What a wonderful independent bookstore! The selection was great, and the staff couldn't have been kinder. One of the booksellers went out of their way to help our daughter find some books she was excited about, and that personal attention made our visit extra special. It's the kind of bookstore you could easily spend hours browsing. If you're in the area and love books, this is definitely worth a stop! read more

See all

The most unique local bookstore I visited in Alexandria, Virginia so far. The bookstore is clean, well organized , and easy to navigate. They have several events held inside the bookstore and unique merchandise from local artists. The service at the bookstore was nice & friendly. I like the selections & descriptions of books throughout the bookstore. In the kitchen room, there was a glass fridge with many cold drinks to buy as well as journals, books, and merchandise around the sink & cabinet area. I was told the bookstore use to be a private residential home. My favorite part of the bookstore was the unique & funny merchandise like the stickers. This local bookstore is a definite go see in Alexandria, Virginia. It is a place I would visit again . read more

See all

Lovely book store! Nice vibe. We couldn't stay for long but we all found books we enjoyed. read more

Old Town Books - Old town books sign outside - Bookstores Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

What an awesome little local book store. They have a great selection (obviously someone is doing some serious curation). They also have some stationary and journals and an attached kids store. Prices were reasonable and the staff were all very friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable about their collection. We will definitely make this a regular stop when we are in town. If for no other reason to avoid Amazon.... read more

See all

The best bookstore in Alexandria that I came across. The exterior is the cutest. Located on the corner with some outdoor seating. Once inside there is shelves of books an other products. I even saw some signed copies of books. I enjoyed a wide selection of books. They had stuffed animals, calendars, stickers and much more. Oh, if you are wondering if they have that good book smell, they do. The employees were extremely helpful and knowledgeable. They were around helping out many other customers and directing them to areas to purchase certain books. I love how the children's area is separate from the other area of the book store. The store is perfect! I plan to return when I am in the area. read more

See all

I popped in here because I heard dogs were welcomed! I was greeted by several folks working in the store and asked if I needed assistance. I told them it was my first time here so they gave me a tour and explained all the sections they have! I ended up getting the Dog Tarot Deck, a dog and book sticker and a history book! They have a great selection of books, stickers, art novelties, cards, and genres. They also sell some apparel too! I love a good bookstore with great aesthetic vibes, it was super cozy in there and yet it was hopping. Hard to find a good bookstore nowadays that isn't a chain. Well worth my money and the long walk from the metro! read more

See all

Amazing neighborhood book store. Great collection of local authors and all kind of books. My 13 year old love it!! An entire room for children and young adults. Employees are very friendly and knowledgeable. I highly recommend!! read more

Old Town Books - Bookstores Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

I loved this little bookstore! For the size they had a great selection and I loved their display setups! The cashier was friendly and gave us some great recommendations. 100% recommend checking this shop out if you're in the area! read more

See all

Old Town Books is one of my favorite local shops to support! A great book shop located on the corner of their building, the inside is welcoming and stacked with books from floor to ceiling. The floors creak in a comforting way as you walk through each room checking out the genre's they've got set up. The new juniors section they've opened is whimsical and fun~ perfect to inspire your little one's love of reading! The staff are so cool and nice. They've always got great recommendations filled with enthusiasm. For Valentine's Day they even set up Blind Dates with a Book chosen by each staff member, which was a really fun way to get a new recommendation. OTB regularly hosts events and stays involved with the local community too. Be sure to check out their website to see when their next book club meeting is or when they're gonna host an author! read more

This isn't my first visit here. I went last year during the holiday season, and it was crowded, so I couldn't give an honest review then. Today, I stopped by because my first choice was closed. I wanted to support a local bookstore, but I ended up driving a few more minutes to Barnes and Noble. The customer service wasn't great. I was only acknowledged after circling the store and visiting the kids section--where the young lady was friendly. I I approached the front to inquire about an author I was interested in. The girl almost hurried to fetch the books, handed me the only two they had by that author, and then disappeared. I won't be returning. read more

A fun community gathering spot with knowledgeable and friendly staff. I have enjoyed the book club events such as a Jane Austen tea and discussion. Selection is good but not extensive due to the smaller footprint. Still, they can order any book they don't have and contact you when it arrives. My only qualm is the parking. Hard to find street parking during busy periods such as weekends. All in all, this bookstore is a vibrant community space that I hope to see keep thriving. read more

Good selection of books and various other gifts. Staff was friendly and they allow dogs inside too! read more

Old Town Books - Bookstores Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

i bought a cute sticker in here. i love the selection of stickers and greeting cards. very nice staff and very big store. lots to choose from. read more

I really really loved this book store! Usually my daughter and I like to go to bookstores together, however, she was not with me on this trip. I was still glad I went in there! This bookstore ks a small shop with many different varieties of books and merchandise. You can find something for everyone in this store! Stop in for a gift or something for yourself! read more

Old Town Books is small, but mighty! It's in a historic building and has two rooms filled with well-curated books from cookbooks to a great kids selection. They are about to open a rare books section that looks very cool. If you want great books from a well-loved independent bookstore, go here! read more

See all

I love this cute bookstore!! I'm a huge fan of local bookshops and this fit the bill. I was not aware that they also had book club events as well! Super well organized store by sections and there are some hilarious books by the checkout counter. They also sell merchandise like mugs and shirts and other cute stuff! They also carry puzzles, stickers, some other knick knacks. Spend at least an hour here! read more

Old Town Books - Bookstores Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

My previous review had typos - yikes! outgrow = otherwise from = full of I'm updating because I subscribed to the monthly book service at the beginning of the pandemic. I was soooo afraid the store would suffer and close early in 2020 - thank goodness that hasn't happened! Anyway, I subscribed as a way to support, but ended up with a stack of the most on-point/ talked about books of 2020. They arrived promptly in recyclable packaging (yesss!) and there's organized discussions to followup with once you finish the book. Overall, it was a great deal and I'd recommend it. read more

I recently visited Old Town Books during a trip to Old Town Alexandria and loved this small, women owned bookstore tucked in a quiet street corner. When you walk inside, you will find a selection of new releases, top sellers, and a few handpicked recommendations for every book reader of all ages. It may be small, but it is packed from floor to ceiling with lots of selections. I like how each section is also organized and labeled by genre, making it easy to find the right book. Around the store, I saw that they incorporated a few of their own custom items and a selection of non-book items (cool puzzles and mystery games) that would make a great gift for any recipient. I love supporting small, locally owned businesses, especially ones that are women owned and would highly recommend visiting this location if you are in the area. read more

VERDICT: AVOID. Overpriced books, limited selection. Recommend driving 2 miles north to Barnes & Noble: 3651 Jefferson Davis Hwy Alexandria, VA 22305 PROs: None? CONs: - Liberal Selection (rather extreme anti-American books, even for a moderate) - Limited Selection (I may have more books in my personal library - which is not impressive). read more

What a fabulous experience! Cate was an absolute joy to interact with and made my day. I loved the selection of books and handwritten recommendations on the well-organized shelves. My visit to Old Town Books was fantastic and I am sure to return! read more

Such a cute & quaint little bookstore. It's slightly off of the main stretch of King St but not far! At first I didn't notice the labels on the bookshelves showing the genre but after finding those it was easy to browse. The old vault is cool! I absolutely loved the little cards under some books that had a brief synopsis of the book; such a cute touch! I purchased 2 books at $40 total which isn't bad. I'm sure you could get them cheaper online but I feel it's better to support small & local businesses! Thanks Old Town Books! read more

It's difficult to give a small bookstore anything but 5 stars. Nice place to find a special book or note cards or a gift for the reader in your life. Small shop. Small selection. Helpful staff. Worth the visit! read more

See all

We stopped into this bookstore on a Sunday afternoon after our young readers asked to go inside, tempted by the window display. My husband and I were inclined to spent a fair amount of money supporting a local independent bookstore. Unfortunately, our girls were blocked from the section with their reading level for more than five minutes as an employee physically monopolized the space (a corner of the room) and made (very loud) recommendations to another family. Our kids tried several times to get access to the section, but she would not be moved or consider that our kids were also interested in and capable of reading those books. We felt dismissed because the employee didn't expect kids of that age to be interested in middle grade chapter books. It's a shame. We would have liked to make this a regular stop in our walks around Old Town. read more

I love this book store! it's a little small, so if there's something specific you're looking for i'd recommend checking the website first. but you can order through them and pick up in store. I so basically all my pre-orders here. staff is really friendly! and they host different book clubs each month. read more

Lovely bookstore in the perfect little neighborhood and exceptionally kind staff! If you're in the neighborhood, you should definitely stop in! read more

Old Town Books - Bookstores Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I've loved this bookstore since first setting eyes on it earlier this year (pre-pandemic). I recently moved to Alexandria, VA and I frequent the King Street area often. Though I mostly stay at home during the pandemic, I often like to walk down King Street when it's less busy and I love passing by Old Town Books when I do. The bookstore is situated right off King Street and less than a block away from the Old Town Alexandria waterfront. It's located in a historic cobblestone building and is extremely charming. The people working there are so nice and knowledgeable. I had signed up to participate in the Readers' Run Club event prior to the pandemic. Although that unfortunately had to be postponed (for obvious reasons), I look forward to hopefully participating again if they set up such an event in the future. Most recently, I visited Old Town Books during the Alexandria Sidewalk Sale. They did a great job making sure there was proper social distancing in place. They had a "blind date book" table where you could buy $5 books, sight unseen (the books were wrapped up in paper wrap and the only clue you had as to what each book was was the drawing and general description of the genre of the book on the book cover). Super fun and inventive :) For a major bookworm like me, this place is heaven. I will return often in the future! read more

It was impressively simple to place my order online and then pick up my books. All contactless too! I was also really happy that they asked if I wanted a bag for my books when I called ahead to say I would be at the store in a few minutes (I didn't). Outside the store is a wire shelf unit where they place your order after you declare you are headed over, so I would be selectively prompt and go on a dry day. read more

Great book store! Super cute, great books and lots of other great things to buy. Super glad I visited from Oregon and happened to find it. Left with a couple books and even more for my list. Staff was so friendly and helpful. I wish I could of bought all the books, great selection of personal development and neuro science books and great recommendations given to me. read more

I always make it a point to stop in and explore Old Town Books anytime I'm in Old Town. The staff is super friendly but not overbearing (they let you browse in peace), there's an amazing selection of not only books but also book related merchandise that is unique (and great for gifts). If they don't have what you are looking for be sure to ask! They can order it for you or you can order it online through them. Also keep an eye out for the events - they do some great talks with local authors, calligraphy workshops, flower arranging, and even mini-photo sessions in the store with a local photographer. There's a real sense of community flowing out of this store! read more

So glad this place exists! First of all, it's right on the main drag. Hard to miss. Secondly, it's carefully curated. A lot of thought and effort went into maximizing the space and organizing the books in such a way that you might discover a new favorite right next to a book you already love. Some bookstores look like they were put together by a hoarder, and those give me anxiety. Every beautiful book in this bright space is there for a reason, like flowers in a bouquet. They also have a lovely selection of cookbooks, YA, and children's books. Among the children's books they have some very adorable book merch, including library card baby socks and a Very Hungry Caterpillar onesie. I saw a new book by one of my favorite authors, Ann Beattie. I didn't even know it had been released, so I had to pick it up! I'm excited to read it and grateful that this beautiful little shop connected me to it before I go on a road trip next week. Old Town needs more places like this. read more

We stopped in this shop while touristing in Old Alexandria and it was a clean and cute little shop with a diverse selection. Apparently they have only opened recently as the sales lady told us. They have cute pins, candles, a few shirts, and a good selection of new books. We picked up one that just caught our eye, and they only had one copy sadly. The sales woman was quick to offer to order a second copy for the friend who accompanied us on our trip as she is a local. The staff was very friendly and we had a wonderful conversation before continuing our journey. We will defiantly stop in here again on our next trip to the D.C. Area. read more

Old Town Books - Exterior window of the store with a cute display in it. - Bookstores Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

See all

We walk to this bookstore almost every weekend. They have a wonderful kids section that has really gotten my son excited about books. The kids' books change regularly so there is always something that catches his interest. The staff is also super nice. They also have a good collection of books for adults. If they had more simple cookbooks, this place would truly be perfection! read more

Cozy neighborhood bookstore. Great selection. Easier to find good reads here than at B&N. Please support Old Town books!

Very nice place to pick up a book. They have very helpful staff who help you find the book your looking for and give you recommendations. Thanks Austin for your help! read more

Beautiful bookstore with many thoughtful and personal touches! I visited this store for the first time in 2019 and fell in love. They offer zoom book clubs and other community-building events, including author interviews and cheeky meeting themes. This shop is clearly well cared for and loved, I wish I lived closer so I could visit more often! read more

The cutest bookstore, looks small from the outside but they have a HUGE selection! Love to support small bookstores, I'm not local but they will definitely get some of my online business. read more

Love this business. Great employees and very helpful, knowledgeable. They've got a wonderful variety of books for adults and children. Will definitely be visiting again when we return. read more

Generally I would think most bookstore owners would train their staff to be polite and welcoming, But in this case it appears to be the opposite. The young woman at the counter interrupted me before I could finish my sentence and made it clear she did not want me in the store. She spoke so fast I had to ask her to repeat what she was saying. I have noticed since the start of the pandemic that customer service has gone out the window. There seems to be a new breed of staff who consider customers an annoyance read more

This is a very nice independent bookstore. I just discovered them even though I have they have been open over a year. There is a good selection of book, small gifts, and cards. They have several active book clubs according to a handout I received. I will be back! read more

So cute! I love the set up and I found so many great reads. For both me and my 7 year old niece. I seen a sign that say that do kids reading circles, the room is so cute! Would definitely recommend!! read more