Books and Berkeley: Your Next Page-Turner

Berkeley is for book lovers. A storybook setting where you'll notice people reading books, buying books at local bookshops, publishing books, and talking about books in restaurants and cafes.

Read on for a district-by-district overview of some of our favorite Berkeley nooks where books rule.

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Downtown Berkeley

Just west of campus, Downtown Berkeley is a commercial and cultural hub with an impressive dining and arts scene. Some great bookstores to browse and buy from are:

• Pegasus Books Downtown | 2349 Shattuck Avenue
  Pegasus Bookstores offers a huge selection of new, used, and sale books, CDs, DVDs, and LPs.
• BAMPFA Gift Store | 2155 Center Street
  With one of the country's most innovative exhibition programs for art, film, and cultural events, BAMPFA is the cultural centerpiece of downtown Berkeley.

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Telegraph Avenue

It's been written that great cities usually have an iconic street (or two) that serve to define their past, present, and future. Telegraph Avenue, the grand thoroughfare connecting Berkeley with Oakland, lives up to that platitude. The Telegraph is lined with restaurants, shops, and street vendors, all set against an offbeat college-town vibe. While you're exploring, check out these local bookshops:

• Moe’s Books | 2476 Telegraph Avenue
  Arguably Berkeley’s most storied bookseller with free speech and flower power filling four floors of new, used, and antiquarian books.
• Sleepy Cat Books | 2509 Telegraph Avenue
  Has the purr-fect mission statement of "Read a book. Pet a cat. Save the world."
• Revolution Books | 2444 Durant Avenue
  A bookstore with literature, history, science, art, philosophy, and revolutionary theory, this is a place of discovery and engagement.

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Elmwood District

The Elmwood District is Berkeley's oldest commercial district, and one of the city's go-to locales for sidewalk shopping and dining.

• Book Society |2945 College Ave
  Berkeley’s first bookstore bar, a woman-owned business where patrons can enjoy a thoughtfully curated book selection, a monthly rotating wine list, and a menu of light bites perfect for pairing.
• Mrs. Dalloway’s | 2904 College Avenue
  The store was founded in 2004 and today offers an exciting and diverse selection of titles and is renowned for its skillfully curated fiction, non-fiction, poetry, gardening and children’s book sections.

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Solano Avenue

Solano Avenue and its eclectic lineup of shops, restaurants, and cafes beckon beyond the bookshelves.

• Pegasus Books on Solano | 1855 Solano Avenue
  A unique mix of new, used, and remaindered books, its selection of greeting cards is renowned across the Bay Area, as well as its December-January calendar sale.

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Fourth Street

Ever-iconic Fourth Street is Berkeley's toniest business district, with awe-inspiring architecture, incredible shopping, and world-class restaurants.

• Builders Booksource | 1817 Fourth Street
  Originally dedicated to providing architects, designers, and contractors with reference materials, the inventory today reaches a broader audience, including readers of all ages and interests.

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North Shattuck

North Shattuck's Gourmet Ghetto corridor draws shoppers with an eclectic mix of specialty food purveyors, independent boutiques, and artisan vendors.

• Mr. Mopps' Toy Shop | 1405 Martin Luther King Jr Way
  Specializing in books with diverse representation, from board books for babies to YA for teens, timeless classics to new and buzzy bestsellers.

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Bay Area Book Festival

Downtown Berkeley transforms into a hub of creativity and inspiration when the annual Bay Area Book Festival takes place every spring. From writers' workshops and panel discussions to live performances and local vendors, there are a variety of "novel" experiences and activities. In addition to featuring legendary and talented authors from across the country, the Festival invites storytellers and poets of all ages to enhance their skills and connect with fellow writers. Headliner events, writers’ workshops, a lively outdoor fair/block party, and six indoor stages are packed with top-notch programming, making this a noteworthy event for any book lover