The Last Bookstore
A cavernous downtown bookstore in a former bank, famous for its book tunnel and sculptural book arches.
The call
Worth it if you're watching the budget and you only have one day.
Short answer
Is The Last Bookstore worth it?
The Last Bookstore deserves a place on most first itineraries.
The answer depends on your budget, time and travel style; the breakdown below shows who gets the most value.
Why
- 01
California's largest used-and-new bookstore turned into a genuinely photogenic labyrinth — vaulted bank ceilings, a tunnel of books, and arches sculpted from spines.
- 02
It's free and charming for an hour, though it's now a known Instagram stop, so expect people queuing for the same photos in the upstairs labyrinth.
Is it a fit?
Go if
You're watching the budget
The Last Bookstore earns the spend, even on a tight budget.
You only have one day
Short trip or not, keep The Last Bookstore.
You're traveling as a couple
As a couple, The Last Bookstore is an easy yes.
You're traveling solo
Solo, The Last Bookstore is an easy yes.
Think twice if
You're traveling with kids
With kids, The Last Bookstore needs the right timing and tolerance.
History and culture matter to you
The Last Bookstore offers some history & culture, but not enough to make it the reason to go.
You prefer local life to spectacle
The Last Bookstore offers some local authenticity, but not enough to make it the reason to go.
Plan it well
- Cost
- Free
- Timing
- Weekday or opening hours to beat the photo queues upstairs.
- Allow
- 30-60 minutes
- Accessibility
- Ground floor is accessible; the upstairs labyrinth is reached by stairs.
- Getting there
- Metro B/D Line to Pershing Square, a short walk away.