One of the easiest ways to remind myself that life is worth living is grabbing my current read and taking it out of the house with me. It’s an essential tote bag accessory, along with my keys, chapstick and sunscreen. 

So imagine my surprise when I saw this post from a user whose friend took a picture of them reading — on what appears to be a lovely bench — captioned: “My friends called me performative cause this is how they found me lmao??”

Yes, it’s probably a joke — and it definitely sounds like something my friends would say ironically as well. (“Going to bring a book to the BTS concert so RM sees me reading in the audience and knows I’m not like other girls,” etc. etc.) But being a “performative reader” — i.e., reading in public, in various configurations —has turned into something of a jab from the Very Online. And it’s for everyone, not just the apparent “pretentious guy on a dating app” archetype.

But as The New Yorker’s Brady Brickner-Wood wrote, “If everything is potentially performative, how will we ever work up the courage to step outside of our sphere of normal, to risk being earnest and cringe, and experience something transformative?”

And as Brickner-Wood said, “Reading a book is antithetical to scrolling; online platforms cannot replicate the slow, patient, and complex experience of reading a weighty novel.”

So in celebration of reading outside — which is a vibe — I consulted some of the Bay Area’s writers, librarians and booksellers and went on the hunt to find excellent spots in the region that will let you sit down for a while with a good read. (As always, be sure to check the hours of any businesses on this list before heading out, to make sure it’s still open.)

And if you don’t have something in your TBR list that’s speaking to you right now, you can check out KQED’s Forum episode interviewing Bay Area booksellers on some popular summer titles. (I am currently reading The Brothers Karamazov with a friend, which, I’ll admit, is not helping me beat the performative reading allegations.)

Jump straight to the best places to read in:

The best places to read in San Francisco

Vesuvio Cafe in North Beach

Recommendation from: Rae Alexandra, KQED Arts and Culture reporter and author of Unsung Heroines: 35 Women Who Changed the Bay Area

Vesuvio Cafe is a gorgeous bar right next to City Lights, the famous bookstore once frequented by figures like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg (they also publish books, and Unsung Heroines is one of them). Alexandra’s preference is at the end of the bar, near the front door.

Vesuvio Bar in San Francisco, California, on July 13, 2017.

“It’s a habit that started by accident — going book shopping in City Lights and deciding I just had to start reading what I’d bought immediately, so popping next door to the bar,” Alexandra said. “Vesuvio is quiet in the afternoon, so a nice place to read.”

If you want some nature reading with your City Lights read instead, take a 12-minute walk up Columbus Avenue to Ina Coolbrith Park, a small space with beautiful city views named after the state’s first poet laureate. Alternatively, a little way up Columbus is Washington Square Park. 

Golden Gate Park

Recommendation from: Erika Naulu, high school librarian in Concord 

It’s hard not to find a pretty spot in Golden Gate Park to read — but the Conservatory of Flowers is probably my all-time favorite place to spread a blanket and rest.

Librarian Naulu agrees. For her, the best spot is the area between the California Academy of Sciences and de Young Museum. “There are fountains and benches where you can sit and relax,” she said.

View from the SkyStar Observation Wheel of the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park on March 4, 2021.

“There are music performances sometimes at the music concourse that can get distracting if you are looking for a quiet spot,” Naulu said. “I like the background music sometimes though.” 

What makes the park particularly excellent for readers is the plethora of bookstores also available nearby, including: 

La Promenade Café in the Outer Richmond

Recommendation from: Amy Gloriana, owner of bookstore Between the Bookends

Gloriana said that La Promenade Café has “so many options for seating and it’s so cozy!” There are usually a good amount of customers inside, but “never too loud” and “food and coffee is pretty good,” she said.

And probably the most winning part of her rec: “It feels like you’re in a coffee shop lofi video.”

Charlie’s Cafe in the Mission

Recommendation from: Sirkka Miller, bookseller at Dog Eared Books Valencia

Miller said Charlie’s Cafe has good coffee and, in the morning, is “well lit” and “nice and airy” in addition to being quiet. 

A bonus for Charlie’s is that it is right next to Precita Park, which has a butterfly garden.

People relaxing in the grass at Dolores Park in San Francisco.

Dolores Park in the Mission 

Recommendation from: Grace Wathen, bookseller at The Love Potion Library

Wathen said her usual spots are “anywhere I can read under a tree.” Near Dolores Park is Dolores Cafe, which includes outside seating and a pretty magnificent view of the park.

If you need a book, there are also stores near the park, including:

Dog Eared Books, around a 6-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.Fabulosa Books, around a 10-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.

The International Library of Young Authors in the Mission

This incredible sweet spot — which features titles written by young writers across the country — is a favorite of this reporter, as it’s also the home of literary magazines like McSweeney’s (founded by the Bay Area’s Dave Eggers) and The Believer. The “library” has comfy couches, plenty of sunlight and a pretty whimsical hidden room at the back. 

The space sometimes hosts workshops for young people, so it’s best to check their schedule beforehand to make sure you’re able to pop in during the quiet, empty hours.

The best places to read in East Bay

Clio’s in Oakland

Recommendation from: Gabbi Sharp, host of the Black Authors Book Club at the West Oakland Branch Library

Clio’s is a stylish bar and bookstore. As Sharp said, “I always bring my own book to read. They have such cozy couches, a warm atmosphere, and they are open late!” 

Atherton Library in Atherton

Recommendation from: Ciera Pasturel, San Mateo County librarian

Pasturel recommends specifically the patio of the Atherton Library, which is “under an enormous oak tree.

“There is ample seating as well as a cafe that sells delicious coffee and pastries,” Pasturel said.

Lake Chabot in Castro Valley

Recommendation from: Concord librarian Naulu

Naulu recommends this gated regional park where people also boat and fish. “I like to walk the trails while listening to audiobooks,” Naulu said. “There are places to sit and read as well near the lake, but depending on the day, it can get busy and noisy with campers or other people.”

You’ll need to pay for parking within the regional park itself, but there’s also parking available on the road just outside the park, which is free.

A woman reads a book at Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, on Saturday, May 16, 2020.

Lake Merritt in Oakland

Recommendation from: Makayla Walker, librarian in Oakland

Lake Merritt is a favorite, especially on sunny days, Walker said. There are also specific gardens within Lake Merritt to choose from. 

Perhaps Lake Merritt is the place for a nice fantasy novel, considering children’s amusement park Fairyland is nearby as well.

Bishop Ranch in San Ramon

Recommendation from: Concord librarian Naulu

As a large, lush open space, Naulu called Bishop Ranch a “hidden gem of San Ramon.” 

There’s also Annabel Lake nearby, with “a lot of benches around it that are perfect for reading,” she said.

Half Moon Bay Beach

Recommendation from: Concord librarian Naulu

Weather permitting, of course! Naulu said that she tends to take her e-reader to the beach instead of a physical book, since it “does get windy.”

But it makes for a pleasant family outing, since she can settle with a book while her kids build sandcastles next to her.

Book Society is a wine lounge based in Berkeley.

Book Society in Berkeley

A wine lounge with a menu of snacks and nonalcoholic options to choose from, the Book Society is a stylish space with popular titles for sale as well. There are also couches to lounge on, as well as soft chairs and bar stools.

The best places to read in North Bay

Mill Valley Depot Café & Bookstore in Mill Valley 

This cafe offers a large menu, allowing you to spend some time grazing while going through your book.

The cafe also doubles as an independent bookstore and an event space — so be sure to check out the calendar if you’d like to see a live music show that day as well (or avoid one, if you’re seeking serenity!).

The Mill Valley Public Library

The Mill Valley branch has wide glass windows, high ceilings and cozy lighting that allow visitors to really feel like they are engulfed in the surrounding woods. In this reporter’s humble opinion, it’s probably one of the prettiest public libraries in the Bay Area. 

Aqus Cafe in Petaluma

Recommendation from: Danielle Venton, KQED Science and climate reporter, host of KQED’s Climate Book Club

A little away from the bustling downtown, Venton said that Aqus Cafe is “very welcoming to those bookishly quiet of us, who want to be around other people without necessarily talking to them.” 

But if you would like to be closer to downtown, Venton also recommended historic saloon McNears, adding that the staff there has “been kind and patient with me, letting me hide out upstairs reading and writing.”

Oak Hill in Petaluma

Recommendation from: Danielle Venton, KQED Science and climate reporter, host of KQED’s Climate Book Club

Venton said that this park has “everything you want.” 

There are picnic tables, a kid’s playground, dog run, petanque court, basketball hoop and, most importantly for readers, “enormous live oak trees offering abundant shade over a large lawn,” she said. 

The best places to read in South Bay and the Peninsula

Fioli Estate in Woodside

Recommendation from: Yung Le, co-founder of A Novel Affair

This gorgeous, Austenland-like garden was actually Le’s previous recommendation to KQED for a literary-themed date. 

At around $45 for adults, Filoli is a pricier option for a day out with a book. But people with a SNAP (CalFresh) EBT card or a Discover and Go pass from the library can get free and reduced admission.

Fioli, in Woodside, is an historic estate with landscape gardens that brings pure Pemberley vibes to the Peninsula.

The A.M. Craft in San José

Recommendation from: Amy Ly, San José Silent Book Club moderator

This cafe and restaurant is located in downtown San José, and Ly called A.M. Craft “my little hideout when I want to get some reading done on a Saturday morning.

“Gimme a cold brew, pastry and a good read, and I’ll happily read for a few hours,” Ly said.