Such a sweet place and decent used book prices. I love the open air concept. It was gardenesque and tranquil. Loved the ceramic vessels throughout the store. Street parking. read more

Bart's Books - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

What a wonderful place! Books on every conceivable subject matter and a whole lot of interesting titles I have never seen. I picked up several hard defined books for my collection. My daughter and I are both teachers. I teach first grade and she teaches high school AP English. I ended up with books for myself and for my class. She did as well. We will try to make it back whenever we visit Santa Barbara from the Bay Area where we live. Keep up the good work. Very much enjoyed the experience. read more

Bart's Books - Enjoying the shade while browsing for books. - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

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If I could give this place ten stars I would. I go to a LOT of books stores, and this one is an absolute treasure. It's an old house and garden that is nothing but books top to bottom. My favorite part was the vintage kitchen filled with nothing but cook books. New, and used the entire place is stacked with books. I have no idea what they do if it rains, but nothing in the outdoor area looked damaged so they must have a system. The staff was friendly, and when I asked where I could find a book about or by John Muir, they were found for me instantly. I was greeted when I came in, and I plan to return regularly. I can't believe I'm a Southern California native and this was my first time here. COVID protocol is clearly listed out front, and since the majority of the store was open air, it was a great low risk way to get out of the house, and get more books. read more

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Bart's Books in a world famous bookstore located in Ojai, California. They've been open since 1964 and they're literally the world's largest outdoor bookstore. Open seven days a week, 10am until sunset (6pm), I knew I had to visit Bart's while I was in the Ojai area last week. I went right before dinner, around 5/5:30pm which was pretty close to sunset and closing. There were a handful of people browsing and some reading/doing work at some of the tables. The place literally felt like a maze, there were books of all kinds both inside and outside - old and new - you name it, Bart's probably had it! Prices were located on the first page of each book and the ones I looked at seemed reasonably priced. I am subtracting one star because the staff was not welcoming at all which left a pretty bad taste in my mouth. I'll likely give them a second chance if I'm ever back in the area and in need of a book. read more

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As someone who's not a book worm, I still found this place fascinating. For anyone who loves reading and nature, this is the place for you. The have an huge selection of books. I generally stick to sports autobiographies, cooking or vegan lifestyle books. They had me covered in every section! My fiancé is the book lover and I didn't think I was ever going to get her to leave. She loved every second of it. Best part, the cook books were in the kitchen. It's the little things sometimes. read more

Bart's Books - This is the cook book section that's in the old kitchen. - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

I took my honey because we both LOVE reading Books...and it was wonderful! He was looking and I could see when we turned the corner and that is Bart's Book and that is where we're going and I parked! What an amazing place, used books, new books and I'd guarantee you'd find something on your favorite subject! We bought a number of books! WARNING: THERE IS NO RESTROOM. We went back the very next day and bought more. Packed it in the car and both of us smile so happily! I know we are nerds but that is no ordinary bookstore! Enjoy!! read more

This is a bookstore paradise. If you arrive before or after this place closes, they have a sign that says to leave coins or cash under the door if you decide to take one of the books outside the place. It is an outdoor bookstore with thousands of books. It also has lots of chairs and tables for people to come sit down and read. The prices are surprisingly fair for the used books compared to other bookstores. I picked up a cookbook for $5. I am going to assume its used but it looked brand new. If you have any question regarding where books are the employees are really nice and glad to help you find what you are looking for. The only downsides are that some of the more popular books like "The Alchemist" were sold out. The other one is that some people like to come in to take photos or selfies, and then walk out without even glancing at the books or even making an attempt to purchase something. So, if you are going to come here, go with the intention of buying something. This place is, after all, a business. read more

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Calling all book lovers. Unique experience as most of this business is located outside. The staff was friendly and helpful. A major asset for the town! read more

Super cute spot full of books! New books, old books, vintage books! Most of the books are outside which is lovely during these COVID times. They also required masks, provided sanitizer, and were limiting how many people were visiting at once, and especially limited how many people were in some of the small indoor spaces. We didn't purchase anything, as I didn't find anything that particularly spoke to me; it was a bit on the warm side, as well. If I was in the area, I'd visit again! read more

This is a gem of a place. If you like books and an outdoor atmosphere, this is the place that you could literally spend hours. I love bookstores and they are kind of endangered species. And this bookstore has a lot of books that you might like. Also, some of the books are discounted from the full price. It's actually cheaper to buy here than Amazon. To find the price, you will have to turn the pages from the beginning and the price will be penciled in near the top right of one of the pages near the front. So if you're ever in Ojai, this is one of the top 5 destinations to see in the city. I really liked the selection of books here. The atmosphere was perfect for casually browsing and picking up a book and sitting down and do some reading while getting some fresh air. The staff is friendly and very helpful. I highly recommend checking this place out when you're in Ojai. read more

Bart's Books - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

Probably one of my favorite bookstores, such a cute little bookstore with so much character! It's got indoor/outdoor sections and has a selection of new and used books. What makes this place a must see is its ambiance, really love this place. read more

I have no issues with the selection of books and it's a lovely store. My issue is with the staff. Granted there is a sign outside that says " no bathroom," but as a customer who has been there previously- I know there is one. I put the book I was going to purchase on the counter and kindly asked if my disabled daughter could use the bathroom. The woman behind the counter retorted: we don't have a bathroom. A blatant lie. Then said: I'm sure one of the restaurants will let her use one. So, instead of letting a patron use the bathroom she told us a restaurant (where we were not eating) might let my daughter use the bathroom. It left a bad taste in my mouth and this was on 12/24/24. I understand rules are rules but think exceptions should be made for the disabled. read more

I'm not really a used book person (I prefer to check out books from the library instead) but this was a cute, quick stop in Ojai. Spent about 20 minutes browsing and walking around. They have a lot of unique books that you may not find at your Amazon bookstore or Barnes and Noble. read more

Bart's Books - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

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We were excited to drive up from LA to patronize what sounded like an amazing book store. We have a small dog in a dog stroller who travels with us. We did not see any signs not allowing dogs or on the yelp information. Upon entering, a man rudely shouted at us 'no pets allowed'. The yelling alone was startling along with the brusque delivery. We immediately turned around and left, shocked at our treatment. One always remembers how one makes you feel, and knowing this now, we will never return. When independent book stores are a rare commodity, one would think the owner and staff would be welcoming to all. I will continue to buy our books locally, as well as support our local libraries. This place is horrible. read more

The best used book store I've ever been too. Such a big shop that's all outdoor & cool vibe. You can get lost for hours. Very well organized in separate sections by topic & shelves upon shelves of fiction grouped alphabetically. Spent an hour there today, feeling like I was overwhelmed by selection & want to go back. Prices were between $7-$8 for all my books whether paperback or hardback but fine by me as they're still well under retail & I'm supporting a great bookstore. read more

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This very well may be the coolest bookstore ever! I came here based on a recommendation from a coworker. The Mr. and I had just had lunch at my favorite place to eat in Ojai, hip vegan. We decided to check out Bart's books, oh my goodness how have I waited till now to check the store out!? It's an outdoor style (think aluminum and wooden shelves type) bookstore with such an amazingly large selection of used books, plus a small-ish new part. There is a court yardage type area, and then a lot of little fingers of shelves with books. It's a little bit like a maze in there, but a nice, serene one. There are a lot of books along the outside of the store on shelves, the price for most of these is $.50. There's even a sign on the wall that says if you come when the store is closed just toss the money for the book through a slot in a wall. Wow, the honor system still going strong today. That just adds to the charm of the store. We spent about a half an hour there today, but definitely could spend a few hours there. Unfortunately we didn't have that kind of time today but will on our next visit. Mr. agreed it's probably the best bookstore we have ever been to. Oh, and the prices are so reasonable! I got one book for $.50, and another for five dollars, the Mr. also got a five dollar book. Looking forward to return visits sooner than later! read more

Bart's Books - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

Love love love this place. Every corner had something different and unexpected. The staff was very nice and informative. I'll definitely be back. read more

Bart's Books - Book isle. - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

This place is not on a main street, but within a residential community. Parking was easy to find that Wednesday around noon. I absolutely loved the ambiance of this place. It combines: plants, the outdoors, books and art all in one place. Considering it is an outdoor bookstore, the books were clean and I hardly saw any bugs or cobwebs anywhere. I was really impressed with the organization of this place, too. The variety was good too, lots of genres and sub-genres. The people who worked here were nice and helpful. This was a bookstore on my bucket list and I was grateful to cross it off, even during Covid. Masks are required. I would definitely recommend this bookstore to any book lovers out there. read more

Bart's Books - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

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This is place is so cute!! I was on a day trip to Ojai and of course had to make a stop. So many wonderful books to choose from and so much more affordable than anywhere else. Most books are used, but as a book lover, I love them used!!! I found several that I bought. One of my books had some writing in it so they took $2 off of it. The place also has some space to sit and rid there which makes it perfect. No public restrooms but the town is small and they have several public ones that you can easily walk to. Loved every second spent here! read more

Bart's Books - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

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I want to rate this place 3.5...I took my daughter to this book store because she loves books even though it was two hours away we went to check it out and it is a really cute and nice bookstore. However, the reason why I rated this 3.5 is because the cashier was really rude to my daughter. She was giving my daughter the most rude look when she was counting her cash. The workers should be mindful that she's a kid and is learning about money. And to top it off she didn't say thank You or have a good day. Beautiful bookstore but the customer service has to be worked on. read more

M-U-S-T SEE! Total Ojai highlight for me. Dream come true for any book lover! I CAN'T REALLY FIND THE WORDS TO DESCRIBE HOW THIS BOOKSTORE MAKES ME FEEL. *Exhale* bad Elite, bad! It's as though the imagination of the many authors leaked through the pages of the books to the walls of this quaint book store, talk about architectural richness! The exterior proves creativity is by no fluke here. Of course my favorite section (self help, philosophy) is loaded with wonderful work. From Wayne Dyer to Chopra and a few other authors who I had never heard of until my trip here! Exploring this shop was like meeting a friend who knows your taste really well and always gives you excellent book recommendations! Needless to say I totally relished in the new work introduced to me here. Price written on the inside of the first page. If there are multiple copy's of a book, they may have varying prices. Worth opening all copies up, usually one is marked down. No computer system to see if a book is or isn't in store, no alphabetical order either at least not in my section. STILL the categories are pretty easy to go through and since Dylan was working when I came in, I was in 'luck', Dylan sort of has a mental list running at all times and knows if a book is in stock, quiet astonishing to watch! Two cute, friendly cats freely roam the bookstore, you can pet them without hesitation. If I lived in Ojai y'all next to owning a coffee shop I would want to work at Bart Bookstore. Haha. BART whoever you are, you rock!! read more

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A great spot to get lost in some used books. Really unique outdoor layout with shelves arranged along the perimeter plus some indoor sections for old, rare, and new books. A huge variety of genres and categories, including one all about magic mushrooms and growing your own marijuana I found the layout to be somewhat confusing so if you're looking for something specific quickly, you're best off asking one of the workers. There are a few tables and seating areas to hang out, a $1 clearance section, and they sell a few cold beverages. They close at "sunset" according to their sign. Overall, an interesting place to hang out and browse. read more

One of my favorite places - in the world! But seriously. This place is Disneyland for book-lovers! I drive 2 hours just to go to this particular bookstore and could spend the whole day here! This place has every genre possible set up in a quaint outdoor bookstore. There's a little house in the center of the store which stores some of the more valuable books as well as a side house that holds cased valuables like a $6000 First edition of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (see pictured). Yay for Victorian Era geeks like myself! If you like books - AT ALL - this is a MUST-SEE place in southern California. Tip: Go on a warm afternoon, buy yourself a latte, sit on the outdoor patio furniture provided by the bookstore, and immerse yourself into one of their thousands of books! Cannot wait to return! read more

Bart's Books - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

Stopped by Bart's Books yesterday afternoon and fell in love! Large selection of books of every category including vintage books. Lots of seating and sunshine. Definitely stop in if you are in the area! read more

Bart's Books - Patio area - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

I love supporting independent bookstores around the country! My daughter and I were heading down PCH and decided to make a pit stop to one of our favorite hangouts - Bart's Books. They have to be one of the most beautiful outdoor bookstores in America. Obviously Bart's Books have a ton of good reads, but it's also a great place for photo opps. The vibe is very chill and earthy. If you don't visit anyplace else in Ojai, make sure that you stop by Bart's Book. read more

Officially my favorite bookstore. Combines plants and book mazes. What more can I ask for? I discovered old books here that I wouldn't have at a local bookstore in LA. All 3 books I bought came out to $17. NOT BAD! The staff is friendly and accommodating. Overall great experience. Can't wait to go back. I could spend hours in there. read more

Bart's Books - In the front - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

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Bart's Book is just delightful! It's off the beaten path, but it's a must see!! There is something new to find around every corner of this outdoor bookstore!! Bart's Books has it all! I loved that there were books outside the entrance that you could still buy even when the store was closed by putting the amount of money in a box and taking a book. Even if you aren't a big reader, it's a fun place to explore and wander! They have every genre that you can imagine! Make sure you take lots of pictures - there are some very pretty corners! Have fun! read more

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As a collector of rare books, this is one of my favorite places. You will love the aesthetics of indoor/outdoor shop. Their prices are good and their knowledge of literature is commendable. They are open 7 days a week. Street parking is relatively easy to find nearby. read more

Wow, book lovers rejoice, this little gem in Ojai is one of the biggest outdoor bookstores I have ever seen! There are so many nooks and crannies to explore, and so many books all categorized and available to rifle through. An interesting tidbit, you can come after hours and buy books via the honor system and depositing the money. I think this is one of Ojai's treasures, and we will be sure to stop by whenever we are in town! The prices are a little high for a used bookstore, but it is a mom and pop establishment, and I have no qualms supporting such book lovers. Check this place out next time you're in Ojai, you won't regret it!! Parking: street read more

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One of the raddest bookstores I've ever been to! Right off the main drag in Ojai, Bart's Books is a really incredible outdoors-ish bookstore that I could get lost in for hours. I'd say 80-90% of the books here are used with a little indoor space for new books. The selection is pretty incredible and it's so lovely to walk around and explore the different genres. I'd say prices are slightly higher than what you'd normally pay for used books, but it's Ojai and you're paying for the atmosphere. There are tables and chairs for hanging out with some books--I could see this being a good place to have a meeting or a day date. They don't have a coffee bar onsite, but they do have a few cold bevs for sale and Beacon coffee is really close by if you wanted to pick something up ahead of time. There are few places in the country where the weather is so lovely year round that this sort of shop could work, so definitely take advantage if you're in the area. read more

Not sure how or why would someone not give this place 5 stars. It's a gem. A books temple. A treasury with enormous amounts of charm. Old books, new books, kids books and space related books. Science fiction, cooking, crafts and foreign languages. Name it and it's there. You can find some in excellent condition and some from two centuries ago. This place has so much to offer! Came in today for the first time it is truly a breathtaking experience. So many areas, rooms and shelves full of books and books and books. My kids had a great time, my husband and I were excited and two hours were simply not enough for us to enjoy this shop. Will most definitely be back again! read more

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Bart's Book is a very cool bookstore in Ojai. It is like an outdoor bookstore in the middle of a residential neighborhood. It is the the largest independently owned outdoor bookstore in the United States. It is a very inviting place with lots of tables and chairs for you to sit and read. The courtyard is inviting. Not sure if the books are new, used, donated or all the above. It's a great place to visit! read more

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We dropped by while in town for the day and Bart's Books really is a sight to behold. A few years ago when I had way more time and didn't have a smartphone, this would have been my candy store. As it is, I was still in awe of the sheer volume of the books they had here. The setting was quirky quaint and there was plenty of seating areas for quiet contemplation or simply to look around. My favorite part was that the cook books are in the kitchen. Love! It's a fairly casual set up...someone was looking for a specific book but was told they don't keep an inventory here. Interesting. Still, it being a for-profit enterprise, the used books aren't as cheap as, say, the library's sidewalk book sale we just came from. I went from paying $2.50 for a hard back to $10. I think the books at Bart's were 50% off the cover price. The guys were are pretty chill. I left a bag behind and they kindly located it and set it aside for me until I was able to stop by and pick it up. Definitely will be back if I'm ever in town again. Check it out! read more

Bart's Books - So neat, books on the outside of the store. You can purchase on honor system outside of business hours. - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

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Bart's Books is amazing. It's formerly an old house turned into a part indoor part outdoor bookstore. Great place to buy a book, take a million photos, or just soak up the ambiance. A must visit on any trip to Ojai. read more

Great store and concept. They had great prices with comic books starting at $1. I didn't feel as if the customer service was reflective for how unique the place is. For my first time experience I would've loved to see more enthusiasm from the staff. Parking was on the street and very open and free. They had a lot of range of books. You can buy, sell, and or trade books. I would return and recommend it but would like to see better customer service and a curated experience or at least greet and be more hands on with guiding guests to where the books are. The workers were having personal conversations while I was confused looking for items. I asked multiple times for help. Moreover, it's a great view of the beautiful California and it's scenic mountains. Unique and rare aesthetics of the exterior and interior read more

Bart's Books - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

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If you must have a book store that smells like used books then you may not like this location, if you want a book store with lots of titles, cheap prices and very friendly staff, then this is the place for you. Very large selection of well organized books, unlike many used book stores, they don't have multiple copies of the same book 9n the shelf, they have single copies well organized in great condition. All the books are covered but the shop is mostly open air. Nearby street parking makes this a must visit location when in Ojai. read more

I've heard about Bart's and now I've seen it for myself! An indoor outdoor 24/7 bookstore. My idea of nirvana! I found an obscure industrial design book I've been looking for. What a pleasant surprise! I'll definitely spend more time here next time I visit Ojai. read more

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This is a unique open-air bookstore just off the beaten path in Ojai. You may not ever see it if you didn't go looking for it. I enjoyed the variety of used books available. I went there with an open mind as I always do at used book stores - you never know what you might find. I ended up purchasing a math riddles paperback from the 1960's for my students and they love it! read more

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My family and I explored Ojai this weekend. We came across this bookstore. From the outside, it looked like a medium sized house, but once we walked inside, the bookstore went a long way. It was like a maze inside. The sales associate was extremely helpful and knew where all the different types of books were. There were so many different types from Interior Design, aviation, trains, cooking, and fiction books. They had a small children's section, but they had cute little desks where a little person can read. Throughout the Bookstore, there were places to sit if you wanted to enjoy reading a book while you were there. These used books are in good condition. There was also books outside of the store that are all 50 cents a piece. Other than books, they also sold their own handmade cups, mugs, and vases. If you're in the Ojai area, I would check this place out! read more

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I love moseying around bookstores. Always have. I find them relaxing and it's just a nice place to get lost in. This is certainly one of the most unique bookstores ever. It's outside with covers over your head and you just sort of wander around from section to section. Most of the books are used, but they have a "house" that you can walk into where there are limited number of new books. And what's in the kitchen of the house? Cookbooks of course! Tables and chairs are scattered throughout and you can sit and read a bit while you're looking. We were in the history section and my better half and I came across a few books on Eleanor Roosevelt and we started a discussion about her life... it just felt so perfect in that setting. They even have books on built in shelves on the outside of the store facing the sidewalk, and there is a sign to drop your coins inside the slot if you want to buy one of those books when they are closed. Now THAT is very Ojai! This is a great place to visit each time we come back to town. read more