Beyond Powell's: Portland's Independent Bookstores and Literary Havens Worth the Visit

Let's Talk About Powell's

Yes, Powell's City of Books is iconic. Yes, it's a full city block of literary heaven. And yes, every visitor to Portland should experience getting wonderfully lost in its color-coded rooms at least once. But here's the thing: Portland's book scene doesn't begin and end at Burnside and 10th. In fact, some of the most interesting literary spaces in the city are tucked away in neighborhoods where you're more likely to run into locals than tourists.

After decades of exploring Portland's bookish corners, we've collected a mental map of indie stores that each bring something different to the table. These aren't just places to buy books—they're community hubs, carefully curated collections, and the kind of spots where the person behind the counter actually remembers what you bought last time and has a recommendation ready.

Northeast Portland: Broadway Books

Nestled in the Hollywood District at NE Broadway and 39th, Broadway Books has been a neighborhood anchor since 1992. This isn't a browse-and-dash kind of place. The staff here actually reads the books they're selling, which means you can walk in looking for "something like Station Eleven but maybe more hopeful?" and walk out with exactly what you needed.

The store hosts frequent author events—and we're not talking about the mega-bestseller tour stops. Think local authors, debut novelists, and the kind of intimate readings where you might actually get to ask a question without competing with 200 other people. Their kids' section is particularly strong, curated by people who understand that children's literature has gotten incredibly sophisticated and deserve more than whatever's been turned into a movie.

Pro tip: Their staff recommendations shelf is genuinely worth your time. These aren't the same five books everyone's talking about—they're the ones booksellers are quietly pressing into the hands of customers they think will get it.

Inner Southeast: Mother Foucault's Bookshop

Over on SE Belmont Street in the Buckman neighborhood, Mother Foucault's Bookshop has been quietly building one of the best curated used book collections in the city since 2007. The name references both Michel Foucault and the owner's mother—which should tell you something about the blend of intellectual rigor and personal touch you'll find here.

This is where Portland's literary nerds congregate. The philosophy section is legitimately excellent, the literary theory shelves are better than some college bookstores, and the fiction selection skews toward the kind of books that win awards three years before anyone's heard of them. But it's not pretentious—the staff are enthusiastic without being snobby, happy to recommend an accessible entry point into critical theory or point you toward their surprisingly strong mystery section.

The store also hosts a monthly Philosophy Book Club and occasional author events. It's the kind of place where you might overhear a genuine debate about postmodern narrative techniques while browsing the new arrivals table. The used book prices are fair, and they offer store credit for trade-ins if you're looking to rotate your own collection.

Brooklyn Neighborhood: Wallace Books

On SE Milwaukie Avenue in the Brooklyn neighborhood, Wallace Books operates out of a converted house, which immediately sets a different tone from your standard bookstore experience. This place has become an essential neighborhood gathering spot in the Brooklyn/Sellwood area.

The focus here is on both new and used books, with particularly strong sections in contemporary fiction, essays, and narrative nonfiction. You'll find the hottest new bestsellers alongside quirky, hard-to-find out-of-print treasures. There's an emphasis on craft, on books that take risks, on writers you should know about before everyone else does. The recommendations are sharp and specific.

What really makes Wallace special is how it functions as community space. They host book swaps, and other community-centered events. It's become the kind of spot where neighbors plan to meet up, not just a destination for buying books.

Central Eastside: Literary Arts Bookstore & Cafe

At 716 SE Grand Ave in Portland's Central Eastside Industrial District, Literary Arts operates something entirely different from your typical bookstore. This is the physical home of a nonprofit literary organization that's been connecting Portland readers with the world's leading writers for over 40 years—and in late 2024, they opened a bookstore and café that reflects that mission.

The space itself tells a story. Housed in a historic 1904 building (originally Strowbridge Hardware), the 14,000-square-foot headquarters features exposed brick, original floors, and the kind of architectural character you don't find in newer construction. The Literary Arts Bookstore opened in December 2024, followed by the café in June 2025, and together they've created what might be the most program-rich literary space in the city.

With over 14,000 books covering every age, interest, and taste, the collection here goes beyond what's trending on bestseller lists. You'll find titles by Portland Arts & Lectures speakers, Oregon Book Award winners, and authors featured at the annual Portland Book Festival. The staff can speak knowledgeably about the organization's programming, which means recommendations come with context—why a particular author matters, what themes connect different works, which writers are doing innovative things right now.

What sets Literary Arts apart is how the bookstore functions as part of a larger ecosystem. The building includes classroom space, event areas, and a recording studio for The Archive Project podcast. Throughout the week, you'll find author readings, community events, story times for kids, and writing workshops. This isn't a retail space that happens to host the occasional event—it's a cultural hub where the bookstore, café, and programming all support each other.

The nonprofit's mission—to engage readers, support writers, and inspire the next generation with great literature—is evident in everything they do. They bring celebrated authors to speak at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, provide fellowships to Oregon writers, run creative writing programs in Portland high schools, and organize the city's annual book festival. The bookstore and café give all of that programming a permanent, accessible home.

If you time your visit right, you might catch a reading by an Oregon Literary Fellow, a panel discussion about contemporary literature, or a youth poetry event. The café provides a natural gathering space—somewhere to sit with a new book, work on your own writing, or strike up a conversation about what you're reading. It's the kind of place where the boundaries between reading, writing, and community blur in productive ways.

Pro tip: Check their events calendar before visiting. Between author talks, writing classes, and community gatherings, there's almost always something happening. And if you're an Oregon writer, ask about their fellowship and awards programs—Literary Arts has been supporting local literary talent since the 1980s, and they're genuinely invested in the state's writing community.

St. Johns: Two Rivers Bookstore & Weird Sister's Yarn Shop

Up in the St. Johns neighborhood, something unusual is happening at Two Rivers Bookstore & Weird Sister's Yarn Shop—and we mean that in the best possible way. This is a combination bookstore and yarn shop, which sounds like an odd pairing until you spend five minutes there and realize it makes perfect sense. The Venn diagram of people who love books and people who love fiber arts has significant overlap, and Two Rivers has built an entire community around that intersection.

The bookstore side offers a thoughtfully curated selection spanning fiction, nonfiction, and gifts—the kind of place where you'll find both the latest literary fiction and that perfect quirky greeting card you didn't know you needed. But what really sets Two Rivers apart is the yarn shop component. Weird Sister's features beautifully curated yarns, patterns, and tools that go well beyond the basics. This isn't a craft store with a yarn aisle—it's a serious fiber arts destination where knitters and crocheters can find quality materials and expert guidance.

The real magic happens with their extensive offering of classes and workshops. Cross-stitching, knitting, reading clubs, and more create a steady stream of reasons to return. It's the kind of place where you might come in for a book and leave signed up for a workshop, or vice versa. The community aspect is strong here—regulars know each other, instructors are passionate about their crafts, and there's a genuine sense of welcome whether you're an experienced knitter or someone who's never picked up needles before.

Pro tip: Check their workshop schedule online before visiting. Many classes fill up quickly, and if you're interested in learning a new craft or advancing your skills, it's worth planning ahead. Also, if you're gift shopping for someone who loves both books and handwork, this is basically a one-stop solution.

Northeast Portland: Monograph Bookwerks

Located in the Alberta Arts District on NE 27th Ave, Monograph Bookwerks feels like someone's incredibly well-read living room—if that someone had impeccable taste in both literature and mid-century furniture. This place opened in 2010 and immediately became the kind of spot where you plan to pop in for ten minutes and emerge an hour later with three books you didn't know you needed.

What sets Monograph apart is their rotating selection of used books alongside new titles. You might find a pristine first edition next to this month's most buzzed-about release. They're particularly strong in literary fiction, poetry, and art books. The space itself is small but thoughtfully designed, with natural light and enough seating that you can actually crack open a book before committing. The store also features work by local artists on the walls, reinforcing that this is very much a neighborhood cultural hub, not just a retail space.

The Real Reason These Places Matter

Here's what you lose with algorithm-driven book recommendations and online shopping: serendipity. These stores are small enough that you see things you wouldn't have searched for. You pick up a book because the cover catches your eye or because it's shelved next to something else you love. You ask the person at the register what they're reading, and suddenly you're in a conversation about why a particular translator's work matters or why a certain overlooked novel from 1987 feels eerily relevant right now.

These bookstores are also increasingly rare cultural infrastructure. They host events, support local authors, create gathering spaces in neighborhoods, and employ people who actually know what they're talking about. In a city that's changed dramatically over the past decade, they're anchors—places that maintain a particular kind of community connection that's hard to replicate.

So yes, go to Powell's. Get lost in the Pearl Room, marvel at the Rare Book Room, grab a coffee at the in-house café. But also venture into the neighborhoods. Find the bookstore that feels like it was designed specifically for your sensibilities. Strike up a conversation with someone who can tell you why you should read Elena Ferrante before Sally Rooney, or vice versa. Support the places that make Portland's literary culture more than just one massive bookstore downtown.

Because the city's book scene, like the city itself, is really about the neighborhoods—and the people who've built something worth preserving in them.