Portland has a higher percentage of literate people on record than any other major city in America, maybe thanks to the awesome bookstores they have dotted all over the city.
From vintage and rare finds to children’s books and everything in between, here are the best bookstores in Portland, Oregon (in no particular order)…
1. Powell’s City of Books – visit the world’s largest independent bookstore where you will find new, used and rare books
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 belonging to different genres including literature, history, politics, romance, mystery, science fiction and fantasy, philosophy, gardening, and cooking among many others.
With such a massive collection of books, you can easily quench your reading appetite regardless of your taste.
If you’re planning a visit, you must know that there’s plenty of parking space. The bookstore stays open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Address: 1005 W Burnside St, Portland, OR 97209, USA
Phone Number: +1 800-878-7323
2. Barnes & Noble – the best place to explore an extensive variety of books
Barnes & Noble is one of the largest national bookstore chains in the United States. It has two retail outlets in Portland, with one located in Lloyd Center and one located 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.
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 at any time without straining your eyes.
The bookstore also has a B&N cafe that serves ‘Starbucks style’ coffee and a bunch of other treats that you don’t see at Starbucks itself.
Barnes & Noble, Lloyd Center opens daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. However, the store closes an hour early on Sundays.
Address: 1317 Lloyd Center, Portland, OR 97232, United States/
Phone Number: +1 503-249-0800
3. Broadway Books – locally owned bookstore where you will be able to meet local authors
Located in Northeast Portland, Broadway Books is an ideal destination for book lovers and avid readers. From non-fiction and informative books to literary gems and best-sellers, this independently run bookstore that houses a conglomerate of book selections.
Broadway Books also features an interesting selection of magazines and creative cards. Broadway Books has the 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.
Address: 1714 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232, United States
Phone Number: +1 503-284-1726
4. Wallace Books – a perfect book spot with a cozy atmosphere
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.
However, you must not be overwhelmed as there are salespeople who are happy to help you out. Wallace Books stays open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both weekdays and weekends.
Address: 7241 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland, OR 97202, United States
Phone Number: +1 503-235-7350
5. Backstory Books & Yarn – unique book and yarn store where you will find anything from crafting to first edition books
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 also hosts art shows, art classes, crafts nights, and poetry readings.
Backstory also has an e-store featuring a vast array of books belonging to a variety of 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.
Backstory is open for in-store shopping from Wednesday to Monday between 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 3129 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214, United States
Phone Number: +1 971-282-3332
6. Annie Bloom’s – over 40 years serving Portland with a broad range of used and new books
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 belonging to 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.
Address: 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219, United States
Phone Number: +1 503-246-0053
7. Green Bean Books – a cute children’s bookstore that offers educational toys and story hours
Green Bean Books is the ultimate bookstore for kids in Portland. From picture books to educational toys, the bookstore offers everything that kids want.
At Green Bean Books, kids can hear stories, meet authors, and browse through books by theme, such as ‘sports, ‘bedtime’, ‘animals, ‘fairies’, etc. Green Bean 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 sort of community center as it is a major participant in Alberta Main Street activities. The bookstore is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: 1600 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211, United States
Phone Number: +1 503-954-2354
8. Mother Foucault’s Bookshop – one of Portland’s favorite bookshops that hosts literary events
Located in inner Southeast Portland, Mother Foucault’s Bookshop is a sanctuary for serious readers. It has a curated collection of rare, used, and vintage books.
The bookstore also hosts a number of 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.
Address: 523 SE Morrison St, Portland, OR 97214, United States
Phone Number: +1 503-236-2665
9. Daedalus Books – a petite bookstore that specializes in philosophy
Daedalus Books is a small, independent, and well-stocked bookstore with a decent collection of philosophy, art, music, and literature books.
You will find a good selection of used and rare books downstairs. The bookstore has a friendly staff to point you to the right place.
Though Daedalus Books has a two-storey building with a large capacity, they have limited the number of people allowed in the store at one time due to COVID-19. They are open from Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 2074 NW Flanders St, Portland, OR 97209, United States
Phone Number: +1 503-274-7742
10. Kinokuniya Bookstore – a funky store located in a historic cinema building
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, stationary 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.
Address: 829 SW 9th Ave, Portland, OR 97205, United States
Phone Number: +1 503-206-8331
11. Bingo Used Books – a large shop where you can find amazing books and a great variety of music
Bingo Used Books has a huge 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 a large variety of remainder books at incredibly low 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.
Address: 3366 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97202, United States
Phone Number: +1 503-231-4091
12. Bearly Read Books – the only bookshop where you will find two store cats
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 among others.
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 open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Sundays, they open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m.
Address: 16441 SE Powell Blvd #1724, Portland, OR 97236, United States
Phone: +1 503-667-9669
13. Monograph Bookwerks – an amazing bookstore that offers anything from contemporary books to unique objects and arts
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 among others.
They are only open on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: 5005 NE 27th Ave, Portland, OR 97211, United States
Phone Number: +1 503-284-5005
14. Longfellows Books
Longfellows Books is a family-run 35-years-old bookstore in Portland that features a well-curated selection of modern literature and popular classics.
It has a breathtaking antiquarian atmosphere that takes you back to the 1600s. The bookstore also features an impressive collection of paper collectibles, magazines, and posters.
Located on Southeast Division Street, Longfellows Books is the best-used history bookstore in Portland. The place is mostly crowded and the books are not very well-organized. However, they have a super knowledgeable staff to assist you with browsing.
Address: 1401 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202, United States
Phone Number: +1 503-239-5222
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Born and raised in Brazil, Gaby has always had a taste for the intriguing, the off-beat and the far flung. After travelling around most of South America, living in Spain and Italy and then moving to England, her feet have stayed continually twitchy. Studying for a degree in Spanish translation and then learning five more languages only poured more fuel onto her travelling ardor.
Gaby likes nothing better than discovering new destinations and meeting the locals, tasting the cuisine and hearing about the local stories. Her other indulgences include French cinema, boxing, photography, colourful manicures and soaking up the rays on a sun-infused beach. She counts Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon and Cornwall as her most favourite places in the world.