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 are watching the budget and you only have one day.
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.
Our read - 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.
Our read
Is it a fit?
Go if
You are watching the budget
On a budget, The Last Bookstore still earns its price.
You only have one day
Even on a tight schedule, The Last Bookstore earns the hours.
You are traveling as a couple
As a couple, The Last Bookstore works.
You are traveling solo
Solo, The Last Bookstore works.
Think twice if
You are traveling with kids
With kids, it depends on the day.
History and culture matter to you
For history & culture, The Last Bookstore is hit or miss.
You prefer local life to spectacle
For local authenticity, The Last Bookstore is hit or miss.
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.