I felt like I was stepping back into the 90s when I walked into this extraordinary bookstore. Seattle has a long history of bibliophiles making their way to Pioneer Square to discover what exists outside of the typical bookseller franchise. I made my first visit during Indie Bookstore Week and found an unsung novel by Chinua Achebe. A bonus was being able to have a nuanced and informed conversation about literature with the reader who rang up my purchase. read more

I recalled Arundel Books previously located closer to the Seattle Art Museum before Harbor Steps existed and also in the Grand Central Building. They have been at this current corner spot at 1st and S Jackson since February 2021. This bibliophile clearly has been very late to the party! I stopped in during Independent Booksellers Day (4/25/26) and it was packed full of people. Warmly acknowledged upon entering and later when departing. I briefly browsed the shelves. There's a decent selection, as well as, other merch available for purchase. What really caught my attention were the high curved ceilings. It gave a bright, airy feeling despite feeling a bit cramped with the current capacity onsite. My previous indie booksellers in Pioneer Square were Elliott Bay Book Store (moved to Capitol Hill) and the treasure trove owned by the late David Ishii. It was good to be reacquainted again with Arundel Books, a mainstay in Seattle since 1995. read more

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I found this bookstore a few weeks ago after stumbling in during Seattle's First Thursday, and it was such a great discovery. They have an awesome section dedicated to Seattle-specific books, including some really unique titles I hadn't come across before. Many of the books have handwritten staff notes with summaries and recommendations. It made browsing feel much more personal and I read about things I probably wouldn't have picked up otherwise! read more

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I try to support small local businesses whenever I can, and this is one I keep coming back to. The space is beautiful. Old building, exposed brick, tall ceilings, big windows... that classic Pioneer Square architecture that makes you want to slow down and stay awhile. I picked up a vintage copy of a novel and ended up browsing way longer than I planned. The selection is thoughtful and full of unique finds without feeling overwhelming. Staff is always chill and helpful, never pushy. Just a really cozy, solid spot that feels like a true neighborhood bookstore. read more

A lovely bookstore with a great selection! I also enjoyed seeing local art for purchase. I was able to grab some cards and postcards to send to friends and family. The 2 staff members were helpful as well! read more

A great little bookstore near downtown Seattle. They have authors visit occasionally to speak and sign some of their copies, and I was actually able to come across one. They have a small section of independently published books that you might not have heard of. I even overheard a new author who walked in to find out if they would be willing to sell some of their books there, and without asking to see or read the book, they agreed and stated that they'll pay cash for them. They really give every author a chance here. So glad we stopped in! read more

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Oh my goodness, what a treasure Arundel Books is! I had no idea this bookstore was here until I walked by it on my way to lunch and made a note to come back when I had more time. Fortunately, I found the time to come back and I was happily pleased with what I discovered here. Located in Pioneer Square, Arundel Books is located in one of the older buildings, so that right there is the first must-have for a charming bookstore. I visited on my lunch break one day during the week of Independence Bookstore Day, so got my stamp here, and browsed through the wonderful selection of books. I didn't even get to explore as much as I wanted due to time, but I found a leather-bound, rare Joseph Conrad book for my partner's upcoming birthday at a fair price. I was more impressed though that they had an entire Ernest Hemingway section pointed out for readers. The store is spacious enough, especially with its high ceilings. They won't have everything here, but the staff is willing to help you find what you're looking for and again, they have more rare books that hard to find elsewhere. For any reader who happens to be in Pioneer Square, Arundel Books is a store you can't miss. More outings to come here! read more

Arundel Books - Ernest Hemingway Collection - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Cute book store, definitely worth popping in if you're in pioneer square. I want to go back! read more

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I am confident when I say this is the prettiest bookstore in seattle! I wasn't even looking to buy any books, but I still had a great time stopping in and browsing around. I recognized some old favorites and spotted some books I was interested in as well (good mix of modern and classic books). My friends and I even browsed through a children's book and it was so cute! What I love most about this bookstore is the architecture of the arched ceilings and how aesthetic it is. The space is also filled with art and I especially loved the watercolor prints of farmers markets!! There was a constant stream of people without it ever getting too busy or crowded. I highly recommend having a pioneer square shopping day and coming in :) read more

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This place is so cute! The building is gorgeous and there's a small but great selection of books. The employee we talked to was so kind and informative, we had such a great time talking to them! Definitely want to come back sometime and really explore the store :) read more

Arundel Books - Interior with a book ladder!! Employee use only though - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I noticed staff wiping down high touch surfaces while I browsed, which made me feel safe. They also checked in politely to see if I needed help. Clean, respectful, and well managed I'll definitely be coming back. read more

Beautiful, fantastic selection, love the art as well. Definitely worth browsing! The sections all made sense. read more

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Walking by Arundel's I could just feel the magic from outside so I immediately headed in for what I thought would be a quick look. It wasn't. I browsed through so many shelves and found unique gifts for my friends. They have beautiful books and many great finds and a small mysterious rare book section. I found a section on magic and witch's handbooks to self care and home remedies. The more I think about it the more I have to come back and start collecting the whole set! I even found a deck of cards with mushrooms on them to help identify different varieties. I'm especially happy about this find. I loved the details I found in here from the elaborate roof to the bindings of each book, this is a really picturesque bookstore. Since I didn't see what was in the rare find section I know curiosity will surely have me coming in for more. read more

Arundel Books - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Here you will have a wonderful hype-free urban corner experience in Pioneer Square -- the kind that is becoming increasingly rare. If you're down in the area, don't skip this quiet little corner of the world. Featuring so many Pacific Northwest produced books with notable authors and local art hanging on the walls. Even if you think you don't need a book walk in, you'll find the one that was looking for you. And don't skip the rare book section. You will find incredible buys there and the staff are so helpful. You walk out feeling more human and enriched as a reader -- It's a great experience. Excellent time and resource value. read more

Arundel Books - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Really pretty store! They seem to have predominantly poetry, but a pretty broad selection relative to the space. The store keeper was very friendly and helpful and the store was clean and easy to navigate. read more

Such a cozy bookstore with an incredible arched ceiling detail. I loved the selection of books here. I was constantly picking up novels and reading exerps of the books on display; many of which I have never seen before! The staff here are quite friendly and fully masked at all times. This is great local book shop to check out if you're roaming around Pioneer Square. The "rare books" section was particularly interesting and made my boyfriend very curious! read more

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I will never step foot in this bookstore ever again. First time, last time. The guy at the counter, who I assume was the owner, was such a jerk that another employee checked him. She greeted me immediately in the friendliest manner to smooth things over. Yeah, she knew he was wrong. She knows his rude, hostile behavior. I can't imagine what it must be like to work with him on a daily basis. To make matters worse was the selection of books on the shelves. What a waste of time. So much for supporting small businesses. I miss having Elliott Bay Book Company in Pioneer Square. It was a beautiful, welcoming, vibrant place and they moved to Capitol Hill. It was a huge loss for the area. To the female employee who greeted me: You are an awesome person. I hope you find another employer who is kind to their customers because you are a prime example of who customers want to see and interact with. read more

Arundel Books is an independently owned bookstore located at Pioneer Square. We had finished our dinner nearby and decided for a walk in Pioneer Square. We felt safe (enough) to walk around at 7pm, in the twilight of the day. I was pleasantly surprised to find Arundel Books still open. The bookstore owner was in and greeted us kindly offering his assistance. I chose to wander on my own. The building itself, the ceiling to be specific, is quite pretty. The book selections are well organized. There are some eclectic options, and some rare and unusual ones, too. At the front near the register was a display of books that addresses diversity, including those appropriate for children. I'm upping my rating by 1 star for their in-stock books with altruistic themes. I was very pleased to have found a book I wanted. read more

Arundel Books - Maus, and a bookmark from the store - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I absolutely fell in love with this dainty little bookshop. The architecture drew me in, but the collection of books held me there. There are books on philosophy, gardening, poetry (so much poetry!), the latest greatest best sellers, and modern classics as well. They have so many books by Wodehouse, the first "adult" author I read, I've never seen that in the US! They have used as well as new books, and I was excited to get three of my favorites for a very good price. I almost never buy books, being more of a library fiend myself, but this particular store, with its soft tinkling background music, nicely placed selection, and excellent staff who just let you be without breathing down your necks, is definitely an exception. I'll keep returning. read more

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This store is literally SO beautiful, but i will say they had such a small variety of romance books. It was maybe about 3 shelves? (unless they had another section but i don't believe so) They had SO many poetry books and things but barely any romance which seemed odd bc romance is very popular! I guess I now realized I should have spent more time in the fiction/non fiction and i could have found some more books with romance, but at the time I didn't because there is a sign that says not to spend more than 30 minutes in the store! Overall the store is very beautiful, but I do hope they get some more romance books in! read more

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Wonderful selection! I found some books I'd been looking for that I could't find anywhere else. This store is a treasure for any book lover.

This bookstore is amazing!! The arched ceilings with 17th-century moldings really drew me in. Friendly, interesting staff, beautiful collection of books. This is a must-see in Seattle. read more

Arundel Books - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Got here 20 minutes after their advertised opening time and the store was empty and locked. While we were standing there , several other customers came up and looked confused that it was closed. I guess you shouldn't come on Sundays! read more

Today I stopped in just to browse and see if anything caught my eye. While I ultimately didn't end up purchasing anything, a number of books were of great interest to me and overall it was just very impressive to see both the quality but also the variety of books in this used bookstore. However I wanted to make it a point to leave a review not from the above but because the gentleman who helped me was absolutely wonderful and extremely knowledgeable! I noticed he had several early 1900s books with illustrations and it reminded me of a book I once saw in France over a decade ago that I wanted to buy but couldn't afford at the time. I described him the type of book and he immediately knew what I was talking about, a couple of possible authors, described a series of books on different places and how the book I saw I might fit into that series, helped look online as well as sort through some of the books he had all to find this for me. When I left, he had taken down my information and if he is able to locate the sort of book or ever see something similar come into the store he is going to contact me. I just thought his immediate knowledge about this obscure type of book that I mentioned was impressive but then even further to take the time and effort to try and find this for me was really wonderful! Thank you and I definitely recommend this place! read more

The beautiful architecture drew me in when I was in the area one afternoon. The selection is great and the booksellers are awesome. I was looking for a specific copy of a book and they had it, but we were having trouble locating it in the store. The bookseller helped me look through the shelves until we found it. Highly recommend! read more

I love this book shop and have found many gems in their enticing displays of wonderful reads - I've also found things I was looking for on their shelves - this time it was the third book in Nagub Mahfouz's Cairo Trilogy. A must-visit top whenever I visit Seattle. read more

The customer service bookstore was awesome. It was a Sunday evening night nobody's around he spend extra time with us putting out books let me use a face mask because I forgot mine at the hotel. Really like to the bookstore give it five stars stars read more

Arundel Books - Bookstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

What a fantastic and eclectic selection of books. Man behind the counter was very helpful. Highly recommend this place if you enjoy more "literary" fiction. read more

Arundel Books is one of the jewels of Pioneer Square businesses, as well as of Seattle bookstores. They're also an art and photography gallery, and their stock of books on all the arts is tremendous. If you like fantasy and science fiction, collectible hardcovers or recent paperbacks, you've a lot to look through. They sometimes have events like readings and music and you should get on the email list and start going, be a part of something! I can't imagine anyone giving Arundel a shitty review. Yet there's always someone! I see a couple people simply hated the place. But they complained that they weren't greeted properly by the staff which did not leap up trying to help them! Who that loves books and bookstores wants to hounded by an owner or owner's minions?? I don't get that at all. If you've a question, they answer it knowledgeably. If you just want to search for books in your area of interest, they'll point you to it. They won't pester you and that's a plus, not a reason to one-star a great store with an impressive stock. read more

First visit here was today. First impression wasn't pleasant. The store has a cool build out but the service was not the best. Bad energy from a male employee in his 50s? Within two minutes of walking in as I'm browsing some books he walks over and says "these are rare and expensive.." then walks past. Ok, so do I look like I can't afford these books? Or were you nervous about my handle or care for the books? I understand being worried about damage, no problem sir.. But maybe your approach could be different. Like maybe strike a friendly conversation then mention "please handle the books gently as they are rare." A simple "hello" or "welcome in" would have been nice. But maybe I'm asking too much lol. I love supporting local businesses, and I still bought a book here although the experience wasn't the best. There's plenty of other local book shops to choose from with better service or go online and get that "rare book" I'm pretty sure you'll still find.. read more

I walked in with a very specific question regarding suggestions on magical realism combined with historical fiction and off the beaten path. Without skipping a beat, both people were able to make recommendations and speak to the merits of several different authors within an incredibly specific subgenre! Not only that but I also ended up leaving my credit card there and they were kind enough to keep the store open an extra half hour to accommodate me coming back to get it! Definitely a go-to spot. read more

They don't open for their published hours. Don't waste your time like I did expecting them to be there.

this place was so cute! stumbled upon it just by walking around and fell in love! the atmosphere is so calm and nice and they have so much cute local art you can buy! read more

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This is such a beautiful bookstore in pioneer square with very helpful associates. They sell both new and used books, but I find that it's more like 70% new and 30% used. I've never really been able to find any used books on my list. I personally don't think they have as great of a selection as other bookstores, and I wouldn't go out of my way to come here if I was looking for a specific book, but I still recommend visiting if you're in the area! You can always call and ask for an inventory check, but I like being able to come and "find" books to take home. read more

This is a wonderful bookstore with a lot of great finds- I'm surprised it hasn't been reviewed before. It's in a great location--- nearby you can find coffee shops and restaurants and vintage pottery and a cute fabric/craft store. Arundel has an unpretentious vibe. There is a huge poetry section and I found signed books by Galway Kinnell. There were good selections of vintage nature books as well as a whole wall of art books. The fellow working there was knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. This is a great independent bookstore in a charming part of Seattle. read more

Cool little bookstore. Was visiting Seattle for the first time and went in after a friend pointed out the collection of pop-up books in the front. We had a chat with Phil, who was super nice and great to talk to (even though we didn't buy anything). Definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area! read more

I enjoyed my visit to Arundel Books and ended up making a purchase. I love old books and they have a nice offering.

Arundel Books offers real books for real people (their words, not mine) and though anecdotal, I did find a great book by one of my favorite authors in the fiction section, therefore their slogan rings true for me! I love the way their shelves are organized, and amused myself for several minutes browsing through their spinning shelves (yes, you heard right) read more

I was so excited to go to this bookstore. It seemed quite promising. I love old and rare books and was a serious buyer. Yet, when I walked in, the owner didn't greet me beyond a quick wave. The whole time I was ignored while he carried on conversation with employees. When I asked to see some books behind a counter, he began to say "no, um... well only if... no go ahead". He was about to say only if I was going to buy-only for serious buyers and he assumed I wasn't. I felt insulted. My jaw dropped as he was saying that. I was an inconvenience not a customer. And I was going to buy something along with my boyfriend. We were travelling to Seattle and wanted an old/rare book to remember the trip. But, not from this store. read more

Disorganized and poor service. Don't waste your time here. Couldn't even read most book titles because the shelves were too high and there was no organized structure. Staff were also irritated when we asked for help. Why would you do that if you want my money? Needless to say, we did not purchase anything. read more