The Barnes & Noble Cafe at the Tanforan location consistently delivers good service. The baristas are friendly, polite, and welcoming every time we visit. They make the experience pleasant and enjoyable, and it truly sets this location apart (whereas Hillsdale location don't seem to like repeat customers). P.S. There's also a young gentleman at the bookstore register who always goes above and beyond with customer service. He is consistently helpful, polite, and professional. His attitude really stands out and deserves recognition. So overall we truly appreciate the entire team for making each visit enjoyable. read more

Sad. Last day is May 2, 2026. Closing sale in full swing. Can only access/exit bookstore via the outside exit of Barnes & Noble. The mall entrance is closed. The next closest B&N is in Burlingame. Sad. read more

It is the normal day to be here. The books are organized , trying to see if ten dollars books are still out there. Overall, it's the good experiences. read more

Barnes & Noble - Nice children's selections - Bookstores Near Me - San Bruno, California

It was my first time at this store. I was surprised by the selection of cds, dvds, vinils, toys and boardgames. Went to pick up a book and left with more, such a dangerous place for my wallet. I only wish they had another coffee shop instead of Starbucks, but that's my personal preference. Had to wait to get home to have good coffee. read more

Called them ahead of time to check on an item. They were nice and quick to check and hold the item for me. . When I arrived, they were quick go get my item on hold and let me purchase. I had a easy breeze pick up and go. . While I was there I needed to use the restroom which was downstairs. They were quick to unlock the bathroom for me. Also the bathroom is clean too. . The inside of the store is clean and organized. It was easy to spot the collections and look for items. . Overall if i need something from barns and noble this is my preferred location. Hope this helps and thanks for reading. Have a yelptastic day. read more

Barnes & Noble - Gudetama bag secured - Bookstores Near Me - San Bruno, California

Most shopping malls are mostly located in the suburbs. This particular mall will be closing in the future. This place has history and where Seabiscuit raced. This mall has the missing link of the chain stores missing in San Francisco which is a bookstore with lots of square footage. This is the biggest bookstore closest to San Francisco without crossing a bridge. The best part of this is bookstore is you can reading the books and inside at the Cafe is a hybrid Starbucks and Cheesecake Factory without the savory plates and 20 page menu. This place is also a mix of study hall, workspace ,and social gathering spot. The last of the best physical book store is at the Tanforan Mall at Barnes and Noble where you can enjoy a cup of coffee and a slice of cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. A place with historical past and carries a new spirit since the days of Seabiscuit Before it's gone and then you will miss it and go to the Barnes and Noble at Tanforan Mall before it gets redevelop for a final visit read more

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So sad to see this place go! However, not so surprised given the location and lack of traffic Tanforan Mall gets these days. I visited today with some friends and most of the board games, gifts, and books were 40-50% off. By the time I got there, all of the book sets were gone. The original prices on some of board games made them not worth purchasing as they were still significantly pricey, but I bought a pretty good selection of books for a great deal. Lines were (understandably) slow since everybody is trying to take advantage of the deals right now. read more

This is a good bookstore. There's a Barnes & Noble Cafe serving Starbucks inside. The Starbucks app won't work here. But the B&N rewards program will. It is nice to browse and look for new books or magazines. The manga section is pretty neat. read more

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I never would have known, but the downstairs is like a toys r us and library. They are stacked with various toys and have something for nearly every interest- building, art, science, animals, boardgames, sports etc. my son loves Pokémon and we couldn't find much for him, but we were there for 40 minutes before he settled on a smashers egg. The price tags are $$$ compared to amazon, ross, target, walmart, but their selection is vast and it's nice to see the toys and options in person. The store is cozy and has a Starbucks (drink option) so it's worth paying a visit :) I don't recall my interactions with the employee being negative or positive so can't comment on that. read more

Pleasantly surprised to find a Barnes & Nobles still exists in Tanforan. The rest of the mall is very sad and dead but this Barnes & Nobles is the only store worth spending time in imo. I usually stick with shopping at my local indie bookstores, but I grew up hanging out at these larger bookstores and they are nostalgic. This Barnes & Nobles has vinyls for sale! It's fun seeing all the games, activity sets, and other knock knacks they sell. There is a lot more variety in every book category compared to the small indie bookstores I know. The store also had an incredible collection of stationary- both typical and high end notebooks from all over the world including Japan, Malaysia, Germany, France, and Finland. read more

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I was running late for an appointment and decided to get a book on hold at this location. I arrived at the store on Thursday 9/5/25 around 1:30-1:45pm walked into a completely empty store past a couple employees (eye contact, but no greeting) walked over to Customer Service desk. I waited for a couple minutes, no one came so I called the store's phone to get information where to pick up my book on hold. Phone rang about 6 times before someone picked up the call and then find out from the employee that the Customer Service desk never has anyone at that desk, interesting. Then I am instructed to walk to the other side of the store to the check out counter. Upon reaching the checkout counter the only employee at the register looks at me then gets on their ear piece and I hear them say to the other person on the other end, "I need to take a lunch now" and proceeds to stand there at the register ignoring me until another employee finally walks over to help me. I felt that I was not wanted in the store and that it was my fault for being confused at the way the store is setup for picking up holds. My order conformation email did not instruct me where I would pickup my item in the store. Below is what was in my email. 'Thanks for your order! We'll get right on it. No need to set out for the store just yet. When your order is ready for pick up... We'll send you a "Ready for Pick Up" email with a barcode. Please bring that email and a government issued photo ID when you pick up your order.' All the time I'm getting strange looks from the employee helping me at the register. I can only assume they were a manager from the amount of gear/devices they were wearing. Overall a very unpleasant visit to this store, but I guess this is normal these days. I for one will not be visiting this location again. But as always, you make your own decision. This was just my experience. read more

Great selection of books and magazines! Helpful staff. Organized shelves and toys/puzzles for sale for kiddos :)

This is a surprisingly nice Barnes & Noble given the sad state of the Tanforan shopping center. The store is one of the larger ones, and it is quite neat, organized and clean. The store is spacious and fun to browse for books, magazines, music, movies, games, toys, journals, planners, art supplies, and gifts. There is a cafe at the back, on the main level, with some seating. Otherwise there isn't any seating in the rest of the store if you wanted to sit and read. The Children's area is downstairs. You'll also find restrooms downstairs, at the back right corner of the store (to the right of the children's area). Water fountains are outside the restroom. And there is a diaper changing area in the large stall of the women's restroom. Books & magazines are in the main part of the store. They also have movies & music on the El Camino Real side of the store. Both sections are separated by a security tag sensor, because you need to pay for your movie/music purchases on that side of the store. I was a bit thrown off by this separation because I expected to find 2023 planners in the books/magazine side of the store, in the area near the other journals. This is where they are usually located at other stores. Nope, not at this store. They like to keep customers on their toes. The 2023 planners are tucked in a corner of the movie/music side of the store. Store Hours: https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=oMclzC7-vxQrtgygnQmIQA&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ Outside: https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=NBQDViypu6SiF56iYF0VPA&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ Inside: https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=3i0TEIE-VqSXIAftM2GJjg&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ Cafe at the back on main floor: https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=HPfBJ9v3BJrqek-NFbGnRg&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ Magazines: https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=tb07DmQsNDAqvgKNcRrcUQ&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ Books: https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=RtiYsVKuI2ZCyvzKUy1PdQ&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ Leather Journals: https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=P1PqhHrDxRst89qptY71Vw&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ Art Supplies: https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=ieQO-JzXwqIEo4iSqYWLkQ&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ Games: https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=xP_Bv8WEGRUGchwBmfibZw&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ .. read more

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It's nice to still have a bookstore where you can browse and buy items. I came in to use my $50 gift certificate. As with last year, when my total left me with a $1.13 and this year $1.16, the SYSTEM wouldn't just give me the difference in cash. Annoying! Other than that, I like the store with all the books, magazines, and other gift items that it has to offer. read more

B&N is a nightmare to deal with online. They charge for two-day shipping, and it takes a week or more to get to you. They basically charge you extra for faster shipping but send it normal shipping and pocket your money. Most dishonest bookstore besides amazon I have ever dealt with. read more

One of precious few DVD/record stores in the whole peninsula, on top of the value of bookstores in general. read more

Barnes & Noble - "Monthly Picks" October 2024 - Bookstores Near Me - San Bruno, California

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Wow. How many of these bookstores are left? I feel like I spotted Bigfoot when I turned the corner. Tons of books and magazines. Yes, some people still read - not all of America only has the attention span for a 15 second tic toc. Very clean and beautiful store. Not all that many people around but that goes for the whole Tanforan Mall. Its so strange.... this is prime location next to Bart and the airport and everything else you could imagine.... Seems like in general the area needs somebody to reinvent it. Maybe your in the market for a used car. I like to poke around in the Consumer reports magazines when I'm in a library or place like this. No, no... I don't believe you have to buy the 'best used car' off this list - but I do advise you to avoid the worst cars on the list. Take the new Toyota Corolla. Since the CVT recall on the hatchbacks that whole car became very questionable. Raise the sun visor and it makes a tin noise as it slams against the poorly insulated ceiling. Climate control annoying. Gas mileage poor compared to a Trailblazer or any hybrid. Maybe worst of all all these overstyled nooks and crannies on the dash for dust or RinksNaSweets hair to collect. I advise going for the Civic these days... the style of the Insight really beautiful especially since the new Accord looks like a beached whale.... Don't take my word for it all... come into this store pick up a book and read! read more

Barnes & Noble - the entrance to barnes and noble bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - San Bruno, California

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Today I wandered into my local Barnes and noble looking for a book for my best friend. I was struggling to find it so I went over to the front desk to ask for help and Raj was able to help me track it down. Unfortunately they didn't have it in store but he did see that hillsdale had a copy so he called them and waited EXTREMELY PATIENTLY for the associate in the other end to find the book and hold it for me. Overall it was a very pleasant experience and I really appreciated his customer service. Management team, please make sure to recognize him for his excellent customer service. Thanks again! read more

Absolutely love this Barnes and Nobles, especially since it not only has plentiful parking, but also 2 floors of books. My go-to bookstore for all my bookish needs. Giant sections for most categories, and they almost always have the books I want in stock. If they don't, they will happily help you order them online. If you need a specific book, employees will spend time looking through their stock and take you to the exact place it is on the shelf! Employees are attentive and very nice. Starbucks inside is very spacious. They also carry a good array of gifts and trinkets, as well as trading card games like Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Magic the Gathering. Can easily spend a few hours in here :) from experience... read more

Mr Eric is a superstar!!!! Great location. Came in looking for several copies of one book. Me Eric looked it up, ran and got copies for me (extremely appreciative)... They only had two copies, but better than none. Only suggestion for improvement is .. After waiting in line to pay for my little stack of books.... No bags. That was disappointing because limits my ability to continue shopping. All in all... Still very grateful for the great service and well stocked selections. A real treat. Thank you Mr Eric and last at register, Warm regards Sharine read more

Barnes & Noble - Books for today - Bookstores Near Me - San Bruno, California

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Absolutely love this Barnes and Nobles. This is a rare find, because it's huge. 2 levels, and most importantly, an entire section of manga. There's a Starbucks inside, and I usually just sit and wait for my girls to get their manga fill, before deciding what to buy. We can spend 2 hours here. The bookstore is very clean and organized. The staff if always friendly. Great place overall. My favorite Barnes and Nobles! read more

It has been a long time, since I went into Barnes & Noble's; it was a pleasant surprise that the store has expanded the variety of merchandise they sell. I went into the store after seeing they had a jigsaw puzzle sale. It was great to see a good selection of puzzle, games and other thought provoking items. I will definitely be coming back to this store. The clerks were pleasant and helpful. read more

These paper straws suck. I tried 3 and still can't get a good taste. Besides that, customer service was alright. My drink had no flavor... Not even a little taste of mocha and it's suppose to be a mocha frap.. My whip looks like it's the last spray of whip in the can. I don't like to waste so I drank it even though I'm not happy with the flavor. By the way. After 15 mins of walking with my drink. The straw was so soggy I couldn't use it anymore. read more

Barnes & Noble - My drink had no flavor... Not even a little taste of mocha and it's suppose to be a mocha frap.. - Bookstores Near Me - San Bruno, California

The best customer service ever! They are always stocked and they help you find what you need if they do not have it in stock. You can also grab a coffee while you're there! read more

Recently rediscovered my love for tangible books and have been going to this particular bookstore because of its proximity to another errand that I go to weekly. It's a bit heartbreaking to know that this particular B&N has seen better days, but the lack of foot traffic is by no means any fault of their own. Clean, well organized, and the staff are absolutely lovely and very helpful! Always a good selection, and absolutely impressed with their huge wall of manga (if my younger self knew, she would've been ecstatic!). I know the company as a whole still has a long way in their efforts to compete with bigger online giants, but I hope this branch will eventually have a "what the locals are reading" section/table! read more

Support your local bookstore. Staff was helpful and friendly; Tajmar was the cashier that helped me. Other staff members 3 different ones when i was there was asking if i needed help. Good selections of books. They have the 2024 planners out, journals, and lots of gifts options for birthdays, thank you gift, kids, new moms, etcs read more

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Well this review is for the cafe inside.. There is only 1 person working but he is fast, polite and is doing a great job. I like bookstores which have cafe in but due to covid haven't been to one since so long. There is good sitting and it's very less crowded in afternoons. They also keep cheesecake factory's cheesecakes which is great as there is no Cheesecake Factory in San Bruno. The cafe serves Starbucks drinks but they do not accept Starbucks gift card which was little surprising. read more

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This location hands down, has to have some of the most friendliest employees ready to assist you with your needs as a worker of the connecting mall Tanfran another shopping mall hanging on by a thread I find myself walking through Barnes & noble just to to start my shift off on the good foot so from the book service to the audio department and cafe at This is a location you can lose track of time easily because there's a lot to look at and things you can do I enjoy location read more

There's a Starbucks at this BN location, and I got a grande latte - $4.25 with tax. I don't think there's anymore social distance enforcement as there's no stickers on the floor and no one is really 6 ft apart from each other. However, there's still a plexi glass between the cashier and customers. There are tables inside the store to enjoy coffee and reading. Tables are about 6 ft parts from each other. Staffs still wear masks. I don't feel the welcoming vibes at this location compared to other locations. Overall experience is okay. read more

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Shout out to Gianna today. She was super helpful in helping me find an elusive item. Her energy and supportiveness was was unmatched. I'm so grateful she was working today, and was available to assist. read more

Some of the employees are back dooring limited supply of collectible cards. Very infuriating that I traveled so far only to walk away empty handed. Glad this mall is shutting down along with all of these unscrupulous employees. They need to put customers first and not make it a free for all favoring employees. read more

The staff is very nice, I like the place there. Shout out to Gabriel, he very supportive and helping me finding this Shf Deadpool when I could't see on the shelves, he start looking from the back and got this for me, 10/10 read more

Barnes & Noble - Bookstores Near Me - San Bruno, California

Went and bought some items and they were out of bags. Very annoying, but even more annoying was them telling me that it was the customers problem not theirs. read more

Eileen is always kind, patient & professional when I come in. Thank you! for being so patient with me. Funko Pop collectors are very picky in Box Condition & she was nice enough to show me 8-10 before I made my choice. (Friday, October 4, 2019) read more

Barnes & Noble - Bookstores Near Me - San Bruno, California

I like this Barnes & Noble. It has a lot of books and gifts, especially around the holiday season. They also have a cafe upstairs as well. Their book selection seems to be well curated. If you sign up for their membership it's only like $25/year or something like that. Sometimes they run promotions where you get 1 free drink every month if you sign up. I did that and thought it was well worth the $25/year fee. It's 10% off everything plus you get more coupons in the email so you can see the savings stack. read more

Coffee and books is my favorite past time. Browsing the new books as well as clearance books (especially the classics). This location has plenty of parking and things are well maintained. The service is typical for Barnes and Noble. Staff are usually very helpful. I'm glad places like this are still around! read more

Bookstores still exist? Thank goodness. I was pretty sure that if you wanted to read anything these days you needed to go online and buy something through amazon. That sucks for those of us who like to browse. I still like to wander the stacks of books. Stare at the cookbooks until I'm inspired to make something new and check out the best sellers. I have more cookbooks than I will ever use, but I still like checking them out. I like this Barnes and Noble because they have more than the average bookstore. I found a Lego Architecture Set featuring Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water. You are never too old for LEGOS. I want it! read more

Barnes & Noble - I want this! I'm NOT too old for LEGOS. - Bookstores Near Me - San Bruno, California

Rude short fat girl serving coffee told me when I didn't hear the first time and she had to repeat she said "AS I TOLD YOU ITS OVER THERE". This was afternoon of May 17. And.... She made it a point to write the low balance remaining on my printed copy of gift card. It was not necessary. In a prior visit this same rude fat girl gave me warm coffee and said that's how it is when I said it was not hot. She is a phony person who is loudly polite to certain customers only whom she deems worthy to be polite to. So sad. read more

I've been to this location multiple times & it just makes me feel safe and calm. I love this b&n or i just love b&n in general but i wish some books weren't $17-20. But that isn't there fault it's inflation. Always go here on my day off & friday just because i enjoy the peace. Also i wish they were more organized with the shelves other than that I love it here read more

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My kids and I enjoy coming to this bookstore. Physically holding a book and browsing titles is not quite the same experience you get ordering online. They have Halloween themed books on display now. Staff are always friendly and willing to help locate books. I am going to miss this location when they decide to close it. read more