Third Place Books

If I could describe my happy place it would definitely be my experience when at Third Place Books. The bookstore came highly recommended. I was able to get some books on sale, buttons, stickers and greeting cards. I felt like I hit the jackpot. The selection of books was definitely superior. If you like places like Barnes & Nobles I would definitely add Third Place Books in your rotation of places to go to. It's local, there is also in door & outdoor seating as well too!

This place is phenomenal. The description and photos don't do it justice. The bookstore is surprisingly comprehensive--imagine an airport bookstore, but about quadruple the size, with lots of social justice-focused titles and plenty of diverse authors. The best part is, they buy used books, too. The beer selection, too, is truly massive, emphasizing local breweries with plenty of seating, including smaller tables and a long barstool type area downstairs. And lastly, make sure to come on Monday for $1 Korean wing special. I had the miso flavor and it was delicious.

A cozy haven for book lovers Third Place books is a wonderful bookstore with a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The selection is extensive, covering everything from bestsellers to unique local finds. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and always happy to make recommendations. It’s a perfect spot to browse, relax, or attend one of their events. The café inside is a lovely bonus, making it easy to spend hours enjoying books and a great cup of coffee. Highly recommended for anyone who loves discovering new reads and supporting a local gem!

Walked here on a Sunday. We were just in time for National Indie Bookstore Day and received a little gift with our purchase! This is the cutest bookstore— I was immediately in love. There is a lil cafe/restaurant as well that we didn’t get to try. It was bustling for the time of day. The books are very organized. They have a decent selection, although the Latin American history section needs work. I loved that many shelves have “Staff Picks” recommendations with blurbs as to why they are recommending the book. Other places aren’t as thorough or thoughtful in their recommendations. Lots of cozy places to sit and the staff were all kind and welcoming. If you’re in the area, definitely stop by!

It's a beautiful dream come true. Books, coffee, hard cider. We went for breakfast and the sandwiches were a little pricey but very tasty. We had coffee and roamed the shelves. It's a fantastic place that I can't wait to frequent! 🥰🥰

Great atmosphere with a welcoming sense of community, plus a nice selection of books to browse. The menu offers a wide variety of food choices, which I really appreciated. Unfortunately, I ordered a hamburger and fries, and for over $15 I expected more. The burger was small, the condiments were limited, and overall it just didn’t feel worth the price. I don’t mind paying $15 for a good burger, but this one missed the mark.

Great community bookstore that shares space with Chuck’s Hop Shop, another local institution. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the selection is great! I’ve been able to find pretty much anything I’m looking for!

People who work there are so unfriendly and stuffy, it used to be a friendly and nice place to come and browse for books, ask for recommendations, and chat. The selections are good but the bookstore needs to be more careful about who they hire. This is not an archives, but a community bookstore

Totally cute book store. Great staff Great selection ICE CREAM And a bar downstairs. My girl-friends book launch was here and it was just perfect. It was a good sized store with a varied selection. We bought a copy of her book and a couple others. It's a cool spot.

I met up with a college friend and we were here for 3 hours catching up on life. They have two counters, one for coffee/tea and the other for food/other beverages. The seating area is big with lots of chairs. I ordered a chai and it was so good, i loved the foam and fall feel. The customer service was great and friendly! I'll be back. Check this place out for books or snack/beverage. There was plenty of parking. It's a great location for a walk and talk as well!

Every time I visit my daughter in Seattle we end up at Third Place Books. Love the atmosphere, the book selection and the food.

Third Place Books is awesome and lives up to its name. On a typical day, you can find a book club meeting, a board game meetup, or an author event with book signing. There are 3 book clubs supported by the Third Place Seward Park location, where you can get a discount of 20% for the month book club read. They have a great book selection with recent releases and beloved works. I always enjoy checking out their well curated rare books section and perusing their used books to see what's new. I've also ordered books for pickup online and they're super friendly. They're also connected to a coffee shop and Chuck's Hop Shop if you want to grab a coffee in the morning or beer or a burger in the afternoon.

being an author myself, i adore a good bookstore/cafe combo. in fact this place is where i wrote the majority of my first book. in my 8 years of patronage, i've enjoyed lovely selection of books to meander through, as well as educational games/toys & equally good eats. whether you're in the mood for a beer & burger or a coffee & ice cream, with your kids or your bestie- third place books in seward park houses it all. even really fun foreign snacks that are hard to find elsewhere. reasonable prices, kind + helpful staff, quality products.

I love love love this place. Books are all fine. On the smaller side but never too crowded and a good selection of books. Staff are all nice. You'll find lots of staff picks throughout the store with an explanation of what makes the book special. It has a very neighborhood feel to it. The fact that I can go next door, have a beer or a cup of coffee, and walk over when I'm done to look at books is amazing. It's this last point that makes this bookstore so special to me. I try to buy a book from this store every few months just to do my part to ensure it stays in business.

I loved this place - coffee, beer, books, what's not to love? It wasn't too loud, would definitely be a great place to get some work done. Great selection of books, I love when the staff includes their recommendations.

After seven years ordering from Third Place, I'm so sad to have to say do NOT order from them for Christmas. We ordered books listed as "on our shelves now" at our local store two weeks before Christmas, received no notifications of any delays. When we called two weeks later, they told us "it's common to be out if items listed on our shelves this time of year" and offered a refund, now days after our Christmas gift did not arrive. It is clear they are not willing to offer any estimated arrival times around the holidays, communication is poor, and even books listed as in-house are not reliable. We are so sad to be looking for another store, but they were unhelpful over the phone, not offering to figure out what the reason for the delay is -- just "we are still waiting" over and over again. The person I have spoken to both times I have tried to figure out what the issue is will not speak to you like a human; she just repeats the same phrases over and over again without actually addressing the issue. We will have to move on to another bookstore.

A bookstore? A burger place? A beer garden? All in one? Amazing, incredible, sensual, and amazing. I absolutely adore this place from their tots, to their burgers, to their drinks, to their books! I just could stay in here forever, and there are so many dogs around too in the outside area.

I love bookstores. This one has the ambiance of an intimate old fashioned bookstore where you can find a little spot to sit and read quietly or peruse the bookshelves and find a variety of interesting books. One of my favorite sections is the used book section. The used books I've purchased have always been in excellent condition with a reasonable price. An added plus is the little cafe next door. Cheers!

This is a great bookstore for browsing! There is a small reserved parking area and ample nearby parking. The store isn't huge but the quality of books is high including titles you'd recognize as well as surprises. There is also a delicious coffee and bagel shop right inside with space to eat indoors or outdoors. Definitely worth a stop in for a browse!

quite rude baristas. they are over the top on their dog policy i had my dog in a backpack. i ordered & paid but when i went to pick up the drink they aggressively told me we don't allow dogs & stopped making my drink then stared. i said okay as i thought they meant i couldn't sit in the cafe. i honestly didn't understand, really bad energy. pretty simple don't have to me mean about it. now the the line at vita across the street makes more sense.

A bookstore and brewery rolled into one aka my personal heaven -- Third Place in Seward is the most adorable store with a wide variety of different genres and knick-knacks. It's definitely on the smaller side, but they manage to pack a lot into the space -- the whole ambiance is super chill and laid-back, and I had so much fun browsing. I really appreciated how many used books they had, including some newer titles. I copped a couple of things from here and spent the rest of the evening in their cafe-brewery space, and hope to be back soon!

Third Place Books is a great spot in the Seward Park area to peruse and enjoy the comfort of a bookstore. The store is spacious and has a lot in stock. There is a restaurant/coffee shop on site too but it has been closed due to Covid. There is also a parking lot for the bookstore which is always a plus. I usually leave with some type of book whenever I go! It's a lovely place to spend some time. Definitely stop by if you're in the area.

I love bookstores like this, and I am so sad I don't live nearby. There is an array of options for new books, but my favorite part is the section of used books. Most don't even look used. I'd call it like new quality at a discounted price! You can also sit and read and eat because there are a few different food options in there as well as coffee. Definitely a place you could happily spend hours. If you're looking for little gifts for book lovers, there is a small section of little tchotchkes as well!

Lovely space/bookstore. Brought in my nephew and niece visiting from out of town and they each excitedly picked two books after plenty of browsing. The staff was very friendly - made recommendations and helped us find a few books. They also have bagels, a cafe and brews there. Beautiful open space and chill vibe. Will definitely be back to read and hang out and buy more books.

I was looking for a specific book and came across Third Place Books. The store has a relaxing atmosphere and there is espresso and beer served as well. All the staff was very friendly and helpful and assisted me to find the book I was looking for.

This bookstore has a "neighborhood" feel, which makes you immediately comfortable being there. It has a good layout and selection, with other fun supplemental offerings. The staff are helpful but not overly intrusive. And we also loved that there is a coffee stand AND a restaurant on-site. If you were so inclined, you could easily spend an afternoon browsing, drinking coffee, and even grabbing a meal. Such a great space! Pro-Tip: The bookstore offers regular author events, so you can attend readings and signings on a regular basis throughout the year. Don't miss out these opportunities!

love the bookstore. the selection is definitely catered towards the clients that live in the immediate area. but I like that because I can usually find a Russian history book or two. they buy back books and offer a discount on anything you pick up after. they're pretty good about what they take too, explaining the process ahead of time.. I also like that they mix new and used books on the shelves. the staff is calm, friendly and helpful. when I was growing up in Seattle this location used to be the PCC. I wish it hadn't moved and turned into a whole foods, but if anything had to replace it I'm glad it's a bookstore. I wish more space was dedicated to books and less to the confusing food and hipster beer part.

I'd love to give it a 5 out 5 as I would the other locations but all the tv screens for the menus and just tv is the opposite of what I enjoy about a book store cafe. Really unappealing and disappointing as I love everything else

Earlier this morning, I made the rainy trek to checkout the Grand Opening of Third Place Books - Seward Park from Shoreline. This was a terrific renovation of the former PCC (relocated to Columbia City) into another indie bookstore! I love the Ravenna and Lake Forest Park locations, but this is just as vibrant. Taking my time through all of the aisles and seeing the crowds grow within the hour I was there, one can come to the conclusion this will be another welcomed neighborhood hub. Fitting to be a true 'third place'. I gave only four stars because (4.5 would be more accurate), when I made an immediate beeline to the cookbook section, it was not as expansive. Granted local chef and restauranteur extraordinaire, Tom Douglas, was going to make an appearance....however, kind of limited sections and titles about all things culinary and baking. Browsing the entire bookstore though, I did spent quite a lot of green on other titles. Did my part to support an indie bookstore! Congratulations to the Third Place Books staff and the Seward Park neighborhood....lovely destination!

This is an amazing local bookstore to support. There is a wide range of book genres, and helpful staff that can do everything from helping you find a task to recommend a new book and everything in between. Before Covid, they often had community events and those were really fun (not sure if that is a thing in a Covid world though). Street parking is abundant as well.

super satisfied! wasn't real hungry so their classic smash burger and tator tots were perfect! so good!! if we get back to Seattle, we'll make another visit!!

Ohhhhhhhhh A real brick n mortar bookstore with knowledgeable folks to assist! Lots of room to roam. New books out and lots of attractive areas showing best sellers NYT list Staff picks ....... Great children's and YA section! Stop in and I promise you will walk out with 'books'

Wonderful place. Good location. Decent parking. Excellent customer service. Excellent books. Wonderful way to spend a rainy Seattle day!!!

Stopped by this lovely quaint bookstore yesterday while waiting for my hair appointment. Nothing like a good ol neighborhood bookstore. The staff were eager to help and very genuine. Helped with locating books for me, freely discussed thoughts on books, and was provided info about their many varieties of book clubs. I could spend a good hour browsing the shelves and plan to do so during my next visit. Will def be back!

literally so cute and fun and you don't gotta break ur bank in order to get some great books!

open, airy and bright. this space is combined with raconteur, so you get your hoove after shopping for some reading materials. I will admit that I thought the space and selection would be bigger. I love wandering around and perusing, but there weren't that many shelves to scour. who doesn't like to scour? oh, I think what third place is really missing is a little scruffy dog that wanders around and tries to sit on your feet when you are weighing your purchases. i'm positive that would encourage positive cash flow.

It would be helpful if there was a web based tool that prospective sellers could use to assess the resale value of their books prior to schlepping them to the store only to find out they're not wanted. The guidelines provided on the website were maddeningly non specific and ultimately not very helpful. We're recently decided to cull our shelves and brought many titles to Third Place only to find a truly small fraction of them were eligible for purchase. And that's fine, nothing wrong with that. They need to sell what they buy. I get that. But it wasn't obvious. Nobel Prize winning novelists, Pulitzer Prize winning short stories didn't make the cut, while others shockingly did. I have text books I was going to take to the Ravenna location for sale, but after this, they're going straight to Good Will. Just not worth the time.

I take no pleasure in leaving negative reviews and try to always leave a positive one, but thought it best that you should learn from my experience. I have visited this store and their Ravenna location a number of times and they're up there with the best of Seattle's bookstores, but today I had a not so great experience at their Seward Pk store. It's not easy for me to get to the store as I don't have a car, but I had collected a bundle of books to sell and looked forward to the trade in- something I've done many times over the years. I arrived with my full bag only to be told at the Sell Your Books counter that they weren't buying today. The bookseller pointed out that they had a large sign on their door, hard to miss, he said- which isn't particularly helpful when you've made it across the city to sell your books. I understand that it's a busy time of year- but there wasn't any indication that buying would be disrupted on their website. Adding to annoyance this bookseller wasn't prepared to offer any apology or explanation- in fact, he was pretty rude about it. So, from my experience, although the website might say otherwise, I'd phone ahead to check if they are open to receiving books. Just to be on the safe side and not experience the same frustration I did this morning. The rule seems to apply to 23rd/24th December- which, from what I saw seems unnecessary as they weren't very busy at all.

Dog friendly (inside and out). Great selection of used and new books Love the audio book options Wonderful food and staff Indoor and outdoor seating options

It isn't a huge store but they have a lot of books in it. Not much of other type things, mainly books.

Great selection of books! Staff is very nice, helpful, and definitely knowledgeable! I appreciate all the recommendations given.

I want to take this opportunity to give great and raving reviews to an exceptional bookstore that has been patient, loving, and helpful to a New York grandmother who can not see her grandson and pick these books physically. My daughter asked me to support her neighborhood bookstore. This is what I am doing-- also using Libros.fm and attending their wonderful events. It is a place worth taking notice of. Even though they are short staff, they have taken the time to help me when I call. I am learning to use online so that they can help the customers now going into their store: The manager Kim, and all the employees Michelle, Maggie. Mathew. These folks are super professional and good listeners. When my daughter does curbside pickup, and I am called, I feel connected. Someday in the future, I will appear with hugs for all. Do explore this shop. It is a gem, Thank you

A new place in an old neighborhood that has already become a favorite hangout. I'm glad PCC moved to expand for lots of reasons, but the existence of this place is next to the top. Long live this wonderful community.

This bookstore and restaurant/cafe (Raconteur) is a dream come true. It's for the walkers, runners, and bikers of Seward Park looking for comfort food after a workout. It's a place to have a cold beverage after a hard day's work. It's a location where you can open up a laptop and get a project done while sipping coffee. It's South Seattle's bookworm sanctuary. Throw in some couches and people will never leave! It's hard to believe it was a PCC. A complete transformation. A beautiful one at that. Happy people filled the building during the grand opening. Lucky bamboo plants were scattered around. Tom Douglas was signing books and taking pictures with fans. A lot of heart and thought was put into the construction of this business. A job well done.

SUCH A WONDERFUL SELECTION AND AWESOME PRICES! I come here regularly and I ALWAYS find something. They have everything so beautifully categorized. My OCD really appreciates that part lol. The customer service is always so on point too. Thank you!

I love coming here. Maybe too much. I keep buying books faster than I can read them and having this bookstore so close to where I live is dangerous for me and my wallet. Anyway, I like that I can see staff recommendations, new non-fiction and fiction books are laid out easily to find, and there is a wide overall selection of books in a small space. And they have some great community events. I'm grateful for independent bookstores like this one where I can get lost looking at their offerings and find some new reading favorites. And the restaurant that they share the building with has great burgers and breakfasts.

This review is for the guy working behind the counter when my husband and I visited on Sunday night (I'd never been to the cafe / bookstore before and asked what kind of teas he offered). I was very rudely responded with "there's a list right in front of you." The list consisted of maybe 4 teas of which he could have very well just said to me, unless he didn't even know his own product. Rude customer service for sure .

They have great food! I like the bar downstairs you get good service and the people are nice.

Five stars! Erin rocks! This place is awesome because of her!

I love this neighborhood bookstore tucked away near Seward Park. They almost always have the books I'm looking for, and when they don't they've offered to order them for me, which is really nice.

Easily the most beautiful bookstore in Seattle. Finally, South Seattle gets a destination bookstore. I'll be in the bar.

We are already fans of the other TPB locations, so we were pleased to hear of a new one opening close to where we live. It's somewhat smaller than the Ravenna location, and much smaller than the Lake Forest Park location, but cozy. The restaurant (Raconeur) looks promising and the coffee was very good. Attractively designed, and there is a small stage so I imagine they will be featuring some music and lectures, too. Welcome to the neighborhood, TPB!

Really great to have a neighborhood bookstore. Kids love to browse and then eat, good combo. Also they have lots of dog water bowls and leash hooks, great for walking to.

Great store in a great neighborhood. The staff are very nice. I am exited to have a new place to buy books and study. It is also very convenient that it is paired with a restaurant.

I love this place! I love the books (new and used), the cafe, and the bar area downstairs. I also love that they offer their performance space to badass queer and trans people of color such as Alok Vaid-Menon. I also appreciate all the super friendly lgbtq and poc staff working in the bookstore. It's nice to see in such a white city :)