San Francisco Independent Bookstores

San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most diverse and best areas in the United States (perhaps the world?) to find bookstores for special audiences and for independent bookstores. (Reviews taken from Tripadvisor.com)

Alexander Book Company--50 Second St (near Market St.)., San Francisco: A fine general and literary bookstore in the San Francisco Financial District, with a special emphasis on books by and about African-Americans. Open weekdays only, because that's when the Financial District is. Transit: Montgomery BART and Muni Metro. Near California Historical Society, Foto-Grafix Books SFMOMA.

City Lights Books--261 Columbus Ave (at Broadway), San Francisco--North Beach's great bookstore of the Beat era lives on, as vital as ever, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti is around too. Literally floors of poetry you won't find anywhere else, and a whole basement full of world history, politics, geography. Some creatively named sections. Transit: Muni 15 Third St. or 30 Stockton.

Cody's -- 2 Stockton Street near Market Street, San Francisco : The original, legendary Cody's on Telegraph Avenue is gone as of July 12, 2006, R.I.P., but two more stores -- including this new one near Union Square -- still live. This one is so conveniently located you should be ashamed if you find yourself walking into Border's or B&N instead. Authors such a Armistead Maupin are part of a regular schedule of appearances by writers. Transit: Muni's #30 Stockton and any transit conveyance heading down Market Street can take you here.

Eastwind Books San Francisco -- 1435 Stockton St (bet. Vallejo and Green streets), (415) 772-58771435 Stockton St, (415. 772.5877) The Chinatown location of Eastwind features everything from books to magazines to greeting cards. Extensive collection of Asian American works, with a focus on Chinese, and Chinese-American, in particular.

Forest Books--3080 16th St. (near Valencia) St., San Francisco--There's a collection of mostly used bookstores along Valencia St. from 16th St. to 20th St. in San Francisco's renowned hipster/Latino Mission District. Forest Books has one of the most careful selections, particularly strong on literary titles. Transit: 16th St. Mission BART; Muni 14 Mission, 22 Fillmore, 26 Valencia. Near Modern Times.

Green Apple Books--506 Clement St. (near 6th Ave.), San Francisco--Out in San Francisco's foggy (and foodie) Richmond district, Green Apple Books is one of the largest used bookstores (with some new books) around. Transit: Muni 38 Geary, 1 Caifornia, 2 Clement

Kayo Books--814 Post St. (near Leavenworth), San Francisco--This quality used bookstore west of Union Square describes its stock as "pulp and vintage popular culture," the stuff you used to have read sneakily. A favorite of John Waters. Transit: Muni 38, 2, 3, 4

Marcus Books -- 1712 Fillmore Street, San Francisco (415.346.4222) : That's Marcus, as in Garvey. Dedicated to the education, history and future of African Americans. Everything from children's books to biographies and academic texts.

Photography Books-Foto-Grafix Bookstore--655 Mission St., San Francisco--The Ansel Adams Society had to give up its gallery in high rent Downtown San Francisco, but it left behind this comprehensive photography bookstore. Transit: Montgomery BART/Muni Metro. Near
Alexander Book Company, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

"Queer" Books--A Different Light--489 Castro St. (near 18th St.)--A large gay bookstore in the heart of The Castro that also has outposts in Greenwich Village and West Hollywood. Stock goes from serious to sin-filled. Transit: Castro Muni Metro, Muni F, 24.