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“I've almost been hesitant to write a review because I feel like I'd be letting the world in on my own secret paradise, but the vast majority of comments here speak for themselves. This is far and away the best (non-used) bookstore in DC. The owner/book purchaser has INCREDIBLE taste and its inventory is brimming with an array of literary, poetic, and philosophical achievements that I've ever encountered on one bookstore's shelves. So far as I can tell, its selection in everything else is equally superlativeSome purchases that I've never found elsewhere in one place include: Robert Musil's The Man Without Qualities, Walter Benjamin's Arcades Projects, Vico's Nuova Scienza, JFK and the Unspeakable by Jim Douglass, The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA Spymaster James Jesus Angleton by Jefferson Morley, and Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit if you're looking for a cure for insomnia.Sure, the stuff is pricey, but treasures are innately valuable. Dodge the NPR stans at P&P and support a store that manufactures intellect and taste.”
“Cute book store that specializes in cook books and books about food! I really liked the selection of kids picture books. Friendly staff. LGBTQ friendly and accessible friendly. There is a small ramp to enter w/ a pull door but the space is tight.”
8:30AM - 2:30PM
1658 Columbia Rd NW, Washington
Book Stores
“Nice atmosphere overall, though the music was a bit too loud for a nice reading atmosphere. Coffee and food could both have been better.Kid-friendliness: Lots of family- and kid-friendly books to purchase.”
“Bought some sandals at the Nordstrom in Tyson’s corner yesterday. The salesman Norvelle told me what he was wearing because I said he smelled amazing. Told me about this place and went immediately after! I only wished I lived in the area and not in another state! This place is theee bomb!!”
“Politics and Prose (specifically this Conn Ave location) is my favorite bookstore - not just in the District, but nationwide. They've got so much more than just books to offer, although of course they've got plenty of good books. I love that they have an entire area of sale books, where I can always find gems, especially with cookbooks. They can order pretty much any book imaginable if it's not on their shelves, and if you pick it up at the store, there's no delivery cost. Beyond books, this location has a great cafe in the basement. Perfect for a sweet pastry or a glass of wine. And, most importantly, Politics and Prose has an incredible offering of classes and events each season. I've taken 4 classes (all online) so far, and loved every one of them. They are able to attract great instructors, and they have a wide range of topics for all interests. I particularly enjoyed the Art of Food Writing class I recently took with Nevin. Forget Amazon - come to Politics and Prose (in-person or virtually!) and support a wonderful local establishment.”
10:30AM - 5PM
1025 King St, Alexandria
Book Stores
“As I was "Window Shopping" in Old Town Alexandria, I saw this book in the window ...Surviving Depression & thought maybe that book could help me get through the depression I'm having after loosing my son to suicide.After talking with Sister Cynthia, she pointed out the other 2 books & donated the Psalms Bible to me, she also stated there was a chapel upstairs if I needed some alone time (I did go up there & it was very peaceful & it's exactly what I needed .. some alone time with God). ❤️I'm not Catholic but I am a Christian, I absolutely loved this bookstore and the people who worked there, I will be back! Thank you so much for listening to me & letting me shed some tears, about my son Zachary, with you. ?God Bless you, Sister Cynthia ❤️?”
“Had no idea this store existed (to be fair, I rarely venture to Eastern Market and had not been south of F St in years) but I am so happy it does. A great selection of books from every genre. Heavy focus on LGBTQ+ authors and stories but they don’t limit themselves to that at all. And the employees are very kind and helpful to boot.”
“My dog and I visited on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed, but staff was still fabulous. For such a small space, they fit a great selection of new releases, and even gorgeous editions of Penguin classics. I'd probably have stayed and ended up buying more than just one book had it not been so busy - I *love* bookshops like this one and my dog very much appreciated how welcome she was made to feel as well. :)”
“This is a better bookstore in Washington DC. The store space is spacious and old-fashioned. The selection has all the independent standards and it also has some original picks. I didn't know it was here and stopped by with a scooter. I didn't want to eat on the block and I didn't see any other store..bookstores are heroes and bookstores are the best places..this bookstore is the numero tres. I would come back here. The others can boo boo kitty boo.”
“It was a great surprise to see an actual bookstore. It was even better when we found out it was black owned and a majority if not all of the books were written by black authors. One suggestion to the owner... They offer coffee and tea like most bookstores do, having a table or 2 in the store would be perfect to sit and enjoy your drink, especially when it's cold outside!”
“The cutest little bookstore in downtown Alexandria. They have lots of books for kids, adults, and everything in between. They even have a small cozy reading section. The staff are friendly and provide any help needed, even ordering books if needed. The prices are very comparable to your big box stores, but going to a mom and pop place.”
“Lovely book store. Great organization and displays, lots of variety and great authors. Lots of adorable book related gifts and even some local area gifts. Great variety for kids, teens, and adults.”
“Excellent bookstore! Great selection of national bestsellers, local books, cards and stationary. There are a lot of personal recommendations made by bookstore staff which I love to see! You can buy wine, beer (many local) and cider as well as coffee drinks to hold as you wander around the store or work from their long communal table. They also have a bar where people were working on their laptops.”
“Great products! Very pricey and I don't know why there were some really nice sweaters for $75 and I thought that was too much. I got a nice shirt for $30 and a sweater for $58. The cashier was very nice. They were also doing some changes because the last half of the store was inaccessible.”
“Love having a local bookstore and the staff is always super helpful and friendly. You never know what you are going to find there! I can't give a 5 star review though because their air conditioning has been broken for quite some time and it is rather uncomfortable in there. I feel bad for the staff. Can't wait to come back when the weather is cooler though!”
9:30AM - 5:45PM
2002 Georgia Ave NW, Washington
Book Stores
“I was going to work using Georgia Ave. Stopped by checked and found the store open. I haven't been there for 2yrs due to the pandemic. Limited resources. They are trying to make a come back. Loving God they will come back online. Praise God. Bless them”
“Located steps below the Washington Monument, on the National Mall. Large selection of books on the first U.S. President and souvenir shop. You will also find public restrooms at this location.”
“This is a lovely bookstore that I'll continue to go back to. They have precious little space, so sometimes it's strange to see the books they choose to put on their shelves. They also have a nice children's section.”
“Bought a neighborhood map of Seattle from their shop in the downtown DC Christmas market and it's now happily hanging in our kitchen. Given how picky we are about art and how long it takes us to get art up, that's saying a lot. The style and colors are perfect and it's a great way to remember other parts of our lives. My only complaint is that they don't have more maps to buy. As somebody who lives in the burbs of DC (I know, judge all you want), I had to pick between DC proper or past cities I'd lived in. It would be really cool to have maps of some of the closer in burbs.”
“Solid State's second location, this one along 14th Street NW is big with every section of books imaginable, including a large kids section in a he back. They also sell local gifts.”
10AM - 6PM
121 West Basin Dr SW, Washington
Book Stores
“Been really wanting to get back to DC to experience this memorial. It is breathtaking. When you walk through the Walls of Despair you are inspired. You have never seen Dr. King like this. When I looked into his perfectly sculpted eyes, I wanted to see all of the unfinished work he was looking towards. It was an emotional experience (you do not come to this memorial to "see it). Such a fitting tribute to the man and the legacy.”
“They do a very nice job of making the most of their limited space to build out a strong selection of books. Super friendly and helpful staff, and they even leave a bowl of water outside on hot days for neighborhood pups.”
“Today I visited the Basilica of The National Shrine to look for gifts and to enjoy the beauty and serenity of this amazing temple. Of course I spent more time than I intended but it was well worth it. I found out that the gift shop opens at 9:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm. Between the shrine and the gift shop one can easily spend all day.”
“CIC is a spiritual oasis in the city. You can attend daily Mass, browse and buy books and gifts or attend one of their community events. Be sure to check out their "lifetime reading plan" recommendations!”
9AM - 5PM
3800 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington
Book Stores
“This place is a good and quiet. Ground floor is 3 rd floor. Staff was very helpful. Was clean, plenty of computers for campus students to access. You can even digitize any book you might need. And transfer to you device.”
“My dream come true... a book store and restaurant in one! My first time at this iconic institution and I cannot wait to visit again. The food was tasty and came out quick. The have an all day breakfast menu which I thought was awesome. If you come on a nice day; ask for seating outdoors in their back patio!”
“Great little gem in Alexandria Old Town. If you’re a book person and you’re looking for something special, you should definitely visit Bernard’s store. Carefully curated selection of books and Bernard will be happy to give you recommendations if you’d like to. :-) We’ll be back!”
“Absolute favorite local bookstore. Have been a dedicated shopper for years, and it is worth paying full price for books to see stores like P&P stay in business! Local feel, long-term impact.”
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“I have came here four days in a row for breakfast and coffee, every single time they didn’t fail to impress. The food reminds me of a quality, home-cooked breakfast made with care. I recommend getting the scrambled eggs and asking for it on ciabatta as a sandwich 10 out of 10.”