The Book Cellar

This place has the MOST amazing selection of books for all ages and all genres. They even have books in different languages. Not to mention the cafe inside is so cute and the staff is very knowledgeable. The street they are on has lots of cute shops in addition. I attached some cool finds!

This review is for the cafe only. After purchasing a book and card I went to cafe for a hot chocolate for my child and a mocha for me. The mocha was only steamed milk. I went to the counter and said it just tastes like steamed milk no sweetness--the attendant looked at register to ensure the order existed, opened the drink and put tablespoons of cocoa mix in it stirred it and never said sorry. It tasted horrible after. Not sure if an espresso was even in it. $4.50 in the garbage and what might have been a nice visit in a cafe left a sour taste in my mouth. I rarely order coffee out and this gives me another reason not too. Please do not offer fancy espresso drinks on the menu if the staff are unwilling or untrained to make it correctly. I am continually disappointed with lack of customer service in Chicago for past 5 years.

Such a quaint little book store on a lively street! If you buy a Cellar recommended book from the front, you get a surprise book free! I picked up Mrs. Dalloway, and my surprise book was one in a genre I don’t usually read but sounds compelling. I’m happy for the rec to read outside my comfort zone 😋 The shop also has a coffee shop and seating area and many cute gifts/stationary. Stop in if you are in the area!

I love having this bookstore in the neighborhood. Super friendly staff and their recommendations generally spot on and lead me to new authors that I read more from.

I absolutely love this bookstore. Wonderful people, wonderful spot. Go, browse, breathe in the books, take a few home, LIVE. ❤️❤️

Cozy neighborhood bookstore full of recommendations and not an overwhelming selection with many staff picks. I didn't visit the café, but it looked solid with a few tables.

My favorite bookstore in Chicago. Great kids section - and super solid cookbook section for me. Staff is wonderful. Highly recommend

Always love visiting here! Fantastic selection for kids & adults. The cafe drinks are well made & perfect too

What a delightful little bar and bookstore! I have been looking for a little independent bookstore where I can chill out after work! I won a wine pass from a local theater for a free glass every month which I put on my schedule. Of course, I always buy a book! This is a fun one to explore and they have probably my most favorite section right near the register: Mysteries and Chicago Authors! I make sure to check that area out specifically. The only "downside" is that they are still a small business so their selections vary and ordering a book can sometimes be quick or slow (I've been lucky on the quick). It also can get a little crowded in the bar area, but I guess thats whats expected for this hidden gem! I am glad a place like this exists!

Adorable bookshop in Lincoln Square. The first time I was here was for an author signing. They did such a great job of organizing the signing/meet and greet. They do lots of author events so check their calendar. I love to stop in the Book Cellar to browse and grab a cup of coffee. The staff are super friendly and approachable. They love to talk books of all genres.

Great stock, friendly staff, warm vibes, help available if requested: cappucino too..

We've been spending some quality time at The Book Cellar lately and I'm just obsessed!! I recently went to a book signing with Molly Yeh from Food Network and they did such a great job controlling flow of traffic and allowing people with kiddos to go first. I was impressed with the way they handled such a large crowd. We later went back on small business Saturday and met a kids author, and they even gave us a 40% off discount! Such a steal! The book selection is fantastic. They seriously have absolutely every book my son could ever want, while also having a ton of things both my husband and I are interested in, too! I guess what I mean to say is no matter your preferred genre, you're sure to find something here. You can also just come and relax with a latte and sweet treat, too! I'm just all about this special little place. I love it! We will keep returning. :)

This is a fantastic book store that is deceiving when you see it on the outside. It looks small, but is deep and has aisles to get you lost in whatever you need. There is also a nice little café to order coffee and enjoy your new books. It's a great independent bookstore in Lincoln Square and you will always find something there for you to read, even if you went in looking for something else. What I really enjoyed about this shop is the customer service. Very helpful and kind staff. They go out of their way to help you find what you are looking for. They even provide recommendations, it feels very personalized, even if you have never been there before. Everyone from the floor staff, café team, and the cashier is more than friendly and seems invested in your interests. I haven't experienced customer service like that in a long time. You can also join their rewards program for free. You get 10% off your first purchase (glad I purchased three books, lol) and then you get some amount off when you spend $350. Believe me, that's easy to do in a place like the Book Cellar. It's free to join and your online purchases will go towards your spend amount. You'll get the discount when you purchase and redeem in store. This shop has been here for many years and I always enjoy going in. I recommend everyone to come in, they have something for everyone.

It's been so long since I've been to The Book Cellar! That's mostly down to the fact that I tend to read ebooks almost exclusively due to ease of use. But walking through her made me want to start picking up physical books again. The Book Cellar isn't large, but it's packed. Obviously they have books of just about every genre, and will order for you if they don't have what you want. In addition to books, they have gift items and tchotchkes, cards, and the like. I bought a miniature puzzle in a little tube that is of TBC! They also had a lot of other puzzles and some other games. I came in here to pick up a copy of a book I'd read about on Block Club Chicago, which they did have in stock (signed copies, even!). Prior to the pandemic I'd been here for book readings, to see The Kates perform, and that sort of thing. They have a cafe area but events and cafe are not in use at the moment due to the most hated event of our time, the pandemic. The staff here were all wearing masks when I was in and although I'm not sure if they require them of visitors since the state dropped its mandate, they do have them up front near the door for folks to put on so I'd suggest it would be good to do to take care of your fellow humans and the hard working staff!

Great local bookstore! Staff is great, selection is curated, and the cafe is lovely also. Support your local bookstores!

They have a well-selected variety of books and will order a book for if you if it's not in stock. While perusing, I've stumbled upon a huge Betty Crocker Cookbook, a helpful dog training book, a hard-cover copy of The Little Prince, and a niche Batman-Scooby Doo comic. Throughout the aisles you will find staff recommendations that will pique your interest. If you're part of their free membership program, you get 10% off books. The vibes inside are just good.

Super cute! I went in because it advertised baked goods but stayed for the books, lol. It's cozy and for cold days it's perfect. The staff write little notes for book recs. The staff were polite and helpful.

This is such a cute bookstore! I went in today to browse and see if anything caught my eye. I ended up picking up a book from the staff recommendations and they had a fun promotion where I got a free mystery book as well. That was such a fun surprise. It's a little small but very cool. Definitely check this place out.

Cute bookstore in the heart of Lincoln Square. What more do you need??? Please tell patrons not to bring their beverages inside and then sit them on top of books!!!!!! I know, you shouldn't have to tell ppl that but... remember kids.. water is not good for books!!!

The Book Cellar hosts great readings. Has wonderful staff picks as well. I always find a couple necessary purchases with each visit.

Such a cute place to visit if you're a book lover! Nothing better than supporting a local book store! They have a wide range of popular books & a cute little cafe inside where you can order coffee!!

So happy that my sister took me to The Book Cellar, as it was such a good visit, the way an independent bookstore ought to feel. Located on the west side of the thriving Lincoln Square business district, we walked to this wonderful shop, but parking was available along Lincoln Avenue and in a nearby public parking lot. There's a lot to do all around The Book Cellar also. Such a comfortable atmosphere - there's a few chairs around the perimeter, a coffee/tea shop on the premises with tables, and an old fashioned book store look. I enjoyed browsing, as they had all the books that I wanted to graze. The Book Cellar has an adult reading program, a children's section, plus a loyalty program. They host appearances by guest authors, an impressive list of upcoming visits on their calendar. The customer service at the register couldn't have been better, such a pleasant woman who loves her job and was such a great representative of the store. The Book Cellar is a quality book store, and I wish they would have been open when I lived in the neighborhood a generation ago.

Love love love The Book Cellar! A true gem in the Lincoln Square neighborhood! So many options and titles to choose from. I adored the Staff Picks stickers - really helped me decided which books I was going to buy! Would love to come again and try the Cafe out with a new hook next time!

Cutest little book shop/coffee. Coffee nice and warm and plenty of reading material. Located in such a cute shopping center, make sure to pay for parking. Can't wait to come back!

Love this little shop. Reminds me of Powell Books in Portland Oregon but on a much smaller scale. Great selection for any reader.

So cozy, so many books and items to look at and little cafe area. This place is a great place to relax and unwind. Staff are friendly and there is a wide selection of books and genres to buy.

If I lived nearby I could start getting my mail delivered here. What's not to love, books, coffee, beer and wine. Then throw in a little food, just perfect. I joined their loyalty program, I don't do that everywhere as I don't like to give out my info especially if I'm not likely to be back, it's a why bother. I do live on the other side of town, but I can see making my way here to hideout when I have a little time on my hands.

I try and support the local bookstore and it comes back to bite me. I placed an order almost a month ago for 2 books and still haven't received either of my books. Two weeks ago I received an email saying 1 of 2 books was in - and now they can't find that book and have to reorder it. I've sent multiple emails which weren't returned. The only way to reach someone is to call and hope they pick up the phone. The phone rings and rings and rings. Today I finally spoke to some and Suzy was incredibly condescending and patronizing in her tone and implied she was doing me a favor. She also misspelled my name [4 letters]. I'm trying to support a local business but their disorganization and attitude makes me want to buy online from Amazon. I thought it was just me and off day but several other reviews below suggest my experience wasn't isolated.

Very cool and very popular independent bookstore. There's a cute cafe. The bookstore was packed even on miserably cold days. Lots of book talks and other events.

I mean it's decent. It's massive, but not in the space sense. They have huge shelves FILLED with books lining the store. With the layout, it feels more like a small library. I was happy to find out that they have a little coffee shop there (i think they also serve wine? I'm not of legal age, but it's a good thing to throw into the review). The coffee was very good and flavorful, not too sweet, not too bitter. I could taste the coffee and the flavoring (not a lot of ppl get the ratio right for my liking, but coffee is subjective to a lot of ppl). As for the bookstore, i felt like it was mediocre (i feel rude and judgy saying that, but I don't have another way to describe it) despite the large bookshelves. The reason i'm saying that is that I didn't find a big enough selection of Black Lives Matter books, Books by BIPOC authors or books by LGBTQIA+ authors. They had a few, but they were mostly a high stock of about 3-4 different books in each category, and sometimes an overstock. I didn't seem to find books by AAPI authors at all. I gotta say, this was a bit disappointing for me. It's very important for a bookstore, or any business for that matter to be inclusive of what they carry, and also their audience. I feel like instead of stocking the shelves with the same, non-diversified books, maybe focus on adding variety and diversity to what you carry.

It's a nice bookstore and I do go there but the service is just awful. No one asks if you need help, no one engages the customer at checkout and there are always staff there but I never know what they are doing other than sitting behind the desk. I've bought a dozen book there over the summer and not one person told me about the reward program until last week. Lots of attitude from the staff. If you're not happy to be there you should leave. Not a fun experience to shop there.

I understand we find ourselves living at very different times and because of this, I decided to purchase my books locally. I used google to find The Book Cellar. I pre-ordered a book that was apart of my book club. I didn't see any information about exactly when my book would ship as it went on sale officially the 7th of April and other larger places were guaranteeing I would have it by the 8th. The Book Cellar was not able to tell me this information however I did get an email about processing and my book that had come out on the 7th was at my house the morning of the 9th! So I got basically 2-day shipping for $2.00 because of all books and media ship from their wholesaler to you at a FLAT FEE! So I wouldn't say I was happy but thrilled at how this purchase turned out and I realized supporting local doesn't mean I have to sacrifice service or speed, nope it just means I get all of that that and I can walk into the book store when things are normal again! The moral to the story BUY LOCAL!

I went here to purchase the book "The Chicago Picasso: A Point of Departure" by Patricia Stratton. She published the book to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Picasso Sculpture in Daley Plaza in Chicago's Loop. The staff was helpful as they are bringing signed copies for individuals to purchase tomorrow at the Harold Washington (Public) Library Center in Chicago where Ms. Stratton will be speaking about her book which relies on "exclusive archival interviews and extensive research, all the controversial possibilities of the sculpture's inspiration are explored." The author talk is part of a panel discussion and is FREE and starts at 6pm. It is at the Harold Washington Library Center at 400 S. State Street in Chicago..right off the Brown Line Train in the L. I enjoyed the trip to The Book Cellar...it is quite a distance from The Loop (30 minutes on the Brown L); but is located in a vibrant market square with restaurants and locally owned shops. The Book Cellar also has a cafe inside where you can purchase coffee, tea, soups, sandwiches, and desserts. There is a beautiful outdoor seating area to enjoy your food or drinks (they also serve adult beverages) and it is nicely decorated with flower boxes. There are a great many books piled high throughout the store; however,..they have a nice "Chicago" section (near the cash register) which is composed of books for Children and Adults both fiction and non-fiction relating to everything Chicago....for example, "Goodnight Chicago" and "Go Cubs Go" books for children while there are historical books about The Haymarket for adults. I like that it is an "independent" bookstore..a rare species in this day and age.

This is a great bookstore in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. This picture was taken during the Apple fest celebration--2019. The store has food, pastries, soft beverages, and wine. They also have an incredible selection of books with the staff's written recommendations throughout. Quite an enjoyable time.

LOVED THIS BOOK SHOP! The staff was so friendly they had a great selection of books my friend and I couldn't stop ourselves. In a fun area to explore. Highly recommend.

Now that we're 20 years into the Age of the Internet, younger people have forgotten, or maybe don't even know, what a bookstore should be. It should have books, of course; lots of books. In different subjects, organized neatly so that shoppers can search their favorite genre for old favorites or discover new authors. It should have a shelf of books recommended by the staff, who love the printed word and want to share that love with shoppers. It should have soft music playing in the background, something that helps shoppers focus their attention. And, above all, that aura of books and books and more books, maybe even the soft musty smell of libraries. It's a civilized place. It's the Book Cellar. Book Cellar also has a small café and holds author events and hosts book clubs. It is a small bookstore, nothing like the megastores of the old Borders or Barnes & Nobles. Not every edition of every book out there is in stock. I have ordered books online through Book Cellar, and it's just as easy, and feels more satisfying, than going through Amazon. Book Cellar is the type of store where you browse. Maybe you like science fiction, but why not stroll the mystery aisle? Check out the cookbooks; you may see something new and different. Go ahead and make an impulse buy. You won't regret it. I don't know how Book Cellar has managed to hold on and thrive in the internet age, when the printed word seems to be out of favor. All I know is, nothing will ever replace the feel of a solid book in your hands. Nothing is more exciting than flipping rapidly through the pages, impelled by excitement and the desire to know what happens next. And printed books don't have batteries that run down. You can put a book in your bag or purse, pull it out anywhere, and quickly be absorbed in the war in Westeros, or Lincoln's boyhood, or the best places to eat in Athens. All you need is a little bit of light and curiosity. Visit Book Cellar today, and begin an adventure.

The Book Cellar is a cozily small bookstore within walking distance for us. We've passed by it a few times while in the Lincoln Square area, but it wasn't until yesterday that we finally got to check it out. I liked that they had many employee recommendations by books that I wouldn't have picked up on my own. Also unlike the usual big box stores, there were quite a few signed copies, which was a pleasant surprise. Nice atmosphere, would return to check out their events.

After years and years of passing by this book store I finally checked it out and I am so glad! The place is so cute and cozy, has a cafe too. There are lots of books and some copies are even signed. The staff was super nice and helpful. Definitely recommend checking it out!

Another great independent bookstore. Row and rows of books: history, novels, fiction, young adult, biographies, art books, science fiction and fantasy, graphic novels, and much more. What I really liked about this store (aside from the coffee shop) was the multitudes of notes written by employees about their favorite books. Look for the notes as you scan the shelves.

I love this bookstore right in the heart of Lincoln Square. It's in a great location, has a good selection, and just really food vibes inside. The staff is chill and friendly, they offer great drinks at the cafe and you sort of feel like you're visiting someone's home when you're there. I love buying books from local bookstores if I can help it and this place is a go to for me!

This place I wanted to love... I really wanted to - but I am not about the vibe there. It seems to me that the people who work there are more concerned with talking to each other and making their lunch than working. Lack of enthusiasm and help. This is my first experience here and wanted to love it, but I'll stick to the customer focused vibe at Amazon on Southport.

The Book Cellar has always been a great quaint place to drop in on a weekend stroll around the square for me. Prices are standard for a local bookshop and while I can't always find what I'm looking for in store, I love the little reviews from staff that push me to buy something I would have otherwise overlooked. However, my experience with them during the COVID shelter in place took this place to another level for me. Wanting to support local shops rather than amazon, I bought the next book in my series from here and scheduled it to do a contactless pickup. When hearing that the scheduled pickup hours were during my work hours, the team at the Book Cellar went out of their way to drop my book off personally the same day. Outstanding customer service, and so thankful for them at this time!!

Book Cellar still holds up. I loved TBC before, but once I had a kid I appreciated this gem of a bookstore even more. The storytime there is so welcoming and wonderful, and the rotating selection of featured books is always spot on. Our last purchase there before moving away was a book for my daughter to read during her 9 hour road trip with my in laws. I hadn't heard of it before, but WE DONT EAT OUR CLASSMATES was displayed in the window. We are a dinosaur household and the adorable dino on the front caught our eye. Lo and behold the book is adorable and I especially appreciated the fact that the classmates in question featured a diverse group of ethnicities, abilities, and religions. It's touches like that in the books they choose to feature and recommend that really makes this independent bookstore a gem. And their cafe area is pretty spectacular as well. We already miss you, Book Cellar!

Just one of my favorite places to be ever. It's a book store where you can sit on a bad day (or a good day) and have a nice glass of wine while you read or a delicious sandwich or a little quinoa salad and walk the aisles smelling/touching all the books and picking up little unexpected gifts for your friends/yourself or attend an amazing book event and just feel like a person again.

The Book Cellar is truly a neighborhood gem! Books...coffee...wine...what more could you ask for? Great books always in stock and they will order books for you too. They make great recommendations--my 13y-o was looking for "futuristic dystopian novels" and they introduced him to three new series! Great spot for children, too, as they have quite a selection of picture books as well. Go grateful to have Suzy and her store in our neighborhood.

I always appreciate local bookstores and this one is worth checking out. They have great wines and beverages in the cafe to enjoy while you are reading or checking out a stack of books. The prices are great and the whole store is just really comfortable to be in. If you're in the area make a point of coming here and support this place.

I absolutely love this place. It's a bookstore, cafe, venue . You get to read staff recommendation s for books and it really adds value to your book selection. Support your independent bookstores. Plus, they have a rad art bookstore right next door. Fantastic!

This is a really cute bookstore in Lincoln Square. It's an independent bookstore in which they have a great selection of best-selling books as well as unique and rare books that one may not know of. I really like reading all the staff's selections and recommendations as it gives you a general idea of the premise as well as a fusion of certain types of books. They also host events and book clubs (DesiLit, Gapers Block, Never Too Old, The Salon: Classics, Sierra Club Enviornmental, North Park Elementary Dads, and the Old St. Pat's) at this location, which is quite nice. There's a cafe as well where you can sit and do some work, or enjoy a cup of hot beverage while you snuggle up in a randomly-placed armchair to read. There are some gifts that are sold up at the front such as figurines, MoleSkins, greeting cards, as well as gift boxes. +in-store events +staff's selections +in-store cafe

Decent selection of books with a nice café inside. It's kind of like a small version of a borders books, it doesn't exactly have that small bookstore feel, but it's a nice environment. We went on independent book store day and it was very crowded, I imagine with less people it would have been more comfortable.

Fantastic independent book shop. I've been to several book readings/signings here, and it's always a pleasure to sip wine and hear writers discuss and read from their work. Fantastic selection of unusual books. Support independent book shops!

The Book Cellar is great for books and food/drinks. I've always enjoyed grabbing a coffee and sitting in one of their comfy chairs by the window while reading. The book selection is pretty good for a small store with a nice staff picks section in the front. Went today and got a sandwich and it is pretty good. Also met the owner and she was delightful.

As an author who does reading events, atmosphere is ridiculously important to me. The Book Cellar nails it. It's got a cozy coffee shop vibe with the independent bookstore charm we rarely see anymore. The owner goes out of her way to host local events and the employees seem genuinely excited to be there. I've never not enjoyed time spent at The Book Cellar.

Decided to buy my son his history book to help with his college essay as a present. I'm going to buy as many books here as possible and to not use Amazon. A pledge that hopefully everybody can make to their local bookstores. They are very friendly and gift wrapping is free . Also the coffee shop is pleasant that is in the store has lots of nice goodies. They also are giving as they helped with the food pantry last winter raise money! Love these people! Great choices in books for all genres .

I just called "The Book Celler" to ask if they have a book by "The Big Short" author: Michael Lewis. They have it in the store, and I asked the owner if they could send it and she said they send all the time, but she could also drop it off since I live in the neighborhood. WHO DOES THIS?! Loyal forever to my local bookstore. On the phone or in the store - they are the greatest.

The book cellar has been great to have during the pandemic. They make it super easy to get any book, even if they are not currently carrying it, I just order online and it's ready for me in a couple of days. I'd choose this business 1000% of the time instead of giving money to Amazon.

It's an amazing place to spend an afternoon eating quinoa salad, sipping on coffee and wander in a pile of books. This place will make you wanna snuggle and read all day. Not to forget they have wine too; coffee, books, wine and sunlight, what else do you have to ask for?

I love this bookstore. I had my book launch here, and couldn't have asked for a better spot. Nothing's better than a nice, cozy, friendly spot and stacks and stacks of good books. Everybody there is fantastic. Check it out, if you haven't already. You'll love it. .