Bell's Books

Really nice bookstore with a reasonably priced selection of new and used books. I enjoyed the wide variety of history books. The employee were very friendly, too. The only downside was parking was hard to find. I recommend the parking garage under the police station (about 2 blocks and a 5 minute walk). Apple Pay is accepted here.

Absolutely marvelous, this independent bookstore in Palo Alto has a neat little history to it mentioned on their website, which piqued my interest to visit this place.

While they aren’t a huge store, they pack a solid collection in the space that they have. They also have first signed editions of classics, and other books too. Those books aren’t exactly cheap, and understandably so.

Coming to the bookstore design, they’re spread out across two floors, the second floor accessible via a small set of stairs. They’ve the check-out counter right at the entrance, and the staff manning those counters are quite friendly and well-read. They’ve new arrivals and recommendations in the front section of the first floor. Race is something I think everything should be reading about, so I was glad to see tables dedicated to books on race. On the side walls in the front section of the first floor, they’ve classics, best sellers, children’s books, among other things such as cups and other literary items. They also have long ladders which are propped against the side walls to reach the higher sections of those walls. Quite old school, I liked it!

At the back of the store on the first floor, they’ve fiction on one side and science and sports on the other. Their fiction collection is also quite amazing, carefully curated for fiction fans like me.

On the second floor, at the back they’ve an entire section dedicated to history—Western Europe, Northern Europe, Asia, ancient Egypt, just some of the regions and the history books associated with them. There are quite a few books on other areas such as philosophy, religion, mystery, literary biographies, science fiction, translated fiction, mountaineering, animals, antiques and local interest on this floor as well.

The view from the second floor is also worth checking out.

Independent bookstores like these keep me coming back to bookstores, to get a feel for what it means to be among books and helpful people, a close-knit community where everyone is welcome. Support your independent bookstores, go visit Bell’s.

I got a cup with a typewriter and a Margaret Atwood quote on it about all of us becoming stories in the end, quite a find!

The bookstore is located in downtown Palo Alto and is quite conspicuous. In case you’re looking for parking, there’s a parking lot with free parking(for 2-3 hours) right in front of the bookstore.

I’ll be back here soon. Thank you to the staff!

A unique bookstore. You can really feel the history in the building. Lots of rare books to gawk at. Really good selection of classic children’s books

A stupendous little bookstore in the heart of downtown Palo Alto. Right across from a parking lot so that was super-convenient. The bookshop is two floors and dates clear back to 1935! It'd be a positively perfect afternoon to get lost in a quaint, idyllic bookshop such as this one. Really feels like the kind of locale that'd be featured in a blockbuster movie adapted from a best-selling children's book. If you're in the area and have a moment, definitely check this place out! You won't be disappointed!

Awesome bookstore, tons of hidden gems

Bell's Book's rings my bell! Amazing and historic place to go in Downtown Palo Alto. Very helpful staff and you will find yourself wandering the stacks. Good place to find books on nearly any subject.

Amazing collection of old books and interesting finds. The staff were super friendly and helpful, and clearly have a passion for books.

We stepped into Bell’s Books (founded 1935) in downtown Palo Alto. The selection was awesome, but the service was even better. The staff person Ema was delightful and incredibly helpful in helping my girlfriend and I pick out the perfect books for gifts. Her knowledge was impressive to say the least. But even more impressive than her knowledge was her kindness and willingness to keep us company and guide us while we browsed the bookshelves. Bell’s even had a first edition of Hemingway’s “A Moveable Feast”!! Lastly, the gentleman behind the counter did an amazing job gift wrapping our books/gifts.

Spectacular book store. Worth the trip alone. Like Powell's and O'Garas, first editions, reference material. A complete find. If I lived local,I would have left with a trunk full and a widely extended library.

Bell Books is a treasure to have in Palo Alto! This unique bookstore is a must to visit for any bibliophile. They carry a range of older and new publications, as well as some first editions and some signed editions. They had a beautiful selection of journals, too lovely to pass up getting one. They even had Georgette Heyer novels (older printed copies and brand new ones) which I bought a few for friend gifts! Great customer service too.

Love this cozy bookshop!

It's lovely place with a lot of cool books, stuff is really friendly and helpful!

Mystical is a word for this bookstore. You can find the rarest kind of book aeound the world here. Hope they open a coffee or tea service so I could spend the rest of my weekend there :)

Amazing bookstore with both new and used books. Staff is really nice and helpful.

Great second hand bookstore. Lots of selection and topics. Hard to find books for sure.

A delightful place to peruse for books.. and they have a hand sanitizer machine before entering the premises. Friendly staff, and they have redone the interior decor, masks on head busts and cute selection of books. Go support this business!!

This place is a treasure. Their collection is so fun to browse through. Definitely worth a visit!

Great diversity of used books, meaning common to very rare, as well as vast subject areas. Curated selection of new books. Independent, friendly, helpful, will search for and find readers copies of out of print books. In shop collection specialties included, essay, Americana and California history. Buys collections.

I was here looking for books and found interesting story books for children. The service is great, if you have any questions on specific types of books, they help you. I paid and the receipt was sent to my email.

A really wonderful second-hand and antiquarian bookshop with a delightfully old world atmosphere. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. Seeing that I use a walking stick, a female member of staff kindly volunteered to go upstairs to find books I needed. Most impressed by the fact that she knew that David Hume was an historian and a philosopher. The stock is outstanding.