Check out San Francisco's 18 best places to shop

This community-based store that is Native American-owned started as a surfing film and morphed into a silkscreen studio selling shirts out of a zebra-printed van, expanding to encompass today’s shops in the Inner Sunset, the Haight, Fisherman’s Wharf and SFO. You can grab beautifully illustrated crop tops, tanks, joggers, beanies, sweatshirts and dog hoodies. In 2025, SFP is collaborating with artist Erik Abel on cool designwork.

Time Out tip: SanFranPsycho is the official merch partner for the 2026 Noise Pop Festival; the gear should be spectacular.

Address: 1439 Haight St. (for the Haight location).

Opening hours: Daily 11am–7pm.

Founded in Sausalito in 1948, this storied tile and ceramics company moved into a cavernous old linen supply and laundry facility in 2012 and has been a hub of design ever since. The working tile factory is also a wonderland that includes a gallery and showroom where shoppers browse the brand’s famously minimalist dinnerware, ceramics (Heath’s signature bud vase is a go-to gift for locals), bags, baskets and candles. Bonus points for the Heath Newsstand, stuffed with glossies, design mags, travel guides and other hard-to-find printed matter. Plus, when you get hungry, the connected Tartine Manufactory is right there to satisfy your morning bun fix (and of course uses Heath dinnerware). Three other locations beckon, in the Ferry Building and quite a bit further away in Austin, Texas and Los Angeles.

Time Out tip: You can take a hands-on workshop in making your own bud vase ($150), or take a $15 factory tour with advance registration.

Address: 2900 18th St.

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10am–6pm; Sat–Sun 10am–5pm.

This artistic design store and art gallery sells art, books, apparel, homeware and stationery, all with a bright eclectic vibe. The art gallery hosts 10 exhibitions per year, and owners Jamie Alexander and Derek Song also collaborate regularly with artists to create products, everything from skate decks to zines and prints. The first Park Life is in the Inner Richmond at 220 Clement St., and there’s also a pop-up store at SFMOMA and a bookstore at Arion Press in Fort Mason.

Time Out tip: New products arrive daily, so it’s always worth a swing-by.

Address: 220 Clement St.

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 10am–6pm; Sun 10am–5pm.

We can’t have a best shopping roundup without mentioning one of San Francisco’s incredible independent bookstores—and it’s hard to just pick one. We adore City Lights, Green Apple Books, Booksmith, Books Inc., Dog Eared Books, Book Shop West Portal and Bird & Beckett, just to name a handful, but we gravitate towards Book Passage in the Ferry Building. Here, one glass wall lets in natural light and views of the bay, while wooden bookshelves hold masses of books for sale. Both this location and the sister store in Corte Madera regularly host authors for book launches, and the history of this business is fascinating, including a police sting with a wire-wearing shoplifter—and we may have Book Passage to thank for the idea of author talks rather than just book signings.

Time Out tip: Since you’re at the Ferry Building anyway, stay a while. A few of our favorites are Gott’s Roadside, El Porteño Empanadas and Fort Point Beer Company.

Address: 1 Ferry Building.

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10am–5pm; Sat 9am–5pm; Sun 11am–5pm.

Synonymous with cool, edgy vintage, this Haight Street store in its current location since 1989 is a must-shop. While the first location was opened in 1985 across the bay in Berkeley, San Francisco’s followed soon after, and today there are shops in WeHo, Studio City, Highland Park and Silverlake.  Along with true vintage finds from the ‘60s to ‘90s, the cavernous space is rife with vintage-inspired clothing from the aughts to present-day. You’ll see everything from denim jumpsuits and grungy plaid to awesome band tees and one-of-a-kinds, courtesy of contemporary and high-end brands. 

Time Out tip: Check out the cool gargoyles and designs on the façade; this is a seriously cool building.

Address: 1660 Haight St.

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 11am–8pm; Sun 11am–7pm.

Topdrawer is a Japanese-American company that’s like a stationery store that got distracted. It sells a variety of backpacks, notebooks, writing tools, bento boxes, house shoes and sunglasses: Basically, anything you need for work and travel. You’ll find locations in the Mission and Cow Hollow (also in Marin, Burlingame and Berkeley and around a dozen stores throughout the country); the one in Cow Hollow is the first U.S. venue, created by Akira Ito and Peter Dunn. 

Time Out tip: The brand makes a point of only siting its stores in “walkable neighborhoods with soul, not malls or shopping centers. Always near bookstores, design schools, good coffee, and galleries. Places where creative people walk,” so that’s your signal to spend the afternoon exploring.

Address: 1840 Union St. (for the Cow Hollow location).

Opening hours: Daily 11am–7pm.

This trendy shop is female, first-generation Chinese American owned and operated and LGBTQ+ friendly. It offers a little bit of everything—swing by for new clothes, kids’ clothes, coffee table books, jewelry, cards and pretty much anything (not surprisingly, it’s a great spot for gifts). Most of the goods come from local makers and artisans. Therapy has Mission and Bernal Heights locations (and eight others in day trip distance).

Time Out tip: If you’ve visited the Valencia Street location, you’re just a few blocks away from Mission Dolores Park—bring a picnic and end your retail therapy with some blanket therapy.

Address: 545 Valencia St.

Opening hours: Mon–Sat noon–8pm; Sun 11am–7pm.

Located along Divisadero in Nopa (the 24th Street location has closed), Rare Device is one of San Francisco’s favorite shops for gifts, cards, plants, home goods, art supplies and playfully-curated kids’ toys. Quirky is the key word here. The bright and happy color scheme makes it a pleasure to shop, and the website features each employee’s answer to “what is the favorite gift you have given,” which provides a great way to think about shopping and how the pleasure is on the giving end. The shop also hosts art shows and occasional events. Bonus: The store’s name comes from a Coleridge poem.

Time Out tip: Next door is the Emporium Arcade Bar—foosball needs you. Bring your own roll of quarters for vintage machines in this former theater with a great cocktail game.

Address: 600 Divisadero St.

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 11am–7pm; Sun 11am–6pm.

With its velvety midnight blue walls, teeny Métier in the Hayes Valley is a sumptuous jewelbox overflowing with treasures. The shop artfully mingles estate sale finds and one-of-a-kind vintage brooches and pendants with modern pieces from designers like Gillian Conroy, Tara Sugden, Gabriella Kiss and Kathleen Whitaker. The selection trends towards jewelry that is slightly unusual in its cut or style and quietly glamorous. The truly unique selection of wedding bands and engagement rings is fantastic. Prices range from modest to luxury.

Time Out tip: Keep an eye on the website events page to keep informed of designer trunk shows.

Address: 575 Hayes St.

Opening hours: Tues–Sat noon–6pm; Sun noon–5pm.

Calling all Francophiles to Nest, a très charmant Pacific Heights boutique with fun finds from around the globe, in place since 1995. With a distinct Parisian feel, the medium-sized space is jam-packed with covetable items old and new. Atmosphere is everything in this boutique with delicate jewelry and Old World baubles, handmade quilts, vintage-inspired glassware, fine stationery, décor and European children’s toys.

Time Out tip: You’re at an intersection, and there are charming bars on two of three corners, Snug and Palmer’s Tavern. You know what to do.

Address: 2300 Fillmore St.

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 11:30am–5:30pm; Sun noon–5pm.

If you’re looking to go vintage shopping—but you don’t feel like sorting through massive amounts of packed racks, head to the Golden Hour for thoughtfully curated, fashion-forward retro fits. A trip to this shop in the Inner Richmond is always a fun treasure hunt, offering a diverse selection of European, British and American designers. You may walk out with cowboy boots from the ‘70s, a leather jacket from the ‘80s or a perfect ‘90s dress for a night out. There’s also a jewelry section and an apothecary with soy candles.

Time Out tip: You’re only a block away from Burma Superstar, so plan to shop around lunch or dinner time so you can also indulge in beloved Burmese food.

Address: 147 Clement St.

Opening hours: Wed–Sat 11am–6pm; Sun 11am–5pm.

Fresh out of articulated cat skeletons? You’ve come to the right place. Gawking window shoppers are routinely drawn into this strange but wonderful Mission mainstay, an eclectic den of plants, animalia and oddities. You’ll find anatomical posters, glass cases holding jewel-toned entomology specimens, small taxidermy (including tiny stuffed mice dressed as religious figures), fossils, earrings fashioned from butterfly wings, animal bones (red fox penis bone, anyone?) and, logically, pocket knives. Besides the Valencia Street location, there’s a Paxton Gate’s Curiosities for Kids spinoff, and another location in Portland, Oregon.

Time Out tip: Lean heavily into the morbid vibe here by taking one of shop’s taxidermy classes. Currently, you can work on a rat, rooster or jackalope. “You’ll leave with a newfound skill, a tiny new friend, and probably a weird story to tell at parties,” reads the website. The beasts are ethically sourced.

Address: 824 Valencia St.

Opening hours: Wed–Mon 11am–7pm.

Denimheads have been visiting this bastion of men’s and women’s jeans for over 30 years. Situated in its original, still-charming spot in North Beach, loyal shoppers come for a collection of blues that very few stores could rival. Sure, you’ll find familiar-ish labels like Raleigh Denim, INDI + ASH and Atelier Delphine. But discovering obscure, high-quality brands from around the globe (MATiAS, We Norwegians, C.O.F. Studio) is the really fun part. Along with the crazy-good jeans lineup, AB Fits owes its success to the guy who finds them: the owner, denim genius and all-around nice guy, Howard Gee. Make sure to check out the store’s own AB Fits jeans and pick up a STAY OKAY trucker hat. Don’t worry, you’ll also find a smattering of equally stylish tops, jackets and accessories to wear with your fly jeans.

Time Out tip: This store carries Antipast socks from Japan, each season with new colors and patterns.

Address: 1519 Grant Avenue.

Opening hours: Wed–Sun noon–6pm.

Jenny Chung Seeger established this jewelry store in 2013, which now showcases the work of 32 artisans from around the world in its Russian Hill home on Polk Street. You’ll find everything from antique diamonds to modern cuts, as well as sapphires, gray diamonds and opals—and you can come with a concept that the team can realize. The interior itself is artistic, designed by San Francisco’s Geremia Design, with jewelry displayed in low-lying cases, making for a more intimate experience.

Time Out tip: Just in case you want to VIP yourself into some incredible pieces, you can book a “pink table appointment” (the table is a very pale pink marble) with a few guests to drink champagne, have light bites and spend an hour with a consultant, so long as you are looking at stones that start at $10,000.

Address: 2354 Polk St.

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 11am–6pm; Sun 11am–5pm.

This Nob Hill boutique is worth a visit for folks who get weak in the knees for high-end labels (like Chanel, Armani, Prada, Hermes, D&G and Gucci) at reasonable prices. It’s a luxury collection so special one Yelp reviewer mentioned flying in from L.A. for routine visits. The shop recently moved a few blocks away on Polk Street, and there’s also a location in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Time Out tip: Whelp, you’re a block away from the House of Prime Rib, so upscale both your consignment shopping and your lunch!

Address: 1813 Polk St.

Opening hours: Mon 11am–5pm; Wed–Sat 11am–6pm; Sun noon–6pm.

At Dandelion Chocolate in the Mission, this bean-to-bar chocolate maker has been creating single-origin dark chocolate from only two ingredients, cocoa beans and organic sugar, for the last decade, housed inside a historic brick factory. You can tour the factory, take a class (the array of offerings is truly incredible, with about 10 different ones currently on the website) or attend an event like a desssert pairing with live music. We also recommend checking out the Bloom Chocolate Cafe in the same space to order delectable treats (we have personally lost our minds over the chocolate soufflé served in its little copper pot with a side of vanilla ice cream).

Time Out tip: Dandelion’s advent calendar sells out each year, a curated box of 25 handcrafted confections, all sourced from North America’s cherished chocolatiers. This year, each chocolate is nestled into an individual ornament box illustrated by Belgian artist Lina Kusaite, honoring our solar system’s moons.

Address: 2600 16th St.

Opening hours: Mon–Thurs 7:30am–6pm; Fri 7:30am–7pm; Sat 9am–7pm; Sun 10am–5pm.

JINS eyewear outfits faces with innovative, lightweight, transparently priced glasses; the frames are designed in Tokyo with meticulous Japanese aesthetics. These are for blue light or prescription lenses. The collections are creative, like a partnership with Tamagotchi for kids and adults, the 360 line with multi-directional movement hinges (who knew glasses could bend that way?) and the ultra light titanium airframes. JINS has international locations, but this Stonestown Galleria, which opened this year, is the only U.S. store. Folks may remember the original location in Union Square which was there from 2015 to 2022, the company’s first U.S. flagship store. It closed due to changes in shopping habits because of the pandemic.

Time Out tip: Kizuki Ramen is close by with their broth made from bones roasted for hours before boiling—and then simmered another 6-8 hours.

Address: Stonestown Galleria, 3251 20th Avenue.

Opening hours: Mon–Thurs 11am–8pm; Fri, Sat 11am–9pm; Sun 1am–7pm.

Fleetwood is the ultimate place to pick up a gift, with curated gift boxes in categories like California, coffee, self care and best of all: San Francisco—every item in the box is handmade by a San Francisco maker. Besides that, it’s got a slew of browsable merchandise like clothing, edibles and snacks, jewelry, cards and bath products. Need a neighborhood shirt (Ocean Beach, Baker Beach, North Beach, Outer Richmond, Cole Valley or Clement) or a sweatshirt featuring the San Francisco skyline—or our favorite, one with two ripped giant Muni transfers on it (iykyk)? This is your hub.

Time Out tip: This is a custom screenprint shop if you want to create your own swag—or, take one of Fleetwood’s workshops and learn how to do it yourself.

Address: 714 Clement St.

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 11am–7pm; Sat, Sun 10am–6pm.