Ada’s Technical Books is Seattle’s geekiest bookstore, hands-down. Founded to help “geeks find the knowledge they seek,” this bookstore/café/community space is located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. At Ada’s, (named after the OG computer programmer Ada Lovelace!), the shelves are packed with a carefully curated, in-depth selection of books relating to knowledge, STEM, science fiction, fantasy, and hobbies, with strong representation from female and LGBTQIA+ authors. There are also board games, pastries, and bins of electronic equipment, from alligator clips to Arduino kits and Raspberry Pis!
From the moment you step inside, the sense of community that Ada’s seeks to foster is evident, from its bulletin board with local events to its friendly staff. Sit and stay awhile in the café, or gather with a larger group in the back room.
Ada’s Technical Books is about one and a half miles from the Washington State Convention Center and can be reached by bus. If you’re up for some climbing, the walk there is pleasant and takes you through the main streets of Capitol Hill, Seattle’s hippest neighborhood, known for its nightlife and music culture and as Seattle’s “gayborhood,” with rainbow crosswalks celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community.
To explore Capitol Hill further, we recommend the Seattle Asian Art Museum, housed in a landmarked art deco building, Bruce Lee’s grave site at Lake View Cemetery, and the Volunteer Park Conservatory, a stunning greenhouse modeled on Victorian conservatories in Europe.
Fifi Ding is a journalist and travel writer. She has interviewed numerous figures in the world of entertainment and genre fiction, including actor Nathan Fillion and manga artist Hiro Mashima.