“Wonderful bookstore, that has both children, young adult, and adult books. Lots of variety and options and they'll happily order a book if it's out of stock or one they don't carry. Look forward to stopping by in the future.”
“The owner & staff are so kind! They carry soooo many Sonny angels, better than any other store I’ve ever been to and they don’t overprice them. They also have other cute kawaii items! Love this place.”
“Omg they have all the juicy literature and history one could dream of. I can’t wait to bring my son as he really enjoying our summer reading extravaganza. Reading and literacy equates to freedom”
“Moe’s Books isn’t just a bookstore; it’s a Berkeley institution that lives up to every bit of its historic reputation. Walking in, you're immediately struck by the sheer scale of the inventory across its four distinctive levels. The main floors (one and two) feature an incredibly vast selection of fiction, blending standard paperbacks with hidden gems. As you climb higher, the depth of their specialized sections becomes staggering. The third floor is a dream for anyone interested in eastern or western thought—the philosophy section spans massive wall-to-wall shelving, and the Buddhism section alone commands four full bookshelves without bleeding into other spiritual topics. If you look closely, you'll also discover an incredible selection of rare, out-of-print occult texts, offering some real hidden treasures for collectors and curious minds alike. Finally, the fourth floor opens up into a sprawling history department that feels more like a university library than a retail shop. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, the pricing on used items is fair, and the atmosphere feels like a timeless pocket of the East Bay. Truly the best bookstore experience I've ever had.”
“I come here frequently and found out they recently moved. The location has changed but the selection of aromas and kind shop owners haven't. They have a wide range of religious texts and garmets. But I usually go for their perfumes.”
“They have a cool selection of art books in this particular Pegasus. Lots of pulp westerns too! Staff is super friendly and very chatty with my pup, who's now going to hit them up for treats all the time.”
“Another San Francisco staple. So much history here. Fantastic selection. I particularly like their niche, hard to find books. Their poetry room is wonderful. Been coming here for decades. It’s like a second home. Staff are kind and helpful. I can spend hours here and always walk away with some books.”
“A great selection of books, found a few contemporary authors that I didn't know of, also saw all the classics, Dickens, Woolf etc. Atmosphere like you want in a bookshop, quiet, staff reading behind the counter”
“Great selection of new and used books. I always find something new (to me) and interesting to take home. The people there are very kind, helpful, and intuitive to their customers' needs. Especially for those of us who are other-abled but don't obviously appear to be so.”
“I’ve been all around the world but have never seen such a fantastic selection of beautiful books combined with friendly and knowledgable customer service. Keann is a legend! Please keep up the good work. This store is amazing”
“A wonderful selection of books used and new including a section of books not found online! Paintings, postcards, gift cards, stuffed animals and so many more things! The staff are super friendly”
“I visited this bookstore a few weeks back and honestly have not stopped thinking about it. The atmosphere is stellar, like you're wandering an old wizard's cozy collection. So many amazing books, and as a collector of vintage fantasy mass-markets, this place was heaven. Highly highly recommend!!”
“I've been to the other Pegasus store (a few miles north) many times; however, this was my first visit to this branch. A bit smaller than the main store but still a great selection and well laid-out. Found a couple of books to purchase and will return for more! If you're near Berkeley (even if you're not), stop by for an hour or 10!”
“This store has the best selection of Judaica and the owners are so helpful. It is such a pleasure to have a brick and mortar store where I can compare items. And around holiday times there is no better place to shop.”
“Gotta love when a bookstore lives up to its name!! This tiny little bookstore had a good selection of books and a cat asleep and ready for pets at the register! The kids loved it and it was possibly the calmest bookstore I’ve ever been in.”
“A light-filled spot with lovely books for little and not-so-little ones. We got several sweet books (e.g., Letters to My Grandchild) authored by Lea Redmond, and the warm storefront attendant Elizabeth wrapped beautiful gifts for the grandparents, who will definitely be delighted when they receive their care package. Thank you!”
“Great used book store. It's a wonderful place to spend time browsing books. They also buy books so if you have extra and the local lending libraries are full bring em down.”
“Knowledgeable staff, wide range of genres and topics with a focus on critical theory, literary fiction, ideology, and art. I’ve ordered books through them multiple times and it’s been great! Staff has excellent recs.”
“This is a very cute spot! My friend and I talked about coming here for a long time after seeing a reel on Instagram! Would highly recommend. The wine and small bites are a little pricey but they do have more of a niche, so it makes sense in my opinion. It is a bit smaller of a place, but when went today, on a Sunday, it wasn't very crowded. We will return the next time we are in Berkeley! They looked like they had some fun events, so we will be signing up for their mailing list!”
“Sooooo knowledgeable! Walked in asking for book recommendations for my kids who are emerging middle grade readers. Looking for books that would be motivating and captivating to keep them reading. The woman in the children’s section gave me tons of options! I happily over bought! My kids are excited to read her recommendations! 10/10 on all counts!!! 💯”
“Like books? Like people who like books? Wanna buy books and support a vital literary infrastructure? Just wanna stroll around a cool neighborhood and walk into a place randomly, a place that'll make you gasp with unspent wonder? This is the place!!! Go here!”
“Great store with everything you need for your spiritual journey. Awesome selection of tarot, oracle, crystals, candles and many more! Ms. Valencia is super sweet, kind and knowledgeable. Highly recommend! I am a regular now =)”
“Tally Ho has something for everybody, they have a large selection of used books at super affordable prices! Upon check out they also have a point based rewards system that seems promising.”
“This used bookstore is right inside the ground level by the parking ramp. It is very clean, with wide aisles and does not feel cramped at all like some bookstores can get. Great variety of used books, broken down into various categories to make browsing easier. Most hardback seemed to be 2 to 3 dollars, but there are some 50 Cent specials and even ones that can get down to a quarter apiece. Right off Telegraph Avenue near campus so a great place to get a lot of books without spending much money plus supporting a great cause.”
“They have books here. They have magazines here. They even have a Starbucks here. If you're capable of reading this review then this is maybe a store you want to check out. Oh yeah they have games here too. I bought a few really fun ones.”
“A great bookstore full of gently (if used at all) books at amazingly low prices. Great for bestsellers, cookbooks, kids' books and CDs and DVDs, too. Tucked inside the Belvedere Tiburon Library. A hidden gem!”
“Very cozy bookstore featuring feminist and inclusive books. Not only did I purchase a tote bag, I also found two books that spoke to me. Shout out to booktuber, Malissa (bewareofpity) for recommending this bookstore I had yet to discover on my own.”
“Wonderful book store full of French books, new and old. I’m always finding a unique book that I would not have been able to discover on Amazon. Highly recommend!”
“wonderful way to discover new releases and older gems. I love how the bookstore is formatted - truly feels like a treasure trove and helps me rediscover the magic of finding the unexpected.”
“Wonderful little shop selling authentically local gifts. This is not a place you’ll find cheap Chinese trinkets. Everything felt thoughtful and held some type of relation to the area. I thoroughly enjoyed spending a little time here and found some unique gifts for family that wouldn’t be found elsewhere. Regretfully I only took one photo inside, but it’s charming and the staff are exceptionally friendly.”
Barnes & Noble is proving that physical bookstores aren't going anywhere. The retailer just opened three new locations across Texas and South Carolina, marking another step in its comeback story. Barnes & Noble opened 57 stores in 2024 alone - more than it had opened in the entire decade from 2009 to 2019. The company isn't slowing down either, with plans to open more than 60 new stores in 2025 and a goal of reaching over 1,000 stores nationwide in the coming years.
