One of the best book stores in Los Angeles. The selection is HUGE the staff could not be friendlier or more helpful. I will ALWAYS choose Arcana first for books. They special order, I’ve had them ship books for me, truly a GEM of a special place.

Great selection of fine books, both new and used, specializing on the arts. They also carry collectable and rare books, primarily associated with the arts. Friendly, knowledgeable staff and management. Fair prices. Store is quite large, and features modern art and art photography, that is framed and displayed on its walls. Well-established original owners, who I have been a customer of, for decades. Also plentiful free parking, adjacent to the store, which is inside its own self- contained building.

We LOVE this store - you can find so many little treasures and gifts for friends here. Or just browse, wander, and explore!

Such a cool spot! Was recommended to go here while in the area by a friend, and spent over an hour just browsing the various books. Really great spot to pick up a gift for someone, they truly have something for everyone. Would definitely go back and get something if I needed a gift or an interesting read.

Hands down my new fave bookstore in LA. Maybe California. Selection is insane, and the staff are next level super nice.

Nephew and hubby love this place! Great place to check out before pasta sisters

Love the staff. Love the inventory. Best art book store. Feel very comfortable there. Can take my time with reading through pages and no pressure in deciding.

I stumbled upon this place while walking my pup! It had this artistic library feel from the outside so I went in to take a look.Theres a ton of photography books from all sorts of genres. My brother and I are from New York City so I bought him a book about NYC Nightlife. He loved it.I also compared the prices from online stores and the difference was always at least $10 cheaper in the store. A lot of the books are still pricey, but theyre still discounted in comparison.Check them out!

Great local art book store, nice area for a Sunday afternoon stroll

Best Art, Photo, Design bookstore in all of Los Angeles!

A bookstore dedicated to coffee table books old and new.

Good interior design.

One of the few remaining art book stores. Always was even way back when it was on third st in Santa Monica. Always spend hours in search of new and exciting recommendation . Excellence in all respects.. Thank you for maintaining your high quality and expierence.

I picked up a few books here that helped me understand a lot. I highly recommend Why People Photograph and Arts in the Third Reich. I also have a copy of Fashion in the 20th Century from them that is on my to read list.

I absolutely love this place, in my first encounter I was able to find some real treasures. The staff there even helped me find some books that were right up my alley. I came in hoping to find 1 book and I left with 3 and a photo print of Hunter S. Thompson. The staff were knowledgeable, passionate and helpful. Its a real treasure that Im super thankful I took the time to go visit.

I stumbled upon this unique bookstore after hearing about a pop-up event going on. Overall I was very entertained of all the variety of selection of books they offer. A lot of them you cant find in any regular store. A lot of collectors items and good gems here. Pretty organized with their sections. Good open space to linger around and just browse through various books. The employees were all oh so helpful and kind. Parking is also good which is a plus, especially in this area. Overall would suggest to check out this place but wouldnt go out of my way.

Arcana Books is the best! Super knowledgeable staff, an incredible collection of books on art and design, and a beautiful store at the Helms Bakery complex. Support your local book store!

Excellent customer service, they swapped the book i chose for a fresh, untouched copy.. thanks Arcana!

I love reading and its a great place to purchase books

Best bookstore in Los Angeles. Really friendly staff good staff picks.

Just spent an hour and a half looking at all floors of this store. Wonderful layout and so many used books at great prices. This was a well loved stop for a man with a book fetish. I found several 1st editions and bought 17 books in total. I felt so lucky and wished I could come back in a week. Now I have something to keep me busy on my flight back tonight.

A gem! The people there are welcoming and friendly and eager to share their knowledge. They know books better than anyone, its like an art in and unto itself. The space is beautiful, stylish and cool. The books are amazing. Fantastic place to discover art and architecture and learn as well as buy the best gifts ever. Thank you.

The selection is good. The staff tend to hover quite a bit, and they are really strict about phone usage. I can see why, but I would come here more if I felt I could browse in peace. I want this to be my favorite store, but I always feel like I’m being judged by the staff so I don’t stay too long.

The owner is a gem. He took a watch my father gave me years ago that wouldnt wind up anymore and made it battery operated so that I could keep my sentimental Holly Hobby watch.This place is of the old-school crafted school. More businesses should be like this.

Had some neat books for a t, photography, fashion, architect and design and serious others. Very clam and collective. The staff is very attentive and helpful.

Top seller. The book is in immaculate conditions and exactly as described. Excellent service; it arrived undamaged, which is rare seeing the way other sellers often package books.This was the first time I have used this seller but it will not be the last; Im very happy with the overall experience.I arranged very favorable payment conditions and delivery times.Thanks so much.Max, Milano (Italy)

This is pretty much the definition of the perfect independent book store. A great selection of books, knowledgeable employees with great recommendations, and a well stocked used book cellar. I cant imagine Coolidge Corner without it!

One of the BEST art book stores I have ever visited. If you love art, and you love books. This place is a must. The staff is always helpful.

I only got pure LOVE for this bookstore! Just walking into this store de-stresses me from the chaos caused by living in an overstimulating environment. This bookstore reminds me of home and reminds me of why supporting local businesses is SOOOOOOO important.

I took a dear fried of mine to this bookstore today. She is a lover and collector of books as well as horrendously impulsive when it comes to purchasing them. If she were homeless, I have no doubt she would still have a book collection and find ways to purchase more books.With that being said, she was quite excited to visit this store. Within minutes of arriving and browsing, she was looking down at her phone when a guy (white guy, pretentious glasses) approached her rudely about not taking photos of the books in the store and went on a rant about people buying them on amazon.Now, she would be the last person in the world to purchase anything from any kind of megastore and is a proponent of small business.WHY WOULD YOU APPROACH A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER WITH PRECONCEIVED DISDAIN??Based on other reviews on yelp, this is clearly not the first time this guy has been a prick to other customers and what is more interesting, it seems all the reviews mentioning a negative experience with this guy all seem to be from women... Is this because hes a coward who wouldnt dare be rude to a man? I walked around and blatantly took pictures of multiple books that I wanted to further research and not a word was said to me (a male).So in case the proprietor of this establishment cares about his business, you should know that now all the books I found in your store that I had interest in purchasing, 7 in total, I will be purchasing on Amazon or elsewhere.

Went in yesterday for a minor repair to my husbands watch. It took about 5 minutes and he didnt even charge me! Great place!

I am so into books and this place is where I buy most of my books. They have the most affordable prizes and great service.

Too many staff members employed for assisting its customers.This is such a great place.

Excellently curated selection of books focused on art and design. Beautiful space. Great atmosphere. Well located near Helms Bakery shops and restaurants and all the nice galleries and boutiques on Washington.

I came here with a vague idea of what I wanted, and the staff (especially Brenda) were extremely helpful... I expected the place to be a little snooty, but it was 100% friendly. She combed the shelves and brought me a dozen options, which saved me lots of time. The music and layout of the store make it a comfortable, trendy place and there are some amazing books there... I frequently got sucked into fascinating titles that had nothing to do with my visit. Great place for art and hard-to-find books!

Really love this book store. Has a lot of great books here. Worth seeing an ecliptic mix of books and the staff is very friendly and laid back. When Im in the area, I like to hang out here.

Very cool spot. You need to know what your looking for. The amount and breadth of what they have is overwhelming.

This is the wonderful place to get lost into. I love how they have all that you might need and want to read. This is just a ideal place for a book lover like me.

Got here a gift for my father for his birthday, they have many detective books and prices are great.

Spend some time here on a rainy LA day. Loved getting lost in beautiful books

I never post reviews like this, but they have the most inconsiderate, rude owner. They could learn a few things about customer service from Powells or Tsutayas T-Site. I thought Arcana went out of business when they left Santa Monica. While wandering around Culver City, I was pleasantly surprised to learn they had just relocated. After being chastised for a phone that someone else was charging in a wall outlet in the store, I left wishing they really had gone out of business. I dont buy books from Amazon, and now Ill never buy another one here, either.

Excellent place for art books. Good stuff.

Never have I been so horribly treated at a store.This place has the absolute most snobbish, snooty, pompous and entirely horrible staff, specifically the douchebag with glasses. The WORST person!Never helpful and whenever you ask for something he makes you feel like youre of no worth for even suggesting that you like what you like.I feel bad for all the employees that have to work with him; theyre sweet and kind, but he absolutely ruins the entire experience of buying books. I love buying books, its my favorite thing to do to go into a bookstore and peruse and find something, but sadly, it is stores like this that are the reason that people are buying books off the internet and shops are closing.Not only are all the books here exorbitantly priced- the people who work here treat you horribly.If you see him, a man with glasses and relatively curly unkempt short hair- avoid him!They have a nice selection of books, but due to how horrible that man is at treating or even engaging with a person in any small way, I will never be coming back here.The WORST!! AVOID!

Prices are great, and they have a really cool selection of hard to find books.

Great book store. Lots of valuable books.

Such an awesome book store! Carries a wide array of design and art books!

Great selection on Books and very friendly staff!

Wonderful place big one they have a lot of books i bought there some used books and new i am pleasure

Wonderful collection of books and art. The staff is quite friendly

The opening for Public magazine was absolutely marvelous

Beautiful lil gem of a book store. Staff is way friendly too.

One of the best places to find rare and sophisticated art books.

Best art book store

Good but pricey

My most favorite bookstore in LA

Beautiful books youre afraid to touch. Like a museum!

Lee knows his stuff

Great selection.

Awesomeeeeeeee place

Nice stock

Extremely hipster!

Every book of art.

Beeest

BAKYGN