14 shops · 7 districts
The Record & Book Edit.
Fourteen shops for bookshops and record stores worth an afternoon, across 7 parts of DC: Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Union Market and more. Picked from the 286 shops we list, one location each.
- 1Books · GeorgetownThe LanternVolunteer-run Bryn Mawr bookshop on Book Hill selling used and rare books, with proceeds supporting women at Bryn Mawr College.
- 2Books · GeorgetownFlor. Coffee + BooksBuenos Aires-inspired cafe opened August 2025 with a second-floor bookshop of English and Spanish titles on mental health, cooking and gratitude, plus
- 3Books · Dupont CircleKramersIndependent bookstore opened in 1976 as DC's first bookstore-cafe, now combined with a full-service restaurant and bar serving breakfast through dinne
- 4Books · Dupont CircleSecond Story BooksLarge used and rare bookstore at the corner of 20th and P, with sidewalk sales and on-site buyers every day.
- 5Books · Dupont CircleJF BooksDC's only Chinese-language bookstore, reopened under this name in September 2024; sells English and Chinese books, including Hong Kong and Taiwan titl
- 6Books · Adams MorganLost City BooksVeteran-owned bookstore on two floors selling new, used and rare books, with readings and launch events upstairs.
- 7Records & music · Adams MorganSmash! RecordsLong-running independent record store on 18th Street with new and used vinyl, strongest in punk and indie, plus in-store events such as photo-book talks on the punk scene.
- 8Records & music · Adams MorganTiny Vinyl ShopSmall record shop on Champlain St that doubles as an event space, hosting album listening parties, a physical-media swap meet and art shows in its Tiny Artspace.
- 9Records & music · Union MarketByrdland RecordsRecord shop from the team behind Songbyrd Music House with more than 5,000 new and used LPs across indie, soul, hip hop, jazz and local DC music, plus
- 10Books · Eastern MarketCapitol Hill BooksUsed bookstore on three floors of a rowhouse facing the market, with first editions and rare books and sections from mysteries and foreign language to
- 11Books · Eastern MarketEast City BookshopIndependent bookstore opened in 2016 with new books for all ages plus toys, gifts and art supplies.
- 12Books · Eastern MarketLittle District BooksQueer-owned independent bookstore devoted to LGBTQ+ authors and stories, with regular book clubs.
- 13Books · The WharfPolitics and Prose at The WharfWaterfront branch of DC's best-known independent bookstore, selling books, stationery and gifts and hosting author events, signings and classes.
- 14Books · Old TownFriends to Lovers BookstoreBookstore devoted to romance novels, billed by Visit Alexandria as the first romance bookstore in the DC metro area, a block off King Street on Cameron St.
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