Once again my review my opinion. We were here this weekend for a Father's Day get away and on Monday decided to take a stroll in town. So many reviews on this location. It is really nice since I love books. The location is fabulous and all kinds of books. I love the fact that you can pick out any book and sit and read. The books are all well priced and so many to choose from. The service however was only outstanding by the only female there on Monday. The guy in the blue cap (yes you know who you are) was extremely rude. I'm not a local and you should be nicer to your visitors. I was only asking a question but you sure made me feel unwelcome. read more

Bart's Books - Entrance of location (another visitor wearing a blue cap doesn't work there) - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

Saw this on a Must see bookstore list. It was a cute, very extensive book collection. Could easily spend a few hours there. It would be nice if they offered a bathroom read more

GETTING HERE: Bart's Books in Ojai, CA is located on Matilija Street, between the streets of Canada and Rincon. They don't have their own lot so street parking is your option. REVIEW: Holy cow. Not yet visiting/reviewing Bart's Books is such a disappointment. How have I survived this Yelp Life without driving out here to visit this legendary place! I say legendary because I love books and have missed out on many years of formative book learning and development. Bart's Books is huge! I spent upwards of an hour here and I still didn't visit all the rooms and nooks and crannies located here. I spent most of my time in the History room as I am fascinated with World War 1/2 histories. I could have bought out their entire inventory. Are you looking for a specific book? I would bet $10000 on black that Bart's will have your book. I wonder if they have a rough count of actually how many books they have on property? I was strong and only bought a few books. Picture will (hopefully) load and be attached. I had been looking for a few of these actually. Thanks Bart's! Service was OK. The price of the books were reasonable ^and supporting local and small business = priceless. Yes. 100000% recommend going by Bart's Books in Ojai. read more

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Great customer service. The staff are helpful and friendly. Amazing selection of books. Beautiful little bookstore. If in the area or just taking a trip, it is a definite a must to stop by the bookstore. There are many things to look at. I will be coming back. read more

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We checked this place out but didn't get anything. Love the concept of the place. Seems like a lot of people were checking it out becuase it's like a maze and open space to walk and discover second hand books. Cute little gem in Ojai. read more

If you love books this is the place to be! It's such a cool, creative outdoor/indoor bookstore. They have a huge selection. Even if you're not into books, it's a great stop if you're in the area. read more

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What a wonderful and unique bookstore this is. And I will never understand how the books don't get wiped out when it rains. It looks small but it's really not. You'll probably get lost more than once but if you're a book nerd, that's a good thing. They've got both new and used books and the selection of both is high quality. There are lots of excellent authors represented here, including authors of classic books. I loved the service here. An employee walked around and repeatedly, but not annoyingly, asked if he could be of service. He also tracked down requested books and offered recommendations based on customers' favorite authors. Now THAT is service you don't find everywhere or pretty much anywhere. If you are in or near Ojai, you must stop and check this place out. It's terrific. I thought the prices were incredibly fair, too. read more

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Oh my gosh, what a treasure. We explored Bart's Books for several hours and I truly could have spent the entire day. An outdoor bookstore jam packed with used books, old books, unusual books on every topic and even new books. The staff was so very helpful, and kind. We started exploring all of the topics, found hidden rooms and corners that offered more treasures. Mr. B found several hard backed gently used John Grisham books that were on his list he hadn't read yet. Priced at just $6 each, he grabbed them instead of downloading to his kindle at twice the price. They looked new with no marks and no damage. What an awesome find. I spent over an hour in the kitchen of the old house where all the cookbooks are housed. I found books I didn't know existed and found some I just wanted to curl up with and read. When you visit you will find a book you didn't know about, but can't live without now that you know. I love this bookstore, and can't wait to go back the next time we are in the area. Parking can be difficult. It is located in a neighborhood with a few businesses, so all parking is on the street. We walked from town and it was an easy walk. read more

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

A fun journey that everyone that comes to Ojai should experience. Allow yourself to get lost...and find the books that call to you. Don't sleep. read more

Such a cute bookstore, you have to go see it for yourself!! I love the indoor/outdoor vibe of this place, it seriously seemed never ending for a while! There are aisles and aisles of books outside, with cute different books and crannies all over. I especially liked how the food and cookbooks were in an old school kitchen type of room. All of it was just so adorable and fun. Staff were very friendly and helpful as well, and there are books of all different types around, both new and used. You can easily find street parking to get here, and have a fabulous time perusing all the shelves and sections! read more

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Really cool Ojai stop, especially for book lovers! I enjoyed browsing through the different sections. Another great stop to add to your Ojai day trip. read more

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This bookstore is shared a lot on social media because it has a cute vibe. As a result, we made the drive up this mountain to check it out. I don't know that I'd be willing to do the drive again, but I did happen to find a couple of books I had been looking for, so it was an overall win. read more

I've seen this bookshop on Instagram more times than I can count so while we were up in the neck of the woods, we decided to take a peek. The place is amazing for a bookstore. Mainly it looks like a bunch of books. Nothing new however, books I've ever gone to has a particular author that I always look for this book. Shop didn't have it. We came, looked around, and left, no sale... I'm guessing this is a place for regulars to hang out and read. There are two people behind the counter. They were happy to point me in the direction but there really wasn't anybody to come hang out and check on us or even make sure we found what we're looking for. Also as we were leaving, nobody said goodbye. To Be honest nobody said hello I said hello. They were happy to answer any questions however when asked. As I said, this seem like a very specific kind of bookshop , with a locals only vibe. read more

This is a cute outdoor bookstore. They have everything sectioned off by category just like any normal bookstore. The staff is very kind and helpful. It's a nice day today, but hot too. Not much of a breeze in here even though it is outdoors. read more

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I'm not white and I was profiled at this store and another store in Oija during my visit on 12/28/25. At the bookstore, a tall man with a black hat, dark green button up shirt and black jeans asked me if I needed help. I said I was browsing. The tall man started following me. I went into the special collections area and walked around. There were two people in the area who came in before me. As I was heading out to the special collections area, I see the tall man entering the area. He didn't come in when the white couple was in the room. I was excited to come because of the reviews. I'm never coming back and will let others know of my experience. Disappointed. read more

Visiting from out of town and love bookstores. It is easy to find, plenty of street parking and has an enormous selection. This place definitely has charm and is worth seeing. We were traveling with our little dog and had heard Ojai was very dog friendly. Unfortunately the door had a sign posted no dogs and no restrooms. So- it made the visit very fast while one of waited outside. We were hoping to spend more time and enjoy the shelves and leave with some books. There is also quite a few pieces of pottery for sale too. read more

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Bookstores are my jam, and independent bookstores are even better. This is the best of the best. An absolute gem and a must-see when you're in Ojai. The entire property (formerly a residence) was converted to a bookstore. The books have been categorized thoughtfully by room, so you have music in teh garage (LOL), gardening books outside, cookbooks in the kitchen, and so on. There are shelves and shelves of books everywhere - it is almost inconceivable that you don't find what you're looking for here. And, from an efficiency perspective, you have to appreciate how well they have used every inch of this property. The perimeter is also lined with books, which people can buy after hours and deposit money on the honor system into the box. Super charming. read more

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What a great idea for have an outdoor/indoor bookstore! There is mostly used books and I have to admit it took a while for me to find something I liked, but that's only because I'm not used to this type of bookstore. The ladies working these were nice and helpful. The new books were inside the house. They have cute sitting areas that can be used to read a book or even take a couple of cute pictures. I found a book for a great price! I'll be back for more books soon. read more

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this place was so cool! i definitely want to come back I found so many gems that im looking forward to reading! come check it out!

Gorgeous outdoor bookstore with used books as far as the eye can see. Great selection of new board books for kiddies inside. Loved how the cookbooks were inside a little kitchen, too! The gentleman working was a little unfriendly and seemed annoyed to have people around, so it didn't feel like the most welcoming environment, but overall a cool visit. read more

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One of the biggest reasons for my recent trip to Ojai. A paradise for book lovers. Affordable books. Most books I saw were between $7-$10, some paperbacks were cheaper (~$4). The store is massive and bustling with people. Quite a few spots to sit and read if you wish to. Friendly and helpful staff. They do have merch and goodies that are more on the expensive side. Books I bought: 1. On the fringe by Michael D. Gordon 2. Places I stopped on the way home by Meg Fee Parking: plenty of spots on the streets nearby. Be mindful of where you park- lots of them are private spots. No restroom access at the store. read more

The coolest bookstore. It's all outdoors!!! And there are books on the walls outside, so even if the store is closed, you can grab books and pay for them by putting coins in a box by the door (cuz the ones outside are only 50 cents.) they have both used and new. I was pleasantly surprised at the selection- for example, there was a surprisingly large psychiatry/psychotherapy section. Got a therapy book used for $9 and a used copy of Anxious People (which was turned into a Netflix show) for 50 cents. Also, staff were so helpful. I asked about a specific book and the woman popped right off her seat and went to the two sections it may have been (they didn't haven't it). Anyways, on the whole: Super cool, such a fun and unique concept. Very Ojai. Also, easily walkable from the main strip. Probably like an 8 min walk. read more

Bart's Books - Outside books for sale - Bookstores Near Me - Ojai, California

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As an avid reader I have known about Bart's for many years but somehow always missed it during my visits to Ojai. Living in Los Angeles, Ojai is about a 90 min enjoyable drive up the coast. Bart's is nestled right off the main strip and is surrounded by houses so there is plenty of parking available. It's very large on the inside, even though more than half the store is uncovered so you can view books in the beautiful California sunshine. They divide up the sections like a traditional bookstore, but they really do have many gems on the shelves and pricing is very fair compared to other well known bookstores. We ended up finding and purchasing many books that I haven't seen elsewhere and I could have easily purchased way more. We spent about an hour in the shop, but could have easily doubled that because there just is so much to see. Overall a must stop for any reading fan or anyone looking for a really homely aesthetic. Feels like a set pulled right out of a movie in the best kind of way. I will definitely be back soon. read more

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Beautiful book shop. They have everything. And the service there is excellent. Great prices too. read more

NO RESTROOM!! Drove over 2 hours+ to come see this place and it was super off putting that they had no restroom for the customers. I was told to go to a nearby grocery store. It is advertised as the "biggest outdoor bookstore" where you can spend "all day" here but honestly it's just a neighborhood little nook. It took about 20 min to see everything... and I walked slow. Majority of the books were used and there weren't tables or areas to really sit and read. I would not recommend coming out just for this. If you're in the area sure, but did not live up to their advertisement. read more

Absolutely perfect for any book lover! There was so many books and pathways! Super fun and cool. Found books I had and books I wanted but didn't get any. Greta prices and good vibes. Def a must see spot for Ojai! Welcoming Service and smiling faces read more

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

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Outdoor seating while enjoying books! What's. Cute idea. Neighborhood outdoor bookstore lives up to the awesome reviews. Parking is in a neighborhood setting so it's easy. Great prices and you'll find older books but in good condition. So many sections to visit inside. read more

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

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Drove over an hour and a half to visit only to find a sign outside that said no dog allowed. I was not the only person with a dog who had to turn away too. If you're in the area and want to stop by sure it's something to do. It's nice that it's used books and that there is an honor system for the books outside. But generally overrated. read more

I am a reader! And books can be so expensive nowadays! But these book are used it seemed like which I don't mind. And they are about anywhere from 3-7 dollars! score! The better shape books/hardcover are a little more expensive from 7-15 dollars. 15 dollars is the most I saw on a book! There is more books than you can think of. I could spend hours there! There's also outdoor areas to read and just hangout! This is a GREAT spot! read more

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Truly huge; I was expecting the books to be cheaper, but they had a lot of brand new books that were full price. Slightly a maze but definitely a fun spot for pics or to walk around. read more

Barts Books is a super famous bookstore located in Ojai, CA. It's the largest outdoor bookstore in CA if I am not mistaken. If you are a bookworm then this spot is for you. I loved the vibe of this place and just the uniqueness of a bookstore like this is truly special. The community is definitely lucky to have a spot like this. It's a surprisingly large space with many twists and turns to find cool books in different areas of this shop. Mostly outside they do have a few indoor like spaces for browsing. I also like that the books that are located on the outside of the store are able to be purchased on an honor system by dropping money in a slot. Very cool vibes for sure. For the most part the books are gently used and I didn't find many that looked brand new. That's totally fine because that's what they advertise, it's just my preference to purchase brand new books as I'm "one of those people." Being a bit of a germaphobe the concept doesn't work for me as a primary customer but I respect this bookstore for catering to the majority of people, offering a great selection and more affordable prices given that they have already been gently loved and read. The staff were super super nice. They welcomed us the minute we walked in but also allowed us freedom to look and get adjusted to the space. I didn't feel like I was being watched or anything weird that can sometimes happen in book stores. The vibes were very laid-back and again friendly people work here. The only other bummer that was worth noting is since this place is popular and likely on the "must stop in Ojai" list or really for many book lovers a go to spot, there was some of those cringe vibes coming off of people who stopped in lol. Like this is a bookstore, typically there is a certain level of inside voices and focus that occurs in bookstores. However when we came, there were teenage/young adult girls getting a full on photoshoot taken with a photographer and everything lol. It was a bit distracting as they posed along the place, taking up seats or blocking bookshelves to get the perfect pictures lol. This occurred the entire time we shopped here. Hopefully the store gave their approval but if not, it kind of seemed fitting it would happen here given this spot is famous and of course picturesque. I love this spot for what it is, even though it's not my dream bookstore, I know it is for so many and I'm glad the community has a gem like this here. read more

Our favorite bookstore to shop at! Highly recommend for anyone driving through Ojai as it has great selection and a beautiful environment

The store had the books I was looking for to add to my collection. The staff, not so friendly, "like why are you here buying my books?" Not as bad as an episode of "Blacks Books" but it was not a friendly attitude for a purchase of more than $150. Also, look closely at the book paper for spots of mold damage before buying, it is an outdoor bookstore. I will not be returning. read more

This is such a cute little bookstore. They have a clever interior design. This shop is partially indoor and outdoor. They have all sorts of books and stickers. They have books in the outside of the store that cost about 50 cents as well as books indoors that are pricier. This is definitely a cool spot to check out. read more

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

YO...I came here with the mentality that EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF OJAI, CALIFORNIA...I must fight the powers that be. I was looking for two books: White Fragility: Why Is It So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism and White Trash: The 400 Year Untold History of Class in America So I aggressively walked to the front, right up to the register, and the super chill/super peaceful employees looked me right in my face and asked me "what book are you looking for today?"... Ummm. I stumbled. I couldn't get my words out. I backed down. I almost ran away. I was a coward and gave her the names of the authors instead. "Yes...what are the titles?" "Ummmmm...well...I hear they are good books, but the titles may be a bit controversial." They pulled up the searches and found them. "Oh, okay. We see. Your books can be found over here if they are in-house"... (points to said area with a smile). I gave them my big ol nervous laugh and backed away. "Thank you. Thank you! Yes, thanks." I think they handled that awkward moment way better than I did. Lol. And that's what I like about this place. It's super chill and peaceful...not too much noise. The inside/outside open air setup of the place is really neat/really cool. And the employees are just very nice and very laidback...no matter if your books have aggressive titles. I can't wait to come back. read more

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What an unexpected, wonderful find during my first trip to Ojai! What a treasure trove of books, especially difficult to find books. I could have spent many hours here, but since I was traveling with others, I only spent 90 min. I beelined my way to the art and photography sections to see what gems were available. While there, I met a very knowledgeable staff member who asked if I needed help finding something and I quickly asked him about several classic photographers and artists I was interested in. I was very impressed with his knowledge of various genres and artists in that era. Another thing I really loved about this store full of wonderful books is that it was open air and that there were so many nooks and crannies of book genres to explore. I felt like I was on an adventure to discover new books to interest me. I so miss having a "real" book store to go to on a regular basis that's not a big box store; that has character; that smells like books; that has older, more difficult to find books; that has knowledgeable staff who are well-versed on so many topics; and that is interesting. I cannot wait to travel back to Ojai just to visit this amazing place! read more

The best bookstore ever. It's so cool. They offer a wide range of books to super new books to used ones. I've bought a few books here at a great price, which I can appreciate. Come here if you are a book enthusiast. It is also outdoor as well which gives it a unique attribute. read more

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

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I have been here a few years ago but never took time to write a review. What a lovely and one of a kind bookstore. Your trip to Ojai won't be complete if you don't stop by here. So many books to chose from and with great prices. Got a few books for $8 and under. They are used by in great condition. Great customer service as well. A must stop for me when in Ojai. read more

Oh what a treat for bibliophiles! Barts Books lives up to its reputation for being a singular independent bookstore in the state/nation, and unique environment. The rumors were true- books available for purchase (even when they're closed!) lined shelves outside along the sidewalk. I spotted the cutest bookhouse,-ahem-birdhouse on the outside so our avian friends could enjoy Bart's as well. It only got more charming from there. Staff are informed and incredibly helpful, directing or assisting customers in finding the book they desire within the wondrous outdoor labyrinth of books . The location is great. We were able to find street parking easily. (The only drawback was they had no public restroom, so we had to drive downtown and fight for parking to find a place to use the restroom before perusing more books). Prices were reasonable and they have an extensive inventory. Oh such heaven!. read more

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A MUST SEE in Ojai! Bart's Books is beautiful, whimsical, and stocked with soooo many books. You will get fabulously lost in here. The staff were absolutely lovely and so knowledgable. I spent a few hours here, got a few books, and only left because it started raining. Support used bookstores! read more

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