12 Awesome Bookstores in Portland (tried and tested)

Portland has a higher percentage of literate people on record than any other major city in America, maybe thanks to the excellent bookstores they have dotted all over the city. I’m a huge fan of bookstores and I can easily spend hours in them. From vintage and rare finds to children’s books and everything in between, here are my favorite bookstores in Portland, Oregon…

Top 3 Best Bookstores in Portland
1.
Powells City of Books l Global Grasshopper – travel inspiration for the road less travelled
Best For Rare Books
Powell’s City of Books
2.
Barnes Noble l Global Grasshopper – travel inspiration for the road less travelled
Best For Great Variety
Barnes & Noble
3.
Broadway Books l Global Grasshopper – travel inspiration for the road less travelled
Best For Local Works
Broadway Books
Best For Rare Books

Powell’s City of Books

Powell's City of Books - Oregon

Located in Portland’s Pearl District, Powell’s City of Books is the largest bookstore in the world that houses both new and used books. With nine color-coded rooms and 3,500 different sections, Powell’s City of Books has to offer something for every interest. 

Powell’s City of Books is home to approximately one million books from different genres, including literature, history, politics, romance, mystery, science fiction and fantasy, philosophy, gardening, and cooking, among many others.

I seriously love this place, with such a massive collection of books, you can quickly quench your reading appetite regardless of your taste.  I’d recommend staying for a while to really soak up the atmosphere.

If you’re planning a visit by car there are plenty of parking spaces. The bookstore stays open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Pros

Hosts vast selection of books

Unique and rare books available

Large parking spaces

A wide range of genres is available

Cons

The large size can be overwhelming

The seating areas are limited

Nearby Attractions

Afuri Ramen and Dumplings

Domain Wine Lounge

Classic Control Arcade and Bar

Best For Great Variety

Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble - Oregon

Barnes & Noble is one of the largest national bookstore chains in the United States. It has two retail outlets in Portland, one in Lloyd Center and one at Clackamas Town Center Mall.

The Lloyd Center outlet houses a massive selection of current bestsellers and still-in-print titles belonging to a wide range of genres and I’m a big fan of this place. 

Barnes & Noble also sells eReaders and tablets with over 3.6 million eBooks, newspapers, magazines, and digital comics. With Barnes & Noble’s NOOK Tablet, you can enjoy your favorite novel, exciting games, and the latest news from anywhere, anytime, without straining your eyes.

The bookstore also has a B&N cafe that serves ‘Starbucks style’ coffee and many other treats you don’t see at Starbucks itself. 

Barnes & Noble, Lloyd Center, open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. However, the store closes an hour early on Sundays. 

Pros

B&N Cafe for coffee and unique treats

Offers e-readers for digital reading

A vast selection of e-books

Extensive book collection

Cons

Closes early on Sundays

It might lack some rarer titles

Nearby Attractions

Holladay Park Plaza

Lloyd Athletic Club

McMenamins Broadway Pub

Best For Local Works

Broadway Books

Broadway Books - Oregon

Located in Northeast Portland, Broadway Books is an ideal destination for book lovers and avid readers. This independently run bookstore houses a conglomerate of book selections, from non-fiction and informative books to literary gems and bestsellers.

Broadway Books also features an exciting selection of magazines and creative cards. Broadway Books has a policy to support local authors. Many Portland-based writers have made special appearances at the bookstore, including Lidia Yuknavitch, Cheryl Strayed, and Chelsea Cain.

Broadway Books stays open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. The store is closed on Mondays.

Pros

Meet and greet local authors

Wide range of book genres

Offers interesting magazine choices

A unique selection of creative cards

Cons

Closed on Mondays

Only has a single location

Nearby Attractions

Twisted Croissant

Steeplejack Brewing Company

Koji Osakaya Restaurant

Best For Cozy Ambiance

Wallace Books

Wallace Books - Oregon

Wallace Books features a diverse collection of vintage literature. Wallace Books has a treasure of hot classics, current bestsellers, and rare pieces of literature that are hard to find in other bookstores. The bookstore is located inside a 1930s house and has been in existence for 21 years.

It has floor-to-ceiling book storage cases and shelves with hundreds of books stuffed inside them, making it a perfect place for people who enjoy browsing for books.

I’d suggest asking the friendly staff for book recommendations as they’re very happy to help you out. Wallace Books stays open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and weekends. 

Pros

A cozy vintage-chic ambiance

A diverse collection of rare literature

Welcoming and helpful staff

Charming 1930’s house setting

Cons

Vibe might not suit everyone

No inside cafe

Nearby Attractions

Awake Coffee & Art

Poke Box Sushi

ReSaleArt

Best For Unique Bookstore

Backstory Books & Yarn

Backstory Books & Yarn - Oregon

Backstory Books & Yarn is a women-owned book and yarn store. This independently run store is an amalgamation of crafters and readers. At Backstory Books & Yarn, you’ll find exquisite pieces of fine craftsmanship.

They specialize in Nautical and African-American crafting/making. Backstory hosts art shows, classes, crafts nights, and poetry readings. 

The backstory also has an e-store featuring a vast array of books belonging to various genres, including travel, sports, religion, theatre, humor, science fiction, fantasy/paranormal, and mystery, among others. The e-store gives you access to every book found in the retail outlet of Backstory. 

The Backstory is open for in-store shopping from Wednesday to Monday between 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Pros

Unique craft and book fusion

Specializes in niche crafting

Engaging in arts and crafts events

Diverse book genres and e-store access

Cons

Doesn’t cater to all interests

Closed on Tuesdays

Nearby Attractions

Master Kong

Tov Coffee & Tea

SeaSweets Poke

Best For Historic Store

Annie Bloom’s

Annie Bloom’s - Oregon

Located in Southwest Portland’s Multnomah Village, Annie Bloom’s is a perfect place to indulge in hot bestsellers and quirky classics.

Annie Bloom’s is an independent bookstore that houses a broad range of books for people of all ages. It has a dedicated area for children’s books filled with easy readers, coloring books, and pictorial novels. The bookstore also features a mesmerizing selection of adult books. 

At Annie Bloom’s, you get to enjoy a cup of complimentary coffee as you browse around the bookstore. The store is open between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. 

Pros

Complimentary coffee while browsing

A dedicated section for children's books

A diverse collection of books

A long history of forty years

Cons

The parking is compact

Closes early on the weekends

Nearby Attractions

Down to Earth Cafe

Multnomah Antiques

Yalla Restaurant

Best For Children Books

Green Bean Books

Green Bean Books - Oregon

Green Bean Books is the ultimate bookstore for kids in Portland. The bookstore offers everything kids want, from picture books to educational toys.

At Green Bean Books, kids can hear stories, meet authors, and browse through books by theme, such as ‘sports, ‘bedtime’, ‘animals, ‘fa,’ is,’ etc. Green Be’ Books allows children to indulge in reading while lying in a comfortable squashy chair.

The bookstore also has a beautiful garden and a back deck. 

Green Bean Books serves as a community center as it is a significant participant in Alberta Main Street activities. The bookstore is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Pros

Interactive story hours captivate children

Garden and back deck for relaxation

Educational toys for children

Comfortable squashy chairs for reading

Cons

Garden and deck usability tied to weather

Offers only children’s books

Nearby Attractions

Roseline Coffee

Kulfi

Yang's Noodle

Best For Literary Events

Mother Foucault’s Bookshop

Mother Foucault’s Bookshop - Oregon

Located in inner Southeast Portland, Mother Foucault’s Bookshop is a sanctuary of severe readers. It has a curated collection of rare, used, and vintage books.

The bookstore also hosts several events, including poetry readings, readers’ panels, art performances, and literary talks. 

Mother Foucault’s Bookshop is a browsable repository of philosophy, literary criticism, fiction, foreign language, and poetry books. They are open Tuesday through Saturday between 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Pros

Unique selection of literature

Hosts engaging literary events

Collection of rare and vintage Books

Convenient location in Central Portland

Cons

Crowded during events

Parking challenges in the area

Nearby Attractions

Lollipop Shoppe

Voicebox Karaoke

LULU

Best For Comic and Manga

Kinokuniya Bookstore

Kinokuniya Bookstore - Oregon

Kinokuniya Bookstore is a Japanese-based book retailer. The bookstore has a giant collection of Manga, Gundama, and other Japanese comic books.

At Kinokuniya Bookstore, you’ll also find a decent selection of DVDs, Gundama tools, anime statues, Studio Ghibli goods, stationery items, and home goods. 

The refund policy of Kinokuniya Bookstore extends to books and unopened comics. They are open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Pros

Extensive collection of manga and comics

Housed in a historic cinema

A diverse range of anime and goods

Cons

Refunds only for books and unopened comics

It might not appeal to traditional readers

Nearby Attractions

The Paramount Hotel Portland

Swine Restaurant

Case Study Coffee Roasters

Best For Books and Music

Bingo Used Books

Bingo Used Books - Oregon

Bingo Used Books has a vast inventory of both new and used books. The bookstore also sells movies, sports cards, and music.

Bingo Used Books has a good selection of non-fiction books of different types, including engineering, mathematics, business, stock market, technical, psychology, and other textbooks. 

Bingo Used Books also houses many remaining books at meager prices. They are open Monday through Saturday between 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Sunday, the store stays open between 11.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Pros

Wide range of non-fiction books

Music and movies available

Remainder books at an affordable price

A diverse collection of music

Cons

No cafe or refreshments

Closes early on the weekends

Nearby Attractions

Braking Cycles

DeNicola's

Best For The Cute Factor!

Bearly Read Books

Bearly Read Books - Oregon

Bearly Read Books is a small bookstore that houses hundreds of books. The bookstore has an extensive collection of romantic novels, cookbooks, memoirs, and gardening books, 

Bearly Read Books has a super-friendly and knowledgeable staff to show you around the place. It’s easy to browse books at Bearly Read Books as all books are very well-organized.

On weekdays, the store is open between 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturdays, they are available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Sundays, they open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. 

Pros

Home to two adorable store cats

Extensive selection of books

Easy and well-organized book browsing

Knowledgeable and welcoming team

Cons

The store is small

Not suitable for people with cat allergies

Nearby Attractions

Chili Basil Thai

Best For Contemporary Literature

Monograph Bookwerks

Monograph Bookwerks - Oregon

Monograph Bookwerks is a rare bookstore that features a giant collection of well-chosen books.

It is an ephemera, art, and object bookstore that houses hundreds of books belonging to unique genres, such as architecture, graphic design, artist memoirs, photography, countercultures, fashion, art criticism, contemporary art, and theory,

They are only open on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Pros

Diverse selection of books

Unique art and collection of objects

Contemporary art selection

Cons

Short opening hours

Crowded when events are on.

Nearby Attractions

Thai Noon Restaurant

Bar Cala

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