San Francisco, California Hotels and City Guide

San Francisco - Shopping

Shopping in San Francisco

Shopping in San Francisco can become overwhelming at times simply because there are so many fantastic places to see and browse. Depending upon what part of the city you visit, you’re bound to find something you like, as there are all sorts of different nuggets of gold waiting in every district. There is something for everyone, no matter what you might be looking for; fancy, silly, cheap, suave, souvenirs, or excellent finery. Shopping here is particularly grand for quirky items, especially when you travel outside of the typical large retailers and department stores that are available elsewhere throughout the country (and sometimes overseas as well).

One-stop shopping is available essentially all day, every day. Many shops have typical 9:00am-5:00pm hours, sometimes closing early on Sundays and altogether on important holidays (such as Christmas and Thanksgiving). Because of the high volume of tourists in many parts of the city, you’d be hard pressed to find a shop that isn’t ready to cater to customers.

If your search is for souvenirs, check out Union Square or Fisherman’s Wharf. You’ll get the small and cutesy items like mini cable cars, t-shirts, postcards, and so forth. For really good souvenirs, keep your eyes open all over. Japantown can bring some Japanese flair to a home with kimonos or small knickknacks, and interesting books can be found in the City Lights Bookstore in North Beach. You can also try chocolates, wine, or other unexpected items to bring back home with you.

For more solid shopping, just about anywhere you look you’ll find fresh and funky goods. Japantown and Chinatown will offer up cultural foods, selling them fresh from their stores, fragrant herbs, eye-catching fabrics, and antiques. Travel down some of the less tourist-filled areas and you’ll find quality items that aren’t cheapened for the everyday visitor.

Swanky boutiques sit beside handmade jewelry stores and more. Visit the Mission District or the Haight if you want great bargains within thrift-shops and used record and book stores.

Farmers’ markets and quaint little grocery stores with unique provisions will have you browsing the shelves for hours, imagining what you might concoct in your kitchen with bottles of this and jars of that.

Finding true deals can be a little problematic. Despite the bargains within the thrift shops, other items won’t come so cheap. Keeping your eye out for sales and getting your hands on The San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco Examiner for the heads up. But overall, if you have the money and you’re willing to spend it, you won’t have any problems.

San Francisco Shops by Type

Antiques/Collectibles

Antonio's Antiques

Address: 701 Sansome St., at Jackson St., Financial District, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/781-1737

Brand X Antiques

Address: 570 Castro St., at 18th St., Castro, San Francisco, CA, 94114
Phone: 415/626-8908

Dragon House

Address: 455 Grant Ave., Chinatown, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/781-2351

Evelyn's Antique Chinese Furniture

Address: 381 Hayes St., between Franklin and Gough Sts., Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/255-1815

Forgotten Shanghai

Address: 245 Kansas St., near 16th St., Potrero Hill, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/701-7707

Grand Central Station Antiques

Address: 333 9th St., between Folsom and Ringold Sts., SoMa, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/252-8155

Hunt Antiques

Address: 478 Jackson St., between Montgomery and Sansome Sts., Financial District, San Francisco, CA, 94111
Phone: 415/989-9531

Interior Visions

Address: 2206 Polk St., between Vallejo and Green Sts., Russian Hill, San Francisco, CA, 94109
Phone: 415/771-0656

Lang Antiques and Estate Jewelry

Address: 323 Sutter St., at Grant Ave., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA, 94108
Phone: 415/982-2213

Lotus Collection

Address: 445 Jackson St., between Montgomery and Sansome Sts., Financial District, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/398-8115

Swallowtail

Address: 2217 Polk St., at Vallejo St., Russian Hill, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/567-1555

Zonal

Address: 568 Hayes St., at Laguna St., Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA, 94102
Phone: 415/255-9307

Books/Stationery

Alexander Book Co.

Address: 50 2nd St., between Market and Mission Sts., SoMa, San Francisco, CA, 94105
Phone: 415/495-2992

Barnes & Noble

Address: 2550 Taylor St., between Bay and N. Point Sts., Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA, 94133
Phone: 415/292-6762

Book Passage

Address: 1 Ferry Bldg., #42, Embarcadero at foot of Market St., Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/835-1020

Booksmith

Address: 1644 Haight St., between Cole and Clayton Sts., Haight, San Francisco, CA, 94117
Phone: 415/863-8688

Clothing

AB fits

Address: 1519 Grant Ave., between Filbert and Union Sts., North Beach, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/982-5726

Behind the Post Office

Address: 1510 Haight St., at Ashbury St., Haight, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/861-2507

Blues Jean Bar

Address: 1827 Union St., between Octavia and Laguna Sts., Cow Hollow, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/346-4280

Cable Car Clothiers

Address: 200 Bush St., at Sansome St., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/397-4740

Dema

Address: 1038 Valencia St., between 21st and 22nd Sts., Mission, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/206-0500

Dish

Address: 541 Hayes St., between Laguna and Octavia Sts., Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/252-5997

Dottie Doolittle

Address: 3680 Sacramento St., at Spruce St., Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA, 94118
Phone: 415/563-3244

Erica Tanov

Address: 2408 Fillmore St., between Jackson and Washington Sts., Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/674-1228

H&M

Address: 150 Powell St., at O'Farrell St., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/986-4215

Harputs and Harputs Market

Address: 1525-1527 Fillmore St., between Geary Blvd. and O'Farrell St., Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/923-9300; 415/922-9964

HeidiSays

Address: 2426 Fillmore St., between Jackson and Washington Sts., Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/749-0655

Lemon Twist

Address: 537 Octavia Blvd., between Hayes and Grove Sts., Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/558-9699

Marc Jacobs

Address: 125 Maiden La., at Grant St., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/362-6500

Margaret O'Leary

Address: 1 Claude La., at Sutter St., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/391-1010

Metier

Address: 355 Sutter St., between Stockton and Grant Sts., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/989-5395

Mrs. Dewson's Hats

Address: 2050 Fillmore St., at California St., Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/346-1600

Murik

Address: 73 Geary St., between Grant Ave. and Kearny St., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/395-9200

Old Shanghai

Address: 645 Grant Ave., Chinatown, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/986-1222

Ooma

Address: 1422 Grant Ave., between Green and Union Sts., North Beach, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/627-6963

RAG

Address: 541 Octavia St., between Hayes and Grove Sts., Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/621-7718

Red Lantern

Address: 2030-A Union St., between Webster and Buchanan Sts., Cow Hollow, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/776-8876

Rolo

Address: 2351 Market St., at Castro St., Castro, San Francisco, CA, 94114
Phone: 415/431-4545

Sarah Shaw

Address: 3095 Sacramento St., at Baker St., Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/929-2990

Smaak

Address: 528 Hayes St., between Laguna and Octavia Sts., Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/503-1430

Small Frys

Address: 4066 24th St., between Castro and Noe Sts., Noe Valley, San Francisco, CA, 94114
Phone: 415/648-3954

Three Bags Full

Address: 2181 Union St., at Fillmore St., Cow Hollow, San Francisco, CA, 94123
Phone: 415/567-5753

Yountville

Address: 2416 Fillmore St., between Jackson and Washington Sts., Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA, 94115
Phone: 415/922-5050

Crafts

F. Dorian

Address: 370 Hayes St., between Franklin and Gough Sts., Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/861-3191

Global Exchange

Address: 4018 24th St., between Noe and Castro Sts., Noe Valley, San Francisco, CA, 94114
Phone: 415/648-8068

Ma-Shi'-Ko Folk Craft

Address: Kinokuniya Bldg., 1581 Webster St., 2nd fl., Japantown, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/346-0748

Polanco

Address: 393 Hayes St., between Franklin and Gough Sts., Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA, 94102
Phone: 415/252-5753

Ruby Gallery

Address: 3602 20th St., at Valencia St., Mission, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/550-8052

Soko Hardware

Address: 1698 Post St., at Buchanan St., Japantown, San Francisco, CA, 94115
Phone: 415/931-5510

Studio 24

Address: 2857 24th St., at Bryant St., Mission, San Francisco, CA, 94110
Phone: 415/826-8009

Xanadu Gallery San Francisco

Address: 140 Maiden La., between Stockton St. and Grant Ave., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA, 94108
Phone: 415/392-9999

Xela Imports

Address: 3925 24th St., between Sanchez and Noe Sts., Noe Valley, San Francisco, CA, 94114
Phone: 415/695-1323

Department Stores

Bloomingdales

Address: 845 Market St., between Grant Ave. and Kearny St., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/856-5300

Gump's

Address: 135 Post St., between Grant Ave. and Kearny St., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA, 94578
Phone: 415/982-1616

Macy's

Address: 170 O'Farrell St., at Stockton St., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/397-3333

Neiman Marcus

Address: 150 Stockton St., at Geary Blvd., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA, 94108
Phone: 415/362-3900

Nordstrom

Address: San Francisco Shopping Centre, 865 Market St., between 4th and 5th Sts., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/243-8500

Saks Fifth Avenue

Address: 384 Post St., at Powell St., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA, 94108
Phone: 415/986-4300

Jewelry/Accessories

Bead Store

Address: 417 Castro St., at Market St., Castro, San Francisco, CA, 94114
Phone: 415/861-7332

Brand X Antiques

Address: 570 Castro St., at 18th St., Castro, San Francisco, CA, 94114
Phone: 415/626-8908

De Vera

Address: 29 Maiden La., at Kearney St., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/788-0828

Jade Galore

Address: 1000 Stockton St., Chinatown, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/982-4863

Lang Antiques and Estate Jewelry

Address: 323 Sutter St., at Grant Ave., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA, 94108
Phone: 415/982-2213

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Museum Store

Address: 151 3rd St., between Mission and Howard Sts., SoMa, San Francisco, CA, 94103
Phone: 415/357-4035

Shreve & Co.

Address: 200 Post St., at Grant Ave., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA, 94108
Phone: 415/421-2600

Tiffany & .Co.

Address: 350 Post St., between Powell and Stockton Sts., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/781-7000

Union Street Goldsmith

Address: 1909 Union St., at Laguna St., Cow Hollow, San Francisco, CA, 94123
Phone: 415/776-8048

Velvet da Vinci

Address: 2015 Polk St., between Broadway and Pacific Ave., Russian Hill, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/441-0109

Yone

Address: 478 Union St., at Grant Ave., North Beach, San Francisco, CA, 94133
Phone: 415/986-1424

Perfume/Cosmetics

BeneFit

Address: 2117 Fillmore St., between California and Sacramento Sts., Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA, 94115
Phone: 415/567-0242

Body Time

Address: 1465 Haight St., at Ashbury St., Haight, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/551-1070

Kiehl's

Address: 2360 Fillmore St., between Washington and Clay Sts., Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA, 94115
Phone: 415/359-9260

Lush

Address: 240 Powell St., between O'Farrell and Geary Sts., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/693-9633

Nancy Boy

Address: 347 Hayes St., between Franklin and Gough Sts, Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/552-3802

Sephora

Address: 33 Powell St., at Market St., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/362-9360

Shoes/Luggage/Leather Goods

Camper

Address: 39 Grant Ave., between O'Farrell and Geary Sts., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/296-1005

Gimme Shoes

Address: 416 Hayes St., at Gough St., Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA, 94102
Phone: 415/864-0691

Goyard

Address: 345 Powell St., between Post and Geary Sts., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/398-1110

John Fluevog

Address: 1697 Haight St., at Cole St., Haight, San Francisco, CA, 94117
Phone: 415/436-9784

Kate Spade

Address: 227 Grant Ave., between Post and Sutter Sts., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/216-0880

Wines/Spirits

Arlequin Wine Merchant

Address: 384 Hayes St., at Gough St., Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/863-1104

D&M Wines and Liquors

Address: 2200 Fillmore St., at Sacramento St., Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/346-1325

K&L Wine Merchants

Address: 638 4th St., between Brannan and Townsend Sts., SoMa, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/896-1734

PlumpJack Wines

Address: 3201 Fillmore St., at Greenwich St., Cow Hollow, San Francisco, CA, 94123
Phone: 415/346-9870

San Francisco Wine Trading Company

Address: 250 Taraval St., between Funston and 12th Aves., Ingleside, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/731-6222

True Sake

Address: 560 Hayes St., between Laguna and Octavia Sts., Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/355-9555

William Glen

Address: 360 Sutter St., Union Sq., San Francisco, CA
Phone: 415/989-1030

Wine Club

Address: 953 Harrison St., between 5th and 6th Sts., SoMa, San Francisco, CA, 94107
Phone: 415/512-9086

Tax Refunds

Taxes are included on almost everything you purchase within the United States.

The tax on hotel rooms is 8.05%-12%. The sales tax in San Francisco is 8.25%. There's none on most groceries, but there is on newspapers (unless bought from a coin-operated machine) and magazines. However, sales taxes in the United States are collected by State and local authorities, not the Federal Government, so no sales tax refund is possible. Check with your particular embassy or country’s guidelines for additional information.

Hotels in San Francisco, California