Such a cool space! It has an incredible view of the park and Lake…read more It's not a big space but they use the space well. We stopped in today after going to the violin shop at the Fine Arts Building. It was really busy! Lots of people inside a little hard to maneuver around, but all good. I'm happy they were busy! Books were well organized and easy to find.

Small but mighty! This cute bookshop is tucked away on the 2nd floor of the Fine Arts building,…read morewhich is an excursion in and of itself because it has the last manually operated public elevator in Chicago. The bookshop also has a special view overlooking Grant Park to Lake Michigan. I've been to Exile for an event before (which they had in a separate space) and I recently stopped in again to browse their books. I can appreciate their collection is thoughtfully and uniquely curated, with prices on par with the average independent bookstore in Chicago. I also like the handwritten summaries and recommendations for standout books. They are not going to have everything because they're in a small space but I was able to find both a popular book that was on my wishlist and also a book I'd never heard of before that piqued my interest, so I purchased both. I also love that they're open every day of the week, which makes it easy to pop by!

Sandmeyer's Bookstore is a gem! Everyone who works there is so friendly and it makes for a great…read moreatmosphere. It feels really cozy inside and I could spend an hour or so perusing the book selection. They also have a nice variety of bookish gifts and cards. The best part is the sale corner in the back where you can find books of all kinds marked down to really reasonable prices. I'll always stop at Sandmeyer's when I'm in the area!

What a gorgeous location to have a bookstore! Sandmeyer's Bookstore sits in Printer's Row and is a…read morevery lit and airy environment. The selection is not too bad, considering they are recovering from a flood. There are so many titles and a vast array of topics available. I found some classics, fiction, a wonderful selection in their non-fiction area, and translated books. They also provide you with lists of books that have won prizes or coincide with different regions in the USA and the world! I thought that was very helpful. It's a medium-sized store, but their displays are quite prominent. Everything is easy to grab (no ladders or staff needed to get to the high books). All the areas are labeled and it's visually pleasing. The staff was nice, too. Checkout was easy and they were friendly. Prices are standard of paperbacks and hardcovers. You are paying for an indie bookseller (I paid about $40 for two books, which includes tax). I wasn't at all disappointed with the price. They also have a loyalty program for those that are regulars. I really am happy I checked out this spot. It was beautiful and friendly. There was a lot of books and totes to chose from, it was hard not to leave with more in my bag!

Such a cool space!!! They have a huge downstairs level full of books too. Wow!…read more There is a large hand sanitizer dispenser near the entrance and everyone who enters is asked to sanitize their hands before touching books. I like that. They also have a really spacious separate room available for events. The Chicago Writer's Association hosted a lovely event there last night, and my boyfriend was chosen as one of the 12 Chicago writers to read some of his work. I'm glad we know about this bookstore now.

I love support location stores, especially when buying books!! Most of the selection is downstairs…read moreand they have a lot of things to choose from. I'll usually choose to go here instead of Barnes & Noble if I need something. I will say the prices are kind of steep, but that's I guess the price you pay if you need a book now and want to support a small business. There are a couple of rules to be aware of in the store - hand sanitizing before entering and being mindful of the other shoppers. The staff is really helpful and can quickly look up what they have in stock.

While in town i decided to check out my favorite store..absolutrly incredible aechitecture for a…read morebook store. Great to see a Starbucks located in here. Same great coffe drinks and food. Great selection of books. This place is worth the visit.

Definitely more of a campus store as it's a pretty barebones bookstore. Also FYI - NO WiFi. The…read morecafe is decently priced but all the food appears to be prepackaged. For example, the advertised $5 pizza is simply Di Giornos warmed up. The venti latte did come out to about $7 with tax which is a pretty good deal for the city but all in all I would recommend you spend your time and money elsewhere.

I've been a regular supporter of this shop for a long time, and I've always appreciated their…read moremission. However, on my most recent visit I was *shocked* to see the same used cookbooks I bought a few months ago at $10/piece are now priced at $17.50! That's a 75% increase! I understand costs rise, but this seems extremely excessive. Used books that are 10-20 years old should not cost this much. I hope the store reconsiders its pricing so it remains accessible to the community that wants to support it. In the meantime, if you're looking to purchase used books at a more affordable price, I'd recommend going to betterworldbooks.com.

We come here frequently with our kids. Always buy books from here for stockings. We've been dying…read morefor story time to come back to this location and it finally has! Saturday's at 10:30am. Hoping they add a weekday too!!! Tuesdays!!!

Very cozy and so many books to read definitely a spot to go if you need a quiet and zen placeread more

Stopped in because of the movie: "Love Jones", purchased books because my wife loves books, will be…read morereturning because of the extensive selection of books and the willingness of staff to assist as needed. The vibes are immaculate in here, and there is always a new treasure that catches your eyes every corner that you turn. Can be a little cramped due to the spacing of the building and also because of the consistent crowd that is funneling in and out. However this just adds to the overall ambience and experience.

A bit tricky to find as it is not clear that it is located INSIDE the Macy's big giant shop,…read moreperhaps in the lower level? I can't remember now. But we were in Chicago last week on our way to a concert and decided to buy the performer some children's books for his kid and I yelped "bookstores near me" and this one popped up. So we jumped in a cab and got to Macy's then wandered around a bit until someone told us how to find this part of the store. It is not a stand-alone bookstore, but it does have most things you would need from a bookstore, plus a friendly and helpful staff person. She picked up the phone when we called to ask her where she was located and the shop hours. We were in and out in a flash with a bag full of children's books as well as a bunch of cool postcards, pins, and a few decals, too. Huge "Chicago" section, lots of nice gift and souvenir options. Thanks!

So incredibly hard to find. As of April 2025, it is located by the luggage section in the basement…read moreof the Macy's. Despite its very odd location, the store gives indie bookstore vibes. A careful selection and a large YA section.

Wonderful selection and excellent service. Beautiful space with high ceilings. Pristine and well…read moreorganized. Spacious, open, and bright. Big windows and lots of natural light. Feels good in here!

Fantastic neighborhood book store with a great selection of new titles and all 'round great books…read more Friendly and knowledgeable staff are there to help. Curated offers, such as the Bespoke Book Boxes, as well as great staff picks and book clubs to suit any taste, including those who love chonkers, aka big books, make this place even more special.

Fabulous bookstore! Kind and helpful staff. Really well organized. Spacious. It can hold a lot of…read morepeople and not feel crowded. I love the high ceilings and open layout. Impressive selection, including indie publications. It's a really cool place! It's Chicago's only employee-owned and operated independent bookstore. They have really cool events and guest speakers, and have a community focused mission. I really appreciate what they do!

Came on a recent day-trip to Pilsen from my far-north enclave, and this is one great bookstore! I…read moremean, I've never been to a bookstore I didn't like, but this one was phenomenal. They have a great selection, including some books that I'd been looking for and hadn't found at other shops around town. If you stop in, which you should, definitely take the time and be leisurely about browsing the shelves. You'll find something, I promise. Many of the books are priced less than retail (both books I picked up were), so there's good bang for your buck. I almost passed out from sheer joy when I found the NYRB Classics section. I will be back just to take a closer look at that!

Lord knows my opinion on books. When I am interested in buying a book, I usually swing down to…read moreBarbara's during my lunch hour. Here you can find pretty much whatever you are looking for. The staff is helpful and attentive, and knowledgeable about books. They have a large assortment of magazines and newspapers as well. I have never had a problem finding a book to my liking, only because I like one or 2 books. OK, maybe 3. WORD!

I love this store!! I normally go to the one closest to me at Willis Tower (downstairs). Everyone…read morewho works there is friendly and helpful. They have a small but, great selection. And, if they don't have it, they will get it for you! Love them!!!