20 Of The Best San Diego Bookstores By Neighborhood

I love bookstores and my husband already knows that I can never walk passed one. There’s something special about searching through the shelves of an independent bookstore to discover gems you didn’t even know existed. I could spend hours searching the shelves and simply soaking up the atmosphere.

San Diego bookstores are treasure troves for classic and contemporary finds, and supporting smaller, locally-owned businesses is more important than ever.

Check out our line-up of indie bookstores in San Diego for all you bookworms out there, organized by neighborhood.

The Best San Diego Bookstores

North Park

Verbatim Books

Address: 3793 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: (619) 501-7466
Website

This is one of my favorite bookstores in San Diego. They always seem to have a special find for me that I wasn’t even looking for. Among the top used bookstores in San Diego is Verbatim Books in North Park, which also happens to be the largest in town.

This trendy spot is beautifully decorated and has such a warm atmosphere, with its cozy seating and friendly staff. Plus, it gets some bonus points for the amazing artwork outside and in the store!

The selection of books here is seemingly never-ending, with sections for a ton of genres.

Meet Cute Romance Bookshop

Address: 4048 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: (619) 228-9548
Website

If you’re a sucker for a good love story, you won’t find a better stock of romance novels than that of Meet Cute Romance Bookshop.

Although they specialize in romance novels, their inventory is divided into a whole host of sub-genres, including graphic novels, historical romance, and thrillers.

Anyone open to uncovering new texts and authors will love the mystery book stacks, where the staff will assemble a thoughtfully picked box of books for you.

Footnote Books

Address: 1627 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 501-7466
Website

With an almost dizzying array of books stacked from floor to ceiling, Footnote Books is like a wonderland for literary buffs.

Footnote Books is what you imagine classic bookstores to look like, and their collection encompasses everything from rare foreign language texts to decades-old special editions.

You won’t want to come here in a rush, as there are so many little corners to explore.

South Park

Book Catapult

Address: 3010-B Juniper St, San Diego, CA 92104
Phone: (619) 795-3780
Website

Book Catapult in South Park is an especially fantastic bookstore for families with a well-curated collection of literary works for all ages.

Their kid’s section is one of the best in San Diego, which is even more impressive considering that Book Catapult is set in a relatively small space.

Beyond their library of books, this adorable store offers stationery, puzzles, and even clothing.

Hillcrest

Bluestocking Books

Address: 3817 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 296-1424
Website

A lovely little bookstore in Hillcrest, Bluestocking Books is a quaint shop catering to readers young and old. When I lived in Hillcrest, I used to go to this bookshop all the time. The staff is so friendly, and I love that they highlight a lot of LGBTQ+ authors in this shop.

Bluestocking Books carries a mix of new and used reads, and they also offer credit for books you’ve donated or traded. Coupled with their reasonable prices, this is a pretty great deal.

The whole place feels like an old-school library, and you’ll get lost in the countless, perfectly arranged shelves.

Friends Of The Mission Hills-Hillcrest / Knox Library Bookstore

Address: 215 W Washington St, San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 692-4910
Website

Set up to help fund the San Diego Public Library, Friends sells some of the most budget-friendly books in the Mission Hills and Hillcrest area.

Donate or buy the likes of books, DVDs, puzzles, and comic books here, knowing all the profits will be used for the upkeep and betterment of the local library.

Point Loma

Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore

Address: 3555 Rosecrans St Suite 107, San Diego, CA 92110
Phone: (619) 539-7137
Website

Mysterious Galaxy is a haven for bookworms with a particular interest in sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and mystery novels.

A large bookstore that’s been around for 30 years now, Mysterious Galaxy has developed a community of its own and regularly hosts events like book clubs, writing workshops, and author meet and greets.

If you’re not too sure what you’re looking for, the staff are happy to guide you in the right direction.

La Playa Books

Address: 1026 Rosecrans St, San Diego, CA 92106
Phone: (619) 226-2601
Website

With a special focus on used and second-hand texts, La Playa Books is the ultimate spot for finding pre-loved books from every genre out there.

The vast majority of their stock is used books, making it ideal for traders looking to update their collections. However, they also have a smaller section of the latest books if you have your eye on a new release.

Before you even step inside, you’ll be greeted by a discount bin of reads, many of which are just $1.

Downtown / East Village

Friends Of The Central Library Bookstore

Address: 330 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 238-6655
Website

A used bookstore on the first floor of the Central Library, all of the profits from Friends goes into maintaining and developing the library.

This spot is run by local volunteers who have worked to create displays of donated books, most of which are for sale for super cheap.

Friends is one San Diego bookstore you won’t want to skip.

Library Shop SD

Address: 330 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 236-5802
Website

Similar to Friends of the Central Library, Library Shop SD puts its profits into the San Diego Public Library.

Though you’ll notice an exciting array of books available, you can also get your hands on toys, homeware, jewelry, and other quirky pieces.

Coronado

Bay Books

Address: 1007 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Phone: (619) 435-0070
Website

The vibrant Bay Books in Coronado has a stellar assortment of books for every age, taste, and genre.

Inside the store are endless, thoughtfully organized shelves brimming with new and used books, along with stationery, magazines, toys, and crafts.

Pacific Beach

Pennywise Books

Address: 1331 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: (858) 270-1640
Website

Despite the name, Pennywise Books doesn’t specialize in horror, though you’ll likely find some books of this genre in the store!

As Pacific Beach’s top indie bookstore, Pennywise is always packed with locals buying, selling, and trading pre-loved books.

Their selection is difficult to beat, and the same goes for their prices.

La Jolla 

Warwick’s

Address: 7812 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 454-0347
Website

Arguably the most famous of all the San Diego bookstores, Warwick’s is no ordinary shop – it’s the oldest family-owned bookstore in the U.S.

Between children’s books and non-fiction favorites, Warwick’s retails popular and lesser-known works from a range of genres. In addition to books, you’ll find stationary, jewelry, accessories, and unique trinkets inside.

On Sundays, Warwick’s promotes local authors with events like book signings and readings.

D.G. Wills Books

Address: 7461 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 456-1800
Website

Located in the heart of La Jolla Village is D.G. Wills Books, a compact bookstore oozing with old-world charm.

Don’t let this shop’s small size fool you, as it’ll take hours to work your way through the eclectic blend of old and new texts from a myriad of genres.

As the home of the La Jolla Historical Society, D.G. Wills frequently hosts events for keen readers, with the likes of Norman Mailer and Billy Collins having previously made appearances here.

Del Mar / Torrey Pines

DIESEL, A Bookstore

Address: 12843 El Camino Real, Suite 104, San Diego, CA 92130
Phone: (858) 925-7078
Website

A favorite amongst Del Mar locals, DIESEL is a gorgeous bookstore with a well-kept roster of fiction and non-fiction texts.

The main section of the store is filled with everything from mystery and thriller books to romantic and fantasy novels. Head to the back, and you’ll find a super cute kid’s corner and a seating area.

If you have something in mind but can’t find it in store, the team at DIESEL will do their best to order it for you.

Rare Book Buyer

Address: 11112 Vista Sorrento Pkwy A209, San Diego, CA 92130
Phone: (646) 469-1851
Website

Rare Book Buyer is the place to go if you’re in the market for hard-to-find books or happen to be selling some obscure texts.

Located in northern Torrey Pines, there’s no guessing what kind of out-of-the-ordinary finds you’ll come across here.

This spot will be of particular interest to anyone looking for collector’s items and editions.

Solana Beach FOL Bookstore

Address: 157 Stevens Ave unit B, Solana Beach, CA 92075
Phone: (858) 694-5112
Website

Although it’s a little further north than Torrey Pines, we had to mention Solana Beach’s Friends of the Library store.

Much like similar library-run used bookstores, this treasure trove of books is used to help with the running of the library’s primary collection. 

If your collection is building up, stop by and donate some of your stash here.

Barrio Logan

Libélula Books & Co

Address: 950 S 26th St, San Diego, CA 92113
Phone: (619) 775-4040
Website

Libélula Books & Co is a cute and quirky bookstore that focuses on creating a community within the area. I really love this place. The space itself is homely and colorful, feeling like a lived-in house with a huge book collection.

These guys like to keep it local, stocking books and crafts created by San Diegans. They also have a lot of events going on all the time, ranging from poetry readings, writing workshops, and such. Such a cool place to meet fellow book lovers.

Strange Daze

Address: 2060 Logan Ave, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92113
Website

Strange Daze is a teeny used bookstore in San Diego’s Barrio Logan neighborhood.

You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time once inside, as the store is filled with second-hand texts, art, and comics.

Though it’s a new edition to the book scene, Strange Daze won’t stay under the radar for long.

La Mesa

Maxwell’s House of Books

Address: 8285 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91941
Phone: (619) 462-3387
Website

Maxwell’s House of Books turned 20 in 2023 and is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

With a collection exceeding 30,000 books, it’s safe to say that you could find texts from even the most underground genres here. Sifting through a volume of books is no easy task, but the owners make this process much more straightforward with their knowledge and expertise.

Unearth retro reads or trade in your collection for some new novels at one of the many indie or used bookstores in San Diego.

With San Diego bookstores scattered around the city and country, there’s never been a better time to be a book lover or an avid reader. We hope our guide to the finest independent bookstores in San Diego makes finding your next page-turner a little easier.

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