich with history. The place takes ypu back to the jazz filled nights of the beats. The selection of books is fantastic with staff selections which are unparallelled. Its a must visit for any traveler to San Francisco
-Great variety of books-friendly employees-lots of chairs to sit and read-also has magazines and music-organized-aesthetically pleasing
Really neat bookstore. With a wide variety of book titles. Also nice place to relax upstairs in the poem room. Worth a visit.
Im from Chicago, and thought we had good bookstores here, but man City Lights is the best bookstore I have ever been in. The selection was unlike anything I had ever seen. I had to restrain myself, or I could have blown several hundred dollars easily. The gentleman who rang my husband and I up was very nice and knowledgeable. I look forward to coming back and spending more money there in the future!
Great place to find used books in San Francisco. Very unique and quichey.
Wonderful place for book lovers to get lost
Loved shopping here. Plenty of gems to be found on their shelves. Recently Ive been refraining from purchasing books, just because I have a back-stock of ones at home I havent gotten to yet. But I couldnt refuse buying a fair amount here. The staff was extra nice and friendly, too.
Classic and iconic book store. A great place to browse and relax. Well worth a stop.
Nice, relatively quiet place with multiple levels (upper level holds poetry books) with a couple of nice chairs to sit in upstairs— a nice contrast fromthe city streets
Visiting City Lights was everything I could have hoped for and a dream come true. Great staff, selection, and aesthetic — was even introduced to one of my new favorite writers via recommendation. Thank you City Lights! Can’t wait to return.
Great bookshop, made a pilgrimage to the states from my Radical bookshop in the UK and wasnt disappointed, great selection of fiction, politics and poetry, some beautiful street art in the alley next to it too.
What could one possibly say about City Lights? Its an institution and if you love books you must make the pilgrimage here!
Not only a bookstore but also a historical site.
Forever Famous Since the 1960’s....A real San Francisco Treat! Shop here... A world famous bookstores from the time of The Beat Generation... amazing Bookstore...it has been. Vast collection of great book. Check their calendar...a real Go to placein SF for decades..
Always a delight. So many incredible books. I love coming in here and browsing. Inevitably, I snap up one or two titles. My favorite section is the American Indian section. There are always lots of titles dedicated not only to history, but to current affairs and politics of ongoing settler colonialism which challenge us to re-examine our legitimacy as occupants of this land. They also have many great titles on labor and on SF history and travel which I love. Upstairs is the poetry room dedicated to the beats, mostly men of course. Among them you may find a woman or two whose talent and depth exceeds all the men. I enjoy the poetry room because it is the quietest, most secluded part of the store. There is a table and chair which invites you to sit and read some verses or write a couple yourself. The room overlooks an alley and neighboring rooftop which one could use to simulate the idea that they were writing in their kitchen in a cramped North Beach apartment. Cheaper than renting your own!
Amazing book selections! Bookstore is in an old building.just go and explore!
What can you say about City Lights that hasn’t already been said? I just love this bookstore and it’s a must-visit every time I’m in SF. There’s a special feeling here that’s just not to be found elsewhere. If there’s a bookstore in the US that oozes more cool than this one, I’ve never seen it! Another thing I love about it is the kids book section downstairs. They feature some neat books and I always have to grab one for the kiddos! Beyond that it’s a resource, a cultural hub, and a shining light in a bright city. May it live forever!
Small little bookstore in the middle of downtown San Francisco! There are 3 levels. I can easily spend the entire afternoon hanging out here. It is very quiet. There are limited seating throughout the store. The building is old, historical, and full of characters. They do not have a large collection of books, but good enough. They also included “staff pick” as recommendation for good reads!Will come back for sure!
I usually read books on my Kindle but wanted go read a hardback copy of Obamas book. This is a storied independent bookstore here in San Francisco. They do a great job of keeping the place healthy with hand sanitizer and staff posted at the entrance. Amazing selection of bestsellers and unique finds. Being there reminded me that I miss bookstores. Lucky we have one here right in the heart of SF.
What a treat to visit City Lights. Bought Howl and A Coney Island of the Mind. Inspiring and historic - can you describe The Beats that way?
A truly organic experience. Great selection of less commercial books and very supportive of the art and appreciation of literature.
Love this place. Always try to stop in when Im in the area to see what is new. They have a great assortment of books, etc. especially books that are hard to find. They are very helpful in pointing you in the right direction in the store to what youre looking g for, as well as, making recommendations. If they dont have what you are looking for, they will do their best to get it for you. The people their have always been great and the customer service to notch.
This is just an incredible place. The history running through it is almost unbelievable and the space reminds you of that while not feeling at all dated or dingy. In fact its almost too neat and organized considering its origins but theres just enough grit, posters and protest pamphlets and memorabilia dating back to the 60s to keep it totally authentic while being such a functional modern store at the same time. Awesome, broad selection of books, both beat classics and contemporary alternative/progressive works. Prices are maybe a tad high but come on, you know they have to charge that to pay the sky-rocketing rents and keep this institution going, its worth every penny for the ambiance and historical significance. Will definitely drop by any time I can get to SF.
Remembering Lawrence Ferlinghetti Tuesday, February 23, 2021.
Fabulous must visit for any bibliophile.
One of my all-time favorite bookstores. This place has a long history and has been a pillar of the North Beach scene since the 1950s. They host events and talks quite often.The bookstore itself has a great selection. Its not expansive, and its actually fairly small despite its fame. There are three stories – the top floor is the small poetry room, the ground floor holds mostly fiction with some non-fiction, and the downstairs is all non-fiction. The staff are great and provide top-notch recommendations. I highly, highly recommend this bookstore.
The best bookstore in North America (okay maybe tied with The Strand). A must see in San Francisco.
Great bookstore, wonderful selection, a little difficult to figure out where specific things are.
Literary history hotspot, plus fantastic poetry section.
City Lights is a great bookstore thats been part of SF life since 1953. There are 2 floors of books to browse, and a 3rd floor office.The store is significant for its original owners being part of the beat generation....as in beatniks.Prior to the current Covid epidemic, City Lights frequently held book signings, readings + other events featuring well known authors and poets. Worth checking out this interesting and historic spot in North Beach
Basically, I love every bookstore I have been visited, but this one is different. They have a very good ambience for book lover since they give a place for people to read books they like. On the second floor you will see poet and poems corner with sophisticated chairs. In the basement, you will see more interesting books. Definitely a recommendation bookstore to visit when youre in San Francisco.
Its not just a bookstore, its a slice of history. Love the ambiance.
One of the best bookstores I have ever been! Amazing selection of books.
Cosy bookstore with am interesting range of books
Love City lights for small pressings & publications,poetry books ,avant-garde short stories,local writers and Local Books on San Francisco. Very friendly and helpful staff
Neat historic book store. Had something for many types of readers. Friendly and helpful staff.
Everything a New York literary person hopes one day to see. Its real! And worth the visit.
Great bookshop!Green Apple has a healthy mix and selection of both used and new books.The tables out front are definitely worth a look! I spend quite a while rifling through them & emerged with too many gems for cheap.
I was pleasantly surprised They have an extremely vast collection of a large array of books for ANYONE and I do mean ANYONE! Its not black owned but they definitely openly cater to our intellect. Customer service was on point and everything was nice and clean with plenty of space to move around freely without crowding. Also the way they display the books makes it easy to find something new to read. I purchased a book entitled My sister the serial KILLER BY OYINKAN BRAITHWAITE.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti is one of the coolest writers that ever lived, one of Ginsbergs great minds.And they have an eclectic selection in a picturesque location.
Great bookstore, they have a very varied selection that is current but also includes classics. The store also incorporates great philosophies and practices. Even though I was only visiting San Francisco, I could not resist buying about a dozen books I was interested in, and that number was only capped by room in my luggage
My favourite west coast intellectual spot so far. Great collections of books(maybe one of the best in the continent?), reading room , vibrant community of intellectuals and artists and interesting events every Thursday. Not to mention their strong and old connection to beat generation and everything related to SF under ground art and liberal politics.Disclaimer: do not come here for best seller novels, cooking and marvel books. Its not a main stream library!
I have to tell you I truly hate this place, it is impossible for me to large this store without buying like $150 worth of books every time. There cookbooks section is insane. The people that work there can be a little quirky but theyre always helpful. They have a great kids section, and offer an overcurrent selection of fiction.
You could spend the day in this place! Has every book youd ever want!
Great place well organized, friendly staff always ready to help you and suggest you interesting books. Wide selection of genres you can find famous books as well as little gems, the beat section is amazing and quite big. The place has a unique beautiful ambience that makes you really feel the history, the power and charm of the books
Cute bookstore with a wonderful selection and helpful staff.
I ended up here because I was trying to find a good angle of the Trans American Building but Im glad that I stumbled into this store. Ive never been into a more warm and welcoming place to buy books. It wasnt a spectacular large space but it felt cozy because everything was so tight nit and interwoven. Book shelves werent over six feet so the space felt open and lively. Not to mention that they had about every single category of literature which made turning the isles fun because I would run into more categories of books. Overall a very nice experience.
The City Lights Bookstore is one of the greatest icons in San Francisco. Every time I go there, I find an interesting book or publication or something new that I enjoy. The whole staff and community there is very kind and helpful and there is always something new to learn at the bookstore. There is also a great sculpture outside
I was told by my great friends/coworkers to visit this store; I was amazed at the stores layout, its contents... My friends/coworkers knew what they were talking about!! Helped make my first full day in San Francisco a treat; my partner and I were in the city on vacation, and Id never been to the city, to California, before in my life.
Amazing selection of books. I have never seen such a great selection in one place, specifically for educational books. Staff is wonderful and they do staff book picks, so you can learn a little more about the book from someone there. They do cool events and signings. Its in a cute area that is close to good food.
Cant add to much to what is already known about this iconic SF bookstore on the North Beach/Chinatown border. Wonderfully curated selection, super nice/knowledgeable staff, comfortable setting to hang out. Standout sections: nonfiction, music, staff picks.
Visit every time Im in SF! More than just a slice of history, its a great bookshop too! Please visit.
On of San Franciscos crown jewels... Lawrence may have left this world but his gift to the world, City Lights, as well as his poetry and art, keep his fire burning bright.
Still thriving institution! The many staff picks with descriptions made it hard for me to choose just one book. Enjoyed visiting an independent bookstore and getting a good reminder of all the great writing being done and grabbed a vacation book. If you didn’t pack any reading on your trip- go grab something!
Iconic, historical place. Come prepared to spend hours there - definitely worth the time to look at everything special they have.
This is a historic place to browse books. This location, practically adjacent to the similarly famous Vesuvio Cafe, was where the Beat Poets hang out. You can feel the sophistication in that corner! In this day and age of amazon, its hard to find bookstores like this. City Lights keep hanging on. Go there, browse, feel the history, and buy a book!
Its rare to see great poetry sections in bookstores, so I was extremely excited when I happened to walk into this place and find an entire floor devoted to poetry. Great selection, fun to browse. It just felt cozy and I had a great time during my brief visit.
So many good books in a historical area. Get a brewski at Cafe Vesuvio across the street after shopping & read your new book.
Beautiful store. I didnt get to spend as much time as I would have liked because I got there near closing, but I was able to find a few things I liked. Check out the prints they have ready to be framed of the 60s groovy throwback posters. Would love to have a few of those on my wall. Instead I went with a couple magnet versions that are on my fridge right now.
A cozy book shop in mid-town San Francisco. Just by wandering around inside the shop, you feel and smell the old San Francisco days when artists, writers and poets were the common folks walking the streets. If youre a hipster, you will read a book here. If youre a book fanatic, youll probably try to find a rare book published by city lights itself. If youre a tourist, youll try to find the lonely planet book about San Francisco. If you want to honour this sacred place, buy at least some poetry from upstairs. I recommend San Francisco Poems by Lawrence Ferlinghetti or Howl and other poems by Allen Ginsberg. If you look in the history of City Lights and these poetry books, you will find out why a quick visit is not enough for City Lights. This store has history and not just a history section.
Famous for publishing Beat Poets, this book shop has everything youd want in a small, traditional, comfy spot. The atmosphere is close and quiet, and although the lighting is good it manages to feel yellow and warm, not white and bright like a big chain. I think its the layout of this shop that encourages you to linger and browse - you feel like you are in a warren that goes in twists and turns with something new around every corner.
I love independent book stores tucked away in corners of the city I might not otherwise seek out. Clean, friendly staff and an interesting layout and selections. Was a great addition to an afternoon exploring the city!
The excellence of City Lights does not rest on its past. Certainly it has an excellent history, but that alone is not enough to make it relevant today. Showcasing independent and unusual publications today is an art, its a calling. I appreciate that City Lights gives me a window into cultural things I might not find on my own.Finding wonderful staff that are friendly, unpretentious and enjoy helping you discover new things is a huge joy and bonus. Worthy of your dollars and support, especially right now!!
My visiting relative asked to go to City Lights. I had not been there in years. We spent an extremely pleasant hour looking at and discussing books (he bought a couple). There are so few real bookstores now, and this landmark is at the top of the heap.
City Lights Booksellers & Publishers is a wonderful shop to waste a couple of hours within its aisles of reading materials. Its kind of quirky shop, with books crammed onto shelves. Unfortunately, they dont really have a big selection of DIY, arts & craft books. Its a great little bookshop still to check out if you are in the area.
Beautiful book store in an very picturesque part of SF. Walked in thinking I’d stumble into a beatnik era novel, but left with a book on our current understanding of time and quantum physics. Would definitely come back!
This is one of the last few independent bookstores in the bay area. This store has a lot of great books for all age groups. This is definitely a great stop for anyone wanting to purchase books.
The bookstore is nice, the staff very incompetent and unhelpful. I phoned them to ask about a book copy I was very interested at. They confirmed me that they have indeed a copy. I made all my way with heavy luggage (I had just landed in San Francisco) till there only to find out that they did not have a copy. Apparently they forgot to delete it from the inventory. Too bad experience for me. Previously, the girl at the reception/cash had sent me to the downstairs floor to look for myself the book with the heavy luggage and without any help or indication. I did not find it of course...neither they did.
Came a long way to visit this place (Sydney, Australia) and despite the sign saying open 7 days a week, one whole section of the shop, childrens books, was closed to the public. I was rudely notified of this by the lady sorting books on the shelf when the only indication was a small handwritten sign on a tiny chair. Based on other reviews, it seems as though customer service is something they could improve upon. It was a real disappointment on an otherwise great trip to San Francisco.
Reading books will never be dead. Thanks to City Light for providing great reads for bookworms like me.
I could have spent hours here. I only had about 20 minutes to explore and it was so hard to leave. Each room is filled floor to ceiling with room shelves and the rooms are organized by genre. This is definitely a book lovers paradise.
There are so few of these independent bookstores left in the United States. It used to be that we were worried about Barnes & Noble closing down Crown bookstores! Dont get me wrong, I love the convenience of Amazon, but if I am ever near a bookstore with a Heritage like City Lights, you bet I will go there! What I love about City Lights, besides the fact that ferlinghetti is 100 years old and that Kerouac, Burroughs, and the other beats were there, is that it is home to so many small independent presses. You can find academic books that you cant find anywhere else except online in the shelves of city lights. Their poetry section, one of my great loves, is replete with modern and classic poets alike. Even if you are not a book lover, City Lights is a cultural landmark and should not be missed.
I have fond memories of growing up surrounded by bookstores and hiding myself away in the shelves of them. As much as I also love online shopping and ease of delivery, I do miss bookstores, so its such a gem to find this one in San Francisco tucked away on a busy street. Its not the typical mainstream bookstore. Its a small store, though it has three great floors, with a rustic and historical feel to it. Just walking in made me feel like Id discover something great hidden away in this store. Theres so much personality to the store. The stairs going down are creaky, the bookshelves are wooden, and if you look closely theres just a lot of little things to find from interesting posters and photos, to notes and reviews. Definitely visit.
Not sure what bar to hit on a Friday night? Why not figure it out while book shopping? I was blown away by the book selection, so many great choices! I definitely spent way too much time digging through all the shelves, and it was tough to narrow down my top pics. Check it out!
Very nice selection of book
Infamous for its history. You can really feel that the building still has the essence of the beat poets. Also, you can find great works of literature.
Legendary old musty book store. Nice
Lovely independent bookstore in Chinatown, famous for being the bookstore of beatnik poets like Jack Kerouac. Quite a wonderful selection of books, and a great old-fashioned atmosphere.
A real bibliophiles paradise, City Lights is a lovely spot to linger as you pick out your next book. There are little signs encouraging you to read and chairs so you can do so in comfort. The store is notorious for its ties to the Beat writers but its not just poetry and American literature you will find there; the sheer size and breadth of the catergories covered mean there is something for everyone. Most people will probably more find books in a quick browse than that they can comfortably afford - or carry!The highlighted Staff Picks are an excellent option for those of you who, like me, get overwhelmed and excited by the sheer amount of options! Its gloriously labyrinthine without feeling over-crowded and the upstairs Poetry Room is a lovely oasis in San Franciscos bustle.
Ill absolutely be back here. Its such a relief to be surrounded by books in todays saturated age of technology. City Lights is a small bookstore, and pretty cramped, but in a cozy way. You lose the craziness of North Beach and can easily just dive into the world of books. Great selection, and I found the staff suggestions to be a helpful guide when I wasnt searching for any title in particular.
Its such a beautiful and well-stocked bookshop. Definitely one of my favorite places in SF. Plus, it is in one of the most vibrant areas in the city, so dont miss the chance to pass by, get a book and take it for a stroll around the neighborhood.
City Lights is more than just a bookstore. I wish I had more time in the city. I wouldve spent it here.
Awesome selection of books. They have a great sales selection too
Great bookstore feel. The lady behind the counter needed a bit of a polish on her customer service, but the store was great and filled with history. A must see if you are into old school books. Enjoy!!!
You can feel the history at this store... Good selection of fiction and non fiction... I loved the 2nd floor poetry room... Some of the employees could be a little LESS pretentious, however. I asked 2 people about a book I was considering. They answered, the book is amazing .. when I asked a follow up question, they admitted that neither one had read the book... This is NOT what I expect from City Lights.
I truly love this place. This is my favorite book store in the city and I come here at least once a month. If I had a blog, I would totally blog about this place. The selection is great, the cheap books outside are fun to look through, and if you are looking for something specific, I have found the staff to be very helpful. I feel like when I see someone with a strand bag, I think they are automatically cool.
Delightful spot with so much creativity and poetry
I love this place because the books in the store reflect the community and culture of the neighborhood more than any other bookstore Ive been to. You get the feeling that every book was chosen by someone for a reason. Also, its an historic location so if you are visiting SF you should check it out.
Ive come here every time Ive gone to San Francisco over the past 10 years. Its perhaps my favorite bookstore in the entire world, no joke. Fantastic progressive (and even subversive) selection. Ive bought everything from books on hacking, linguistics, philosophy, consciousness, poetry, sci-fi, zines, and more here. Great small press selection. Dont forget to visit the basement!
This place is a rite of passage for anyone doing tourist things here. They have their own publishing. The downstairs is just dripping with knowledge and ideas.
Next to Powells bookstore in Portland Oregon, City Lights Booksellers & Publishers is the best. So many books, and who knew people still read. Its a thing.Very artsy store and patrons. Clean and organized. Whole floor dedicated to poems.This is a must visit place if you like books, knowledge or curious why people read.
One of the bookstores in San Francisco that’s so integral to the San Fran culture since it publishes a number of books regarding the city.Has a variety of books from fiction, poetry, politics, history, science. It also includes from small independent publishers as well as the well known ones.It’s one of the historic landmarks in Chinatown.
A highly acclaimed bookstore located in a heritage building. A quaint mom and pop style book store - not a big box, is stacked with books filling every available corner of a awkwardly shaped interior. With three floors, you are bound to find something of interest.
Every city shall have its signature bookstore. City light is the signature bookstore in San Francisco.Browsing through the shelves almost feels like a meditation to me. Staff picks are good and often inspirational. If the ground floor gets crowded, which it often does, hide away in the attic where there is a poem corner.Great way to spend some quiet time, right next to the chaos in Chinatown.
I recall my first and only, but not last, visit to City Lights Bookstore. I was enthralled by its wood floors that echoed its history. All I did was look around because I was broke, but wanted to purchase over half of the books! Its such an amazing place, as are the books, for any book lover. A must place to venture, if visiting San Francisco.
4.7 (199 comments)
Review №1
2022-06-17This legendary bookshop lived up to its reputation. The store presents three floors of closet squeezed, tall bookshelves, except for the top floor, the poetry room. The sections are stuffed with unique volumes that you might not find elsewhere, and there are odd and entertaining figures, artwork, and photos in every nook and cranny.
Review №2
2022-01-10What a wonderful tribute to beat poets, Chicanx authors, and a way to give visibility to new and minority authors. I am in love with this bookstore, next to Kerouac’s alley. It is aMagical place, a lovely place a hard place, and everything wonderful if you love books, diversity and good poetry❤️
Review №3
2022-08-13Have a sit in the poets chair and enjoy the spot that spawned some of the best American writers and the beat movement. Wonderful independent book shop is a must for bibliophiles.
Review №4
2022-06-11It’s a nice book store with plenty of choices. They are well categorized. Would recommend to check it out if you are a book lover !
Review №5
2022-04-15The staff were so helpful, the selection of books and history of the place are amazing! Its also located in such a vibrant neighborhood
Review №6
2022-05-05Fabulous bookshop. Amazing selection, entire floor dedicated to poetry. Staff are friendly, knowledgeable and happy for you to browse and pick things up. Great selection of books published by their own publisher which are prominently displayed and easy to find. Strict on masks (definitely a good thing).
Review №7
2021-11-24This is a special piece of history here in SF. City Lights Booksellers & Publishers is your one stop shop if you would like to immerse yourself in Beat Poetry History past and present, they truly have a one of a kind selection of some of the most unique authors, poets, and eclectic storytelling! I highly recommend this in person if you can but supporting them through online sales and experiences is also uniquely wonderful. Check out Thier events and keep in touch with your passion for this special piece of San Francisco... This place helped change the world!
Review №8
2021-10-05A literary landmark in the City. If you are a book lover, you must make the pilgrimage to North Beach and visit this gem. Three stories and hundreds of categories, you could get lost for hours. I especially appreciate the Staff Picks and have found some remarkable books I would never have crossed paths with.
Review №9
2022-07-24Very cool bookstore in downtown San Francisco! Lots of variety and two interesting floors. I am always in favor of supporting local independent book stores!
Review №10
2021-10-07Great bookstore! It has a good selection of book. Their Spanish selection is not that extensive but not bad. I wish they had more fiction in Spanish. But other than that it excels expectations.I enjoy learning about this bookstore prior to going. And as it is expected they have a good Ferlinghetti selection.After this stop by the neighbor bar Vesuvio for a drink (you can get a discount at the bar if you buy a book at city lights). And also stop by specs twelve Adler museum bar… I heard it was another fave of Ferlinghetti.