The Booksmith
The Verdict
"Regular author events, book clubs, and silent reading parties."
What you need to know
What to expect
The stock covers literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, politics, history, sociology, gender and race studies, graphic novels, magazines, and a children’s section. Author events run regularly. The store also hosts book clubs and silent reading parties.
The Story
Gary Frank opened The Booksmith on Haight Street in October 1976. Current owners Christin Evans and Praveen Madan bought the store from him in 2007. San Francisco granted Booksmith Legacy Business status in October 2016.
Visiting
Open daily from 11am to 7pm. Free to browse.
Getting there
On Haight Street between Cole and Shrader, a short walk from Amoeba Music. The N-Judah stops at Carl and Cole, about four blocks south. The 6-Haight/Parnassus and 7-Haight/Noriega buses run on Haight Street.
Explore Nearby
Toronado
A Lower Haight beer bar since 1987, with around 50 taps of...
Haute & Freddy at the Castro Theatre
Haute & Freddy perform at the Castro Theatre on September 14, 2026.
Smuggler’s Cove
A three-floor Hayes Valley tiki bar with a rum list over 1,300...
Uji Time Dessert
First shop in the Bay Area to serve taiyaki ice cream in...
