Elliott Bay Book Company
Best Bookstore in Seattle · WA
Cedar shelves and 150,000 titles since 1973.
Elliott Bay Book Company has been Seattle's literary heart since 1973, when Walter Carr opened it in Pioneer Square. Now on Capitol Hill, its warm cedar shelves hold more than 150,000 titles, and its author-reading series is among the most respected in the country.
Fiercely independent and staffed by famously well-read booksellers, Elliott Bay is where Seattle goes to browse — and the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Bookstore.
What they're known for
- 150,000+ titles across cedar shelves
- Renowned author reading series
- Beloved staff recommendations
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. Open a year for the full citation and verification details.
2025 Centurion Award
Best Bookstore in Seattle Seattle, WA · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
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This page is the standing record for Elliott Bay Book Company (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. Own this business? Claim the listing to manage it, or ask us to remove it.
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