Does the thought of Toys 'R Us drive you to the brink of insanity? This straightforward store, which specialises in toys from outside the US, has a charming...

Every fashionista's best friend, Barneys arrived in San Francisco in 2007 in a quiet, low-key manner in keeping with its tasteful style (and perhaps the...

Filling the retail gap between Macy's and Neiman Marcus, the Little Brown Bag's temple to luxe wares has finally touched down in San Francisco, in the...

Casa Bonampak is a must-see shop where you can pick up all your Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) supplies. It also sells excellent compilation CDs and...

It only stands to reason that hilly, windy SF should have an excellent kite shop. Stocked with hundreds of different kites in every imaginable shape and...

Organic cotton garments, designed and manufactured in Japan, rule the roost here. Finger the utterly sweet children's hoodies or the truly unusual toddlers'...

The prices are steep, but the clothing is astonishingly stylish at this shop helmed by the owners of Lavish, a few doors down. Look for Livie and Luca...

Why should adults have all the fun? Here's where to get the kids tooled up with leopard-print blankets, handmade caps and tie-dye worthy of the Dead.

Exquisite, intricate little slippers and coats, sewn by Laku's owner from velvet and shantung silk on a machine in the back of the shop. For baby royalty.

Gorgeous letterpress cards, charming print bags, delicate jewellery and oodles of whimsical baby clothes make this a must-stop on the way to a girlie soirée...

The definitive department store: what Macy's lacks in grace, it more than makes up for in discounts. Join the fray and pick up shoes, home furnishings, and...

Like it or not, pre-teens and teens will track down this mixed bag of shopping and entertainment. There's the Games Workshop (where you can paint your toy...

Sweet, affordable togs by European makers such as Joha, Juttum, Filou & Friends and Micro Bulle, using simple, whimsical motifs and tasteful, muted colours.

Now commonly referred to as 'Needless Markup', Neiman Marcus was revered by old San Francisco society back in the day - when labels said 'Exclusively for...