City Lights Books, San Francisco

On our way back from Washington square to the center we noticed the famous bookstore City Lights that was opened in 1953 from the poet Lawrence Ferlingheti. The bookstore became famous because it publishes several books about SF culture like Allen Ginsberg’s poem Howl & Other Poems (1956). The bookstore is mentioned in all the guide books so it’s no surprise many people visit it in our days. There is a room with a lot of poetry but you can also read books about the Beatniks, anarchy and politics, history books in general, psychology etc

It is open daily 10.00-00.00 but you also order online from their official site.

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First opened in 1953 by co-founders Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin, City Lights has been part of SF for half a century. It's not only a bookseller, but an independent publisher as well. Both the store and the publishers became known to masses because of the trial for publishing Allen Ginsberg's influential Howl and Other Poems in 1956 (it was a poem celebrating the Beat generation and attacking what he saw as the destructive forces of materialism and conformity in the United States at the time).

It was made an official historic landmark in 2001. The 1st time this had been granted to a business, rather than a building - for "playing a seminal role in the literary and cultural development of San Francisco and the nation."

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This place has such a great history. Look it up sometime. The great part is they are such a huge part of the community. There are signs encouraging you to sit down and grab a book. The people here truly know what they are talking about and are happy to help you find something.

What to buy: Books.

What to pay: average

City Lights has to be one of the city's gems of stores. It fits perfectly in with the non-conformist edge of the city with the books that it sells. Over time it has been a hotbed for controversy by selling banned and controversial books that you wouldn't exactly find in Borders or Barnes & Noble. Their selection is for people with brains. If you want romance novels or fluff fiction, seek it elsewhere. This is a place to stretch your mind.

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SF is chock full of interesting Bookstores. Perhaps City Lights is the most famous (infamous). But if you're a lover of livres, this is the place for you!

Founded in 1953, this is one of the last remaining independent bookstores. For fans of the genre it's essential to keep an eye on the website to be familiar with the steady stream of interesting events that happen weekly. You'll also want to visit the website for the virtual tour of the City Lights bookstore and it's history.

Open daily 10 am til midnight.

I love good bookstores and the North Beach landmark definitely fits the bill. Prices are average and the service is well, just serviceable, but it's a cool place to browse, with a few interesting nooks and crannies and plenty of books about the glory days of the Beat poets.

What to buy: Jack Kerouac books, of course.

Cool bookstore that's started with the Beat Generation.

What to buy: I didn't have to look very hard for something ecclectic. I accidentally happened upon Charles Bukowski and decided that now was a good time to purchase some of his writing. He has many books, but I finally decided upon "Tales of Ordinary Madness" because it is a collection of short stories and I like stories and "The Captain" because it was illustrated by R. Crumb.

What to pay: $30

City Lights is a San Francisco institution, the place that supported people like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg when others all over the US were trying to have their works banned. The store still gives much support to struggling poets, and has a section upstairs which commemorates and underlines its link with the 'Beat' movement.

It's one of the best places in the entire US to get books with a left-wing political slant. It also has exceptional sections with the works of authors from across the globe: if you want books by authors from Africa or Asia, this is the place to go. You could get lost for hours among books that you've never seen before - and now desperately want to buy!