Best Bookstores In San Francisco Near Me

4worldlovers: For now, we’re still asking folks to wear masks. Bear with us while we make the necessary adjustments.

We will be buying Books and Vinyl on Saturdays from 12-6.

(We do accept book and vinyl donations, anytime that we are open.)

You can also order any book in print and have it shipped directly to your home from the warehouse, by way of Alley Cat’s Bookshop.org

You can support us directly by buying a gift certificate or donating to our Gofundme page!

Make your way to the back of the store and discover our spacious art gallery, where local and international art adorns the high walls. Sometimes you might stumble into an art opening, poetry reading, meeting, or film screening.

4worldlovers: Each month, we select a brand new book that we love so much that we guarantee you'll love it too.

For this month we have chosen "After Sappho" by Selby Wynn Schwartz.

A luminous interweaving of biographical vignettes, limning the lives of a cadre of remarkable women.

4worldlovers: “Black Bird doesn’t boast stacks as much as slim shelves displaying a very edited, but very exceptional, selection. It’s the antidote to option overload.” San Francisco Magazine

We love our local artists. Come visit us regularly to see the revolving art show on our walls. Since opening on Irving St this past March we have featured Jamae Tasker (IG @mamaladysmix), Amy Reid Hirst, 3 Fish Studios and upcoming we have Nahyun Kim and two others on slate before end of year. We also support local artists, artisans and craftspeople throughout the store.

4worldlovers: Consistent with San Francisco’s updated indoor masking policy, all un-vaccinated customers over age 2 are required to wear masks inside the store.

Wearing a mask is no longer required for fully vaccinated individuals, but is strongly encouraged to help ensure the health and safety of our employees and customers.

Continuing to mask indoors remains the safest choice for an individual and protects those who are medically vulnerable or are not able to get vaccinated, like our youngest children. Please be considerate of one another during this difficult time.

Eating and drinking are not allowed at any time while visiting the bookshop. We kindly ask that you finish meals and snacks before visiting.

We remain in full compliance and support of the current local, state, and federal Health Orders as they pertain to the Covid-19 pandemic.

If you still feel uncomfortable or are not yet able to visit us for in-store shopping, we encourage you to call us during business hours at 415-929-0997 so that we can assist you with curbside pick-up or shipping options.

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to welcoming you at the bookshop!

Gift Certificates will be honored and can be mailed or made available for pick-up and never expire.

If you would like to purchase books from our shop online, please see our listings on

If you would like to purchase any other items in our shop, please email all inquiries to:

Russian Hill Bookstore, established in 1974, is one of the last independently-owned used and new bookstores in San Francisco. We began as Sunset Bookstore in 1974, a small used bookshop servicing the Sunset District west of 19th Avenue, and have been in continual operation for the past 47 years. Over the years Sunset Bookstore has since closed and merged with Russian Hill Bookstore, which has grown to become also the best note card shop in the city, and a favorite place for toys and games for children of all ages.

Russian Hill Bookstore is located at 2162 Polk Street, between Vallejo and Broadway Streets. We are open from 10:00AM to 8:00PM daily, and closed New Years Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. For additional holiday hours, please contact us at

We are a general used and new bookshop. Our inventory spans over 50 categories, from new fiction to antiquarian history. If we don’t have what you’re looking for, we can usually special order titles within 5 business days.

If you have books you want to sell or trade, from just one copy to an entire library, we are always interested. Please call the shop in advance for buying hours, at 415-929-0997. If you are unable to bring your books to us, we do make house calls.

At our shop, you’ll find the largest selection of note cards anywhere in the city. Whether you’re looking for a blank card or holiday greeting, we’ve got something for everything. We are proud to carry many cards from small, independent artists, local to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Our hand-selected gift items range from scented candles to notebooks and coffee mugs. Whether you’re looking for a housewarming present or going away gift, we’ve got you covered.

We carry an extensive collection of new, used, and vintage children’s books, as well as creative and educational toys, games, puzzles, plush, coloring books, and activity sets.

We stock classics, such as Backgammon and Clue, as well as the latest in strategy, co-operative, adventure, party, family and kid’s games. If we don’t have the title you’re looking for, we are usually able to special order games and expansions.

4worldlovers: We list our books online at Biblio. We feel that their service is the best available and provides our customers with a better and faster on-line shopping experience than anything we could provide on our own. If for any reason you are dissatisfied with Biblio, please don't hesitate to call or email us and we'll get it sorted out for you.

4worldlovers: Specialists in the History of California and the American West, Early Printed Books from the 15th to the 19th centuries, Fine and Rare Books in most fields.

4worldlovers: We provide curbside service if you prefer, and we can make local deliveries. Please send all inquiries and orders to chrisbookssf@gmail.com or call us.

4worldlovers: Currently Alexander's hours are Monday - Friday from 10am to 5pm.

We certainly wish for everyone to stay healthy, and we will do our best to keep the store clean and safe.

All this said, we have a store full of books awaiting your visit!

YOU CAN ALWAYS CHECK ON-HAND AVAILABILITY THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, BUT IF QUANTITIES ARE LOW IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO CALL TO CONFIRM.

4worldlovers: Celebrate diverse voices and discover new literary finds with this 500-piece puzzle.

A lyrical meditation on the ancient art of weaving and what this beautiful craft can teach us.