Daedalus Books

Hard to say anything that hasn't been said. This place is way bigger than most libraries and the…read morelargest independent bookstore in US. Maps are key to finding anything, sadly no used board games. The kids section is great for how to draw books, love used books stocked next to new. The catalogue computers (just like a library) were helpful - told you both what section, shelf to find your both, and number of both new and used copies available which is fantastic (just make sure to write down more then section number if that exists, it still took a while to find a specific book - a obtuse and somewhat arbitrary categorization (ie a book we wanted was under mental games) Their summer reading program was amazing for $5 coupon to be used on purchase of anything.

Powell's City of Books is HUGE. I knew it was supposed to be one of the biggest independent…read morebookstores in the world, but I don't think I really understood what that meant until I walked inside. The Burnside location takes up an entire city block and has SO many different sections. There are new and used books, gifts, and basically every genre and random little category you can think of. The different rooms even have their own names, and the whole place feels like a giant book maze. You could easily spend hours just wandering around. I loved browsing through everything. Even when I wasn't looking for anything specific, I kept finding things that caught my attention. The color-coded sections and maps definitely helped because otherwise I probably would have just gotten lost somewhere in the shelves and never been seen again. Definitely one of those Portland places I'd recommend even if you're not a huge book person. It's just really fun to walk around and explore, and I can totally see why Powell's is such an iconic part of Portland.

0.7 mi•Downtown, Southwest Portland

Rare Books

True

See all

Rare book room

Kinokuniya Bookstores - Portland

4.5(84 reviews)

LOVE this bookstore!! It has such a good selection of books in Japanese and English too! It is so…read morefun to look around in and prices aren't terrible, they're pretty standard. Staff is super friendly too! I'll definitely come back if I get the chance!!!

I'm not the target audience for this store, but I stopped by when shopping for a gift…read more Located off Director's Park, in the historic Guild Theater. It's cool that they kept the sign but it is a little hard to realize this is now the Kinokuniya. They've got a wide array of items - including movies and books/manga, pens and stationary, stickers and charms, mystery boxes of various kinds, items related to popular media, decor, etc. It's fairly narrow aisles and a lot to look at. They have another location in Beaverton.

1.7 mi•Industrial District, Central Eastside, Buckman, Southeast Portland

See all

Mother Foucault's Bookshop

4.3(50 reviews)

I love recommending this spot for people who visit Portland because it's got its own style. It's a…read morevery academic layout, books are stacked beside full bookshelves, older worn out copies of books have hand-written annotations on the side. The owners are very friendly and clearly love to talk about local events and their book selection. Couple things to note: - Hours shift a little bit than what is listed on Google, always worth calling in advance if unsure. - Phones are not encouraged on the shop floor (which I think is great). - The new location is a lot larger and has plenty of seating to promote spending a nice quiet afternoon surrounded by books. If you're looking for newer copies of books, Portland has plenty of other options. This selection is obscure and eccentric, it likely won't have the new titles in fiction. If you want to find a book or author you've never heard of, this is your spot.

I can't give it one star because I love books, and the place was...interesting enough. There's a…read morebizarre little staircase that leads to nowhere but a little loft, which I honestly love, but it's just more messy books. I worked at a bookstore for years, so seeing the random leaning and stacked books hurt a little and I yearned to dive in and start straightening. The vibe was so off-putting and stale, it's hard to explain. Looking around, I could see some quirky things like a cool old cash register, a random typewriter on a cafe-ish table, and a sign that said "the use of mobile phones is prohibited." The only distinguishable sections were fiction, poetry, and Shakespeare. My kid love books and we can spend hours in bookstores. He walked in looking to find some Tolkien, but before we could figure out where it might be, he said let's get out of here. And after a few more minutes of struggling to make heads or tails of the jumble, I couldn't argue.

0.7 mi•Downtown, Southwest Portland

Is this heaven, no, it's Mother Foucault's Bookshop!

See all

New address!

Friends Library Store

5.0(15 reviews)

Reasonable prices and a good cause, even if not the widest selection of books. The workers here…read morewere friendly enough, and I enjoyed browsing. May be worth visiting frequently to find an occasional gem.

Friendly volunteers and irresistible book paraphernalia. Portland literature goodies for everyone…read more Careful. It's addictive!

0.5 mi•Northwest, Alphabet District

Stickers

Library-themed Shirt

See all

Cookbooks

New Renaissance Bookshop

4.4(143 reviews)

Great selection of books, tea, and essential oils as well as very friendly staff. A peaceful…read moreenvironment to browse

The atmosphere is welcoming and the staff provides outstanding customer service. They go the extra…read moremile to help find items I was looking for. If you are looking for a respite from the stress of life, come into this space and get re-charged.

0.7 mi•Downtown, Southwest Portland

See all

Full Moon Farms cleanse your sacred space sprays essential oils in purified water

Grand Gesture Books

4.9(14 reviews)

Small bookstore with a large selection of curated material that I loved seeing that support the…read morecommunity. The staff was helpful in directing me to a few new book ideas to consider.

The selection is amazing all different romance genres and even supporting local authors with I…read morelove! The service was great I met the owner there and I got a book by a local author I'm so excited to start it. Amazing value.

See all

Hello From Portland

4.5(92 reviews)

0.6 mi•Pearl District

This store was as good as its reputation, filled with amazing collection of Portland souvenir…read moregoods, stationary items, apparels and local made food products. The store was clean and organized. The prices of the items were comparable to other shops we had visited in and around Portland. Among the products, I loved their magnet wall full of unique designs. There were really nice stickers and postcards. After exploring the store for several minutes, we picked few magnets and stickers. Staff members were friendly and interacting with guests. The checkout was quick and easy. Highly recommend this store to anyone looking to do souvenir shopping in downtown Portland.

I did a quick search for any type of souvenir store to find some Portland themed gifts and quickly…read morecame across this one. They have a nice location right by Powell's Books so it was a nice way to hit two birds with one stone. Everything in this shop made for a great gift, from stationary to stickers to apparel for all ages, and even Portland themed children's books. The staff were super friendly and helped look in the back to get me more sizes in the children's shirts. This was a nice stop for souvenirs without paying airport prices.

0.9 mi•Downtown, Southwest Portland

Cool spot

See all

Hi Books

5.0(2 reviews)

Sure, there's Powell's. But for me, nothing is more totally and absolutely Portland than Hi Books…read more It's tiny. It's curated. It's off the wall cool. And Fawn is a jewel. Make sure to drop by during the weekend and check out Portland's tiniest bookstore, which punches way above it's square footage.

I learned of this small bookstore from my friends. It is a small storefront in the vintage…read moreapartment building resident between Broadway and Park. They have art journals and books placing them in my small bookstores collection. They have a specialty in contemporary Japanese artists. Their selection is continuously rotating so stop in often.

2.3 mi•Sullivan's Gulch, Broadway District, Northeast Portland

See all

Broadway Books

4.6(42 reviews)

This was a cute bookstore. They had some good cards and postcards which I appreciate because I am…read morealways looking for postcards. The book selection was pretty good not comparable to places like Powells though who have a way larger selection. If those spots overwhelm you because of all the choices then this would be a better spot. I got a softcover for 18.99$. They do have a punchcard though where if you get 12 books your 13th is free.

A cute local bookstore right off Broadway St…read more Great place for buying a book for someone special! I recently came here on Independent Bookstore Day + they had some special deals and a wheel to spin for extra prizes. I was looking for a sci-fi book for a birthday gift for my dad - and they were able to recommend one with the space theme I was looking for. I was also able to get 20% off the book that day. They even offered to wrap the book, and did a lovely wrapping job for no charge :-)

Cooking section (7/8/26)

See all

(7/8/26)

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

3 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Bob P.

4 years ago

Outstanding service. I ordered a book from them via Alibris. Not only did it arrive in less than two days (to Wisconsin), but it was impeccably packed. This is now my preferred bookstore. Amazing work! read more

Charles T.

6 years ago

A great place to find books, wish I could say more about it but your better off going in and experiencing it for yourself.

Tima D.

8 years ago

Wonderfully well selected used bookstore for serious readers.

Daedalus Books - bookstores - Updated September 2026

People who viewed Daedalus Books also viewed

Monograph Bookwerks

4.6

(10 reviews)

I stopped in last weekend for the 1st time in about 3 years. Monograph is only open limited ours on…read morethe weekends, and I happily adjusted my travel schedule accordingly. What I said then, is pretty much how I experienced this well curated bookstore now. Still the same guy and the same expert eye. Every visit is a new experience as the inventory changes and there's no way to cover it all in a single visit anyway. The extensive online store offers a lot, but there's nothing like the tactile feel of book paper (and light antiques) between your fingers.

I love how I feel exploring this shop because it elicits a sense of nostalgia for the quaint…read morebookstores of yesteryear. Monograph Bookwerks offers an expertly-curated collection of books, art, vintage ephemera and gift items. The owner has done a remarkable job displaying product in creative vignettes throughout the store, with richly hued books standing like sentinels of history, art, literature and culture. This environment really is my happy place. I love the scent of aged paper and polished wood. I feel inspired by the thousands of voices and ideas presented on the pages here, and I can't imagine a world where places like this don't exist. Monograph Bookwerks is located in a popular area of NE Alberta, brimming with fascinating retail shops, restaurants and coffee shops. Street parking can be a bit difficult on weekends and evenings, but visitors will be far more likely to find spaces if they venture down the side streets. Look for the brightly colored arrow proclaiming "Books," pointing to the ivy-covered shop on the corner. It's so important to shop small and local, and to support the business owners who pour themselves into creating enchanting establishments like this. So take a moment out of your busy life to explore this delightful corner of Portland. Hopefully you'll enjoy your visits just as much as I do.

Passages Bookshop

4.8

(4 reviews)

Lovely little used bookstore, particularly great selection of poetry, good selection of art and…read morephoto books, and a little of everything else that interests the proprietor. He enjoys talking about poetry and books, and is a poet himself. They host occasional live events/readings. Nice reading-table for browsing books you're considering. Hours/days open are a bit sporadic, and the outer doors are locked until you're let in, so make sure to check in and call when you want to visit. Glad to have this shop in town.

There's some secrecy to this--the outside door is locked and you have to phone David in the shop…read more what a special place: books for booklovers, authors I've known about and couldn't find elsewhere, interesting writers I've never heard of, artists' books, rare editions. A bare bones atmosphere cause it's the books that matter. And David Abel has a national (if not worldwide) reputation as a book collector and evaluator, and is very generous with his knowledge.

Bishop & Wilde

(4 reviews)

Darling bookstore with a lovely arrangement of books, new and used. Creatively and lovingly…read morecurated, owner is very kind and knowledgeable! Great pricing of course. A must stop- found a book I've been searching for. Free parking on street:) under a publishing business. Cute art on the walls. You must stop by !.!.

Don't sleep on this bookstore. It's awesomely curated and lovely. Melissa -- the owner -- has great…read morerecommendations and is just so great to talk to. I live many miles away and have come here to order books and to shop many times. It's everything you want a bookstore to be. Our kids love it, too.

Hi Books

(2 reviews)

Crooked House Books & Paper

(5 reviews)

So much fun! An amazingly library-like collection of books in its meticulous completeness!…read moreMagazines, other printed materials and books, books, books, but organized in a tidy living/reading room that would grace any Victorian manse. He had cookbooks going back to the late 18th century. We found a fascinating copy of a 19th century guide to housekeeping that ranged from cooking and cleaning to tonic and tincture making and advise... which... shockingly given its age... proclaimed the health risks of smoking and included a picture of blackened lungs of a smoker after autopsy for effect! 150 years ago and people knew this? I guess it will take us another 100 years then to finally accept that climate change is real ...

I really love visiting Rachel's delightful bookstore. The little shoppe is full of beautiful new…read moreand vintage books, as well as literary ephemera. The books are well-organized, pricing is clear and fair, and visitors will likely find books they didn't know they wanted or needed! (I never leave the shop empty-handed) Crooked House Books and Paper is an homage to the bookshops of a bygone era. Take note of the store's collection of whimsical miniature books, as well as a wonderful selection of publisher bindings. Please visit this charming bookstore!

A Children's Place

4.5

(8 reviews)

I needed a gift the next day for my niece who lives in Portland (I am in NY) and wanted to…read moredesperately avoid ordering from Amazon. They were so very helpful on the phone, walking me through their availability and helping me put together the perfect gift. And the most incredible part was the offer to drop off the gift so I did not need to use a courier service. Local bookstores are the best and A Children's Place will now be my go to spot for future gifting.

I will sadly not be shopping here again after experiencing blatant racial profiling during my last…read morevisit. I was followed throughout the store aisles while perusing items that my daughter and I were interested in purchasing. It was obvious what was going on because other shoppers who were white were greeted warmly and allowed to shop in peace without being treated with suspicion. I will be taking my business elsewhere to stores that treat all customers with dignity and respect.

Second Shapes Bookstore

(3 reviews)

Wow wow wow! Love this little bookstore! Today (Valentines day) they had Blind date with a book…read morespecials. Beautiful dried flower bundles (from locals) in the covers. Prices were great. The person at the counter was so sweet. They have a smaller selection of books but I was able to snag a few I've been wanting to read and they were $4 each! Great deals! Local artists items for sale like sticker sheets, book markers, reversible cloth book covers and more! I love that they had a free book shelf (I left with a pretty handful!) I will most definitely be back!

Such a great addition to the neighborhood! A wonderful / interesting selection of new and used…read morebooks, zines, local crafts and various gifty items. A nice eclectic shop that's fun to browse, with a kind proprietor.

Microcosm Publishing

4.4

(15 reviews)

Microcosm Publishing published my book for me and I am very pleased and satisfied with how the…read moreproject went and with my resulting zine.

Great people, ground-breaking books…read more In complete transparency, I worked here for a while. I feel that this give me deeper insight into the business, though, and I can say with certainty that this publisher means what they say with their words and in their books. Not only are they a bunch of rad punk-loving bookworms, but they truly care about giving voices to those otherwise without them. Which, obviously, leads to some of the most interesting books/zines you can imagine!

Backstory Books & Yarn

(21 reviews)

I kinda didn't want to write this review because I selfishly want to keep it a secret of how…read moreamazing this place is. First of all, the yarn selection is incredible. Went in with my mom to "grab a few things" and left with an entire basket full of yarns we couldn't just LEAVE there. Secondly, the bookstore itself reminds me of the bookstore Belle goes into to borrow books every day in Beauty and the Beast. If you know you know. It's a whole cozy vibe. Thirdly, the staff and service is top notch. Helpful, funny and a lovely chat. I can't give out more info because I still secretly don't want anyone to go and buy everything I still want to buy.

I love bookstores. I love yarn. So already we have a winner here. But this shop is special. An…read moreoutstanding collection of books is crammed into a cute little house. It's the kind of shape where you wander, finding treasures as you go. As for the yarn selection, it's small but nice, with some unusual options. The staff are always friendly and helpful. I live just a couple blocks away, and it's a miracle I'm not broke by now.

Always Here Bookstore