Old Town Books

Old Town Books in Old Alexandria is a wonderful independent bookstore that quickly became one of my favorite spots during our trip. We loved it so much, we actually visited twice in one week! The store has a fantastic selection for all ages—from children’s books and young adult novels to thoughtful picks for avid adult readers. There’s a little something for everyone, and the curated mix of books, unique gifts, and fun trinkets makes it easy to find something special, whether you’re shopping for yourself or someone else. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, especially when it came to picking out gifts. They were patient, kind, and genuinely seemed to love helping people find the right book. I brought a friend who loves reading, and she was so happy with the experience. If you’re in the Old Town area, this place is an absolute must-visit—warm, welcoming, and filled with stories waiting to be discovered

This place is so cozy and has a unique collection of books too, especially the fantasy and non-fiction section. They have cookbooks, some seeds for gardening, and other cute things as well. The staff is friendly and had a great chat with Rowan about books. Check out the kid’s books section if you have children. It can be a bit hard to navigate the small hallway with strollers for babies, but people are generally nice and will definitely make way for strollers. Overall, an awesome bookstore and please keep local, indie bookstores alive!

Lovely bookstore with several rooms of books. Excellent selection on books I just took a few photos of children board books and romance(friend likes them). I truly loved the youth room space. They have story time on Saturdays.

It is funny when you are enjoying a stroll around the City and you are not looking for anything in particular that you see a place that may offer something unexpected. I just noticed this charming corner bookstore Old Town Books. I walked in and was warmly greeted. I simply asked if they had any Spanish or Bilingual children and/or teen books. Actually, the answer was yes -- both types. I was escorted to various books located on different shelves. What I noticed is the books were not the traditional American books translated into Spanish that other stores sell, but they offer an array of books for different interests at different reading levels -- yay! I am still channeling my inner Little Person (kid 😉) to learn Spanish so I purchased several Bilingual books today. What a terrific space for Little People and adults alike. BTW it was so nice today I sat outside to read.

This is a lovely bookstore that always has fantastic variety! The store itself is so cute! The staff are lovely, eager to help or offer suggestions. Just because you dont see something on the shelf doesn't mean they dont have it, ask a staff member and of they don't have it they can always order it for you! The also have a number of book clubs and you get a discount on those books if you plan to go. There are a number of fun events that are worth checking out! Dogs are allowed so it's always fun to stop in during a walk! (They have treats!) It is also located close to the main Alexandria thoroughfare so it's easy to swing by. The junior bookstore is right next door and offers both children's classics and new releases. Basically, if you are a book lover, a visit is more than worth your while! Drag your non book loving friends and they will definitely find something among the stickers and other merchandise!

Though the bookstore isn’t large, it makes the most of every corner with a thoughtfully curated and diverse selection of books. The cozy environment really makes you want to come in—perfect for browsing on a quiet afternoon or picking up a gift for friends. Staff are friendly and helpful without being overbearing. Definitely worth a visit.

This place was so cute! A cozy little spot with friendly people, an organized, and nice selection. I had a great time there this morning just browsing. There are cookbooks, puzzles, stationary, and the Old Town Books Junior had great options for my four year old.

Very cute bookstore, has some adorable murals outside. DOG FRIENDLY!!!! One step up to enter so accessible if able to get past one step. Spacious layout with no stairs or steps inside so wheelchair friendly if able to get up that one initle step. Much bigger inside than it looks with 3 separate rooms full of books and a connected middle grade/children's section through a passageway. Clean and bright. They had fans on which was so nice after walking around in the heat. They even have a small fridge with some kombucha and other drinks, although no water weirdly, They sell a few non bookish items. Good selection of books from all genres including a pretty decent size romance section. Staff was welcoming, engaging, and helpful. We asked for a picture by their sign inside and the woman nicely asked if we wanted one outside as well. Highly recommend stopping by this bookstore.

I popped in here because I heard dogs were welcomed! I was greeted by several folks working in the store and asked if I needed assistance. I told them it was my first time here so they gave me a tour and explained all the sections they have! I ended up getting the Dog Tarot Deck, a dog and book sticker and a history book! They have a great selection of books, stickers, art novelties, cards, and genres. They also sell some apparel too! I love a good bookstore with great aesthetic vibes, it was super cozy in there and yet it was hopping. Hard to find a good bookstore nowadays that isn't a chain. Well worth my money and the long walk from the metro!

I loved this little bookstore! For the size they had a great selection and I loved their display setups! The cashier was friendly and gave us some great recommendations. 100% recommend checking this shop out if you're in the area!

Amazing neighborhood book store. Great collection of local authors and all kind of books. My 13 year old love it!! An entire room for children and young adults. Employees are very friendly and knowledgeable. I highly recommend!!

Old Town Books is one of my favorite local shops to support! A great book shop located on the corner of their building, the inside is welcoming and stacked with books from floor to ceiling. The floors creak in a comforting way as you walk through each room checking out the genre's they've got set up. The new juniors section they've opened is whimsical and fun~ perfect to inspire your little one's love of reading! The staff are so cool and nice. They've always got great recommendations filled with enthusiasm. For Valentine's Day they even set up Blind Dates with a Book chosen by each staff member, which was a really fun way to get a new recommendation. OTB regularly hosts events and stays involved with the local community too. Be sure to check out their website to see when their next book club meeting is or when they're gonna host an author!

i bought a cute sticker in here. i love the selection of stickers and greeting cards. very nice staff and very big store. lots to choose from.

Good selection of books and various other gifts. Staff was friendly and they allow dogs inside too!

I really really loved this book store! Usually my daughter and I like to go to bookstores together, however, she was not with me on this trip. I was still glad I went in there! This bookstore ks a small shop with many different varieties of books and merchandise. You can find something for everyone in this store! Stop in for a gift or something for yourself!

Old Town Books is small, but mighty! It's in a historic building and has two rooms filled with well-curated books from cookbooks to a great kids selection. They are about to open a rare books section that looks very cool. If you want great books from a well-loved independent bookstore, go here!

I love this cute bookstore!! I'm a huge fan of local bookshops and this fit the bill. I was not aware that they also had book club events as well! Super well organized store by sections and there are some hilarious books by the checkout counter. They also sell merchandise like mugs and shirts and other cute stuff! They also carry puzzles, stickers, some other knick knacks. Spend at least an hour here!

I recently visited Old Town Books during a trip to Old Town Alexandria and loved this small, women owned bookstore tucked in a quiet street corner. When you walk inside, you will find a selection of new releases, top sellers, and a few handpicked recommendations for every book reader of all ages. It may be small, but it is packed from floor to ceiling with lots of selections. I like how each section is also organized and labeled by genre, making it easy to find the right book. Around the store, I saw that they incorporated a few of their own custom items and a selection of non-book items (cool puzzles and mystery games) that would make a great gift for any recipient. I love supporting small, locally owned businesses, especially ones that are women owned and would highly recommend visiting this location if you are in the area.

I've loved this bookstore since first setting eyes on it earlier this year (pre-pandemic). I recently moved to Alexandria, VA and I frequent the King Street area often. Though I mostly stay at home during the pandemic, I often like to walk down King Street when it's less busy and I love passing by Old Town Books when I do. The bookstore is situated right off King Street and less than a block away from the Old Town Alexandria waterfront. It's located in a historic cobblestone building and is extremely charming. The people working there are so nice and knowledgeable. I had signed up to participate in the Readers' Run Club event prior to the pandemic. Although that unfortunately had to be postponed (for obvious reasons), I look forward to hopefully participating again if they set up such an event in the future. Most recently, I visited Old Town Books during the Alexandria Sidewalk Sale. They did a great job making sure there was proper social distancing in place. They had a "blind date book" table where you could buy $5 books, sight unseen (the books were wrapped up in paper wrap and the only clue you had as to what each book was was the drawing and general description of the genre of the book on the book cover). Super fun and inventive :) For a major bookworm like me, this place is heaven. I will return often in the future!

What a fabulous experience! Cate was an absolute joy to interact with and made my day. I loved the selection of books and handwritten recommendations on the well-organized shelves. My visit to Old Town Books was fantastic and I am sure to return!

VERDICT: AVOID. Overpriced books, limited selection. Recommend driving 2 miles north to Barnes & Noble: 3651 Jefferson Davis Hwy Alexandria, VA 22305 PROs: None? CONs: - Liberal Selection (rather extreme anti-American books, even for a moderate) - Limited Selection (I may have more books in my personal library - which is not impressive).

My previous review had typos - yikes! outgrow = otherwise from = full of I'm updating because I subscribed to the monthly book service at the beginning of the pandemic. I was soooo afraid the store would suffer and close early in 2020 - thank goodness that hasn't happened! Anyway, I subscribed as a way to support, but ended up with a stack of the most on-point/ talked about books of 2020. They arrived promptly in recyclable packaging (yesss!) and there's organized discussions to followup with once you finish the book. Overall, it was a great deal and I'd recommend it.

Such a cute & quaint little bookstore. It's slightly off of the main stretch of King St but not far! At first I didn't notice the labels on the bookshelves showing the genre but after finding those it was easy to browse. The old vault is cool! I absolutely loved the little cards under some books that had a brief synopsis of the book; such a cute touch! I purchased 2 books at $40 total which isn't bad. I'm sure you could get them cheaper online but I feel it's better to support small & local businesses! Thanks Old Town Books!

We stopped into this bookstore on a Sunday afternoon after our young readers asked to go inside, tempted by the window display. My husband and I were inclined to spent a fair amount of money supporting a local independent bookstore. Unfortunately, our girls were blocked from the section with their reading level for more than five minutes as an employee physically monopolized the space (a corner of the room) and made (very loud) recommendations to another family. Our kids tried several times to get access to the section, but she would not be moved or consider that our kids were also interested in and capable of reading those books. We felt dismissed because the employee didn't expect kids of that age to be interested in middle grade chapter books. It's a shame. We would have liked to make this a regular stop in our walks around Old Town.

I love this book store! it's a little small, so if there's something specific you're looking for i'd recommend checking the website first. but you can order through them and pick up in store. I so basically all my pre-orders here. staff is really friendly! and they host different book clubs each month.

It's difficult to give a small bookstore anything but 5 stars. Nice place to find a special book or note cards or a gift for the reader in your life. Small shop. Small selection. Helpful staff. Worth the visit!

Lovely bookstore in the perfect little neighborhood and exceptionally kind staff! If you're in the neighborhood, you should definitely stop in!

So glad this place exists! First of all, it's right on the main drag. Hard to miss. Secondly, it's carefully curated. A lot of thought and effort went into maximizing the space and organizing the books in such a way that you might discover a new favorite right next to a book you already love. Some bookstores look like they were put together by a hoarder, and those give me anxiety. Every beautiful book in this bright space is there for a reason, like flowers in a bouquet. They also have a lovely selection of cookbooks, YA, and children's books. Among the children's books they have some very adorable book merch, including library card baby socks and a Very Hungry Caterpillar onesie. I saw a new book by one of my favorite authors, Ann Beattie. I didn't even know it had been released, so I had to pick it up! I'm excited to read it and grateful that this beautiful little shop connected me to it before I go on a road trip next week. Old Town needs more places like this.

It was impressively simple to place my order online and then pick up my books. All contactless too! I was also really happy that they asked if I wanted a bag for my books when I called ahead to say I would be at the store in a few minutes (I didn't). Outside the store is a wire shelf unit where they place your order after you declare you are headed over, so I would be selectively prompt and go on a dry day.

Great book store! Super cute, great books and lots of other great things to buy. Super glad I visited from Oregon and happened to find it. Left with a couple books and even more for my list. Staff was so friendly and helpful. I wish I could of bought all the books, great selection of personal development and neuro science books and great recommendations given to me.

I always make it a point to stop in and explore Old Town Books anytime I'm in Old Town. The staff is super friendly but not overbearing (they let you browse in peace), there's an amazing selection of not only books but also book related merchandise that is unique (and great for gifts). If they don't have what you are looking for be sure to ask! They can order it for you or you can order it online through them. Also keep an eye out for the events - they do some great talks with local authors, calligraphy workshops, flower arranging, and even mini-photo sessions in the store with a local photographer. There's a real sense of community flowing out of this store!

We walk to this bookstore almost every weekend. They have a wonderful kids section that has really gotten my son excited about books. The kids' books change regularly so there is always something that catches his interest. The staff is also super nice. They also have a good collection of books for adults. If they had more simple cookbooks, this place would truly be perfection!

Cozy neighborhood bookstore. Great selection. Easier to find good reads here than at B&N. Please support Old Town books!

We stopped in this shop while touristing in Old Alexandria and it was a clean and cute little shop with a diverse selection. Apparently they have only opened recently as the sales lady told us. They have cute pins, candles, a few shirts, and a good selection of new books. We picked up one that just caught our eye, and they only had one copy sadly. The sales woman was quick to offer to order a second copy for the friend who accompanied us on our trip as she is a local. The staff was very friendly and we had a wonderful conversation before continuing our journey. We will defiantly stop in here again on our next trip to the D.C. Area.

The cutest bookstore, looks small from the outside but they have a HUGE selection! Love to support small bookstores, I'm not local but they will definitely get some of my online business.

Love this business. Great employees and very helpful, knowledgeable. They've got a wonderful variety of books for adults and children. Will definitely be visiting again when we return.

Very nice place to pick up a book. They have very helpful staff who help you find the book your looking for and give you recommendations. Thanks Austin for your help!

Generally I would think most bookstore owners would train their staff to be polite and welcoming, But in this case it appears to be the opposite. The young woman at the counter interrupted me before I could finish my sentence and made it clear she did not want me in the store. She spoke so fast I had to ask her to repeat what she was saying. I have noticed since the start of the pandemic that customer service has gone out the window. There seems to be a new breed of staff who consider customers an annoyance

This is a very nice independent bookstore. I just discovered them even though I have they have been open over a year. There is a good selection of book, small gifts, and cards. They have several active book clubs according to a handout I received. I will be back!

Beautiful bookstore with many thoughtful and personal touches! I visited this store for the first time in 2019 and fell in love. They offer zoom book clubs and other community-building events, including author interviews and cheeky meeting themes. This shop is clearly well cared for and loved, I wish I lived closer so I could visit more often!

So cute! I love the set up and I found so many great reads. For both me and my 7 year old niece. I seen a sign that say that do kids reading circles, the room is so cute! Would definitely recommend!!

Found this store while wandering OT but will make a point to go back. The staff is so nice and the choice of books is impressive for such a small space. I love historical non-fiction and the selection is great here, with a focus on local VA history though not exclusively. I also bought a few books based on an employee's recommendation, that I normally wouldn't have picked up. Just finished the first one and enjoyed it.

I went here for the first time this past weekend after following their Instagram profile since they opened a few months ago, and I'm so glad I made the time to go! Everything about this bookstore hits the right note with me: atmosphere is intimate but not cramped; the architecture inside with exposed beams + brick is lovely and makes me feel as if I've transported to one of my favorite cities, Edinburgh; they have all the books super organized and laid out well (a big plus for me since I treat my books better than myself); the staff was very pleasant and welcoming; and you can't beat the location. I can't wait to go back for more!

I saw this cute little book store on instagram and had to check it out. It's tucked away right beside the Starbucks on Union street and quite honestly, if I wasn't looking for it, I probably wouldn't have known it was there. I ventured in and was pleasantly surprised on how well the space was used, the collection of books they had to offer, and the assortment of book related memorabilia that could be purchased. The lady at the counter(who I am assuming is the owner) was quite pleasant in her handling. I came home and did some research and found that they will be doing all sorts of book related events. I'm really excited for this new bookstore and want to shout about it from the rooftops!

Great little bookstore - helpful and friendly staff, nice selection of books and gifts, good prices. I can't wait to go back.

Great little book store in the heart of Alexandria! Wide selection of books at normal prices! Great notebook selection as well. My friends and I found a lot of great stuff here. I think almost all of us walked out with a new book!

All the books were politically charged, can we keep the politics out of the front window, the selection was awful and they had no classical section, I'm most upset with the fact that I saw nothing that even caught my eye and I was in there for almost a half hour looking for SOMETHING. All around bad experience.

I love this bookstore! I've been using their online ordering/pick-up option during the pandemic. They have a huge selection and it's great to have a local option. I also love browsing in-store - they have a big selection in a cozy space. I highly recommend Old Town Books to all Old Town visitors!

A small store but an amazing inventory - a great mix of current affairs, fiction, and classics, as well as small gifts (book related of course). Friendly staff too. Due to COVID-19 they're open only for pickup but I'm looking forward to being able to browse again.

One of the best indie bookshops I've been to! They have just the right amount of books to make sure you find something but aren't overwhelmed or tired out when looking through the store. They also host literary & non-literary events that are lovely. They can give tons of book recommendations and their shop dog is so cute!

This is the cutest little book shop nestled is downtown Old Town close the water, a Starbucks, and other local restaurants. Inside the shop is very cozy and they have a great variety of books with new titles to unique finds. I was so happy to see an actual bookstore again!

This is an amazing little book store. The owner Ally is super sweet and I love supporting women- owned businesses! She holds great author events that I would love to come to in the near future. A gorgeous setup of unique titles, and very relaxing and modern atmosphere! I love coming here. You won't be sorry you did! Also, the cutest dog Scout is their mascot. He's always down for a good pet :)

I love this bookstore. It's locally owned and operated, and the staff obviously puts a lot of thought and effort into the books they carry in the store. Their in-store selection is smaller than chain bookstores, but they are able to order any books you want, and will usually have them to you within 24-48 hours. This is my go-to store.

Locally owned and staffed by knowledgeable, friendly book readers. Dog and people friendly and warm atmosphere in historic shop setting. Regular events, including book clubs, author signings, and musical performances.