For book lovers, there are few things as satisfying as shopping for books, cuddling up with a good book, or talking about books. Yes, you can do these things almost anywhere but there are some cities that are especially great for book enthusiasts, and Northern California is home to one of them. ApartmentGuide recently released a list of the best book cities in the country using factors like the number of book shops and libraries in a city to justify their claims. Coming in at the #2 spot was our very own East Bay city of Berkeley, and it’s definitely well-deserved!
By calculating the ratio of book-related establishments per 100,000 residents for all American cities, ApartmentGuide was able to narrow down the best cities for book lovers in the country. It may not come as a shock to many who know of Berkeley's culture, but we are still incredibly excited to see this bookish city make the list.
All in all, Berkeley was ranked as the second-best city for book enthusiasts! Boasting a whopping 49 book establishments per capita, it was able to beat out cities like Pensacola, Ann Arbor, and Chapel Hill. Cambridge, Massachusetts took the #1 spot with 52 book establishments per capita.
Considering that Berkeley is famous for its culture of social liberalism and boasts an all-around hippie vibe, it's not a huge shock that this city also loves its books. In fact, it's home to a total of 60 book stores and nearly 20 institutional libraries.
Of course, any university town will have its fair share of bookish culture. The University of California at Berkeley definitely contributes a lot to the book-loving community in this lively Bay Area city, but there are still a plethora of destinations that appeal to non-students as well.
Berkeley is home to not only some of the best independent booksellers in Northern California, but in the entire country. Just some of the city's iconic destinations include Moe's Books, Pegasus Books, Mrs. Dalloway's Bookstore, and Books Inc.
As a college town with a smart reputation, you can also bet there are tons of cafes that are perfect for settling in for a few hours with a good book. Walk into a spot like Victory Point Cafe on Shattuck Ave or Au Coquelet on University Ave and you're bound to see a good amount of people with a book in hand while sipping on a hot coffee.
If you're a book lover in Northern California looking for a new city to settle down in, Berkeley may be a great option for you. Although, living here is far from cheap, so maybe a book-inspired vacation could do the trick!
