This place is pretty large and for some students and visitors, this is THE place to go if you want any kind of Harvard souvenir. The store was founded in 1882 by a group of Harvard students to make textbooks more affordable and learning more accessible. Later, MIT joined forces and the COOP is the place for students of either college to get supplies, gifts and souvenirs. I loved all the great sweaters they had. read more

See all

I just realize it. There are two COOPs. One features college apparel and the other focuses on books. The bookstore in the center of Harvard Square. Most of the books are on the second floor broken out in sections. They have everything you can imagine. I focused on Steven King. The books are arranged in alphabetical order by author. They have people ready to assist customers with any question. The prices are reasonable. read more

See all

If youre looking for a Harvard hoodie, this is the place with a wide range of selection, and price range! Found mine for $55 :) The Harvard newspaper is also here, free Excellent service! They went in the back and got more stock for me, thanks! read more

Did we have to buy an overpriced sweatshirt that says Harvard? No. But of course we did lol. Nice little store and of course if you want something that says Harvard it's the place to go. Very friendly inside too. I only wish I got something for myself but my son was enough at the price. read more

Multi level bookstore with all of the Harvard gear you could imagine. Lululemon even has a section of Harvard exclusives. If heading to Harvard Square this is a great spot for an official souvenir. read more

The Harvard Coop Bookstore - The Harvard students actually design the window displays. - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Coop Bookstore was way better than the smaller Harvard Book Store we went to. More floors. More books. More merch. More memorabilia. It can get a little hectic in here but totally worth it. Was it cheap? No but when are you ever gonna get authentic Harvard stuff? The line snaked around but it moved pretty fast and the cashiers were nice despite the business. read more

See all

Welp. I hate to do this. But I gotta. Let me paint the picture. Now understand that I'm down the road at a pub, two Sammy A's deep, so forgive the brevity. This evening I tried on a crew neck Harvard sweatshirt. 2XL. Fit like a dream. One of my favorite, all-timer outfits is a crewneck sweatshirt over a heavily starched collar shirt. Made out with Mary Belle for the first time wearing it, and that outfit hasn't quit since. Anywho, I just couldn't pull the trigger. Back and forth. And mean, the textile was $45. Ain't nothing for a guy like me. Inflation. Grocery cost. Have you seen the Suez Canal? So, instead of waffling about it in-store, me and Mary Belle went and thought it over over a $5 slice at Joe's. This is the part of the story where I'm going to need you to lean forward. On my way out of the store, I ask the cashier, what time do you close tonight? "8 o'clock." Eight. O. Clock. Heard, little miss. Loud and clear. Well after a tasty slice next door (review coming soon), I said to myself "SELF" (which is what I call myself when I talk to myself... I said, "SELF, go buy yourself that crewneck. You work hard for that bread. You treat Mary Belle and the kids with dignity. You deserve it!" So I walk with purpose back to the COOP to get my crewneck. At 7:52. Seven. Fifty. 2. And what happened when I got to the door. Little miss cash register locked the door in my face and mouthed, "sorry, closed" through the glass. I knocked, holding up 8 fingers, and mouthed back, "you said 8" ... she shrugged, turned, and walked away. Guess there's some improve show that you need to shut down the WHOLE universitiy's bookstore for! I'd now like to direct your attention to the image I included in this review. "Veritas" in Latin adorns the crest of this prestigious institution. "Truth" to us simple folk. Huh. Truth. Truth? A tear falls from my eye. Well you can take your Veri and shove it up your Tas. And and that's just about all I have to say about that. read more

The Harvard Coop Bookstore - Logo - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Staff were helpful--went above and beyond searching for the size I needed. Healthy mix of clothing, books, and a collegiate ambiance that was great to expose my kids to. read more

I drove out to Cambridge during my visit to Boston for two things: One, I was hoping to find the man of my dreams and two to buy a Boston sweatshirt. I found neither. I thought this bookshop might carry Boston sweatshirts, why I thought that was because that's what ChatGPT told me the store would have. They don't. Harvard apparel and Harvard apparel only, which, of course. The bookstore itself was beautiful with three floors of books and Harvard stuff. The place was packed on a Friday afternoon. A cool stop if you're into books and Harvard apparel. That's all. read more

A staple and a must to check out when visiting Harvard University or Harvard Square. Multiple stories bookstore for students or anyone really. read more

The Harvard Coop Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Wow, I've never reviewed the Coop before? Review #1220, here I come! This is a must visit for students and visitors of Harvard University! I love the Coop because you can find a little bit of everything here, books, merchandise, textbooks (at least years ago), etc. The cashiers are always friendly, and the staff members are always eager to help out with your book questions. It has changed so much over the years! They used to have a cafe on the second floor and now it's gone. They have some study tables on the side, which is also pretty nice. Despite a 15% off coupon/membership discount ($1 yearly fee), everything is just SO expensive here. A keychain with Harvard logo? $10. T-shirt with H? $30. A fall hoodie? $50 to $70. That said, don't confuse the COOP with the "Harvard Shop" across the street. Pretty good indoor air ventilation when I visited recently, but it was also relatively empty because it had just opened. read more

The Harvard Coop Bookstore - Directory - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

This is the spot where you can get your official Harvard merch all in one spot. This place consists of several floors with the top floors relegated to books. The main floor and 1st floor had clothing and other merch like mugs and keychains. There's also a variety of sweaters, priced around 60-80 dollars. I did notice they have a slim selection of sweatshirts in a size large since I was helping a friend find a large sweatshirt for her son. They do have a clearance section on the 1st floor, but it's very small and I couldn't find anything I liked. I did settle on a Harvard shirt for my daughter, which was priced at 14.99. If you don't care too much about getting the official merch, there are other stores nearby that you can check out. read more

The Harvard Coop Bookstore - Main floor - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard galore. Great bookstore. This is a very large multi level store with lots of school merchandise. I think that of all the local stores in the area the Harvard Coop has the best selection. The checkout lines look long and intimidating but they move very quick. read more

The Harvard Coop Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Literally the Harvard coop has everything from apparel to books to magnets. I was very happy to see a baby selection and even dog shirts! I bought a beautiful sweater! Store has multiple levels and is very well kept! A must when visiting Harvard campus! read more

Supposedly no bathroom. I was going to buy Harvard stuff (lots of variety) but there being no bathroom was a dealbreaker. Then we went to Starbucks (which also had no bathroom and I'm going to write them a msg. I know they will at least respond) and they said go to the COOP!! After we eventually did find a bathroom somewhere else, I went back to the Coop to specifically verify that they did not have a bathroom and to check out the prices of merch. No bathroom at least on the first floor, and sweatshirts were $50-80. I didn't know the upstairs was open. No signage or indication or people. I was so put off by the unfriendly service, lack of bathrooms, and sticker price. Didn't buy anything. read more

Loved this bookstore! We were doing the touristy thing and walking around Harvard's campus when we decided to pop into the bookstore and gain some respite from the drizzling rain on our way home. The store was buzzing! There were people everywhere, including sitting on the floor checking out some of the books (which I hope they bought!). I personally enjoyed the massive and extremely colourful collection of Harvard Business Review books! read more

The Harvard Coop Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Just the standard overpriced bookstore with school apparel that is also overpriced. Not much else to say about this place read more

Not the coop I remember from my childhood Limited selection, slow service and staff a bit unclear on how to operate cash register etc.. Some item rang up differently that the price on the shelf. A small transaction took way too long read more

I was told this is the "real" Harvard Bookstore and assuming there are other knock offs. Located in Harvard Square in a three story brick. The walk up had minor debris and a panhandler that was not aggressive. The store is three stories. The merchandise is on the bottom. In my option it's extremely limited. Nice stuff like hoodies, tees and other items. There is another COOP down the way that has much more merchandise. The second floor has periodicals and a coffee shop. The third level all books and a few study areas. I did not purchase anything and only browsed. No staff approached me for assistance. I found the store clean, merchandise neatly displayed and books nicely shelved. Good store to look around, pick something up, or grab a cup of coffee. 3.5, rounding up. read more

See all

Want a fun way to pass the time, charge your phone, drink some coffee, and read a bestseller or quirky hard to find novel in the air conditioned wonders of a 4 story book heaven? Look no further than the Harvard Coop! It's essentially a glorified Barnes and Noble, but it's my favorite escape from the craziness of Harvard Square, especially during the summer when the heat and crowds can get unbearable. They have an amazing selection of books and other merchandise for pretty much every age group and niche. From a robust true crime section (my fave) to an incredible newly renovated children's and young adult section on the lower level, you'll find something for everyone here! The staff is extremely helpful and ready and willing to assist eager customers to find whatever they need. Be sure to stop by the cafe on the third floor to grab a coffee or a tea and then feel free to stick around and read to your heart's content. It's one of the best ways to spend an afternoon in Harvard Square without breaking the bank! read more

The Harvard Coop Bookstore - The Coop! - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Probably the largest bookstore for Harvard gear in the neighborhood, with tons of books too! The first and lower floors have lots of clothes and hats to select from and the sale section is hidden away on the lower floor. If you're looking for graduate school gear, there's a nearby coop store around the block that has all of the other schools (law, business etc). My only wish is that they stocked more sizes for the sweatpants...seemed to only have L and XL+ for all of the ones I was interested in. I'm also not sure if it works online (hopefully it does?) but if you're a Harvard student you get 15% off! read more

Store: A few floors of books, souvenirs, and gifts for tourists and book lovers alike. I scored a great deal with clearance section that happened to be available upstairs. Price: varies- you can definetly find something for every budget. A great must visit for getting Harvard souvenirs for the friends or family. Staff: Was nice and there seemed to be a staff member here in there but I didn't need to ask for assistance. There was also a chair here and there by the pillars for those waiting while others browse. read more

The Harvard Coop Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Harvard Coop serves both the Harvard and the MIT communities, and is a college B&N store that has a variety of books, student textbooks, apparel, and gift items. Just note that there are two separate buildings, as the entrance right from Harvard Square leads into the bookstore portion; when you make your way towards the back, you exit and cross over to another building that houses all of the apparel and the gift items. Their apparel section is of a great variety, but I was a little disappointed that their stock was super limited and a bit disorganized. Staff members were also hard to locate, as their name tags/badges were not that visible. It can be a little stuffy in there with the crowds, mostly being tourists stocking up on Harvard souvenirs. +two separate buildings for apparel and bookstore +difficult to locate staff members T____T +items disorganized and not well-stocked read more

Very large bookstore located in Harvard Square. It's on three levels and is focused on new releases and recently released books. It's well organized with labels for each section of books. Some Harvard merchandise is also available for sale. There's also a coffee shop and a couple of spots with power outlets. I didn't think to look for a wifi signal. Some seating here and there but nothing tremendously comfortable. You're not going to easily spend all day here. Prices are suggested retail, but that's how much new books tend to cost in retail stores such as this. Note that they have the only public restroom in Harvard Square. read more

The Harvard Coop Bookstore - Front of the Harvard Coop Bookstore in Cambridge - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

This bookstore is a destination for the curious minds. It is like a library where every book is for sale. All sections are clearly marked. Staff is welcoming and knows their way around. Books in every imaginable topic - travel, business, management, HR. It is also within walking distance from Clover where you can grab a bite and enjoy your newly purchased book. And of course you can buy Harvard merchandise. read more

See all

Boo, they got rid of the cafe! What a nasty surprise for me. Where the cafe was is now just more books. Everything is SO over priced. Literally 80 dollars for a hoodie. No wonder people look to get the knock offs. They design is the same and no one is the wiser but the prices are about 1/2 to 1/3. Nothing there is worth it. Even the books would be cheaper online. I get they have lots of rich tourists come and buy their stuff so the demand is there but it is no longer a reasonable option in my opinion. read more

Great place for all the Harvard souvenirs. Pretty much anything you can think of, specifically apparel. I even picked up a hoodie here just in case. Place is pretty huge and a wide selection, worth a look. read more

Never been a giant "Harvard" person BUT I have a friend who works for them so we wandered in and WOW...I will say they offer a lot of stuff and not everything is tragically overpriced though I did think about a super cute lobster fridge magnet...$8 was steep for my blood and it was $1.50 less across the street at CVS (pro tip LOL). They got me at the stuffed animals because OMFG cute...seriously, the little teddy bears wearing Harvard sweatshirts...everyone needs one. it was VERY hard to resist all of that. They have some great journals and writing tablets that were well priced also. There are so many floors and upstairs is a restroom not many people know about so its not very tragic should the running around up and downstairs get to you. read more

The Harvard Coop Bookstore - 9/22/2019 - Super cute Harvard offerings... - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Harvard Square bookstore is the best friend. My Harvard Medical School and MIT are always good. Thanks you, Dr. Jacqueline Sacco, MD PhD read more

Right in the heart of Harvard Square, the Coop is separated into 2 stores...the bookstore area and then on Palmer St. the clothing/insignia items. The Coop membership is awesome. $1 a year and you save 10% on each purchase. Students, faculty, alumni and employees of Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and its affiliates, and the personnel of the hospitals affiliated with the Harvard Medical School are eligible for Coop membership. I work for Harvard, so yay! The Coop has a great selection of everything. It's a must-stop when doing a visit to Harvard or if you're in the Square. read more

Love this bookstore! Great book options for all ages. We love kids section, variations of books , very diverse. Also very good T-shirts, and other closing options. Books for children, early development are great. Really couldn't stope, and bought a lot. This is just small part, that we got for kids. Highly recommend, we can spend days in this store. Nice reading area. Separate for all ages. Service is very good. read more

The Harvard Coop Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

If you are a book-lover, then you will love the Coop! There is a huge selection of books - 4 floors of stock. The Coop is broken into two stores- the Harvard Square entrance front caters to books, while the Brattle Street storefront caters to Harvard gear and other merchandise. The bookstore also has a cafe on the second floor that has plenty of seating space. There's limited seating throughout the rest of the store. This isn't a great study spot, unless you're happy sitting in the cafe. You'd have better luck at the numerous coffee shops in the square, or obviously at Harvard University across the street. So in summary, stop here for your book needs, but don't expect to set up shop for the day. read more

See all

Bought some clothing items here, was able to leverage the 15% student discount. Some folks at the cash register are very nice, some are not - just depends on who you get! Lots of souvenir options. read more

Do not try to find a magazine here - they no longer sell them. Judging from what is available on the 1st floor - they make their money from overpriced Harvard branded tourist swag. Hoodies and hats and mugs. I simply wanted a good quality mag such as The Economist, the Harvard Business Review, the Atlantic... Sadly, you can no longer buy a magazine anywhere in HVD SQ anymore. Really. I asked one of the kind clerks - and after calling me "dear" (since I am a female 20 years his senior) - he went on to patronizingly tell me "Magazines are a dying industry". OK - well that's not exactly news but I thought - this is Harvard Square and this is The Coop. I thanked him and he then offered up Trident bookstore in Boston and maybe, just maybe, a bookstore in Porter Square. OK. Then as I was leaving, he came up with a brainstorm - I could "try a drugstore"! Nope - I guess he sized up this "dear" as someone who needed a fashion rag or something fluffy. I told him I was looking for "The Economist, the Harvard Business Review, the Atlantic..." and they don't usually sell those in drugstores..." even in HVD SQ. He looked surprised for a moment and then agreed. He was civil if condescending but then what was I expecting? Oh yeah, a rack with at least a few copies of The Economist, the Harvard Business Review, the Atlantic... At least I can get the Economist at Logan airport - did so last week. I had no idea it would be such a sweet indulgence! read more

For the scholar and seeker of the greatest books that humanity has to offer, the Harvard Coop Bookstore stands alone. I have had the great pleasure to casually browse a number of times, as well as spend some time in the cafe, and can honestly say that, if you're interested not in just new fiction but the finest written works of the English language, this is the best. When traveling I make a point to check out any good bookstores, and have so far never found a store with as good a selection as Harvard, the world over. Let me be clear: the five stars is not for the Harvard paraphernalia (which is ever-present, and seems to be the chief interest of the hordes of tourists), nor the cafe (which is a passable place to work), nor even the quintessentially collegiate, New England architectural style (which I do greatly appreciate), but merely for the magnificent selection of books. When I look for a good bookstore, I generally aim for niche, classical, scholarly, or otherwise interesting works, rather than whatever is on the current bestsellers list or recommended self help books (not that I don't like those, too; I just get those on Kindle instead). Moreover, I enjoy my bookstores to have equal selection and general quality for the scientifically minded as well as the literary, arguably the most challenging requirement. The Harvard Coop meets these requirements better than I can state them. There are two entire shelves devoted to the history of science, both ancient and modern. They have a nearly complete collection of the Loeb Classical Library. No fewer than 5 shelves hold their selection of math and physics books, ranging from the ever accessible Feynman and Kaku to the extreme heights of Rudin and Jackson. There are more shelves of poetry than I could possibly list, including translations of foreign language epics I have never found in any place save the internet, bilingual editions included. The selection of all the greatest works of fiction humanity has created is enough to make a literature major weep. My only regret in visiting is the vivid understanding that no human can possibly read and learn all that even one building in the bustling squares of Cambridge can hold. If you love books, and all that they represent, I adjure you to spend at least one one hour in the Harvard Coop Bookstore. I guarantee you will find something you like. read more

HAH - I agree with Daniel M. that this Harvard COOP is a Barnes and Noble with a Harvard sign plastered all over it. This is a great bookstore with all kinds of academic and leisure books. Prices are reasonable, and they give discounts to people with frequent shopping / student cards. There are three levels of books here. My favorite was the basement where they had all kinds of cooking / kids / leisure books - many at a discount! I also liked this bookstore because they had a cute little cafe upstairs that served breakfast / lunch items! I ordered the clam chowder ($3.50) which was absolutely delicious! It was perhaps better than Legal Seafood! I paired this with a Cafe Latte ($3.50) and it was a great meal! I also ordered the yogurt with fruit (canned), $2.50, which was meh. This is a fun place for you to go grab a nice book and hang out while you are in the Boston area. Try the soups! YUM! read more

Everything Harvard! Perfect for the tourist and I am sure it is great for the Students also.

Pronounced the "Koop" for some weird reason, it's short for "Cooperative"; the Harvard Coop specializes in books, books, and more books! A great selection of the latest reads, this place is like Borders on carrot juice steroids! The wicked smart Harvard cognoscenti can purchase everything from sweatshirts, classroom books, dorm fixings and the like here. The lay person, like me, can purchase a "Hahvahd" fridge magnet and books and magazines with an incredible selection! The Coop also has a nice cafe and seating area, AND they have restrooms! (How you like them apples, Tealuxe!?!). Go Crimson! read more

As others have already pointed out, the Harvard COOP is just a Barnes & Noble with HARVARD painted everywhere in crimson letters. But why shouldn't it be? Everything inside is decked out the same way. This store has probably dressed and accessorized countless Asian tourists and Ivy League tools. Who else wears HARVARD paraphernalia? (I went to fancy schools too, but I keep the insignia limited to pajamas.) The COOP had dozens of baseball caps, and I saw one that had a distinctly Ed Hardy aesthetic with paint splatter and thick HARVARD lettering. Classy, that. I'm being harsh, though - we did buy some HARVARD underwear for my teenaged brother (in the hopes that his ass gets aspirational?) and I have a few friends who occasionally bring out the Ivy gear to like, go to the market. Anyway, the COOP is not just a store where you buy all things HARVARD - it's also a pretty decent bookstore. I don't like that the fiction is tucked away on an upper floor, but the display tables are well curated and the selection of books is extensive. The store is also clean and a little bit pretty. I've been to the actual Harvard bookstore, and it's much better than the COOP, if what you're after is books. If it's the HARVARD you're after, though, look no further. read more

I found myself here seeking a hat for my father... First I went to the bookstore side and wandered on all the levels before someone was able to help direct me through the connection to the other store that sold the swag I was looking for. The signage isn't great here. I looked for a good 10 minutes trying to find proper hats but could only find children's and packaged items. Finally I discovered a basement full of attire. It's too bad that they don't have try on rooms and even staff that are mildly helpful on the floor. I purchased here because I needed to, but given the choice in the future, I'll avoid. read more