**4-Star Yelp Review**…read more **Great Two-Story Barnes & Noble at Irvine Spectrum - With a Couple of Hiccups** I really enjoy this Barnes & Noble location at the Irvine Spectrum Center. It's one of the nicer bookstores in Orange County with a spacious, bright layout spread across **two full floors** and an impressive selection of books. From bestsellers and new releases to sci-fi, cookbooks, kids' sections, and more -- everything is well-organized and a pleasure to browse. Upstairs is still my favorite spot: grab a good coffee and a pastry from the café, then settle in with a book. The relaxed vibe makes it easy to unwind and read for a while. And the location can't be beat -- stepping outside into the lively Irvine Spectrum Center with its fountains, palm trees, shopping, and endless food options turns any visit into a fun outing. That said, during my recent visit the escalator wasn't working, so I had to take the stairs while carrying books and drinks, which was a bit inconvenient on a two-story store. The bathrooms were also out of service, which was disappointing. These maintenance issues knocked it down a notch for me. Overall, it's still a solid bookstore with a great atmosphere and unbeatable surroundings. Clean, well-stocked, and friendly staff make it worth visiting, just hope they get the escalator and restrooms fixed soon! **Visited: May 2026** **Would I return?** Yes, but I'd check the facilities first next time.

I haven't been to a B&N store in a while, but I used to frequent these all the time. This was a…read morehuge B&N, which was really exciting, especially because it was well-organized. However, it was really hard to get any help. Staff are hard to find and clearly disinterested in helping customers for anything. My guy and I ended up getting some games from here cuz we really liked their assortment. But, wow! They were insanely pricey! Prices seem to have skyrocketed for most of the stuff they sell. I couldn't believe the prices for the fandom specific goodies (i.e. $50 for a small cookbook) and I was not inclined, at all, to get anything like that from here. I understand why people look for digital books instead of physical books. Can't beat the wonderful smell of books tho!