Reviews of The Elliott Bay Book Company. (Book Store) in Seattle (Washington).

The Elliott Bay Book Company

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397 Comments

Book store

Book store

1521 10th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122, United States

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Information of The Elliott Bay Book Company, Book store in Seattle (Washington)

Discover the opening times, the location, contact, popular times, photos and real reviews by internet users.

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Open hours of The Elliott Bay Book Company

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Reviews of The Elliott Bay Book Company

Anna B W

Beautiful. Love the aesthetic and brilliant selection. Books, cards, maps, journals, calendars…is it paper? They have it here :p also cute gifts, toys, trinkets. The kids area is cute with a little play area and there’s even a coffee shop about 20ft away. Super busy Cap Hill area and limited paid street parking outside but you could easily spend an hour here. Check it out :)

Heather B.

The most amazing book store. I was in Heaven. Could spend an entire day (or longer!) there! The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable. The cafe coffee and baked goods are delicious. Can’t say enough good things about this iconic bookstore. Must visit if you are in the area.

DK

Wonderful bookstore in the neighborhood with fun read selections from the staff and a little cafe inside. The cafe inside is very cute and a great space to read or studs. There are many seats in the space, but keep in mind it can quickly get crowed on weekends. It’s a great spot to come by on a weekend morning for a cup of coffee, then walk around the store for new reads.

Amanda

I was visiting Seattle last spring and I fell in love instantly with this independent bookstore! It is warm, cozy, and ‘personal’ bookstore. I can spend hours wandering around to discover books here. I personally liked the review tags by the staffs, smart idea and helpful. They also highlights local/northwest authors which is very cool. All in all, it got everything I dream on a bookstore!

Colleen Li

such a gem — i absolutely loved it here! hands down one of my favorite stops in seattle and it’s truly hard to find a bookstore with such a comprehensive and diverse collection. the staff go out of their way to provide meaningful recommendations & descriptions for their picks; and there’s a huge selection of bargain books that are super affordable! there’s also a cafe inside which makes it the perfect place to buy a book and enjoy it with a nice cup of coffee.

Sarah Kim

The Elliott Bay Book Company is one of my favorite local book stores. It is large and homey, and the books are pretty well organized. They’ll likely have what you’re looking for, and you may walk out with much more! My favorite part of the bookstore is how many recommendations are tagged by the staff throughout the store. There is even a wall of staff recommendations. It’s nice to hear some insight on books that catch my eye, or even ones that I’ve never heard of. You can spend hours in the store looking through all of the options and reading the recommendations. The one critique I would have is that for such a large bookstore that you could spend hours in, there is not a restroom available in the store. There is a little Oddfellows cafe connected that has two coded bathrooms, though the cafe seemed to close a couple of hours before the store. Otherwise, I love stopping in The Elliot Bay Book Company!

Leah Day

Attended a book signing event in their reading room. It was really fun and interesting. I wish I had time to check out the rest of the bookstore but it looks really nice. They only have one working bathroom right now and the line was 5-6 people long when I checked. Overall a good experience though!

Vanessa Siemens

My favourite thing about this book store is all the recommendations from staff. There are little slips of paper tucked into the bookshelves that give short descriptions as to why the book is good and who might enjoy it. The layout of the store is very organized with clearly distinguished sections. There's also a cafe in the back if you need a break from browsing and shopping.

Daniela Bailey

Very cool bookstore. Clean space, well organized and fun. I really enjoy looking at all the beautiful book covers all around and going through their pages. There is a café inside (which I've been before) and that just makes it for a whole bookstore experience.

Alexa H

Super beautiful book store! You can definitely find anything here!!! I didn’t buy anything but the aesthetics is super pleasing and if I ever come back I would definitely buy something. Super cute super touristy.

Julia Rosenthal

This is maybe the best bookstore I’ve ever gone to, the display tables have thoughtful recommendations and genres. The shelves are well stocked in a way that makes browsing easy and enjoyable. I could have spent easily a couple hours in here. Staff was lovely, dog friendly (gave my pup a treat!), they also have a loyalty punch card so make sure you ask about it!

John Wyss

This is it, the real deal. People travel quite a ways to hang out here and it's easy to understand why. Just walking in the door. You'll feel the majesty of expertly curated book collections, neatly arranged by topic and theme. Check out the children's area with the castle and the coffee shop at the back.

Sujin Park

This is the very epitome of independent bookstore. Everything is perfect — the smell of books, commentaries by staff, large table in the middle for people to sit and read… I could easily spend hours browsing through books and find a new gem that I otherwise wouldn’t have come across via its unique curations of books. I wish I could live nearby this bookstore; I will be a happy soul if I could :)

Jaclyn Barrientes

Holy moly, what a bookstore! Came here on a friend's recommendation and I wasn't disappointed. They have a great selection of books and I loved their Pacific NW section (that's where I got most of my books). The science section wasn't fantastic but how could I ever hold anything against such a great bookstore. And to top it off, it's a beautiful place. Probably that best looking bookstore I've ever been in.

Sylvia Carlson

One of my favorite bookstores! Great selection of unique books and the staff was so knowledgeable. They took the time to make recommendations and find specific authors for me. Hope to return next time I’m in town!

Ayse

Great selection and good staff recommendations. Make sure to also check out the bargain section on the top floor. Unfortunately I did not have time to check out the cafe, but it sure made the shop smell lovely.

Very Oliver Raft

Incredible bookstore!! I could be in here for hours and hours. They have an amazing LGBTQ+ book section, Seattle and Washington state books, tons of staff recommendations, stationary items, and more. I always recommend this to all my friends and family when they're in town :)

Julie B

Love this bookstore! It's huge! Has a section for every taste and really appreciate the spectacular organization. The staff was friendly and helpful. Really enjoyed browsing through many books and the prices aren't bad for being in the middle of Seattle. They even have a whole wall of staff recommendations. Will be back! If you're visiting Seattle, def stop by, it's a great place to see while in town 👀

Benji Tri

Great, big bookstore with a ton of material and variety. Situated in a neighborhood with lots of shops nearby. Two levels, a variety of sections, from diverse voices to deluxe cookbooks, local authors to area-interest topics.

Tanzila Ahmed

The poetry section was extensive and has so many indie press featured from Kaya, Catapult, and Milkweed. Was super impressed by what they stocked! Also loved stumbling on the shelves featuring Chennai based press Tara Books.

Adarsh Chauhan

Lovely place for all those for who get excited upon seeing shelves and shelves of books, where everything seems appealing and charming! A unique and pleasantly surprising thing is the individual, handwritten review notes which the bookstore’s (or their book club’s) members have written as their personal recommendation about certain books that impressed them. Word-of-mouth is a powerful way to share reading interests - so this thoughtful and creative idea is very refreshing and appealing! 😊 Oh, BTW, if you are planning to go by your own car there (which we did since we don’t live in Seattle right now), then there is no complimentary parking that we could find (since it’s Seattle). There is a paid parking lot though just across the street which charged us $6+ for an hour.

Will B

What can be said of this institution that has not already been said? It’s a bookstore. A famous bookstore. A famous bookstore that smells nice, has a coffee shop inside, and is absolutely worth a visit. I’ve actually never purchased a book from here and probably never will. Why do that when you have the library? Still, this is a fantastic spot to scope out new releases and books that you would like to take out of the library. What I have purchased here are cards. They have a really nice card section with tons of unique designs. If you’re a tourist visiting for the weekend, sure, stop in. Might as well. If you’ve been living in Seattle, you already know this is a pride and joy shop of the city.

Nizar Senussi

I am here merely to describe the distinct smell of this establishment. When you first walk in you get hit with this animalic musky cat urine top note that gets deeper with hints of patchouli, oak moss and more concentrated cat urine Very endearing.

Sthefany Hernandez Lizcano

Great books to buy. You can find a good coffee inside. You can read your books there

Tallon Cote

I really enjoy this place and go every time I get the chance. I am a designer for a living and they always seem to have a great selection of books for graphic, interaction, UX, and visual design. Don’t forget to get a punch card when you check out! You can get rewards for every $10 you spend. On top of the great selection the ambiance is also top-tier. It’s a great place to sit, work, and enjoy coffee.

Joaquin Ramirez

Wonderful bookstore, best in Seattle and in my top 3 in US.

Tetiana Gavryshko

I loved this bookstore! The recommended section was on point and the descriptions/reviews attached were a very nice touch. Coffee shop in the back is also an amazing detail. Wish there was a bookstore like this in my town, I would 100% be a regular. P.S. Staff was very nice.

Kaylee Sligar

Loved finding this bookstore and having the time to wander all throughout it. Very clean and well organized. Loved the Banned Book Endcap!

Pamela Rennick

No wonder it’s a Seattle institution. Loved the selection, the space (very spacious and upstairs has a place you can sit a flip through books), and my favorite thing are the staff recommendations. I was looking for a recipe book as a gift and landed with a staff recommendation. It was perfect. Also, free gift wrapping and it was beautiful!

Catherine

This was my first visit since EBBC moved from it's original digs years ago, and WOW, great space. It feels familiar, like its old self, but in a comfortable new package. Easy to navigate, warm vibe, and lots of literary expertise handy in the form of helpful and passionate staff. I did literally all of my holiday shopping there this year, and I may make that a tradition. Can't wait to go back! P.S. Pro-tip: Molly Moon's is right around the corner. Make an afternoon of books and ice cream!

Shabbir

I loved this bookstore. Most of the books I was looking for were available. The staff were very helpful in locating the books or recommending good reads. The coffee place located within Elliot Bay also added to the vibe of the bookstore, with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee topping off an enjoyable experience.

Sam W

Airy place, diverse books, pricey. There's a section out back on the upper level with some discounted books.

Rea R

Amazing bookstore! Love the organization and the staff notes on books! The selection of nonfiction were great!

Daniel

One of the best book stores in western WA. They carry a huge selection of books across a wide variety of genres. The staff was incredibly friendly. The cafe inside is an amazing spot for a quick bite while shopping around. I highly recommend this place.

Rob Burns

Excellent selection and helpful, knowledgeable staff. If you are looking for the edgy stuff, for example treatises on how to reject the thought patterns of your parents or anyone else in authority, you've come to the right place. A little surprised at the void of Lewis and Clark selections for a bookstore in this part of the world, but the generous supply of material on First Nations and our Indiginous brothers and sisters made up for it.

Adam Kapp

One of my favorite bookstores anywhere. I love the staff picks and always find multiple new books I'm interested in. Their horror/fantasy/sci-fi section is particularly great. I also love their selection of cards.

John Thompson

A cornucopia of compendiums, an exposition of editions, or simply a bonanza of books. Staff have great product knowledge and directional abilities I thought lost outside the Dewey decimal system. Plus a coffee shop, it is Seattle, a place to settle for a few hours as you test your newest tomes.

Lisa Kettemer

Beautiful and well-curated store - I want to read all the books in this store! They have tables where you can sit and decide which ones. I especially appreciate the selection of nature writing and poetry.

Geetika Pandya

One of my favourite independent bookstores in Seattle! They have a wide selection spanning across multiple categories and also diverse authors. Here, I’ve found gems from Asian authors that I hadn’t heard of before. The staff recommendations always make for stellar choices!

Will Cappon

Very nice bookstore with a cool vibe. Lots of people in there and there is a cafe as well. I wish they had some used books and more classic selection. It was a bit too modern for 5 stars, but overall I recommend.

andy luley

This place is incredible! Their selection is top notch, the staff is knowledgeable and the staff picks section never fails to provide great recommendations. The Oddfellows Cafe in the back has delicious food and drinks, and they have author readings and book signings that arr always fun and interesting. I run short of superlatives when trying to describe this establishment. It's a shame i'm limited to five stars

Kyle Giarratano

I love book stores so it doesn't take alot for me to want to visit one. Add in reconnection with an old friend and delicious Arnold Palmer from the cafe inside and you've got a great store! I loved the layout, curation and selection. Especially enjoyed getting a free bookmark with every book! If you want to visit authentic Seattle this is the book store for you!

Jade P.

This bookstore had a variety of books and the feeling inside was large and cozy. I found a play I’d been looking for for a while in here. The staff were friendly and I was able to use the bathroom in the cafe.

Daryush McGee

Cute and cool bookstore. loved all the moleskines. Friendly staff too ❤️

Jeff Hinman

Great atmosphere and very helpful staff. I found the books I was looking for. In fact, the multiple times I've bought books from them, I've always found it, no matter how obscure I thought it would be. A wide variety in selection, an ambience I'd keep crawling back to, and helpful and friendly staff make this a must visit for anyone, regardless of book interest.

Anthony DeLeon

Very old fashioned feeling bookstore with a large selection. The staff are friendly and helpful (when they're not busy) and make great suggestions. Cafe has a great atmosphere to sit and get lost in a book.

Sheridan Sargent

An amazing bookstore! I spend at least an hour just browsing every time I come in. There are little signs under some books that describe the book without copying what’s on the back cover. There’s also a cute cafe, so you can get coffee and read your new books!

William Stecher

Top bookstore in Seattle. Great selection of books and cozy ambiance. Lots of great timber beams and hardwood floor squeaks. Unique and awesome space!

Michelly Calzadilla

There are two kinds of book stores: ones that feel cluttered, overwhelming and ones that feel infinite and hook you to stay and browse for a while. Elliott Bay is the latter. They have an expansive selection across a wide array of genres that are neatly presented in a pleasant environment that inspires you to browse. It's the type of book store where if you're not cautious you buy 9 books because it's just that good. However, there is a general lack of seating in the store, aside from the cafe which I did find disappointing. I'll be back though because this store is a gem!

Stephen Clark

Our favorite book shop in Seattle. There are great options throughout the city but you just can't beat the vibe they have there, the selection and the surrounding area. They keep up with new releases, have a great selection of local small press releases and more. There's a section to get lost in for any genre.

Ronald Kruml

ELLIOT Bay Books is a Seattle institution. Good selection of fiction, travel, and local interest books. Coffee shop in the back. Bring your patience, as it's usually very busy.

Elims D

Love this store! Great staff, great selection & has a great little coffee shop inside. Parking can be tricky but it's better to bus anyway!

Thomas J. Burke

This little big book store, has an awesome selection of recent and past. Today I bought two Stephen King books, I am all set until spring 🤓. …

Ryan Polesko

This is one of my favorite book stores in Seattle. I find it very relaxing and easy to find any book that I might need for artwork, art history, or manga.

Tanisha Felder

What a beautiful space! Parking is difficult but take the light rail. You can shop, get a snack, and hear an author all in one visit( if you're lucky 😉) …

Liling

A big book store! So many books there, and allows people to seat and read. Enjoy the good environment as well as the varieties of books.

Roy Chen

If a large bookstore could get any more classic, I’d be surprised. I could’ve spent hours in here browsing the different aisles, reading the personalized notes from the staff, and wandering around the two floors. Love how cozy it is here too. Coffee shop in the back (I didn’t try) so grab a cup and support!

Jacqueline Cullimore

Wow, what an amazing bookstore! We spent an hour here, perusing the books and picking out a few to buy. An incredible selection and a very comfortable environment to spend an afternoon. Love it!

Mar •

Amazing selection of books. Lots of cool other things and stuffs to look at. The openness of the layout and the vibe is very relaxing. Employees are attentive and the pricing is reasonable. Parking wasn't an issue and the surrounding area is bustling with activity. Definitely worthy of a visit if you're searching for something to occupy your mind.

Brooke Peterson

This was absolutely an amazing bookstore! It had the amazing vibe of an academia bookstore. It was really busy when I went on a Sunday afternoon, which was to be expected, but there was enough space that it was still easy to navigate, which is often hard in bookstores! The team was super nice and helped me find a book I had trouble locating. Prices were a little high, I got four books for $106, but a few were new and hardcovers! They also do a stamp card where every $200 spent you get $20 off a subsequent purchase, which I love! Overall 5/5 I will be back!!

M Harrington

Perhaps one of the best bookstores. Not only from a standpoint of book selections but the list of visiting authors makes this bookstore exceptional. Always come back here when I am in Capitol Hill, as it remains a favorite place for me in Seattle. I always find so many books I want to own of every category.

Alice Miles

I absolutely loved exploring this bookstore. The expanded section for poetry was beautiful to look through, and finding a shop with native history and additional books was surprising! My home city doesn't have a shop like this, so I popped in a few times to explore the psych and mythology sections while I was in seattle

Gunnar

What a great book store in the heart of capitol hill. They have a great selection of kids books and recommendations for every other genre. The staff is friendly and helpful. This bookstore is highly recommended.

Samtsung Cohen

Most cities of a certain size have a quintessential flagship bookstore, beloved by all and forming an integral part of the cities cultural identity. The Strand in NYC, Powells in Portland, etc. Elliot Bay is Seattle's quintessential flagship bookstore. So if you like books, you'll like it here

Zac Yeow

Huge bookstore with a huge selection of books. You can sit there and read too, if I am not wrong they have book club and there as well. The ice cream store right beside is a good place to buy an ice cream and chill and read the book too. They have an information counter for all your queries as well.

Julia Short

Fantastic bagels and darn tasty lox. Good coffee from the beer place. It would be nice to be able to ring them together but certainly not a show stopper. Quite relaxing sitting outside.

Amanda Leighton

One could spend hours combing through the bookshelves and the many book recommendations.

Chris Lew

Tall ceilings, open bright and airy. Book cover lovingly displayed like art. Not grandmother's stuffy book store of yore.

Sunshine Darby

A cozy books store with the beautiful bookstore smell. Large selection and a cafe inside.

M Nguyen

they moved to Capitol Hill in 2010 however were originally located in pioneer square, Little Old fellows is also situated inside, making it a nice spot to hang out and read your new book! If you’re familiar with Chapters Indigo, it’s similar where they have staff recommendations on a wall

Natalie Alvarado-Lopez

My fav bookstore. They really got everything you could possibly want in a bookstore. Even a cute lil coffee shop!! The workers are also very nice :)

Kevin Cahill

Great bookstore, in one of our favorite neighborhoods in Seattle, right near Plum Bistro, our favorite vegan restaurant. And they have a great cafe in the back.

Amanda Aikman

This place keeps getting better and better. Incredible store for discovering new books and old treasures. Shiny and comfortable.

Roman Battaglia

Such a cute bookstore with a cute cafe in the back, me and my friends got so many books here!

Sarah Ganci

A favorite of locals and tourists— this beloved bookstore is always a fun place to walk around! Their staff is also very helpful :)

Kenneth Bleyer

Best selection of books for all tastes. Wonderful cafe. Cute staff. What's not to like.

Ashley Eastman

What a beautiful bookstore! I had the sense that it would be just about impossible for Ms to find a bad book in this store. The books seemed so carefully chosen, and the selection was so great! The prices weren't my favorite, but as long as you go for paperback, it's not too bad.

C Wood

The kind of place you expect a bookstore to be. Varied selection of books and gifts, some great staff recommendations very worth visiting!

Linda

Love this place! Such a wonderful selection of books. Everytime I am in Seattle I always stop here.

lori bontrager

This is a cozy, exquisite bookstore, not to be missed! Very helpful staff, great wooden floors, I just wanted to spend the whole day there!

Matt Shepard

Good selection and friendly staff. I picked a book up for my sister, who made an online order. I also ended up buying a few books as well.

Griff Matthews

Once a Pioneer Square mainstay, the move to Capitol Hill seems to be nothing but a success. Elliott Bay Book’s new location puts them right at the heart of Seattle’s vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood. Very helpful staff and an unmatched selection of books from all genres.

Matt Moore

We have a few good bookstores in our town. None compare to this one.

Ryan Namba

When people lament the loss of great bookstores, it’s places like this that they’re thinking of. This is the quintessential bookstore — wide selection, roomy stacks, the right refreshments and plenty of space to browse. The staff notes on various selections are insightful, often funny, and universally well-written.

Arman Ahmed

One the most inviting bookstores I’ve been to. Discovered so many good reads, especially appreciate the handwritten synopses by the staff.

Lisa Jansen

A book store for everyone. What a welcoming feeling. Has much more than just books.

JJ Brand

As a local, this is my FAVORITE bookstore ever! PHENOMENAL choices from local writers along side with wonderful workers/suggestions for workers, you can tell all of them clearly enjoy books or even writing. Great selection for graphic novels to magazines, always up to date with new releases as well. They always offer to order any book you want if you don't see it! Fun fact: if you are a teacher, ask for a teacher discount! :) As a Cap Hill local, this is A MUST for anyone, tourist or not.

Fronty Parker

A wonderful place to browse, gliding across old plank flooring to find the book.

Andrew J

Nice little bookstore in the city. Complete and unique collection of books. We particularly loved the kids section.

Nuthapol Suppakitjarak

Great service and book selections. Also has a nice coffee shop inside.

Milo Price

This is one of my favorite bookstores. The selection is amazing and the space is great for just getting lost for a while. The staff are very accommodating, and were able to directly ship me a book I'd had for pickup when I had to quarantine recently. Really just can't recommend it enough.

Sam Preston

Great selection, helpful staff. Great if you're looking for a good recommendation.

Josh Litten

One of my favorite bookstore experiences ever. Gorgeous interior and displays with countless handwritten recommendations make browsing any shelf here feel like a guided tour of the literary world. Far from the stuffy, older material often found in used bookstores, Elliot Bay Book Co. feels like a place with its pulse on modern publishing, whatever your taste in books might be.

Asher Oosterbaan

One of my favorite bookstore experiences ever. The vibe is immaculate and it's so easy to go here and get lost in your own little world. I actually use the little bookseller recommendation tags here and find them immensely helpful. This is my go-to bookstore in Seattle for sure :-)

Ben Tieu

The most beautiful book store i’ve ever visited

Alexandra Lanthorn

This is my favorite bookstore ever. The staff recs are always so good!

Kelsey Hoffman

I've only visited once, but this store is huge and seems to have a really great selection of books and stationary. The kids section has a castle in it, which was really cute. I couldn't resist buying something while there.

autumn shoemaker

Beautiful bookstore, plus a great cafe attached. Clearly marked. Good selection. Two thumbs up.

Jane W

Very nice Old Fashion feeling of a bookstore. People are very helpful and friendly.

Steve

First time back to the book store since they had reorganized the sections / display of books. Overall was disappointed with the changes. Selection was not as interesting as I could count on previously.

Johanan Ottensooser

This remains one of my favorite bookshops in America. The selection is enormous, but more importantly: 1) the atmosphere is cozy and the decor makes you feel comfortable 2) the staff is knowledgeable, engaged and has always recommended me books spot on 3) the staff written blurbs and feature walls are always thought provoking. For me, this book shop is a must visit.

Jack Miller

Seattle's favorite bookstore. Great stock & great service. They even gift wrapped it! Free! With brown recycled paper!

Nathan Mikesell

Great book store in Capital Hill, has a massive range of subjects from science fiction to Eastern philosophy. Comfortable tables and chairs for reading and a delicious Cafe in the back, great for a warm beverage and a bite!

Josephine Celt

Amazing!! Author Adrienne Celt read excerpts from her new novel Invitation to a Bonfire. Absolutely stunning read and she has such an exhuberant presence.

Ariana

Excellent shop with an impressive range, knowledgeable staff, and a cafe. There are always cute dogs here. And there are regular events. Talks by authors are such a gem and they have multiple spaces for them. I love coming here and just sitting in a cozy chair and watching people explore.

Hannah Tobin

I love this book store! They have such a fantastic collection of all sorts of books. I always get gifts for the kids in my life here because all the picture books are so fun! It's also a great place to browse on a rainy day.

Austin S. Lin

Beautiful store with a joyously dense contemporary poetry section (among other things), full of recommendations from staff, general happy readerly vibes; open late on weekends, literary chatter + an Oddfellows cafe tucked in the back.

Ayumi Mizuno

Nice bookstore in the middle of Capitol Hill with a wide array of books. The size is nothing compared to Powell's in Portland, but still a great place to stop and find a good read. There is also a small cafe at the back corner of the store.

Max Lieblich

One of the best bookstores I've ever visited. Seattle is lucky to have this place.

Amanda Ebbutt

I love this bookstore! I just spent a year in DC trying to find a bookstore that could even wish to fill Elliott Bay’s shoes and coming up empty. The selection is awesome, the staff is knowledgeable, and the store is beautiful. They’re also great at answering questions or recommendation requests, especially over email when they have a chance to think about their answers. So glad to be home!

Viren Aggarwal

One of the few independent book stores in Seattle. Ironically, Seattle is also home to Amazon. Elliot Bay has a wide s selection of books and a very calming place. There is a cafe on site. Parking is offsite paid unless you can snag one of the few free 2 hr spaces.

Brad Kamrath

I was impressed by their selection of fiction. For example, they had every Cormac McCarthy novel in stock. Also, the customer service was outstanding. The cashier told me that a version of one of the books I was purchasing was available for half price, and he went to retrieve the copy for me.

Marissa Margosian

Amazing store with a huge collection, great ambiance, nice staff, and a cafe. All they need is a resident cat and the place would be perfect! :D

Macy M

This place is relaxing, the special events hosted here are always good.

Dan Chen

Could get lost in here for hours. Every section has notes from staff on highlights for some of the books. Great personal touch! Layout immerses you in the books and the staff are great a friendly. Picked up Penguin’s Don Quixote with the help from their staff.

Darcy R

An absolutely lovely bookstore! Large selection, lots of staff recs posted in each section, and a nice variety of little gift-y things as well. Well worth your time!

Keenan VG

My favorite bookstore! A bit more expensive than what you find online, but understandable since it’s a smaller locally-owned brick and mortar operation. I give them all my business because I love having them in the neighborhood and want them to thrive!

Abdulrahman Tolba

Hands down my favorite bookstore in Seattle. The cafe is really nice and the book selection is super vast, with really good recommendations from the staff.

Brad

This is a great local bookstore. It's large but overly large. Easy enough to find your way throughout the two story store. Prior to covid they had a great cafe in the back.

Rachel Katrina

Such a great bookstore with a fun atmosphere. It’s easy to spend a lot of time just browsing the shelves. I hope the cafe reopens soon though

Daniel Shea

In a word... Yes. In two words... Yes, Again. I love this place, and I don't come here nearly often enough. It's got the title reach & swath of a major company, with the old building mouth feel of The Shop Around the Corner. Oh and there's coffee. And snacks. And a loft. The staff reviews are amazing, and the way they scribble them on little ornate scraps of paper and tuck them into the shelves make me feel as if I've visited a bookstore near Hogwarts. It's delightful in every way :)

Ari Winter

The second time I've been here. I enjoy the calm ambience and great arrangement of novels. It's easy to find what you're looking for and to see recommendations from staff lining the walls.

Brianna Belew

Maybe I'm just spoiled by Powell's in Portland but it was a little underwhelming. Cute though!

Lily Van Scyoc

I could spend hours here! There is a huge selection of books and such a cozy atmosphere. The employees were really helpful finding what I was looking for. And I found a few others just wandering around.

Causha “Enzi” S

Aside from being in the gayborhood, this is just a splendid, old school bookstore with plenty for everyone. Seating is great and you can just enjoy your selection of choice.

Ev Dan

Had read a great book, A Light from Uncommon Stars, and was looking for a book by the same author for a flight across country. They were very helpful to search the author but unfortunately did not have any of their other books. However! The person at the front counter brought me to another wonderfully helpful person who asked me what I liked about the book and gave me several recommendations. Was planning to get one or two books and ended up walking out with five 😬🥰📚✨

Tabby Schultz

An amazing bookstore experience. Exactly the kind you are looking for in downtown Seattle~

Ashley Castana

Great place for finding just about any book you need. Love the vibes

Stephen Busboom

Beautiful bookstore in the heart of Cap Hill. I even picked up three books whilst browsing. They have cute little summaries underneath some books to let you know what you're in store of.

J Gallagher

The last great bookstore in Seattle. Authors do readings and signings almost every week and the cafe is a great place to meetup afterwards.

G C

Amazing space filled with tons of books. Truly a nice spot to kick back and read ..also a nice cafe towards the back of the store.

Manuel Crepin

Great place for a coffee and books, featuring local authors at the front!

Jim Duehr

Excellent bookstore with wide-ranging selection. Great cafe and reading room in the back, too!

josh brzoznowski

great vibes, smells good, customer service kinda stinks. had a paper gift certificate that i got right before COVID and when i tried to use it after everything reopened it had already been "used online". did they reuse an old gift certificate number? do they have lax web security and got scammed at my expense? who knows. cashier offered zero solutions and stared at me blankly while i said i didn't want to complete the transaction without the gift certificate to subsidize the purchase. oh well, right? 🫤

Kathryn Dreitzler

So many amazing finds here, it was hard to limit my purchases! I loved reviews next to books, great to find something new. We were in town for a couple days and visited multiple times

Nick Ballin

This bookstore is pretty much the greatest thing ever.

Quinn Roraback

One of my favorite places in Seattle, super cute, and the café inside has good fare!! I like the hand-written blurbs about the books by the employees. There are definitely cheaper places to buy books, but it’s a nice place to visit and browse nonetheless.

Isabele Elliott

I love this bookstore so much. I could spend hours in here if I could! Their selections are amazing and I love the posters they sell as well. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.

Frank Kroger

Elliott Bay was a great bookstore when they were in Pioneer Square. Now they are in Capitol Hill near the Odd Fellows building where they have become even better.

Joseph T

This has to be one of the most famous bookstores in Seattle. I used to live close by and I would come here to go to the great coffee spot tucked in the back. Bottomless drip coffee and a good WiFi spot to boot. This is a great place to find a book and one of my favorite places to work out of prior to the end of times with the pandemic. The staff is ever so kind and the coffee will keep you going on any project you're working on. At the end of a university school day you may find it hard to find a spot in the back coffee shop, but that's what happens at popular nice places. If you're in the area stop by, find a book to buy or grab a coffee. It's a spectacular local business.

Rachel Leggett

This bookstore has a great selection of genre fiction as well as kids and YA and tons of nonfiction topics!

Gabriel Bugarin

Great bookstore. Wide variety of literature, and it's nice that have a sizeable section dedicated to local/regional authors. They also gave a solid café. Elliot Bay is expansive but not overwhelmingly so. My favorite bookstore in the area so far.

Liz O

Awesome bookstore! Visiting from out of town and they have a nice book selection with friendly customer service .

Nick Nuechterlein

Second only to Powell's!

Emma Helper

Good books, staff selections weren't amazing but overall worthwhile and a good used/discount collection

Melissa Thiel

Fun spot to check out. So many titles I haven't seen at big chain bookstores back home.

David Hirning

Best bookstore in Seattle. My happy place!

Linda Perkinson

Wonderful book store. Great coffee too!!

Shifali Gupta

My favorite library in Seattle. This place has a feeling of an old library with a lot of space.

MM

Neat place. Lots of books. Great coffee shop in the back.

Miles Bader

A really nice bookstore, with a large, interesting selection in a large airy space. I was looking for poetry and thought they had a really good range of poetry books; I found some neat and unusual stuff I wasn't expecting, and went away very happy. There's also an in-store cafe, comfy chairs to rest in, and the staff are helpful and friendly. The only real downside that the Capitol Hill location is a bit more inconvenient and remote than their wonderful old Pioneer Sq shop. But it's still a great bookstore.

Terri Nakamura

I've been a customer of Elliott Bay Book Company since the 1970s, when it was located in Pioneer Square. I haven't been to another local bookstore quite like it. The Capitol Hill location is well organized and open, light and airy,. You'll find the the same meticulous curation of books. And if you don't find the book you seek? No problem! They will custom order for you and it usually arrives within a week. The people who work there love books and are knowledgable and helpful. I can't say enough about this Seattle treasure.

Simon Bales

Awesome place to look for a book! A little overwhelming but better to have more than less! The staff were easy to approach and helped me find the book I was looking for!

Lukas Kucinski

Great selection of books at reasonable prices. Classic bookstore vibes. Was mildly disappointed they don't sell used books, but they have a discount section upstairs. Carry most major titles. No seating and cafe inside is shutdown, likely due to covid. Plan on coming back post pandemic.

Cordelia

It has a very nice atmosphere, the employees are kind,nice trinkets, and has a built in caffe

Younes Nouri

This is a Seattle icon in my opinion. Lovely bookstore that will tell you about PNW authors.

Dorene C

Help desk clerk very knowledgeable. Great selection of books.

James Dean

This is a wonderful book store of all subjects and genre!! There is a nice used section, and a little cafe that's just reopened after covid.

Jake Tripp

Anytime I go to a bookstore, I find the philosophy section to be underwhelming. This was definitely not the case here. I found some very interesting reads in that section. Along with this, the best part had to be their outdoors section! A great deal of rock climbing and mountaineering reads that were very unique. Would go back again!

Dennis Genrich

I love me a good book and a great setting there's a cafe in back and friendly people friendly offers and you can get busy in the bathroom

Dean Blobaum

One of the best bookstores in the country. Long may it flourish!

Evelynn Montalvo

Good selection. Had lots of Nabokov, Kundera, and two Thomas Bernhard books which is rare to find in a bookstore. I'll definitely come back.

Stephanie Nam

This is a great bookstore that is spacious and feels very unique and independent. It definitely isn't a Barnes and Noble! They have a wall of staff recommendations and also some written throughout the store. They have events with authors downstairs and also in other venues throughout the city. There is a little coffee shop in the back. It's a great selection and everyone is knowledgeable and willing to help you find something! They also have a cute selection of cards, notebooks, locally made gifts pins, and zines.

Joseph Lawson

Elliott Bay Book Co is hands down the best book store in the PNW. It's not nearly as touristy or overwhelming like Powells in Portland. Go to EBBC and relax!

Andrea Stocco

Iconic bookstore (and bar!) in the heart of Seattle, often with cool events with local authors.

Valeria Boesch Neira

My favorite bookshop ever. The coffee at the back reopened after being closed for COVID and it is the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Nicholas S

One of my favorite bookstores on the planet.

salih karagoz

One of the best bookstores I have been! I travelled the world a little bit, I have been to many bookstores, this place is one of the bests. They have great bargain section in addition to great selection of full price books. There are really interesting books in this store from history to science, and from music to theatre. Strongly suggesting everyone who loves books and reading to visit this authentic classy place. One cool bonus is the coffee house inside. My suggestion to the owner of the place: - Please fix the restrooms inside the coffee house

Nurwana Sulaiman

Cute!

Jessica Roush

A treasure! Surprisingly good wraps and soups at the back coffee shop too!

Laura Skillington

Lovely bookstore that is thoughtfully organized with lots of unique items. Excellent coffee and very friendly and helpful staff.

David Doane

Great book store and huge selection

R B

I am so in love with this bookstore. I could spend hours there but didn't want to because I had other stops to make. I didn't realize they had a cafe when walking in. Everything has it's own section and place. Huge bookshelves, and lots to choose from. Very well organized. Their books are all new, but they do have a bargain section where you can score mint condition books for a cheap price. I will be back again!

Rachel Solby Park

Lovely bookstore and nice place to chill with books.

Perri Sanborn

This is an iconic bookstore for a reason! My friend and I stopped here while visiting Seattle and we stayed much longer than we had expected because they had such a great selection and such a welcoming set up! My friend had coffee and said it was great. I wanted to buy so many books! The whole place feels so perfect, just the right combination of open space and shelves full of books! I love it. I would go again in a heartbeat!

Amanda Paul

I could spend hours in this place just based on the ancient wood floors and pungent smell of printed press. Having said that, we came here looking for a neat place to bring our kids and it wasn’t that at all. The “castle shaped reading corner” is barely big enough for two kids. The book selection was average to any other established bookstore. There wasn’t even an obvious “local authors” section to choose from as a souvenir of our trip. I’d come back a thousand times over on my own, but this isn’t a kids destination.

Cory Swanson

The Elliott Bay Book Company is a wonderful store! I'm always reminded why I love books when I stop in here. The selection is fantastic - they've got it all! Great reviews and recommendations, and the staff is super friendly. The only "downside" to this place is that it is often packed. Apparently I'm not the only one who likes dropping by!

Paul Menefee

Absolutely amazing book store! Incredible selection and very knowledgeable and helpful staff. Mostly, if not all, new books, but I could be mistaken.

Greg Garnhart

Awesome shop to browse around. Books are not sold at “deal” prices — given that, I’d suggest visiting and making an experience out of it! Definitely buy something, but don’t rush. It’s cheaper to get books elsewhere if you’re not looking to spend some time and enjoy yourself.

James Wright

Great atmosphere. Beautiful interior. Definitely check the discount section. Cool place to find a book and sit for a few hours.

Dylan Glenn

The perfect way to spend an afternoon. Grab a coffee in their downstairs cafe and wander the shelves. I always end up picking up a title I’ve never heard of based on the awesome recommendation cards that like the shelves. The employees are very helpful and actually knowledgeable about different subject areas to make helpful recommendations. Their history and poetry sections stand out as especially well-curated. And upstairs they have a huge bargain section where you can get anything from a Penguin paperback to a cool coffee table art book for under $10.

Jonathan Shultis

Browsing for books in a good bookstore like this is so superior to the online experience! The physical arrangement and knowledgeable people meet personal, human, needs. I'm new to the area and I'm delighted to find such a great bookstore in my new home.

Autum

My favorite book store yet! The selection was strictly books I nearly couldn't resist. I literally took photos of the shelves in some spots so I could remember the books I wanted to order when I got home. I would have got them there, but I was flying home and would have to ditch my clothes to make room for all the books I wanted! They have a very nice cafe within the store with really beautiful coffee being served.

Valentina Ferro

Large collection of books, friendly environment and a cozy coffee shops in one corner to relax and start reading what you have just bought

Marc Milrod

My favorite bookstore in Seattle. Parking can be a bear on Cap Hill. Molly Moons and Lost Lake are nearby. Great fairly deep offerings. Worth stopping in, if you have something on your read list.

Larry Wall

I give the Elliot Bay Book company a 'relative' five stars which is to say that it is the best book store in Seattle The selection is very good for a bookstore of it's size and the staff are knowledgeable, well-read, book lovers. However, Seattle doesn't have anything that ranks as a world class bookstore to compare EBBC against. For that you've got to go to Portland or farther.

Darrell Pope

Love this place. I've of the last great bookstores where you can spend an afternoon browsing the shelves, reading in a comfy chair, or grabbing a great coffee. Need to budget for it though because I never spend less than $50 per visit. Who needs new clothes when you've got great books to read :)

Shaina M. Akidau

Who doesn't love Elliott Bay Book Company? I would blow a month's pay there, monthly, if I could. A great selection, friendly staff, and even gift wrapping during the winter holidays.

Terence Bonsey

You like books? Good. This place is hands down the mecca of book shopping. The staff are incredibly kind, and knowledgeable. The organization and layout of the store makes perfect sense. Little Oddfellow's is one of my favorite parts of Elliot Bay Books. Get a cup of coffee, a nice snack, sandwich, etc, find a cozy seat and dive in.

Daniel Calabrese

Best books store in Seattle, so many different sections with really knowledgeable staff. Great little cafe in the back as well. Great spot to grab a coffee, do some work, buys some books and learn!

momo

This is the only bookstore I'm willing to drive out to from the east side of Washington. The staff has a lot of great recommendations for every genre. I love the selection they have and if there's a book they don't carry, they usually try to work with you to get it ordered.

Shashank Sharma

The best bookshop I have stepped in so far, I spent a couple of hours and could have hung longer. Every section has so many recommendations/highlights labelled with notes.. ❤️

Christopher Mullaney

Bookstores are always a cool place to explore...what's left to say other than lots of books!!!

J. B.

Legendary bookstore. Great stock and variety of books. Cafe located on the rear is great. 4☆ because bookstore representatives never greet you when you walk in; nor, do they walk around asking if you need help/ recommendations. Cafe reps are awesome. Great customer service on the cafe side, not too much on the front.

Sydney M

Great place to sit down and read, or just sit down. There’s also a cafe in the back with excellent customer service. Everyone At the cafe is so incredibly kind and I love coming here in my downtime. It’d be nice if there were more seating options, but I also understand that this place is always packed! I’ve never regretted coming here. The book selection is great, and I’ve found a few books to buy from time to time. They have a good selection of LGBTQ+ books as well. No complaints.

Jessa Madosky

Fantastic bookstore! The cafe is nice (with kombucha on tap). Book selection is very good and the staff is amazing. They really go out of their way to help you find the right book for your interests. Also have a few comfy chairs and they definitely don't bother you if you want to spend an hour or two (or more) just reading a book.

Heather B

wonderful atmosphere with a little cafe. Great staff recommendations. I love the sci-fi section! They have set the award winning series apart which helped me find a great author I had never heard of before! The cookbook section is wonderful as well.

ubergeek52289

Great staff and a great collection of books.

Lauren Deyce

One of my favourite bookstores! It's huge with a wide selection of books of different genres, some cute socks, notebooks, bags, boardgames, and other curios that make cute gifts. One of the best things at this bookstore is reading the staff picks and their own reviews. I've added many of their suggestions to my want to read list on Goodreads. They also have a coffee shop in the back, so you don't have to go far for a bite to eat after browsing books for a couple of hours! They're open until 10pm 😊

Jes Lee

Great bookstore! They have events in the basement and at other venues with authors. It is well organized to discover new things and also find the things you are looking for. The staff is very friendly and knowledgable. The cafe inside is also nice although the seats aren't comfortable for staying long.

Rachel Mills

One of my favorite book stores!!

Patrick Pan

Nice collection of books! Spacious and nicely decorated store!

Wilson Pipkin

Great selection of books of all content, magazines, and gifts for bookish folk. Not only do they sell large amounts of locally produced goods, they also work with the Seattle public library to put on programs. I have loved every book from the staff recommendations shelf. The cafe within the bookstore gets a little too packed for my liking, but others would thrive in the hustle and bustle. For me their punch cards are very worth it, as I seem to love giving them all of my money.

Zach Mabe

Cute bookstore lots of selection and nice tables of bestseller, editors choice, etc. Okay prices (inline with physical bookstores RIP Barnes and Noble). Good loyalty system. Would recommend a visit next time you're looking for a good read.

K C

I love bookstores in general, but Elliott Bay Book is my favorite store! Check out the Staff Recommendations section.

Maria

A nice bookstore with a big variety of books. Calm music playing on speakers and a lot of small areas to sit. They sell bags, posters and other small things as well..socks for example. Everything is labelled clearly so it's easy to find what you're looking for. A calm place to just have a browse at the books and the atmosphere.

Aleric Lucero

I can sit here for hours with a book and a cup of coffee (sadly the coffee shop is currently closed). I love coming to Elliot Bay Books, yes you can get books online but you could never get the customer service and expertise you get here. Case in point, I searched for this book that had sold out the first printing, they were able to get me a copy and I am getting ready to curl up and dive in. Even when they don't have the book I've been searching for, I have come away with great reads after going through the Staff Picks section. I am glad this place is so close to me.

Wes Ellis

Unique book store that has an antique feel with a modern day vibe. Can definitely feel the Capital Hill culture here. Upstairs and downstairs with a cafe inside. Staff are very helpful and prices are fairly low compared to most retail chains. The best part.are the staff recommendations. Good to see what others have thought about it before reaching up to grab it off the shelf

Alysia Kang

I love this bookstore! I find almost every excuse I can to stop by at least once whenever I'm in the area. They have a large selection of genres and actually have a mix of new and used books. So it feels very nice, but also comfortable. The cafe inside, Little Oddfellows Cafe, is great as well. Only sad thing is that it's almost always packed, so it's a little hard grabbing a seat. I definitely you grab a book, and then sit down with a slice of cake from the cafe, and just enjoy the rest of your day.

Brian Mills

Very cozy, lots of staff recommendation description cards and nooks with themes of books grouped together, still requiring masks for entry and overall good vibes. (Doooo wish they would beef up their tiny Manga selection though, Cap Hill has zero Manga options.)

Dillon Cain

It's hard to find a large bookstore these days and this one scratches that itch. Sections that are usually hard to find, much less with variety, were well represented here. Horror, LGBT+, and even history had multiple cases, not just shelves. The downside was that even though they were pumping air in it was still somewhat stuffy. If you have Covid concerns they ask that you limit a trip to 30 minutes and have sani available. Support the small!

Shanna Sidell

Such a beautiful store - but mostly their customer service is incredible! I called after moving away from Seattle about a book I remembered the cover of and the location in the store but that was it, and they found it within minutes and were great with my handling my somewhat weird request. They also have a varied selection of books that tops most museum stores.

Jordan Hays

There's nothing quite like a local bookstore, and this one is simply packed to the gils with an awesome selection of books across any category I can think of. It's a pleasure to just wander around and explore their selection, and I love supporting a local business by making purchases there.

Benjamin Kitchen

Just being in Elliott Bay is like being at home. But this home is warm, beautiful, filled with books, and has a coffee shop. At any given point they are sure to have new books, hidden gems, vintage, and great reccommendations.

Joshua Perry

This one of the coolest most beautiful and warm spaces I've had the pleasure to be in. They have an amazing coffee shop and a great selection of books and magazines. I think my favorite parts are the staff picks and the the general look of all the wooden book cases. And it all feels so open yet there are plenty of cozy corners to read in and explore the pages of a new favorite book!

B GM

Great selection of books with staff recommendations set in a beautiful store. There's a cozy little cafe with good drinks if you want to read or do some studying. This is my far my favorite bookstore.

Robert Fertig

Comfortable, well organized, helpful staff. You will be able to find great books across different genres as well as distinctly Seattle selections. The "staff picks" section is an awesome way to find new books outside of the mainstream. There is also a comfortable cafe in the back with good coffee, soups, and sandwiches.

Jefferson Petrey

One of the greatest independent book stores in the country, and we're lucky to have it in our city! Deep and diverse selection highlighted by employee reviews and recommendations posted throughout the store. The bargain books Remainders table and section upstairs is an incredible budget resource. Any time they've not had what I was looking for it was special ordered and came in within a week. Author signings and reading events are a great bonus.

Will Vargas

There are many wonderful, independent book shops in Seattle, but Elliott Bay is probably our very favorite! Is it the selection? The friendly service? The ambiance? The great cafe? It's all of these things and also they have a cute free bookmark. It's all in the the details, people!

Kayli Robles

Love it here! Couches to read (not a whole lot, but they were empty when I got there so I sat down for a while). Cafe is good, bathrooms are okay (they were both out of soap when I was there), but kind of cool with all the graffiti and photos. Lots of book options as well as journals, etc. I wanted everything:)

Xiaojing Ji

I always visit this bookstore when I visit the Capital Hill neighborhood. They re-opened the cafeteria area which they closed in past 2 years due to COVID.

Dylan Garin - Le Coguic

The decor is out of this world gorgeous for a bookstore. Staff super friendly. Had an interaction with Wes who offered great advice. Amazing selection of titles of every genre. Don't miss out on their bargain titles stall with recent releases at an unbeatable price. culture for everyone!

She who must not be named

Loved, loved, loved this book store!!! It has a fantastic selection of all kinds of genres, authors, topics and little pick me up’s. You can spent hours in here. They have a nice little cafe on the ground floor where you can have quiche, cake, coffee, lemonades and so on. I can’t say much about the staff since I spent most of my time strolling through the different corridors and looking around. But everybody I encountered had a positiv vibe around them.

Tony Spinazza

Love this book store and the location. The sections are laid out intuitively and love that they have a section for NW authors. Wish I had more time to explore. Only knock is the price, but reasonable for a brick and mortar for new books. Worth the extra in my opinion to support local small biz.

Mark Nickel

Great selection. Left wing store, which I love. But just beware that they'll have more items like this as the on display focus if you're not of this mindset

Addys Bode

Great place, tons of books but not enough places to sit

Alonna Mitz

I napped here. Sometimes it's hard to find a comfortable place to sit, but when you do it's all good. The cafe has lots of cookie and drinks options, is a little priccey though but great for a treat. I stayed here for like 2.5 hours. My friend read a whole book. The information desk people were really nice and helpful. The books are beautiful. The bathroom line was usually 2-3 people at any point in time though

Sai Pc

Nice bookstore. Really wanted to support local businesses, but what I wanted was not in stock and was priced 2x higher than Amazon with a 14 day wait period.

Raul Eduardo Avellaneda

Huge selection and awesome place to walk around in

My Hanitizer

What a gem this place, I hope things get better for bookstores, what a fun place.

Raj Ajrawat

What an absolute treat. They have a lot of current books and magazines at the front, but their selection of cookbooks and coffee table books is great. In the back, there is a cafe with lots of seating tucked in, and it's perfect for lounging after getting something to read.

Alizabeth Settergren

The most beautiful bookstore in all the land 🥹 …

L H

Cute small lil book store with a coffee shop inside Little notes with book reviews on the shelves too

Colin McSweeney

Cutest book store with worker recommendations all over the store and a full wall of reviews of favorite books that is constantly updated. I love bookstores and this is one of the best. I collect the bookmarks they give you too, super fun

Tim Moore

Very nice place. Tons of books. Plenty of spots to sit and read and a place to eat.

Stephen Contreras

Lovely local book store with everything you could want

Courtney Cooper Neese

I haven't been in a book store for a long time, but this one is incredible and I always want to go back. An incredible amount of inventory for the space and lots of friendly and knowledgeable staff. My son had a fun time special ordering a book and we found a great selection of inventory. Prices were good and the experience was very good.

G

One of the signs of a good, independent bookstore is that they leave you alone to find the right book... until you need help, and then they're willing to do everything they can for you. Elliott Bay Book Company consistently delivers on this. While it's not quite, say, the Powell's of Seattle, they do a great job of offering recommendations all throughout the store. Features books are refreshed fairly often, and even the bargain book section (upstairs, back right) has a pretty decent selection. Downstairs, there are some reading areas, as well as a place to host talks and readings. I managed to swing a sitting with Cory Docotrow here and found it a really enjoyable environment to engage with an author. It's quiet enough to hear, spacious enough to seat everyone, and intimate enough to remain close to the folks you want to hear. The cafe is perfectly acceptable too, though the highlights are definitely the books.

Som Liengtiraphan

An excellent bookstore that carries pretty much all genres. Its conveniently located in the middle of capital hill and easy walking distance to a lot of other restaurants and bars. The layout is spacious and doesn't make you feel claustrophobic. Theres a section of locally printed zines and I love flipping through them to get a sense of the artist community. There is a cafe in the bake with fantastic cold brew. The pastries and desserts are great too. They have a study deal where to spend $7 for a drink and food and you get to still there for as long as you like with the free wifi.

Spencer Nilsson

Really reasonable prices and an excellently curated selection. I found what I was looking for without any difficulty and had a blast perusing the rest of the store. I look forward to visiting again!

Nick Coffman

An excellent book store with a great selection of relevant works as well as essential classics. A delightful location, architecturally intriguing reused space with a coffee shop that far surpasses the usual book store cafe in size and service. Our whole family loves Elliot Bay Book Co.

Mark Bramhill

Elliott Bay is the biggest independent bookstore in Seattle. It's amazing to browse and explore, and all of their staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. They regularly host authors for great events. Our community is lucky to have such a great bookstore!

Liralen Li

An extensive bookstore with staff who are passionate about books.

Michael Greenwell

This is a wonderful bookstore, with a lovely selection and staff dedicated to helping you find what you're looking for. I love how spacious the store is, sometimes it's nice to be hemmed in by knowledge, but this experience is a wonderful change of pace. There is also a cafe with a few vegan options.

Ben Young

Such a great book store with a really wide selection! Had a really nice selection of staff picks I loved looking through, and found a bunch of awesome indie graphic novels! I wish there was a bigger bargain book section but hey, this was still an awesome place!

Cindy Hawk

Haven't been there since it moved from Pioneer Square. Great atmosphere & selection! Loved how the aisles were open & accessible even though there were a lot of people there. Also bought my sister a cute pair of "reading" socks😉 …

Colton Gilmore

Wonderful book store helpful and kind staff with great insights and selection. I could lose hours inside.

dinh tran

Nice place to take picture if you need a place to train your skill in photography. There are great variety of books so if you need some book you could check here. And moreover they hay coffee shop inside the book store which make it become ideal location of booklover and someone who want to find place to study.

Shannon Coolidge

Has a huge collection of books and most seem very fairly priced. Large range of topics and the staff at the information desk was very helpful and found me what I was looking for. I could easily spend hundreds of dollars in this store.

Richard Dizon

Easily one of the most charming bookstores that I've had the pleasure of strolling through. I wouldn't consider myself to be a voracious reader, but reading through the copious notes strewn across the shelves here have certainly piqued my interest into getting more deeply back into reading. As a picky reader, the notes are a great addition to what otherwise would've been a painful, grinding visit for me and I appreciate all the effort the staff has put into making this place so accessible and welcoming to all types of readers!

Steven Coogan

This place does a terrific job of mixing the size and selection of a big chain book store, while also offering a unique and slightly wacky vibe that makes it fit in well in the Capitol Hill neighborhood (one opinion anyway ... :) ) I also like the coffee/refreshment shop in the middle of the store and the presentation room in the basement. Great spaces.

Bo Turner

Cute bookstore with a lot of variety. Nice coffee area and lounge seats to read

B Z

There are notes describing or recommending books throughout the store and the layout is very open and welcoming. I frequent this bookstore and when I am looking for a book for someone else, I am able to talk to the staff and list a few authors then get a good recommendation that follows suit of my described book preferences. I never leave this store empty handed and its easily my favorite bookstore in the Seattle area.

Lura Mari Bickford

A great selection of books for every taste, in a lovely old building with wood floors. Due to COVID the café is closed, there's no place to sit down, and they ask that you not stay more than half an hour, which is not the fault of the store, but is the only reason I gave four stars instead of five.

Anthony Riek

Great way to spend an afternoon and buy a book from a local spot. The coffee shop in the back is delicious and they've always had the books I'm looking for! I actually come in more often than not becuase they have a great collection of locally made cards that are my go to for birthdays anniversaries and everything in between

Lydia Saboda

I expected this to be a humble closet bookshop nestled in a corner of Cap Hill.... but then I went inside. It's huge!!! And so beautiful!!! Like honestly I would live in this store if I could. The vibe is so peaceful and everything is beautiful hardwood with such an endearing charm. I still haven't had any food or drink there but I'm looking for all and any excuse to wander back there.

Susana

Far and away my favorite bookstore in Seattle. Great selection, really friendly staff, review cards by popular books, punch card program, and a mini Oddfellows cafe in the back. They also have a great room for visiting author events. One of my happy places, and a great place to study or get work done!

Sam Mostovoy

Cozy store with a large selection for all of your reading needs. People who work there are always happy to help you. I have even had someone spend 10 minutes looking for a book for me before and even though we didn't find it they were extremely helpful. Coffee in the back and plenty of areas to sit down and read.

Marcus Wong

Gorgeous bookstore, friendly staff!

Lisa Rough

This is my favorite bookstore ever and also my happy place. You can always ask for (and get) amazing book recommendations and they have every book you could ask for and more. Support this awesome independent bookstore!!!

Pen Cerez

Best book store in Seattle, no competition. Huge inventory variety: has any bestseller you'd want to read, every title you've ever heard of, and plenty you haven't. Lot's of local authors, books from smaller publishers, and less traditional reads: poetry, essays, etc. Also: notebooks, calendars, and other merch. Parking is a pain, but what else would you expect on capital hill. Store has bathrooms, and a cafe which has good coffee and pastries (you could find better, but you can't deny the convenience.) plenty of couches to sit on and read (your best chance is upstairs.)

Christina Zeno

Awesome bookstore hidden in southern Capitol Hill area. Close to Starbucks Reserve. Has the cutest Cafe towards the back of the shop. Employee notes are attached to book to guide you to your next great read! So cozy yet such a great selection of books!

Kevin Hu

Beautiful bookstore in the heart of Capital Hill with ample space and a warm interior. Theres a large selection of books (including different editions of classics). The staff are knowledgeable and friendly and able to make some good recommendations. Open late too!

Danny Roberts

Really nice bookstore with a great atmosphere and wide collection. I went in looking for acclaimed Latin novels and found quite a few of them. The cafe tucked away inside is also quite nice with food and coffee. Kind staff too

Jacob Miner

The store is beautifully designed (giant wood bookcases) and has a great selection of books. The staff recommendations are really helpful when you want to try something new. The Little Oddfellows Cafe is great if you want coffee and a pastry while you read.

Victor Graf

What a great book store should be! They curate a wonderful selection of books, complete with staff reviews, right where you can find them. I come here whenever I'm walking around the area whether I'm looking for a book or not, and I sometimes find one anyway

Haley Bear

This has become a part of my routine when visiting Seattle. The effort put into the employee recommendations for the books is wonderful and really helps with making choices since they are such a large shop! The cafe in-house has power outlets, free WiFi, and some yummy baked goods and snacks. The only thing I would say was that it does get busy and loud in the cafe area, so not the best spot for working remotely.

Bianca Smith

My favorite bookstore in the area. Being independent makes it even better. There's a huge range of literature, cooking and locals books. The kids section is so much fun - even without kids. The business and technical section is scant, but they will order anything in. Check out their book club groups and don't forget lunch in the cafe.

Ammon Ford

This is the best bookstore I've found in Seattle (so far). Coffee shop is good, book selection is great, lighting is excellent, staff is almost non existent. Don't expect Elliot Bay to compare in size or breadth to Powell's (Portland) or Strand (NYC), but it is a passable cousin to the two.

JR Langevin

Pretty sweet bookstore. I'll go back for a nice read but I wish the cafe was more cozy tbh. Let's be real, Seattle is rainy and I wanna read a sad book by the window and not feel like I'm eating at some basic sandwich place that only does fancy scones. Get outta here with those weaksauce tables. Great book selection though. I found some great classics on the discount shelves.

T. Christine

Excellent customer service and perfect atmosphere/decor befitting its Capitol Hill neighborhood. A Seattle institution. Their CS desk snagged a lone copy of a book for me that's currently out of print. (Want to send a copy to my brother.) Wonderful selection. Please visit and keep this bookstore thriving!

Sam Ling

Beautiful bookstore with warm interiors. The bookstore not only has wide selection of genres available, but also made efforts to label many books with reader reviews - a heart-warming touch to people trying to find their next adventure.

Dara Elish

In all fairness, I didn't actually go in because I was too excited after going to an author event held outside. The event was so well prepared for and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Next time, I definitely plan on going in!

Lisa Huang-North

Gorgeous bookstore with high ceilings and real wooden flooring / shelves / staircases! Plenty of seating and comfy couches to lounge in, air-con for summer and handwritten book reviews from staff! Def worth dropping in when you are visiting Capitol Hill :)

Cheryl DuBose

A wonderful book store. Sticky notes abound with comments about the books and authors. A great place to take your time and enjoy looking at their wares.

Danielle Welch

This is my favorite bookstore. Their selection is amazing, and I love the recommendations scattered throughout the store. The cafe is very cute, serves wine, and is a great place to read. What more could you want?

S. Scott Diddams

Great bookstore with a great cafe to work from

Temyka Boots

Best bookstore with a phenomenal range, especially in the design section. Great vibe and staff, I always feel so inspired. Love love love

Jayavardhan Diwan

The joy of going to a bookstore with very helpful staff..... Maybe sound old school but online shopping cannot replace that. Went in with an idea to pick nothing and got suggestion and ended buying 4!

Rebecca Roberts Beels

Truly a lovely bookstore. There were so many little hideaways and places to hunker down and spend some quality time. The selection was outstanding and the cafe was beautiful and more importantly, tasty. A place to frequent regularly for sure.

- Lon

Loved it! Turns of parking right out front, staff is friendly and the store is well maintained. I found a few great Korean learning books that I haven’t found elsewhere. I wish they had even more!

Raven Kelly Smith

Cap Hill local here, I go to Elliot Bay almost every weekend. The atmosphere alone perfectly captures the pacific northwest and makes you want to curl up on the wood-hewn furniture with a dark coffee or tea from the cafe inside. You feel good taking a book home from here, like it's coming from well tended crop. I love that the staff writes mini-reviews and puts them next to the price-tags for other people to see.

Michele Cacano-Green

What's not to love? Amazing book selection, spacious walkways and seating, well-informed and well-read staff, awesome cafe. Huge section of local interest and local authors in the front, surrounded by every category and genre you can think of. My Happy Place.

rick reichert

Welcome to one of the most popular bookstores in Seattle. Inside, you'll be pulled in by it's v charming and relaxed atmosphere. Don't forget to ask the store clerks about their weekly book recommendations! I sat down and read a book about raising puppies and it was not the best book on puppy raising that I have read. Dont read that book but do try out Elliott Bay.

Morgan Waites

This bookshop is the perfect size. It’s big with a large collection without being so big and immense that you feel overwhelmed and can’t make a selection. I’ve found multiple gems here. They also have a discounted section. I live in Portland and prefer it too Powell’s just because I find Powell’s way too overwhelming.

Tegan Tigani

This store is big enough to be bountiful, yet enticing enough to feel curated. I love reading the shelf talkers by the staff, and their incredible line-up of readings and events make it a real destination. It's a must-see for visitors to Seattle-- proof of our booming literary culture.

Jacob Lee

Large selection of books and even more on their second floor. Quite interesting titles. However the atmosphere didn't feel as welcoming as I thought it would be.... First time there maybe it's just a Sunday evening vibe but.... That's just me.

Lindie G

One of the greatest bookstores I have ever been to, and I have been to many. :) Their selection is incredible, the staff recommendations are quality, and they have so many events. Can't wait until they can reopen after the pandemic!

Andrew Routier

This is one of the last great bookstores in Seattle. Wonderful selection of books and fantastic atmosphere. They also have a frequent buyers card system, its always nice to earn yourself a discount.

Adwinnie Bernacchi

My favorite bookstore! I often go there, get a book, and sit to read it. It has such a pleasant ambience! The book selection goes beyond expectations. I can find different books, great ones that are not only the "best seller". I totally recommend this place if you're a book lover - or want to become one :)

Allen Woods

This is a perfectly serviceable bookstore with nothing wrong with it, so don't let my rating discourage you. What I prefer in terms of a bookstore is some section of older, more rare, or just plain hard to find books among the selection. I was not able to find that here, to my dismay. But i do recommend this if you want to get books and music in one stop. Everyday Music is across the street!

Jeremiah Baxter

Awesome bookstore in a peaceful part of South Seattle close to Cal Anderson park, Plum Bistro, and Mighty-O donuts. Staff were extremely covid-conscious. Looking forward to coming back here next time I'm in town.

Tom Atkinson-Edwards

I'll be honest--I usually buy books on Kindle these days. But sometimes I want a book that I can physically touch. Usually a travel book or a cook book. Elliott Bay is my favorite place to go when that need arises. They have an excellent selection, and plenty of areas to sit and page through options. There are no high pressure sales people, but the staff are available and knowledgeable if you need them. It can get quite busy, and the line to the bathroom can be long. There is a nice little cafe that's an offshoot of the excellent Oddfellow's next door.

Rachel L

Fantastic local bookstore with a little coffeeshop in the back. The environment is so perfect - I could spend hours here! It's also a stone's throw from Cal Anderson, so on a nice day you can take your new book to the park to read!

t1ff C

There are many bookstores in Seattle that are local institutions, and Elliott Bay is absolutely high on the list. I feel at ease in its space - high ceilings, wood panels, organization, and yet cozier children's section. Also has cafe, though the restroom situations have always somewhat unnerved me. Seating mostly concentrated in the back, and a bit on the second floor. It's just a very welcoming place, and I believe has an active events calendar as well.

Zachariah Simmons

Beautiful book store I could spend hours in. Plenty of places to tuck away and immerse into a good piece of literature. Wonderful selection and lovely, knowledgable staff. Couldn't recommend highly enough.

Diane Morrison

The staff is super helpful. They do not have a public restroom so if you go, make sure you have used a bathroom before you arrive. Additionally, you are not allowed to stay longer than 30 minutes. Quite a challenge when perusing a bookstore

Matthew Frazier

Loved every minute I spent here! Found so many unique and fun books! The staff was super pleasant and helpful. I could spend hours in this bookstore!

Luke Wilkins

Huge selection of books. Super helpful staff. Great all around book store with event space and cool people.

Dannine Lorenzo

Very open and organized. Also loved the staff notes around the bookstore highlighting, with brief summary, of their recommendations and favorites.

Brenna Pink Pampena

This book store reaches something nostalgic. Love the creaky floors, the rows and rows beautifully placed books. Definitely worth spending an hour or two exploring. Grab coffee and a treat in the cafe too!

Greg Humphrey

Still a great very large bookstore. Had what I wanted right up front. Parking is a hassle at times.

rankis_pankis

Excellent bookstore! Would have been 5 stars, but the bag they put my books in had a strong perfume smell which was really off-putting on the drive home.

馬文傑

Simply the best bookstore in Western Washington. Evil, evil bookstore. I went in for ONE BOOK! I came out with three and another was clawing at my ankles as I escaped. Great coffee. Great books. Great people.

Geoff Nelson

Seattle biggest and best bookstore. Grab a bite at the cafe, wander the shelves, and kiss your afternoon goodbye.

Michael Macnab

In an era of online options Elliott Bay book company is a step back into the wonderful tradition of browsing for books, making an experience of the day and encouraging love reading in a cozy environment. We go there often to meet friends and explore and always find something worth bringing home

Cait D

TLDR: There are many great independent bookstores in Seattle but EBB is one of the best. Come here for a great selection, an amazing cafe, and a soothing atmosphere. I am a giant book nerd. I go to alot of bookshops and Seattle is just riddled with great independent bookstores. But Elliot Bay Book Company is *the* location I recommend when taking people to bookstores. It has a large selection of books some of which you might find at a chain store and some that you might not be able to find elsewhere. The staff leave great reviews throughout not just on bestsellers, but great books you might not know about otherwise. The cafe has great coffee and plenty of seating. The store atmosphere is calm and relaxing with out having a moratorium of noise like a library, or being too overwhelming to draw your attention away from what ever brought you to EBB. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU VISIT EVEN IF YOU AREN'T A BOOKNERD YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING HERE TO ENJOY.

Marie Belisle

This is my favorite local bookstore. There's so much to look at and I love the little notes left by staff members giving little synopsis of the books! It's a cute personal touch and I definitely find myself reading those instead of the back covers.

Alejandro Dauguet

A bookworm's huge underground kingdom. A wide variety of everything under the sun, recommendations guiding your browsing experience. Armchairs plus a spacious cafe in the back make this bookstore a must-see for bibliophiles visiting Seattle. I would camp in here.

Sarah W

One of my favorite bookstores—well-organized and large enough to wander around in for a couple hours. Their bargain section is incredible. Love the little oddfellows cafe for a bite and a coffee!

Colleen Frakes

Seattle is full of independent bookstores, but this is the best one. I can order books online and pick them up in the store, and have them gift wrapped for free! It's better than Amazon to me.

betsy grossman

one of the best bookstores in the area! Excellent for browsing, especially the staff picks section. The cafe is lovely, and I recommend the cowgirl cookies. They have a lovely notecard/postcard/journal area and a great fancy magazine section.

John Barclay Walsh

The Elliot Bay Book Company is really neat place! It's enormous, and has every sort of book. It's three levels, with the basement functioning as a venue for events such as book readings. It has a quaint, old school bookshop feel despite the size, and is definitely worth checking out if you're in the area, even if you aren't big into books.

Tod Bowman

Just your average book store. Being in downtown Seattle, it's understandable that their bathroom was closed, and they have a 30 minute time limit. But as a paying customer, it was still pretty annoying

Hoyt Roberson

Nice local bookstore that is larger than you might expect. Selection tends to be slightly off the main path of popular books and this is a good thing - although it tends to limit selection in some categories. Includes a snack bar so grab a book and some coffee, and hang for an hour or so.

Han Yong Wunrow

Pleasant place to read with a great selection! Every quarter they update their staff recommendations. The employees are more than happy to help you with suggestions! They host events such as readings and book groups quite frequently. You can find more info on their website. Highly recommend this bookstore to a local or tourist visting!

Erin Woodell

A magical store! Plan to spend at least an hour in there if its your first time. Very easy to get lost in a book on one of their comfy chairs, or lost just wandering through the aisles. Something for everyone! They elt me put some books on hold at the desk and come back later for them

Cheryl Lim

Independent book store with a fantastic selection of literature, poetry, cook books, magazines, non fiction books of all genres. Lots of staff handwritten reviews on selected books, which makes it feel very personalized and homely. Seating area available as well as an adjoined cafe.

Marie Zahradnik

The best selection in town, with the kindest staff. They also have a lovely loyalty card system, which is a joy to cash in on, as an avid reader. Great gift section, too!

Apoorva Kalaskar

Great book store. They have a review/summary for the books on the staff recommended shelf. The books are sorted orderly and the store in general is also pretty spacious.

Ethan Mertz

I would give this book store a six star review if possible. Their mark bittman collection rivals any other. I was not disappointed by the puzzle collection

Ben Lee

Quiet and big

Jessica Paine

Wonderful store! My 8 year old son was looking for a specific book and couldn't find it. He asked an employee about it and she quickly looked up the title. Sadly, we found out that it will not be released for a few months. He was pretty bummed. She showed him some other titles he might be interested in and he loved the suggestions! I love how an eight year old is treated with the same respect and dignity as an adult would be.

Virginia Powell

Favorite book store in Seattle so far. They have everything you want and all the things you don’t know you need until you see it.

Adam Simpson

Offers a wide range of books, magazines, some comics, YA literature, children's literature, and book reading accessories. Many genres and authors are represented, currently you're allowed to browse the store or pick up, there are also people there to help you find books.

Anni C

Cute and very culturally aware bookstore with a lot of unique and bestseller books.

J. Alan Legg

This is a great place to shop. They have a huge selection for the floor space, and especially have an awesome selection of fantasy and sci-fi. Their little cafe is nice and they offer free WiFi and free water. The staff has always been friendly and helpful, and they are located near other good places to shop and eat.

vesal mahanian

Bibliophiles' Haven! Such a nice, down to earth, open space. There's a wide variety of genres- something for everyone. There's also an ample selection of greeting cards, journals, boardgames, and puzzles- so it's a good place to get a gift for someone. Great location: it's in the middle of the action on Cap Hill. Best of all, they highlight local products, using their business to advance the community.

Nari Kirk

During our social-distancing times, I ordered a book from EBBC's website. I called the store with a question about the transaction, and an employee immediately answered; they were super helpful and courteous. The book itself arrived a few days later, via free shipping, in a recycled padded envelope; inside the envelope, it was neatly wrapped in brown paper. Because of the care EBBC took packaging the book, it was in pristine condition and receiving it felt like getting a present. I have been to the store in person several times with positive experiences. This online ordering experience was most excellent. Thank you!

Corey Thrasher

Time doesn't seem to matter when I'm browsing this bookstore. It's "the" place to go to discover something literary I can't live without. Especially impressive is their selection of books on art and architecture—and while nothing beats Open Books for poetry, EBBC has a nice selection. Cafe in the back is often crowded, though the food-and-drink is passable.

Jack Turner

While it may not be as big as Powell's in Portland, the book selection here is the best I have ever seen. They have some amazing transportation books. Definitely the best bookstore I have ever been to.

Rolf Mistelbacher

Wow! While on stop over for a day in Seattle we looked this place up to get a few books for our long flight home. The store in a big loft has a chilled atmosphere. Staff was friendly and helpful.

Geneva Hopkins

I live in Golden Colorado but each time I visit Seattle I am sure to visit Elliott Bay Book Company. My son and his family lives in Seattle and I am drawn to your books every time I visit. Thank you for a friendly service and welcoming atmosphere. Geneva

Nichole Dingler

Who doesn't love a good book store?! My kids and I spend a lot of time in the children's section. Elliott Bay has a stellar collection of children's books and graphic novels. I think I have more fun exploring all of the books than my kids.

Cengiz Cemaloğlu

This is everything a book lover would ever want.

Melony Joyce

Just sent in an order to deliver two birthday books to Hawai’i. Peter responded within a couple of hours that the wrapped books were on their way! The joys of shopping local!! Love to you Elliott Bay!!

Zack Wiesnoski

Large selection of books are a great atmosphere. You can smell the new books mix with the old wood of the floors for a nostalgic experience. Grab magazines here every month good selection.

j spain Greene

Thought-provoking and unique reading selections for a world that is becoming bookless... I was so upset when Elliott Bay left its downtown location that I must confess it took me awhile to come into their new location on Capitol Hill, just one block east of Broadway. It's a lovely store - light, with great recommendations, knowledgeable staff and the ever popular cafe. Evidence that Seattle was once a city filled with great independent bookstores...sigh.

Rick Toews

It's a nice bookstore, and there's an attached cafe. Two areas in which there's room for improvement: there could be more seating areas for reading, and the cafe--which has plenty of seating--could allow unpurchased books to be brought in. They do that at Powell's Books in Portland.

Brian

Great selection of books but to hot inside to comfortably spend hours browsing. Maybe during the week it would be better when less people are in the store. The old location in pioneer square was definitely better.

eribri02

This has been one of my favorite bookstores since I was a kid. It has a great selection of books with a focus on local authors and a nice cafe with a lot of seating.

Eric Garnick

Nice atmosphere and lots of recommended reading for all genres. I can be pretty indecisive in a bookstore, so I really appreciate getting a nudge toward a good book. Also the cafe makes great sodas.

P K

My favorite bookstore ever. Great selection, staff and atmosphere. Never disappoints!

Lisa Borkowski

Best bookstore in Seattle. Hands down. Creamy wood floors, huge selection, carefully curated sections, recommendations and end caps, smart and thoughtful employees and a yummy, cozy cafe in back. Who needs anything more?

Zahra Mandana Fard

I love bookstores in general, but this one really deserves all the love! They have a very good collection of old and new books, books in the art section are selected perfectly (for my taste at least) and you have lots of good choices.

Stefanie Rixecker

I loved visiting this bookshop. As an avid reader of nature writing & poetry, I was truly sated by the selection. The bookshop itself had a lovely ambiance that encouraged browsing & reading. Highly recommended.

David A

The store is great, customer service is top notch. The location is a bit dodgey. The neighborhood has seen a revival and love it but walking by one business you could smell stale urine, it's not near the book store. Hey it's Seattle so it's a very mixed society.

Dan Young

The classic book store! Creaky wood floor, comfy chairs to sit in, coffee shop and LOTS of books! An amazing magazine section with lots of local topics. And a friendly staff that is happy to help you locate what you are looking for.

Aaron White

Great bookstore with a huge array of books. Awesome cafe attached so getting coffee and browsing books is made easy. Huge kids section in the back for all ages.

Z L

Has a good collection and books are arranged in a way that makes sense. Welcoming environment. Only sell new books.

Brea Black

I love this bookstore so much, I could spend hours walking around and reading the the recommendations from staff placed all around the store.

Angela Bultemeier

My favorite bookstore in Seattle for 20 years.

Nao Vang

A near perfect bookstore. It's spacious, has good lighting, and perfumed by the smell of roasting coffee. The displays are clean and the fun notes from the employees are enjoyable to read.

Eric Lorenzo

I'm far more likely to actually finish books that I buy here than those that I buy online or at other bookstores. Partly because of the rather large selection, making it more likely that I'll find a book I truly enjoy. Partly because it's a comfortable, inviting space, so it's easy to spend time browsing and reading samples to get to know the books I'm considering before I buy.

Shane Kidd

Wish there were more options for used and rare books. This is more an alternative to Amazon with a coffee culture vibe. They get three stars for the books, but a fourth for their great visiting authors program.

Jay Bob

Beautiful store. Good, well organized selection. Friendly, helpful staff. Very nice place, even during a pandemic. Probably amazing when not needing social distancing.

Christopher Chin

Favorite bookshop in Seattle! Large aisle for wandering and tons of staff recomendations in every genre. The Little Oddfellows Cafe serves drinks and snacks, perfect set up to flip through some pages

Robert Abrahamsen

I still call the Capitol Hill location the "new" Elliot Bay Books although I believe it's been well over a decade since it relocated there from Pioneer Square. The original was unique: a vast, multi-level catacomb of hidden nooks, twisty stairwells, and mezzanines under a high vaunted ceiling. Its charm was irreplaceable. But fortunately one thing hasn't changed in the new venue. Elliot Bay remains by far the best new bookstore within hundreds of miles in any direction. With such a superior selection of new titles, one wonders how the bland behemoth can even compete with Elliot Bay in Seattle. It must be that B&N has better parking.

Samantha Hunter

pretty great selection of poetry here and great selection overall. generally where I go for new books around town

SK M

Reminded me of what a real book store is.

Horacio Chavez

Exquisitely personal decor frames the environment you'll encounter in this store, making you feel as if you were visiting a friend rather than a shop. The selection is not encyclopedic, but is deep, with a section dedicated to Washington authors that I found enjoyable.

Ben Kemkes

In a city where bookstores are closing as quickly as buildings are popping up on the the Amazon campus(es), The Elliott Bay Book Company (knock on wood) stands proud as ever. I attribute a healthy amount of its staying-power to two key factors. First off, this never was your average "Borders and Noble" book store, carrying your mainstream/ top of the charts titles. Elliott Bay is where you go if you wanna browse not just the hot new titles and authors, but also the harder to find, special-edition sorts of books or titles by lesser known publishers. All I can say is that I could spend every waking moment in this place and never grow bored of the selection. I have no idea what their buying process or criteria is, but it's easy to see that whomever they are that procure the books are bibliophiles to the core. The second bit that I believe seals their success is that they are very much embedded in the communities that they serve, hosting touring authors, readings and book signings, as well as providing a great place to grab a cup of coffee or a bit to eat at the Little Oddfellows Cafe in the rear of the store. Also not to miss is the always changing bargain books section, located upstairs above the cafe area.

Sarah Kuck

Nice book store with new books, not used. Great covid precautions limiting shoppers and requiring to sanitize before entering. Immense selection, will be back for sure!

Tyler van Iderstein

Quite possibly the best bookstore I have been to. Recommendations on every shelf, open layout, and comfy seating. Staff is friendly and ready to help you find your next great read.

Joseph Walker

Absolutely love this shop. They have a wide range of books of course, but they also offer snacks at their in house coffee shop. Very beautiful asthetic inside and the staff seems super friendly

Dylan Pharaoh-Whitney

I've been coming to Elliott bay books since I was a little kid, and their location was down in pioneer square. I love it here - they've got awesome events, excellent selections and a cool cafe in the back, plus a great aesthetic. Never ever close, guys. If I could live here, I probably would.

Desirée Mas y Rubí

One of my favorite spots in the city. Lovely place with so many options to read. I like their little kid section too. I only wish they expanded their selection of books in Spanish!

Simone C

They have a wide variety of books curated for a discerning Seattle clientele. Their coffee shop is lovely, I had a scone sandwich with cream and strawberry jam that was delicious.

Dani James

I love how this book store has everything from basic things as well as tarot cards. I went a couple times and i got the modern guide to women hood by trixie Mattel and katya zomolodchikova and im so happy i have it now

Ly Huynh

An aesthetic place to read a book, meet a date, or do some work. The cafe has beautiful natural lighting in the day and is open late until 11pm if you really have to grind. Lots of electrical outlets along the bench and free WiFi. There's also a large communal table in the center I've seen some groups use for casual meet ups which is cool. In addition to tea and coffrr they serve a variety of snacks, sandwiches and champagne here.

zac rakke

First of all the aesthetic of the bookstore is stupendous, lots of wood inside with plenty of space to wander around and a large enough space that you can occasionally feel lost in the stacks. But what really makes this place amazing are 1) the conscientious, nuanced, and passionate book recommendations written by the staff and 2) the highlighting of important and relevant books. I saw this the most in the few displays that highlighted queer literature and queer sci/fi!!!! Representation is so important so thank you for taking the time to curate these displays (I might have tested up when I saw the queer sci/fi display)! If I lived in Seattle I would be here all of the time

Stephanie Larson

Love a good bookstore, and this one is! Hope the cafe opens again soon..then 5 stars!

Paul

I love buying my books here!

Todd Halling

This is a really cool bookstore in the Capitol Hill area. There's a huge selection of books in a unique environment. The café attached to it is a great place to get coffee and breakfast.

Chris Hebb

Great bookstore, excellent staff selections and descriptions. Some good bargain books in balcony section.

Rob Allgood

Elliott Bay Books is one of my favorite places in Seattle! A beautiful book shop with an expansive collection. The only bad thing I can say is that I never have enough time to take it all in.

Lloyd Martin

A very good bookstore selling almost exclusively hardback books and trending authors with a smattering of classic authors here and there. E.g. For sci-fi, they had all of Asimov's Foundation books, 1 or 2 others, but there less than 10% of his popular books, overall; there was nothing by David Drake, Spider Robinson, Christopher Stashef, and many others; they did have mor Kim Stanley Robinson than anywhere else I've seen, though. They have a good coffee shop in the back, some comfy chairs in their central space, and their overall square footage seemed reasonably close to their original building in Pioneer Square. The store has a wonderful ambiance, but lacks that "book smell" that their original store had. :( Lastly, if you're looking for any paperbacks, forget it...I didn't see a single one. 😭

Eamonn Morrissey

This is a great place to visit and browse - and even buy. Store has a great atmosphere and selection. And very friendly staff.

Joshua Granberg

Great book store. It has a nice local atmosphere and there is a cafe in the back where you can get a nice latte to enjoy while you read your new book.

Emily Gregor

Really great bookstore. I would go here all the time if I lived in Seattle! Such a great coffee shop space in the back too

Alissa Berger

I like this place because not only is it cleanly organized, but because I like that people can write reviews of the books and put them on a paper underneath, telling readers why one book is better than others. It gives it more of a friendly feeling. And I always like to support local businesses!

Oliver Peckham

The Elliott Bay Book Company is a lovely stop for books in a great neighborhood. Staff are friendly and helpful, it has a great little cafe in the back, there are extensive LGBTQI sections, and the whole store just generally has a nice, relaxing vibe.

Diane Lostrangio

This has been a destination bookstore for me since arriving in Seattle in 1986. Now on Capitol hill, a large, well laid out bookstore, and cafe. It's helpful to check out the staff recommendations on books. Lots of local authors too.

Mo King

Love this place! Great layout, nice people, good cafe inside. I love the staff picks shelf especially. Huge variety of books, with some bargain-priced shelves on the second floor.

Max Pietsch (Max)

They got some books. Not nearly as big and wonderful as Powell’s in Portland (sorry Elliot Bay). A nice selection and I found a book I like.

Austin Graff

The Elliott Bay Book Company may be the best bookstore in Seattle. It's in Capital Hill and has two floors of books and a coffee shop. If you need a warm place to escape the rain, explore the shelves of Elliot Bay Book Company and get lost in mysteries, travel guides, and novels.

Zach

This bookstore was fantastic to get to experience. Very good array of books, very clean feeling location, and staff was genuinely kind. Loved it.

Staggo

Great selections. Many books have reviews by employees posted which helps a lot. These recommendations have never failed to deliver. Costs are typical. A coffee shop inside.

Caroline Fernandez

A lovely bookstore worth visiting. The bookstore currently only allows 10 patrons in at a time, but it's worth the wait. Buy a book, shop local, and read outside.

Kelly Humphreys

One of my fav bookstores in Seattle

Jon Blew

Love this book store. Huge selection of everything, especially fantasy! The hardwood bookshelves give it a very pleasing and authentic atmosphere.

Darnell Kebo

I love independent bookstores. The character and warmth is so inviting. This one has lots of wood decor and charm. Oddfellows has a cafe in the back. I love hanging out reading and writing with a cup of coffee.

Shelby Barlet

This is a very cool book store. I went in not needing anything, I was just a looky-loo and definitely ended up buying. Helpful and friendly employees and a fun environment for book lovers.

Grace B

Allowing limited numbers to browse for 30 minutes maximum. Great selection of book, including lots of local authors and several puzzles to choose from. The cafe in the back is closed.

Tim S

It's always a pleasure to stop in here when i am in town. I like to spend my money at independent businesses, especially one as inviting as Elliott Bay Books. A very large, diverse selection to choose from.

Dayna Bateman

One of the best bookstores in the US -- acres and acres of thoughtfully curated titles. I'm biased, because I grew up in Seattle and have loved this bookstore since I was a kid; now that I live elsewhere, coming back is like coming home.

Lexi Wong

Absolutely gorgeous, independent bookstore with an enormous variety of books on offer. It has a quiet, bookish atmosphere and many reviews of various books are also on the shelves.

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