Bookstore Feature: Capitol Hill Books (Washington, D.C.)

Capitol Hill Books is everything a used bookstore should be. It has a quirky and cozy atmosphere, overflowing shelves, and prices that won’t deplete your paycheck.

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A while ago I had the idea for an “Indie Bookstore Feature” blog series that would feature a different independent bookstore in each post. Now that I’ve finally gotten around to doing it, I decided the perfect place to start would be my favorite bookstore in Washington, D.C.: Capitol Hill Books.

My favorite way to spend a day is walking around alone going to bookstores and coffee shops, and since I spent some time around D.C., I think I’ve been to nearly every indie bookstore that exists in that city.

Capitol Hill Books is everything a used bookstore should be. It has a quirky and cozy atmosphere, overflowing shelves, and prices that won’t deplete your paycheck.

Bookstore Overview

Name: Capitol Hill Books

City: Washington, D.C., United States

Address: 657 C St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Book Selection: Used

Online Presence:

Website: https://www.capitolhillbooks-dc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capitolhillbooks

Twitter: https://x.com/chbooksdc

Why I Recommend Capitol Hill Books

Capitol Hill Books, as the name suggests, is in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of D.C. You can get to it really easily from the Eastern Market metro station, which is on the Orange, Silver and Blue lines (the nostalgia for WMATA is hitting me hard typing this)

When I lived near D.C., this was my official favorite book browsing spot. The prices are really good and the selection of secondhand books is very wide.

Every time I’ve been there, I’ve come away with a peak book haul.

A stack of seven books with visible titles including 'Homage to Catalonia' by George Orwell, 'Lolita' by Nabokov, 'The Wretched of the Earth' by Frantz Fanon, 'The Feminine Mystique' by Betty Friedan, 'The Hundred Years' War on Palestine' by Rashid Khalidi, 'King Leopold's Ghost' by Hochschild, and 'Chimpanzee Politics' by de Waal. A button from 'Capitol Hill Books' is also visible.
From my last visit

They also have a great atmosphere. The shelves are stacked haphazardly with books in a way that is uniquely charming — if you get the vibe, you get the vibe — and they have a ton of posters and flyers on the walls. It’s really cozy and full of character.

Plus, they have quirky labels on everything and that just elevates the experience all the more in my opinion.

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