I believe it's my second time coming here. My first time was years ago but dunno exactly what year. They do have books that are made decades ago and probably ones that are recently published since I saw a book title that relates to AI. It's a very compacted place to go to and I don't know if we're allowed to go up stairs since I didn't see anyone up there. Also, you can see all of like the very old ones at the very top, but you probably have to ask the staff if you can get one. Also, they're less than a decade away to celebrate their 100th anniversary since they opened in 1935. Now I see why they had older books. They probably never renovated this much for decades, but that's what makes this bookstore unique! read more

I found this place on TikTok and decided to stop by. We parked right in front as soon as it opened. The place is beautiful. They have so many good book that I have not seen anywhere. I found older books so a lot of hidden books. They have a teen section and kids section. The books go up to the ceiling and they have an upstairs. Highly recommend coming here so many great finds. read more

Bell's Book Store - Bookstores Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I was wandering around downtown Palo Alto with my sister when we came across Bell's Bookstore. I didn't know anything about it, but was captivated the moment I walked in. They offer new, used, vintage, and rare books in a charming atmosphere. I enjoyed wandering the aisles without really looking for anything special, just checking out whatever grabbed my attention. Among the books that caught my eye were two used hardcover books on the Beatles that had lots of great photos and stories, but they were too heavy to carry around downtown until dinner. I'd like to go back and get them. I ended up buying a small book of Rumi poems and a dragon journal for my niece for Christmas. My sister bought two vintage pulp fiction books with awesome covers. This is such a special book store. I highly encourage you to check it out. read more

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A lovely hole in the wall in the best way. I could spend hours here. I found something for everyone in my family.

Super cute indie bookstore in downtown Palo Alto! I really enjoyed seeing the window displays during Halloween, and it's magical to walk around inside and browse the selections of books. read more

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Bell's Book Store is one of those places that just holds so much character and charm that I hope it never closes. The amount of selection in this place is beyond anything that I've seen from an independent bookstore. I love the corner that contains the multiple languages of Harry Potter and the large posters in the back on the second floor. Within these walls might be found the perfect distraction to just put your little phone screen down for the next 10 minutes or the next 10 years lol. This high quality place powered by even higher quality humans does not disappoint :) read more

Very beautiful book store! I was so overwhelmed with excitement to check out each section of the store. I loved the selection it has to offer and it just felt very cozy and nice in there. The owner? Seemed really kind and welcoming. I didn't get a chance to purchase anything but I would definitely come back here! read more

Bell's Book Store is unlike other bookstores and that is what makes it so fun to peruse! They have a great selection of books. I'm sure they are actually structured very logically and orderly but I personally like to wander off and let the books decide for me. This store is perfect for that. One moment you find yourself leafing through a book stalled out in the front, the next you're all the way in the back section where the aisle is narrow and the books stacked high. No matter what you pick out, you always feel like you discovered something new. Choose your own book adventure. - Can you buy the same books cheaper elsewhere? Yeah probably, but you're supporting local and the creativity and soul of book store gems like these. - Can I find any books here that I can't find elsewhere? Honestly not sure, but I've definitely picked up some books here I'm not sure would have been on my radar otherwise. I have a lot of book apps and their algorithms do tend to push the same recommendations my way. - Will it meet your needs, those of your kids, your partner, your friend, your dog and your neighbor? Weirdly yes, they have books on everything. - Will you find dusty, collector item books here? Also yes, they seem to have quite a bit of old and valuable books you can buy. - Will I buy too many books here? Probably. I've definitely had moment where when the final tally came, reality came as well but what a nice problem to have. read more

Bell's Book Store - Front - Bookstores Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Recently we received "Palo Alto" at home, and inside there was this article of Bell's Books. It reminds me of one incident. And it would be the only time i stepped into that store. We have lived in Palo Alto for more than 35 years, finally kids are out of Stanford and working. I thought passing by that store so many times and it's about time for me to visit that book store. Guess what, we were followed by the guy all over the store. (The woman was sitting in the front by the door.) It was a humiliating experience. Oh, by the way, we are Asian-American. People, please know of this. read more

This is easily one of my favorite book stores! It's well organized and you can't go wrong with the staff picks. The people who work there have also always been helpful when I have questions. Since they have a large variety of used books, you will find better prices than your average book store. It has two floors and you can easily lose track of time in here. read more

Bells is magical!! Happy 90th birthday!!! The selection is curated between classics and contemporary. The children's section was perfectly balanced! The passageways, staircases, and stacks upon stacks make the shop truly magical. The staff is always ready to help! Even with tough questions like: An 8yr olds introduction to Shakespeare! read more

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Selections are fine. Service is meh. For the space there are a lot of great books, but I just don't feel welcomed or appreciated here. I prefer Keplers down the way or Books Inc. Id even go over to Recycle on the Alameda, or Banter in Fremont. But I'm sure some may find value in the offerings here, for me, it just misses the mark. read more

I first found Bell's when waiting around town several days to bring our preemie daughter home from the hospital. The now-adult daughter visits it whenever she's at home for a few days. The staff has never been anything other than helpful and interested. They offered me a discount once when they realized I (the chaplain) was getting some titles for our county jail, but I had an inmate welfare fund and so declined. l I always got something there--twice, a title I had sought for years and years was suddenly just staring me in the face in some narrow corner of Bell's. (Quiller-Couch Cambridge Lectures and then Boswell's London Journal, if you must know). I think every item is fairly priced. There are a small number of interesting small gift items here and there on the first floor. I'm sure it's been a slog in some of these troubled times and I give you joy on your ninetieth birthday. Thank you. read more

Heavenly place for readers. The best place for meaningful gifts. The staff is so knowledgable! Find vintage books, new books and lots of joy! They even gift wrap books for free which is too generous! read more

Bell's Book Store - Bookstores Near Me - Palo Alto, California

What a dream!!! This bookstore feels like it belongs in a hidden nook in NYC or in Europe somewhere, but it's in Palo Alto. It took me a minute to figure out the layout of the genres, but wow. It is truly a bibliophile's dream. We had some time to kill before a dinner reservation nearby, and taking me into any bookstore is dangerous, because I want all the books. My partner reminded me I had to carry these books on this rainy evening and put them somewhere during dinner (we Ubered from SF), so I didn't indulge, but I will be back. The first editions, the rare prints, and the knowledge of the staff were mind blowing. I'm certain that you can find what you're looking for here, and if not they will get it for you. What a treat just to even peruse. read more

Bell's Book Store - Bookstores Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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I think this is the nicest bookstore I have visited in the Bay Area. It feels like something from Hogwarts. Twenty-foot high shelves are filled to the ceiling with beautiful volumes. Antique cabinets display rare editions. Bell's has been a popular bookstore for Stanford students for the last 90 years. Service is friendly and knowledgeable. Prices are good. The location in lively downtown Palo Alto is lovely. Highly recommended. read more

One of the greatest Book Stores in the Cosmos. Seriously homey. Nice folks work there. Always friendly. It's a bit like being in the Hogwarts Library but slightly less quiet. Just FYI: Holly J. is clearly full of beans... the tasteless kind... and obviously of a certain Political Persuasion that feels uncomfortable around actual "Learning." That is the only kind of person who wouldn't LOVE Bell's. read more

I was here looking for books and found interesting story books for children. The service is great, if you have any questions on specific types of books, they help you. I paid and the receipt was sent to my email. read more

Bell's Book Store - The book shelf and the masterpiece - Bookstores Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Employees are incredibly dismissive and conceited. We've come multiple times to give them chances but each time seems to be getting worse. I witnessed an employee chat with what seemed to be a regular customer for the entirety of my visit, the employee rang up multiple customers and didn't seem to give them really any attention so he could continue the conversation with the woman. They then proceeded to have an extremely loud conversation about politics and a couple out of pocket unprofessional exchanges relating to world politics and such. Really would prefer to be able to look at the nice outdated books without hearing about politics. Do better and be welcoming to your customers. read more

Smaller local bookstore full of older and used books. They have some collectibles for a lot of money too. I like bookstores and this one has a great variety and some newer books too. read more

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Really disappointing how things have changed, Bells used to feel like a welcome and warm place to learn about books, authors, and literatures, and now feels like a stuffy place where the owners are SO obsessed with people potentially stealing their books that they don't realize their behavior comes off as racist and off-putting. From the moment I walked in, I felt scrutinized and unwelcome. Being made to feel like I was stupid for asking questions. The owners suspicious attitude made browsing extremely uncomfortable, as if she was expecting me to do something wrong. After all that, being asked to leave my very small bag downstairs when I had important medical supplies and rescue medications in it that I can't be separated from is insane. You can't expect disabled people to leave supplies on a separate floor from them. It's clear that this bookstore is not a safe or inclusive environment. There are plenty of other bookstores that are more welcoming and respectful to all customers. read more

What a happy find! We were walking around and found this shop and ended up getting some gifts for co workers and treat yo self moment. Very cool first editions, carefully curated series for sale and awesome tote bags. We spent about forty minutes pursuing each section before people in our group walked away with pocket editions of books, children's book for a co worker. Definitely worth a look inside support local bookstores! read more

Everyone was friendly and helpful. The interior designer was delightful and I look forward to going back

Bell's Books is a beautifully curated cultural treasure, the selection ranges from rare old volumes, to imaginative children's books, gorgeous gift books, and limited edition local history. The pricing is quite reasonable for the quality. read more

This is a nice local family owned bookstore in downtown Palo Alto. There are two levels of books, and there are a lot of books! Some of the shelves in the back are quite narrow - barely big enough to fit one person per row, but it's kind of fun being back there browsing all these volumes. The book selection is interesting. They have an assortment of new, used, and rare books. I think that if the book looks new and there is no yellow store sticker on it, it is considered new and the price is the market price. If it's a used book, the price is generally written in pencil on the first page on the upper right hand corner. They had a nice selection of fiction and sci-fi books (the two areas I'm probably most interested in). I bought a used copy of The History of Love for $7 The customer in front of me bought like $120+ worth of books which was great! The staff was helping the customer in front of me select a bunch of stuff the whole time I was in the store. read more

Bell's Books is a lovely family-owned bookstore in Downtown Palo Alto. They have a wide variety of new, used, and rare books. The store is very quaint and cozy with many nooks and crannies. The staff here are very friendly and knowledgeable. This is great place to stop by to find new books to read! read more

Bell's Book Store - Interior. - Bookstores Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Such a cute mom and pop shop in the middle of downtown Palo Alto! I loved the home-y vibes, narrow aisles, and the tall shelves stacked with books. This bookstore has a lot of personality and it's nice if you're browsing! They have a large variety of genres, but popular current novels may be sold out. For example, I was looking for Crying at H-Mart and they only had 1 copy left. I didn't buy anything, but I still enjoyed my visit and hope to come back again one day! read more

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Visited here three months ago, I got my vintage book under $10 and it is in great condition. The bookstore has a wide selection for classic books, so if you like older books you would like to visit here. They also have limited editions, autographed books. The staff was very helpful and caring for my book search. Lastly, the tote bag I got from the book store is just beyond gorgeous! read more

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Always love Bell's Books! Something to discover each time. Friendly vibe, bookish atmosphere. Browsing fun. Unique books old and new.

Most lovely book store I've been to in a while! Beautiful, great selection and you can tell the owner and employees genuinely care about the books and those who read them. Please take the time to visit this real life "Shop Around the Corner!" read more

Why aren't you browsing and buying from this local independent book shop RIGHT NOW? While I always loved poking around the old layout (reminded me of a fun, eccentric's attic, filled with treasures!) it has been recently updated with even more attractive displays and clear aisles for easier selection and shopping. Yay! They have vintage books and children's books and cookbooks and signed-by-the-author books and curiosities like a set of Tin Tin books in English and French. Tons of new releases and they will happily order stuff for you with a smile. I urge you to shop and buy here and check out the ever-changing, cool window displays too. A great way to round out your day trip to downtown PA - grab an ice cream before or after your trip to this straight-out-of-a classic-movie book shop with the friendliest and nicest staff. They give you space but ready to help when you need them. (Don't forget your mask if you visit during the pandemic.) read more

Bell's Book Store - Powerful window display and words of hope from an American hero - John Lewis - Bookstores Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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I had to leave before I bought too many books. There are so many collectibles to look at. The layout resembles a cross between a library and a used bookstore, situated on multiple levels with charming nooks to explore. I already had in mind what I was looking for, otherwise I could have browsed for hours. A great find! read more

Bell's Book Store is a fun, quirky independently owned book store replete with rare hard back and paper back 1st editions stemming back to the midcentury. It's one of those bookstores you'll wanna get lost in. Just slowly meander through the aisles until you find some hidden gems. read more

Bell's Book Store - Lots of old and rare books - Bookstores Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Lovely bookstore. This book store have limited editions and 1st editions books stored in glass cabinets which is interesting to glimpse at. Large variety of books, statues and figurines at every eye turn. Definitely a must visit if your nearby. read more

Bell's Book Store - Bookstores Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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We love quaint book shops and they don't come more quaint than this. Just off the main shopping street in Palo Alto, Nells is two floors of wooden book cases with older and unusual Books and collectors editions. There are lovely nooks to sit and browse. The air is heady with old books aroma. A very good local and California collection. I found a number of unique PG Wodehouse books as well as a first edition hardcover copy of The Mikado. Shakespeare and Elizabethan dramatists are well represented as are Westerns. They were happy to ship me a carton of books i didn't wish to carry. These arrived in wxcellnet condition. There are some Nice cards and gifts. Excellent and knowledgeable service read more

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I've been living in the Bay Area my entire life and I have never stepped foot in Bell's Book Store until a little over a week ago. Based on other reviews, I can see why people like Bell's for its unique selection and its amount of rare titles. Their used selection of contemporary books is few and far between, but most of their rare and unique books are definitely used. I love the old, vintage feel of Bell's and how open the space is! read more

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This is a beautiful bookstore with great variety of new and old books. Everyone who works there is incredibly kind! I would definitely recommend visiting. You won't regret it! read more

Plethora selection of books and even some that are hard to find -- new and used. What's not to like? I love to come here even just to browse. Very friendly staff that are extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Support your local bookstore! read more

I have mixed feelings about this store. It has a gorgeous layout, but the actual organization of it leaves a lot to be desired. The selection appears to be completely random: some classics, some current hits, and a few untranslated works. The whole store feels like a maze. Contemporary works are split between two different areas on the first floor, children's books are surrounded by books on political affairs, and glass cabinets containing rare books don't always have subject matter that matches the section they're in. Bell's doesn't mark down the prices of their books like most used bookstores. I was able to find a book I liked, but I was disappointed that it was the same price as a copy at Barnes & Noble. I did enjoy how quiet the store was. No one spoke above a whisper. The building is soundproofed so well you won't hear the outside world unless a window is cracked. I didn't regret going to this store, but I'd only come back if I was bored and had nothing else to do. read more

My husband and I get all our literary presents here. I feel like I've stepped back in time. They do have new/popular reads, but also a good helping of vintage/classic. The workers are very knowledgeable and helpful. If I'm not sure what book I'd like to buy, I can count on a Bell's Book Store pro to lead me in the right direction. If I'm having a leisurely look for myself, I can relax because no one is breathing down my neck. I was thrilled to find a book called Los Pollitos Dicen. It's a bilingual book based on a childhood rhyme my parents used to sing to me. Now, it's one of my baby's favorites! This is a really special place. They also have beautiful gift wrapping for FREE! read more

Bell's Book Store - Bookstores Near Me - Palo Alto, California