Green Apple Books

My friend made out like a bandit. Cute multilevel book store. If you love to read, you'll definitely be in there awhile as they have so many options. The staff was nice at checkout. There was a gentleman working on the top level who was very knowledgeable about locations of everything in the store.

This is the largest used and new bookstore I've been to! Plan to spend some time exploring, as there’s a great variety of genres and well-organized used books. There's also an upstairs and a nice children's section. Plus, the prices are excellent. Definitely worth a visit!

Best bookstore I ever visited!! So cute 🥰 I’m not even that much of a reader, but somehow I wanted to buy everything in this store

Ugh, I was transfixed by just being in this sacred space. The bookstore didn’t look big at first sight but traverse the stairs and series of backdoors and you will be treated into a treasure trove. Many helpful staff recommendations and thematic bookshelves. Amazing collection of used books and book related stuffs. It is definitely up there in my favourite bookstores of San Francisco.

Excellent selection of used books! The layout is a little confusing at first, but makes sense once you get the hang of it

Great atmosphere and service. Solid book offers with lots of smart card games. Loved it.

Bought two USED books, and realized the new copy of those same books are cheaper on Amazon. Discussed with store, and lady said, Amazon is giving huge discount we cannot compete, and that's fair for new books! and I'm all for suppoting the business. But maybe price the USED books a bit more gently? - don't get me wrong I still going to comeback to buy more, but that stung a bit---

Earlier this week I gave Green Apple Books a try, and I was impressed by their vast selection of both new and used books. The store was well-organized, making it easy to browse, and I found several titles I'd been looking for at very reasonable prices. A great resource for book lovers

Always love this place. Favorite bookstore. On a beautiful Sunday, discounted books outside called our names. Walked in, greeted kindly. The kid wanted to see the children's books- great! Straight to the back we went... Love this area. It was a little messier than usual with some toys on the floor, but it's to be expected for a Sunday afternoon. The kid could peruse at her leisurely and asked for help when needed something higher. I grabbed a few books for her that I knew I'd purchase for her home library. We sat together to look over them briefly. As she looked at books on her own she said, "this is fun!" My thoughts, exactly. We purchased a calendar, two children's activity books, and 4 children's books including a Greek mythology book all for less than $50. Mind you, 2-3 books were on sale, as was the 2025 calendar. The employee apologized that there was no cardboard at the bottom of the store bag to hold it open but that's okay! I told them it's fine and that I like that it's orange for Giants! To which the worker exclaimed "I'm sure that's no coincidence!" :) great, friendly service. I don't think I've ever experienced poor quality service or any bad attitudes here. Already said it but green apple books is a favorite.

This is MY FAVORITE bookstore in the Bay. All their locations are clutch buuuut this one makes my heart sing the loudest. Their Sci-Fi section always has something new. Ive never yet bought an unknown book that's been anything less than awesome. And their kids book section is so fun and expansive! I brought a mom friend with me once and she left with an armload of wonderful books for her kid. I make a point to visit every time I drive through or stay any length of time. It's my comfort palace

This is the best combo used & new book store I've been to. They have a great book selection, pricing is fair, the store layout is fun, and the staff is kind. I highly recommend this place to all book lovers!

One of the last great book stores. Definitely worth a visit and the selection is massive. Felt like a mom and pop shop with big bookstore selection. Great prices and everyone was so welcoming here. Hoping that it stays here for decades to come. Survived covid, so that speaks mountains of it's quality!

Fantastic place to look at books. Wide selection of different books, games, and little trinkets throughout the store made it so nice to travel and browse through. They really have a book for anyone and their selection is super organized. I'd come back here anytime to support the friendly staff.

This is the browsing kind of bookstore where you can completely lose track of time. They have so many books organized in sections throughout the store. They have great sale books in the front if you are ready for a treasure hunt with lots of bargains. Employees here are always nice and helpful. Take the creaky stairs up and they have games and other little gifts. Such a cute place to wander around and find a few books you never knew you needed.

Wonderful bookstore in every way. You could get lost in there for hours and never get bored. Staff have remarkable facility in giving great directions. A San Francisco favorite for good reason.

The last of the great bookstores in San Francisco. This is my go to place to discover books of all kinds. Green Apple has vinyl records and magazines. A good place to get inspiration.

To all readers and lovers of literature, brace yourself. This place is a bookworm's wildest dream! Green Apple Books is by far my most favorite bookstore in all of San Francisco. Every time I have the opportunity to come here, I feel like a little kid in a candy shop. Whenever I travel, I always make the effort to see if the city or town I'm visiting has a local independent bookstore. That being said, one thing I can appreciate about SF is how many bookstores are still alive and thriving, scattered throughout the city. (My other favorites include Dog Eared Books on Valencia, Fabulosa Books in the Castro, and of course, the famous City Lights Bookstore.) Every time I've come here, I get overwhelmed--in all the best ways possible--because of how massive this place is and the vast amount of titles/genres that they have. Green Apple feels like you're taking a walk with the past, which is the beauty of bookstore brick-and-mortars that I love; each have endured a life of their own and have a unique history/story to tell. I'm more of a used-book person, so I appreciate how they sell both new and used copies. Every time I've come the staff has always greeted me and helped me whenever I needed help, they've even let me bring my dog! I will say they're located in a busy area of the city, so it can get kind of crowded at times inside depending on the time of day you go.

For booklovers and families who need a place for the kids to explore, this is a great spot to spend the day. It's like a multi-floor haven, full of extensive collection of used and new books. I love that I can find books that I always wanted to read in the used section. In good condition too! What sets this place apart is the sprawling space above with sections caterring to all literary tastes. A large section for used but interesting tabletop books as well. It's such a homey treasure trove for book enthusiasts! My favorite part is the sale sectio in the back. From fiction to non-fiction, classics to contemporary, I love finding new books to read there. The big kids book section in the area seal the deal for us! And of course, the staff are passionate and ready to assist you finding your next literary adventure!

I've been coming here for more than 45 years. Crazy how many years have gone by. Loved coming as a young person, then as a couple, then as a family with kids. It's my favorite SF bookstore and now that I'm retired, I'm so happy to see it's still going strong. Haven't been here in a while. Hubby remembered they used to sell comics, but just graphic novels now. But I still love the feeling the store has as an independent book store. New books and used too. And now that the kids are grown ups, our pup tags along with us. Great knowing well behaved pups are welcome here. Think our buddy Babo had a nice time perusing the aisles as much as I did.

So many levels!!! You're bound to find something for you here. They carry such an array of things that I was able to pick up a cat philosophy book. I also loved that they feature a "used" book section as some people love the concept of pre-owned books, me included.

One of my favorite bookstores in the Bay! There are endless corners, levels, and aisles of books (be it new or used). Also, the genres are endless. They also have an eclectic collection of buttons, stickers, and other merch as well. I will definitely be back. Ah, I wish I lived closer:(

Ok. One of the last big used book stores in town. The aisles can be a little cramped, especially on weekends. The staff are pretty snooty. There are bins of bargain books at the front. They also have a small selection of records.

One of the best bookstores you could visit in SF. They can order almost anything if you don't find it there. Rare used books are plentiful.

Extensive selection of new and used books over two floors! Heaven! Artists monographs, best sellers, children's books, classics, new and old. Travel books, cookbooks... everything is here! Bargain bin outside. Love their blind box where you find a wrapped book with a description and take a chance for $5! Green Apple also buys books back. Don't miss this place if you love books

Green Apple Books is a Richmond District institution. Whenever I'm in the neighborhood, I stop by. It has that old bookstore smell. It is just an old school bookshop with a lot of selection. I love seeing the discounted books. The service is fine, not very warm, but good. I usually get all my questions answered. Keep print alive.

This bookstore has everything! It's like an adventure inside. We were looking for a specific book that we hadn't been able to find, an original translation, and we found it here. The bookstore is amazing! Parking is awful though. The first Parking meter we stopped at didn't even work. We drove around the block a few times until a spot opened up, and then as we were waiting to someone to pull out, we had our blinker on, somebody behind us found it necessary to lay on their horn. I suppose there is no accounting for some people. Overall, fantastic bookstore!

This bookstore will always have a special place in the movie of my life. I've always felt - And I still do - like I'm a student of some magical school. A school which introduced a weirdly ambitious & determined character named Marty McFly to my life, who would purchase a book in a future time, a book whose very cover would read the word ALMANAC to me, creating an instant need in me to time travel to the future, where my shoes would lace themselves up, or I would perhaps even be able to air glide on a hoverboard, AND IF LUCKY ENOUGH, then perhaps even be able to find and TOUCH THAT BOOK! If you are an admirer of J.K.Rowling as myself, and if you paid a visit to this particular bookstore, you would think whether she was particularly inspired by the interior use and setup of this store to create the overall theme of Gryffindor. This bookstore is a precious gift from its owner to San Franciscans. Every time I'm in there, it allows me to be able to shift dimensions easily although I would've actually just walked down the Masonic Ave ultimately passing through the default funkiness starting from Clement & 5th Ave, with that default "Little China" kinda chaotic feel to it! Once I'm in there, the magic is in the air! ** If you like libraries, you would enjoy yourself in this store If you like the smell of books, you'd be annoyed by that mask you wore It is a literal time travel opportunity for me every time I'm in that store Feels like I'm in this ancient information galore, with a wide open door ** Enjoy living in a high-tech digital world that leaves you no room to wonder? Like no room to even want to wonder what actually would cause a thunder Although you might be feeling a lil' lazy to go check Green Apple Books out A MIRACLE may actually BE right there waiting for you just around the corner

Green Apple Books is filled from top to bottom with a bunch of books! The newest books that just came out are in the front, where the cashier is at. They have a HUGE selection of new and used books. Fiction, non-fiction, culture-wise, fantasy, kids, youth, young adults-- You name it? They have it. They have a large variety of books on sale for half or even less than half the price of a new book. If you keep an eye out, there are some used books that look like they're new. It's easy to get slightly lost on your first visit here. There are stairs leading to other rooms and it is much larger than it looks from the front. There were at around 3 other rooms full of books I had walked into. It's nice they have little chairs and stools in some sections where you can sit down to take a quick read before deciding whether to buy or not. Do note, their manga section is very tiny. There was only 2 shelves of manga so there wasn't much selection available. There are also 2 to 3 shelves of comic/graphic novels such as Marvel Comics, but the shelves were kind of empty. For any other category besides comics/manga, I'd recommend coming here to take a look though!

Great selection of books but the staff are not really kind I respect service people and you are supposed to be kind to customers especially in a bookstore, I askef about a classic book and she just wadnt happy to help Other than that they have affordable books, alot of used books And the girl at the cashier was so nice and welcoming

This is for the one on clement although i like both. Great used selection, records and variety. Super nice staff

I'm a very private person, and it bothers me a lot that the staff now wants to hold onto my belongings while I browse books. In my opinion, where that fails in actually preventing theft, it rather engenders mistrust in what ideally is a third space for the community. Purchased countless books here over many years, so I know the staff isn't usually too friendly or helpful and can treat everyone suspiciously, but I think the new bag policy is the icing on an unpleasant cake. I'm just gonna stick to the other book stores around town that feel more welcoming and communal.

There's a reason that Green Apple Books is such an icon of the San Francisco bookstore scene. I've lived here for years and consider myself a book aficionado, but had never visited til recently. What really sets Green Apple apart is their incredible used book selection. It's very well organized, which is usually not true of stores selling used books. I got very reasonably priced used books in almost perfect condition, which is my dream come true. There's also every new book you could ever want and plentiful staff recommendations, which is part of the joy of in person book shopping. I can't believe it took me so long but now that I understand, I'll be back regularly. Very worth visiting, and even going out of your way to visit if you're a book lover.

What a great Bookstore! Every book lover has to visit! This is the San Francisco classic. Don't miss it.

Amazing bookstore, so much more inside than the front suggests! There's a wide variety of books and I love that so many used ones are available in every genre - makes reading feel more sustainable and accessible. I picked up Rapinoe's memoir for less than $2 (go Gotham FC doe.) I also got a puzzle and cookbook, maybe spent a smidge more than I should but I love supporting a local bookstore, and the magic bookstore vibe of this spot cannot be overstated. Run, don't walk, then prepare to spend the rest of your day here.

Best bookstore in the Richmond District. A cozy fun space with mellow vibes and friendly staff. Has a lot of character if you don't like big chain bookstores at malls. Offers a diverse collection of books, graphic novels, cards, artwork, and little toys.

I consistently have had such awful customer service from both locations that I felt that a review was in order. One star for a San Francisco institution, another for the location (lovely neighborhood gems to wander in/eat at after your book browse), and one star for the fact that it's a bookstore. It sucks that something so great for this city has unpleasant employees (probably from the top down?) that every visit of mine has turned me off. I will not be visiting again but thankfully this city has plenty of indie bookstores to support! TLDR: worth a gander solely for the books/sf charm but be weary of unpleasant employees/awful customer service. Also, the experience of selling books here will make you lose faith in humanity, go somewhere else.

I thought this store had used books but the only ones were the ones in the cart in front of the store. There's none inside the store. But, the store has a very wide election of books! It was nice looking around and seeing all kinds of books. It had records on sale as well.

Huge selection and fun store layout, makes you feel like you're exploring an old house or library. This is (and the other location) my favorite bookstore in the Bay.

Always love stopping by when I'm in the area. Nice recommendations, clearly organized sections, and the overall breadth of topics and selection is great here. I always find new titles to check out when I'm here!

Green Apple Books has got to be my favorite bookstore I've ever visited!! My friends and I were lucky enough to stop by during a recent trip to San Francisco. We had the best time browsing the amazing selection of used and new books - there's truly something for every reader. It was also so fun to find the little apple-themed aspects throughout the bookstore such as the names of the different rooms and even a bobbing for apples bin where you could pick a wrapped surprise book to purchase. This is truly such a charming bookstore and I am so glad it exists!! I wish this bookstore wasn't hours away from me, however that just means I have to plan visits here often :)

The worst bookshop in SF! The owner of this bookshop wasn't polite with me for no reason, and that's why I 'll never go back there, and don't recommend this bookshop to anyone either!! I wish I could give them 0 star!!

We're a literate, bookish city and fortunate we have this gem of a bookstore with its satellite sister location across Golden Gate Park, as if in stereo. This is Green Apple Books' original location comprised of two storefronts separated by 100 feet. New and used books co-exist peacefully with pockets of interesting staff picks given as much of a showcase as the sizzling new releases and best sellers. They nicely separated the early reader and young adult section to the mezzanine level to give kids a quiet place to explore and unwind. I can just see littles splayed out on the cozy rag rug, book in hand, with the whimsical cutout of Dr. Seuss standing guard. A lot of thought went into this store with its charming yet unfussy displays and immense inventory. It's inviting and casual with warm wood (and well-worn steps on its staircase) and hand-written notes with staff picks. Service was kind and unpretentious. I felt welcome- and happy to support this legacy store and keep my money in our community.

I love this bookstore! Especially the kids' section--it's amazing! They have all kinds of books, from books about the ocean and wild animals and even Lego books. Last time I was there, I bought a kids' anatomy book, and it's one of my favorites. If you love books, especially ones for learning and exploring, this is the place to go.

I sometimes shop at the small Asian markets on Clement for groceries and I pop into Green Apple Books randomly when I need a gift or a greeting card. They have greeting cards on the racks on the first floor but they also have them upstairs fyi. They don't always have what I need but it's fun to browse. I picked up a cute puzzle on sale the other day. I was hoping that they would have graduation cards available but the cashier said they had them but hadn't put them out on the floor yet. She kindly offered to go upstairs to get them for me, but I said I'd come back another time. I once called them to see if they had a difficult to find used book available and they had it! So they put it on hold for me which was awesome. I'm not sure about the process of selling books back to them though, sounds iffy like Buffalo Exchange lol.

Wow did not expect this place to be so big. We spent a good hour in the bookstore! I got lost a few times because it just kept going and going!! All in all, it was very organized and clean. Had every option under the sun! Cool place to check out.

Been shopping there for decades -- a for-real San Francisco Treasure...! Be there or be square...!

I can't believe I didn't know about this place! Everyone always talks about City Lights Bookstore in the San Fran - but this is the PLACE! A used book lovers dream come true!

SF native and have been going to Green Apple since the 80s. Loved having the privilege of being able to hang out, browse and purchase books in this amazing store. The one star is for the book buyers. I'm a librarian and don't understand why someone who works with books can be such horrible, rude curmudgeons. You work with BOOKS, dudes! You should be happy and pleasant and glad you have such a nice gig. Each and every time I've had to interact with these guys, it's been an unpleasant situation. They have this 90s era, grunge, snob affect that is super gatekeeper-y. No wonder small book stores are failing with snooty, mean people whose only objective seems to be to make others feel stupid and small. I probably will NOT ever go back to Green Apple again.

Love this book store! Stop by and pick up a record, used book, new, or a gift! Staff is really great too

great store and selection of new and used , children and adult books plus free and convenient arking on sunday many offers of help/service used books and discounted values on new books prices great

Great selection of used books at pretty good prices. Really good genre representation as well. Hard to imagine any reader not being able to find lots of good options here. In my top five bookstores I have ever visited.

I encountered the most rude book buyer named "EH." First I thought it was a fluke when I brought some books in to sell. He was very dismissive and curt. But I brushed it off. Then six months later, I inquired whether he'd be willing to buy a particular book. He told me this is not how it's done, to go look on the website, and to stop bothering him. Then he asked for title, I said it, and he said NO and hung up. I'm not sure how this EH guy still has a job. What an a-hole that makes the entire establishment look bad. There's no way people should buy books at Green Apple. They pay Pennies for books, and also disrespect local authors.

I brought so many books all in excellent condition practicality brand new and plus oracle and tarot cards by Doreen virtue which is now by Radleigh,- I felt I was robbed as they only paid me $100.00! Lots of great books as well - from Ishmael to untethered soul. Lesson learnt! Will Not recommend nor will I refer this place⁉

This place is fantastic! The atmosphere is so welcoming, and everyone is incredibly friendly. Plus, they have a great selection, especially when it comes to used books--my favorite!

I was shopping here today and felt like they were watching me too close and it made me uncomfortable. One worker came up to me to make sure I was using a hand basket for all my items, and it felt like he was making sure I wasn't stealing. Definitely felt like a microaggression, considering I noticed all the workers were Caucasian at the time, and I was the only person singled out when the shop was quite busy. Disappointing because I love coming here.

This is THE best bookstore chain in SF. I could spend hours here. I've been coming here for a year now and I've spent up to 3 hours just in this store in one day. The customer service is great- I really love the "Bobbing for Apples" feature from the second floor. Also the second floor has such an extensive used book collection that it's absolutely perfect for getting lost and finding new (used) books. The location is a perfect 20-ish minute walk across the park from the Sunset location. I go here every time I'm in the city. 10/10 would recommend!

I decided it was time to downsize/clear out my much-loved, eclectic personal library -- all hardbacks and with a heavy emphasis on the arts and lterature, and all in excellent condition. I knew I'd be getting pennies on the dollar for them, but thought they'd be going to appreciative readers. Instead, they were dismissed by a very cold, hurried young female buyer who took about 10 seconds to look inside each bag of 15 or so books, not looking at the titles or even handling them. She took 3 books of about 45. She seemed to have no appreciation of books or literature, and it was an almost sickening experience to have books treated this way. Sellers beware -- better to give them away or sell online.