Book Society is such a great little spot in Berkeley. I've been a few times now, and it's easily one of my favorite places when I want to browse books and relax for a bit. The owners are super nice and genuinely helpful, and the whole place feels welcoming the second you walk in. The book selection is also really solid. I always end up finding something (often have to reign myself in), especially in the thriller section, but they also have classics mixed in, too, which I love. One of my favorite parts is that you can actually sit and read while having a glass of wine. The wine selection is really fun, and they have some unique varietals that you don't see everywhere, which makes it even better. I also love that they do book and wine pairings each month. It's such a cool idea and makes it feel like there's always something new to check out. You can also join their book club, which includes a new book and a paired bottle of wine. Also, you need one of their bags. Trust me. If you love books and want a cozy little place to hang out, I definitely recommend stopping in. read more

I live in Manhattan and wish it had a place like this. The two owners are so nice and not ex-manhattan! This is a must-come for wine and a nice vibe in Berkeley! read more

Book Society - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here on my own after being in the area for something else. Good: - There is a large selection of books - it's beautiful inside too! - The staff are super friendly and attentive. - A good place to rest after a lot of walking all day - I liked the non alcoholic sparkling water and having a drink while reading books Bad: - The place is a bit smaller than expected and can get a bit noisy when too many parties are inside Overall this was a super unique concept! I liked how it was a safe haven but differentiated from a library and more upscale read more

Book Society - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This place is so cute! This is like a dream spot and I wish I lived closer so I could visit more often. We went for Halloween as they had some themed activities/books out. There were cozy seating options but since it was fairly packed, we sat at the bar. Loved to see such a big turnout but this place feels like it only has space for ~20 people comfortably. We got the popcorn and I tried out some of the wine tasting on the wall. They give you a tap card so you can control how many tastes you want. They offer 1 oz, half glass, or full glass pours for each of the wine on tap. The wine on tap is mostly their wine pairings for the month. I love the concept and definitely tried a couple wines to decide which book I should read! Overall pretty cozy and intimate. The book selection is pretty small and curated. The shelves are tall and they have the moving ladder! Very beauty and the beast library-like! Would be good to come with one other person or solo to have some cozy reading time. I could only imagine this place would be a dream for a small book club! I know they have a couple events like that every month and would love to come check one out someday. read more

Book Society - Spooky secret book selection for Halloween! - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I'm so happy my friend found this place! We had such a great time here. Stopped by just before closing and enjoyed a few tastings of the wine selection. I love to read, and I love wine. What a perfect combination! What I found awesome was the automatic dispenser for wine (paid for with your keycard and then charged after) and the hundreds of books available to read and purchase. The venue looks really small but it's quite spacious, and I love that it is a LAPTOP FREE ZONE. It encourages conversation, exploration, and chill vibes without it feeling like you walked into a Starbucks to study. The wine options were delicious and I like how they were paired with novels. The only reason I didn't give an extra star was because the pours for the tastings were too small for the price. I go wine tasting all over CA (including Napa and Paso). I think it should be a little bit more for $3-5 each. read more

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Book lovers paradise! Book Society Berkeley is a dream come true and unassuming from the outside. The vibe is so chill and the chairs and layout is chic. I love how they pair books with wine - getting a library tap card to refill your glass of wine through a dispenser? genius! Plus, no pressure to buy while you're reading. Perfect spot to curl up with my book buddy and get lost in a good story. Can't recommend enough! Quick tip: nestled on a pretty busy down town street. Metered parking available but might have to circle around. read more

Book Society - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My friend and I decided to check them out at around 1 pm on Sunday and we found out about them through Tiktok. After we walked in, the owners who were two sisters were super kind, greeting us and giving us a run down on how everything works. They choose 8 different wines each month and pair it with a book where there is a small description about each and a theme every month. They give you a card that you can tap at the top of their wine dispenser machine and can select how much you want from each type from a taste to a full glass. I'd never seen a machine like this to dispense wine before so it was fun trying different wines varying in flavors and styles. After getting the explanation, we walked around the store looking at the different book selections and it was peaceful to enjoy a book and be in a space that is recommended to be technology free. I tried some of their red wines and it went down smoothly for me. If I was looking to spend a relaxing afternoon and read a new book, I would definitely be here. read more

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Visited this spot with my friend yesterday because it has great reviews, we love books and most definitely wine. It is indeed a very beautiful space. You can tell that much thought went into the designing of it. They host many book events from puzzle nights to book signing and reading. They also have a membership, if interested. There was a good amount of customers driving wine, chatting and/or reading books when we arrived. We were greeted with s wave from the back where the cash register is located. That was a nice touch because it means we were acknowledged straight from the start. Sarah came out and talked with us about the wine thar they had for the month and the books that were paired with it. She was indeed knowledgeable. Sarah also explained to us that you can go online to see their past book and wine pairings. My friend and I both began with Reds tastings. We won't be doing that again because you have to pay for them each time and I do believe that although it is profitable for the business, it is getting over in the customer because it is like $3 and up.. got a sip..smh We both felt that out of the 4 they had of Reds, only 1 stood out. The others all tasted the same. There was no variation in them at all. We decided to go and locate our book to sit and enjoy both wine and reading time. They gave an assortment. However, majority of the books are by White authors. I feel that is not okay by any means merely because the business is located in the area it is. All ethnicities visit from everywhere. They really need to expand in this area. I will go back in a diffrent month to see if the wine curation is better. read more

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This may be one of my new favorite places! Wine, books and conversations about books?! What more could I want. Came here on a Saturday afternoon was able to meet the owner and get some of her insight and recommendation of books. Loc the concept where you can hang out, drink wine, look and talk about books! Wish I had something closer to me, but will be back! read more

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Book Society is such a much needed concept! After brunch me and my friend decided to stop by to check it out! Parking is tricky since it's on a busy street but we got lucky and found a spot across the street. They did a great job maximizing the space with seating and books and a bar area . As soon as we walked in someone came over and explained everything to us...we grabbed a card in exchange for our drivers license and that is what you use for the self pour wine station. You can choose how many ounces and they have pricing listed. They explained they switch out the wines each month. They had a good selection of whites and reds and they even had a non alcoholic option. Me and my friend grabbed a seat on the couches and checked out their book selection...I gravitated toward the cook books! 1 of their book clubs was about to meet when we got there. Just a FYI since this is technically a lounge kids are not allowed. Very cool spot in Berkeley, I will def. be back! read more

Book Society - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I've been excited to try Book Society since moving to Berkeley. I found the wine and service to be lovely, though I do wish they had a better selection of books, even for a smaller bookstore. read more

Absolutely love the concept of The Book Society--where else can you sip wine while flipping through a great book and maybe even catch a reading group? It's giving literary lounge meets cozy wine bar, and I'm here for it. What Makes It Special * You check in with your ID and get a wine card, then pour wine from their rotating tap of 5 selections--total vending machine vibes, but classy. * Wines are priced by the ounce, and each one comes with a recommended book pairing, which is such a thoughtful touch. * The interior is beautiful--elegant, modern, and just warm enough to feel inviting. Good to Know * Food menu is limited--think light, pricey charcuterie, so don't come starving. * It's intimate and cozy, but can get a little loud if you're there purely to read in peace. * Tons of hooks at arm's reach (small detail, big win for bags and coats). All in all, it's a perfect spot for book lovers and wine nerds alike--just don't expect full meals or quiet library vibes. Highly recommend for a solo wine date or a cute meetup with a literary twist. read more

Book Society - A little cheese wine and a book to read - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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What a cool new spot located on College Ave in Berkeley, and woman-owned! While I hate to admit I'm not an avid reader, my bestie and I had a sweet Gal'entines day moment at Book Society. I absolutely fell in love with the idea of giving a 'library card' that also is utilized for the self-serve wine. You tap the card and pick what type of wine you would like/how many ounces, and voilà! They have monthly book/wine pairings, and incredibly yummy snacks (we enjoyed curated local cheese/crackers/popcorn/chocolates) while we sipped and lounged. My bestie purchased Pamela Anderson's new cookbook, as we saw groups/potentially book clubs come in to chat collectively, as well as just people who seemed to bring their own book for a solo read/cozy moment. I love that this spot also hosts events by authors and super cool experiences within like an upcoming Sunday in the Stacks: Sound Bath & Bubbles. You can book the space too for small groups, and I saw online, join a themed Book Society Book Club like Cookbook Lovers Book Club or The Leading Ladies Book Club. To note, this is a laptop-free spot. Think: unplug and plug into something new. I just love the mantra of elevating the bookstore experience. Think Barnes & Noble with Starbucks, but with wine, snacks, and a more intimate space. Hoping to come back for an event sometime or a mommy moment :) read more

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This is a hidden gem. And an amazing idea that resulted in careful, but thoughtful execution. The place reminds me of a small independent bookstore with seating carved in the middle for people to sit and enjoy the space being surrounded by books *my dream* Ambiance: art deco with a primarily teal color scheme + accents of gold throughout. I loved how inviting the space was. Also, no kids! The space is for 21+ which I appreciate because if you're wanting to have a book club meeting, no one wants screaming children around. It's moderately quiet, not library quiet. There's music playing but not obnoxiously loud. I like how everyone respects the space and just speaks in low volumes. Food/drink: wine and non-alcoholic beverages are offered and for a reasonable price. I didn't get to try the snacks so I can't really comment on them. I was told there's an offer of $15pp to reserve for a book club meet up and that includes 1 drink and 1 snack. Looking forward to bringing my book club here! read more

Super cute and classy wine bar meets bookstore! The wine is on tap?! So you get a little card and keep going back to get as much as you want. At the end you close out with the card they give you. For about 3 pours it was $16ish? So def not bad at all. No laptop policy FYI read more

I recently learned about Book Society and knew I had to visit! A few of my friends and I stopped by on a Saturday. The bar was full, but after waiting and browsing the books for a few minutes, a table opened up and we were able to sit. We all ordered half glasses of wine. My half glass was $9, and it was a lot less than half a glass. The wine was great, and each wine is paired with a book, which I enjoyed looking through. But it really was not enough wine for the price. The full glass was extremely expensive (some wines $20+ for the full glass), and since the half glass was such a small portion, I can only assume the full glass would be too. It was disappointing because I was so excited about this bookstore/bar! Even though the pours were really light, Book Society is a very cool place. The book selection is great, the space is comfortable and beautiful, and the people who work there are so friendly and attentive. My friends and I ordered the cheese place, as well. Although it was definitely expensive ($28) for the amount of cheese we got, the cheeses were super tasty and the crackers were so good. Overall, I'm really glad I tried this place. I hope they reconsider their prices and their portion sizes, but it's a great space with great people. read more

Book Society - Cheese plate, $28 - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Last night (Monday) I went to Clio's, a used book-and-bar joint, which was he closest I've seen to a beatnik experience. Book Society is a more feminine space, with a limited number of titles, but enough to keep the intensive browser busy for half an hour. Or maybe longer, if you visit the wine bar. They have eight bottles on tap, each paired with a book (nothing obligatory however). You can get one of three pour sizes, and the wines run from moderate to expensive. The staff is available for chatting. They have book clubs that meet, and occasional author experiences (Niall Williams will be here in March). They close by 8, so you can book/bar hop to Clio's or North Light if you want. Small plates are also available, but nobody seemed to be having these when I was there. Well insulated from outside madness, so this becomes a valuable safe place to enjoy the sofas and company. read more

Book Society - Wine bar. They give you a card, and you choose what and how much to drink. - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Book Society is the perfect haven for book lovers and wine enthusiasts. As someone who's always loved to read and has recently started getting into wine, this was such a special place for me. I love a beautiful space and Book Society is exactly that. The decor, the lounge-y seating along with the book nooks and separated table spaces make this a reader's dream. Whether you want to sit alone to read or chat with a friend over some light bites and wines, they've got a space for you. Not to mention, the music choice is perfect - relaxing enough to not distract you from your book but sets the perfect vibe for the space. It's got a library vibe where everyone is speaking in relatively hushed tones so as not to disrupt anyone else. You'll get a "library card" that lets you self serve wine (think: the self-pour beer taprooms, but with wine) and they feature a rotating selection of wines that they've paired with books they're highlighting. You can choose from 8 different wines and 3 different size pours ranging in prices. They have both reds and whites and they even had a non-alcoholic options available. Bonus points that they also tend to feature local, women-owned wineries. You can browse their shelves for a book to purchase or you can even just sit and read for awhile. They also offer a bunch of events like book clubs (for every genre) and author visits. A couple of rules: + No laptops here - unplug, read, or w(h)ine with friends. + the space is 21+ so the kiddos will have to stay home My one con of an otherwise flawless experience: the book selection is small. They have a lot of books variety wise, yes, but not a ton of each copy out on the shelves so if you find a book that you want, be sure to get it! They can also check to see if they might have something stocked that's not out. Another thing to note: books here are sold at full suggested retail price. That's likely higher than what you'd find on amazon or a big box store, but we're all about supporting local businesses here and I'm down for my dollars to go to the folks who brought this amazing shop to the East Bay. read more

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I visited on a Thursday afternoon while in the area and had a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was kind and welcoming. Very beautiful ambiance. It was quiet and I felt comfortable having a taste of wine and purchasing a new book. The team was so kind to walk me through the process since it was my first visit. I will definitely visit again in the future. read more

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The new spot for meeting up with friends! Every time I go, I run into people I know from all aspects of my life because it's just that amazing. I try to go at the 1st or end of the month to catch the new rotation of wines. I almost always purchase a book but also chat up whoever's there. They also have rotating cheese plates and monthly events. I just need to become a member at this point lol. read more

Very unique spot with fun events. I went on puzzle night and met some friendly people. You get a library card and can scan to self serve your wine. It's cute that they pair a bottle of wine with a book each month. I also like to 'no laptop' policy. read more

Book Society will alter your brain chemistry for the better. It's beautifully decorated with little nooks and tables to read. The shelves are straight out of a book lover's dream with thoughtfully curated sections. The staff are knowledgeable and oh-so-helpful. The at-will wine pour fridge is a delightful touch, and I can't think of a better way to spend a weekday night then curled up with a book and a glass of wine. I wish we had one in San Francisco! read more

Book Society - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

My wife had a little get together for 8 of her friends here and it was fabulous. The hospitality was amazing and their wine situation was great. Nicely curated selection and the self-serve wine system was easy to use and a big hit with the group. This is the kind of neighborhood business you want to support and they deliver. We look forward to returning and actually taking advantage of the bookstore! read more

Came by to check out this new book store / wine bar that opened in December. They only have one location and it's a unique vibe. Parking was a little hard to find, but if you go into the neighborhood by the surrounding streets, you'll most likely find something. Inside the decor is very chic and very classy, which I absolutely loved. They have a few tables in there for you to enjoy your drinks or even gather for a book club. When we came on a Thursday evening, there was a larger gathering and they also serve snacks and bites here as well. The self serve wine is very easy to use, you check in at the front desk and they trade your ID for the card. You can do a sample tasting of the wine for about $3 dollars and then half a glass is about $11. Great vibes and loved everything here. They do close around 8. This is a classy spot great for a date or to hang out with friends. read more

Book Society - Self serve wine - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This is such a beautiful and intimate place. The moment I walked in today, I was mesmerized. The design, the books, the setup, the wines and on top of it such great friendly staff impressed me on the spot. I was feeling, by walking in, I was totally elevated into a whole beautiful world beyond the ordinary. I was just there for a few minutes and defiantly planning to go back very soon. Highly recommend this place for anyone who likes a great place to go; hid in, have a glass of wine and read a book. Oh, and they have a great policy, no laptop which I really liked, since it helps you leave the fast internet life behind for few moments and indulge into yourself, which is very rare these days. :) read more

Your IQ might increase simply from walking into the store.... The space is tastefully decorated and relaxing. The vibes are positive. The concept itself is fun. Books to explore while you curate your own tasting. You choose the amount to try, and the wines are paired with specific books, and those books and wines rotate monthly. You can come solo or bring your book club. And, they have events. On this particular day, it wasn't too crowded. I would say just right, with several patrons and one of those book clubs. We came specifically to try the wine. I am not supposed to drink. I did have tiny sips of each of my friend's offerings and there was a clear winner. Before the end of August, try the Habit. This San Ynez Valley Cab Frank is subtle and delicious. Light- bodied and dry with herbaceous notes. Yum! I also really enjoyed their chocolate tasting, three truffles from Sonoma Chocolates. I wanted to explore their cookbook selection, which had things I recognized, and enough I didn't to be curious. Book society is well worth the visit. read more

Book Society - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place is extremely welcoming and a wonderful spot to relax. When you need a small break from life, I highly recommend coming in to try their monthly wine selection and read a book. read more

Book society is a cute establishment. It's not exactly a wine bar, it's a bookstore that sells wine by the ounce, glass or bottle. The staff are inviting and friendly, and the room is beautifully decorated, with bookshelves and cozy benches. The restroom feels a bit public, as the door is behind the cash register area and not far from the bookshelf that contains the wine dispenser. The venue consists of just one room. They feature 8 wines, 4 of each, white and red. You can get a small pour or a glass. They also sell snacks and cheese plates which the lady who helped me mentioned several times. The $2.40 one ounce pour is what most bartenders or servers would pour for free. Most of the wines tasted somewhat astringent. I was hoping to find a bottle to take home. This is a chill setting. The selection of wines and the book selections are small, The nudging to purchase snacks was odd, since the setting isn't ideal for enjoying food. The seats are like ottomans, no tables It was a fun experience but we probably won't return. i read more

My partner and I went here on an impromptu date on Book Society the day that it opened. When you ask for a glass, they trade your ID for a card that you tap against the wine dispenser and you can sample, get a half pour, or get a full pour while you browse. We sampled several wines, including a rosè, two white wines, and one nonalcoholic wine. The owner asked what type of book I was looking for and provided several recommendations based on my prompts. We bought one of the books paired with the wine as well. I think this is a great concept, an awesome place to meet friends, and even join for events. It is 21+. read more

Book Society - The owner, Laura Guzman, took the time to show us the self serve wine dispenser and explain the book pairings - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Love this new east bay spot perfect for date night or a book club meet up! The concept is so cool with monthly rotating wines each thoughtfully paired with a book. They have installed a wine dispenser that allows for sample, half glass, or full glass pours so you can try every single wine and create your own tasting! We loved the Pinot noir and the red blend this month. We will definitely be back! The owner Laura is so clearly passionate about this concept and so kind! Wishing them so much success! read more

Book Society - Pinot noir and red blend - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Had a nice afternoon after stumbling upon this little gem! The amount of love and care put into the space and curation was immediately apparent. The folks working there were so kind and explained the self-serve wine process (where you get a "library card" to manage the pours...so cute!). The wine selection was small but perfectly curated alongside 8 books with a unifying theme (they were having anniversaries, as it was just the shop's anniversary!). Ordered the cheese plate and sampled most of the wines, bought a book, and had a lovely time. :) read more

Attended a book event here, the event was actually just a book club meeting based in genre. The fee was $39 which didn't include the book itself. Included was a single glass of wine and a cereal sized bowl of popcorn to be shared per every 3 people who were in attendance. Not appetizing nor appealing as the advertised yummy "snack" option of the $39 fee. (And who wants to share a tiny bowl of popcorn with strangers touching it!?) While the venue itself was nice and inviting, it wasn't exactly comfortable as the air was blasting and the host seemed a bit flustered. Not rude, but she did set a timer to announce at the 10 minute upcoming ending mark (weird). I did like the discussion format, which provided thoughtful questions for each participant to read, address initially and then group feedback. That kept the discussion to be consistently engaging. But overall not sure there was any value in essentially paying to discuss a book. Perhaps there should be more effort to include the actual book or additional drink offerings. Or not charge an attendance fee but require a minimum drink? Still, willing to support the business as it overall offers a great venue. read more

The Book Society has a unique business model. They advertise themselves as an "elevated wine & book lounge". That's a perfect description. They regularly do book releases, signings, and events here. They also have book club meets. Lots of books for sale. Good selection of wine. I like that the staff are so informed on everything they sell. I also like that they sell half glasses of wine so I can taste the offerings. read more

I wish I had a book store like this closer to me! We held our book club here and it was a great experience. Service was great, their snacks were tasty and the wine paired with the books! What more could you ask for? read more

Book Society - Book and wine pairings - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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First off who doesn't love wine? Who doesn't love reading books? What about combining two amazing things together because that is what this place offers! It is a 21+ only so if you do have anyone underage, they will not allow you inside unfortunately. Upon entering my first thought was, "am I in the world of Belle's library from Beauty and the beast?!" It's GORGEOUS! They have 4 couches in the center where you share two small tables and two tables that seats two on the outer edges. I just love the interior and the vibe of the whole place because it gives off cozy, but also like a chic and classy vibe too if that makes sense! I love that right when you enter no matter how packed it is inside, there is always someone there to greet you. The idea of this place was started by a Laura and her husband and I want to say friend (?) help her run this business. If you get the chance, listen to the background of the story because it's very heartwarming and unique. What I love about this place is that you can drink wine and read books at the same time. The books you read on the shelves, you can also purchase too which is awesome! They offer many events where it can be a book club, talk about a certain book, when onyx storm was released they had an event where the illustrator came. If you become a member with them you do get I believe a small discount with each event and first come first serve sort of thing? I love that this place has a good variety of book options to choose from. They have a fiction section, a romance section, mystery/thriller, self-help books, biography section and even a cooking section! Side note, the first time I went here, I brought my husband (who is not a reader) and he enjoyed this place! He loved looking through the cookbooks and he even bought 2! They have a self serve wine machine which is super simple to use. If you have questions about the wine, the employees here are well equipped to know the background of each wine. The left side they have one non alcoholic wine along with 3-4 other white wines. The right side they have 4 red wines so it's a win win for those who don't even drink wine like myself! It's super simple to use - you give them your ID and they will give you a card that will allow you to scan that card, push a button that tells the machine how much wine you want and it'll serve it for you. A small sample tasting of the wine is around $3 while a half glass is about $11. I love that they pair wines with certain books and it's usch a unique concept. They also offer small snacks and bites... might I suggest you try the pate they have? They do have a cheese sampler snack that was tasty, but to be honest there were two blocks of cheese that were so hard to cut through that we ended up not even eating it. This place is a must go to even if you don't like books. It's a great spot to try either for a classy date or even just to hang out with friends. I know I did. I spent almost two hours here ! read more

We came in for a quick glass of wine and the founder greeted us and was so welcoming. She seemed so passionate about her business and we really enjoyed our time here. Definitely worth the stop, will be coming back asap! :) read more

Book Society - Wine Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I've dropped in a couple of times and really enjoy their wine selection and curated book selections. I am loving that they host community events like book clubs AND sound baths! My only gripe is the really bright lighting in the evenings. Please dim the lights. I'll come back and bring friends in the neighborhood if only they could improve the ambiance. Five star review to off-balance the dumb review giving this small-business a low rating because they wouldn't allow her to break the law by bringing in a minor (liquor licenses are tough!) read more

I would love to give a better review, but I wasn't allowed to check it out because I had my baby in a carrier. I get that it's due to the type of liquor license that they have but it seems wrong that it's supposedly part bookstore but I can't walk in with my baby to browse the books? I guess the books are just for ambience/decor? I'm pretty disappointed because I was looking forward to checking this place out, but it's also not worth getting a babysitter for. Just don't call yourselves a bookstore. It's not "an elevated bookstore experience" like your website says if I can't go in and browse for books. It seems like you want the coolness factor of calling yourselves a bookstore without actually being one. read more

Amazing staff. Great book selection and WINE it's a must!! Support local bookstores

Great wines, books, and friendly staff! The wine dispenser is pretty cool. They give you a card and you can choose between 2, 4, and 6 oz. pours. I recommend tasting through and pairing with cheese and charcuterie! read more