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Photo: Kim Lucian

Where to Shop in San Francisco

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The City by the Bay is many things — it's as much a haven for hipsters and hippies as it is for skate kids and the tech industry's nouveau riche. Happily, the San Francisco retail scene reflects the wide range of styles found here, from artsy avant-garde to modern bohemian and absolutely everything in between.

Skip the big chains near Union Square for the amazing selection of independent shops scattered throughout the city. Check out Hayes and Noe Valley for high-end designer clothes and gifts; awesome vintage selections can be found near the iconic intersection of Haight-Ashbury. In the Mission District you'll find all of the above, especially on Valencia Street, which is home to a fabulous mix of vintage stores, record and zine shops, and small boutiques for men and women.

Retailers like Eden & Eden and Hero Shop are a draw for their unique selections, while homegrown brands like Benny Gold, Freda Salvador, and Welcome Stranger all tell their own story of San Francisco — and each one is worth checking out while you're here.

With so many great shops in SF, we couldn't include everything in this guide. See more on retail in San Francisco.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Eden & Eden

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A quirky combination of vintage tees, statement accessories, modern home goods, and European labels make this small shop a must-stop — there’s really nothing else like it. If the slightly-high vintage prices are a turn off, save yourself for the sales, where most items are 50% off. (And while men could probably get away with some of the T-shirts, the selection is mostly women’s.)
Photo: Kim Lucian
A tiny shop on the outskirts of Chinatown, Legion stocks a lovely mix of women’s clothes (from brands including Ali Golden and Kowtow) plus home goods and gift-y items like locally made Etta + Billie soaps and Krewe du Optic sunglasses. The space may be small, but everything single item here is covetable.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Freda Salvador

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Designed in San Francisco and made in Spain, Freda Salvador shoes strike the perfect balance of classic shapes with modern details, whether it’s leopard fur loafers or jodphur boots with a removable ankle embellishment. While you can find Fredas stocked in some of the city's best boutiques, the young brand's Pacific Heights flagship is the best place to shop the full selection.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Hero Shop

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Former Vogue editor Emily Holt opened up her first retail store earlier this year on Post Street in the Tenderloin, a somewhat unlikely location for a fashion and lifestyle boutique (and a pretty good barometer for how fast the city is changing). The shop’s mix of high-low designers feels very New York while staying true to San Francisco — there are locally made items (including Levi’s) stocked alongside Adam Lippes, Creatures of the Wind, Pamela Love, and more.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Modern Appeal Clothing

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When family-owned concept store Modern Appeal Clothing first opened up in 1980, it was one of the first boutiques in San Francisco to carry avant-garde pieces. Almost three decades later, their vision is still wholly original. At both locations (in Hayes Valley and Dogpatch) you can expect fantastical collections from designers like Dries Van Noten and Junya Watanabe, and an inclusive, friendly vibe.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Welcome Stranger

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With its hybrid of street, skate, and outdoorsy prep, Welcome Stranger is the ideal store for a new breed of Bay area gentlemen. Expect brands like Barbour, Carhartt, and Norse Projects alongside an in-house line of men’s basics, plus gift-y things like books and men's apothecary goods. (Sister stores Azalea and Rand + Statler are worth a visit, too.)
Photo: Kim Lucian

Reliquary

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Located on a stretch of Hayes Street that’s dotted with dozens of cute shops, Reliquary is an excellent bet for one-of-a-kind finds like antique jewelry, vintage dresses and workwear (featuring a hand-sewn “Reliquary” name tags), homewares from around the world, beautifully made men's and women's apparel, and leather goods.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Rand + Statler

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Another member of the Azalea empire, Rand + Statler carries high-end pieces for men, women, and children from brands like Anine Bing, Nili Lotan, Acne Studios, and Mini Rodini. Make sure you stop by the Aesop store-within-a-store for samples of the Australian apothecary brand’s awesome smelling lotions on your way out.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Acrimony

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Acrimony’s mix of high street and slightly more avant-garde pieces for men (Public School, Henrik Vibskov) and simple but fashion-friendly selection for women (Rachel Comey, Kaarem) is pretty much everything you need to be a well-dressed San Franciscan. Check out sister store No. 3 for fine jewelry with a similar vibe.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Benny Gold

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One of the Bay area’s only homegrown street brands, Benny Gold makes everything from logo T-shirts to dog harnesses, but the well-constructed outerwear is a highlight. (After you visit the shop, you'll start noticing the hats everywhere around town.)
Photo: Kim Lucian
This bright white space houses museum-quality women’s pieces from labels like Electic Feathers, Veronique Leroy, and Apiece Apart. Come prepared to say goodbye to your paycheck; there are a few pieces to be found here for under $100, but not many (and you’re definitely going to want to buy something).
Photo: Kim Lucian

Heath Ceramics

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You could easily spend half a day at Heath's Mission District collective, which is home to the Tartine Manufactory (a Tartine Bakery spinoff featuring a dinnerware collab between the two brands) and Blue Bottle Coffee (with coffee served in Heath mugs, of course) in addition to a factory (with tours available for the public) and retail show room.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Everlane

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The direct-to-consumer basics brand finally opened a shoppable location below their Mission District headquarters earlier this year. The “experimental retail space” will be used to test out different concepts, but currently stocks a good selection of Everlane’s signature cashmere sweaters, tunics, work trousers, and cult-favorite shoes.
Photo: Kim Lucian

The Voyager Shop

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At its two shops in San Francisco and one outpost in LA, Voyager stocks the kind of arty, minimalist fashion beloved by creative professionals. The men's and women's brands stocked here include a nice number of labels you haven't heard of, and homewares are curated by sister shop Spartan (whose name should tip you off to the style of its goods).
Photo: Kim Lucian
Part record shop, part vintage store, No has you covered if you're in the market for floral dresses, Pendleton or Woolrich flannels and outerwear, cool sweaters, or reasonably priced one-of-a-kind finds for men and women. Bonus: It's right next door to Four Barrel, so you can grab a coffee before you shop the rest of the Mission.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Self Edge Denim

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Denimheads come from all over to shop this tiny Mission District menswear shop, which stocks hard-to-find selvedge brands like The Strike Gold, Iron Heart, and Mister Freedom, among others. Since opening in 2006, denim experts Kiya and Demitra Babzani have exported their know-every-detail approach to selling jeans to New York, Los Angeles, and Portland, too.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Mira Mira

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This tiny Mission District shop stocks girly, sometimes bohemian-leaning clothes from designers like Mara Hoffman, Rachel Antonoff, Just Female, and Ace & Jig. Don’t miss the great jewelry selection while you’re there (with particularly cool earrings at the moment).
Photo: Kim Lucian

Mill Mercantile

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Everything stocked at Mill, the sister store to Unionmade, is simple but beautifully designed, and gives off a grown-up-but-not-stuffy vibe — think Goop without Gwyneth. The in-house line of luxe women's tees and tanks is the perfect starting point for the selection of apparel from brands like Black Crane and Chimala. The Noe Valley shop is also a great place to look for gifts, from linen tea towels to children's clothes to handmade leather goods.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Painted Bird

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A buy-sell-trade boutique where the prices are blessedly accessible and everything feels like something you need in your wardrobe, Painted Bird also has a shop in LA, and for those of you who can't make it out to Cali, sells on their Instagram account.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Stranded

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San Francisco’s oldest independent record store Aquarius shuttered in July, only to be reopened as the second location of Oakland favorite Stranded (with much of the Aquarius staff still manning the store). Like Stranded's original shop on Telegraph, the Mission District outpost sells a mix of new and used vinyl, including records pressed by the shop's reissue label, Superior Viaduct.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Wallflower

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Wallflower stocks all kinds of treasures, including racks of well-curated vintage dresses, denim, leather, and furs, plus good quality retro furniture and home goods. When you’re done, head across the street to Needles & Pens, a cool zine and gift shop stocking local makers and handmade items.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Held Over

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Serious vintage and thrift lovers will appreciate the cluster of options near Haight-Ashbury, including Relic and LA-import Wasteland. If you've only got time for one, make it Held Over, where the huge selection is organized by era and the prices are completely approachable. (If you like what you find, check out the owner's other shops, Mars and Mission Thrift.)

Unionmade

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The men's version of Mill, Unionmade features a smart in-house line of perfect tees and chinos alongside best-in-class men’s goods from Japanese selvedge denim to waterproof Filson duffels. Make sure to check out the exclusives and brand collabs while you're there.
Photo: Kim Lucian

General Store

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This Outer Sunset shop is off the beaten retail path in San Francisco, but General Store is worth a visit — the simple home wares, found objects, and men’s, women’s and kid’s clothing stocked here all fit into a perfect, neutral-colored dream of California lifestyle. While you're out that way, check out surf shop/art gallery Mollusk over on Irving.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Eden & Eden

A quirky combination of vintage tees, statement accessories, modern home goods, and European labels make this small shop a must-stop — there’s really nothing else like it. If the slightly-high vintage prices are a turn off, save yourself for the sales, where most items are 50% off. (And while men could probably get away with some of the T-shirts, the selection is mostly women’s.)
Photo: Kim Lucian

Legion

A tiny shop on the outskirts of Chinatown, Legion stocks a lovely mix of women’s clothes (from brands including Ali Golden and Kowtow) plus home goods and gift-y items like locally made Etta + Billie soaps and Krewe du Optic sunglasses. The space may be small, but everything single item here is covetable.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Freda Salvador

Designed in San Francisco and made in Spain, Freda Salvador shoes strike the perfect balance of classic shapes with modern details, whether it’s leopard fur loafers or jodphur boots with a removable ankle embellishment. While you can find Fredas stocked in some of the city's best boutiques, the young brand's Pacific Heights flagship is the best place to shop the full selection.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Hero Shop

Former Vogue editor Emily Holt opened up her first retail store earlier this year on Post Street in the Tenderloin, a somewhat unlikely location for a fashion and lifestyle boutique (and a pretty good barometer for how fast the city is changing). The shop’s mix of high-low designers feels very New York while staying true to San Francisco — there are locally made items (including Levi’s) stocked alongside Adam Lippes, Creatures of the Wind, Pamela Love, and more.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Modern Appeal Clothing

When family-owned concept store Modern Appeal Clothing first opened up in 1980, it was one of the first boutiques in San Francisco to carry avant-garde pieces. Almost three decades later, their vision is still wholly original. At both locations (in Hayes Valley and Dogpatch) you can expect fantastical collections from designers like Dries Van Noten and Junya Watanabe, and an inclusive, friendly vibe.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Welcome Stranger

With its hybrid of street, skate, and outdoorsy prep, Welcome Stranger is the ideal store for a new breed of Bay area gentlemen. Expect brands like Barbour, Carhartt, and Norse Projects alongside an in-house line of men’s basics, plus gift-y things like books and men's apothecary goods. (Sister stores Azalea and Rand + Statler are worth a visit, too.)
Photo: Kim Lucian

Reliquary

Located on a stretch of Hayes Street that’s dotted with dozens of cute shops, Reliquary is an excellent bet for one-of-a-kind finds like antique jewelry, vintage dresses and workwear (featuring a hand-sewn “Reliquary” name tags), homewares from around the world, beautifully made men's and women's apparel, and leather goods.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Rand + Statler

Another member of the Azalea empire, Rand + Statler carries high-end pieces for men, women, and children from brands like Anine Bing, Nili Lotan, Acne Studios, and Mini Rodini. Make sure you stop by the Aesop store-within-a-store for samples of the Australian apothecary brand’s awesome smelling lotions on your way out.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Acrimony

Acrimony’s mix of high street and slightly more avant-garde pieces for men (Public School, Henrik Vibskov) and simple but fashion-friendly selection for women (Rachel Comey, Kaarem) is pretty much everything you need to be a well-dressed San Franciscan. Check out sister store No. 3 for fine jewelry with a similar vibe.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Benny Gold

One of the Bay area’s only homegrown street brands, Benny Gold makes everything from logo T-shirts to dog harnesses, but the well-constructed outerwear is a highlight. (After you visit the shop, you'll start noticing the hats everywhere around town.)
Photo: Kim Lucian

Anaise

This bright white space houses museum-quality women’s pieces from labels like Electic Feathers, Veronique Leroy, and Apiece Apart. Come prepared to say goodbye to your paycheck; there are a few pieces to be found here for under $100, but not many (and you’re definitely going to want to buy something).
Photo: Kim Lucian

Heath Ceramics

You could easily spend half a day at Heath's Mission District collective, which is home to the Tartine Manufactory (a Tartine Bakery spinoff featuring a dinnerware collab between the two brands) and Blue Bottle Coffee (with coffee served in Heath mugs, of course) in addition to a factory (with tours available for the public) and retail show room.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Everlane

The direct-to-consumer basics brand finally opened a shoppable location below their Mission District headquarters earlier this year. The “experimental retail space” will be used to test out different concepts, but currently stocks a good selection of Everlane’s signature cashmere sweaters, tunics, work trousers, and cult-favorite shoes.
Photo: Kim Lucian

The Voyager Shop

At its two shops in San Francisco and one outpost in LA, Voyager stocks the kind of arty, minimalist fashion beloved by creative professionals. The men's and women's brands stocked here include a nice number of labels you haven't heard of, and homewares are curated by sister shop Spartan (whose name should tip you off to the style of its goods).
Photo: Kim Lucian

NO

Part record shop, part vintage store, No has you covered if you're in the market for floral dresses, Pendleton or Woolrich flannels and outerwear, cool sweaters, or reasonably priced one-of-a-kind finds for men and women. Bonus: It's right next door to Four Barrel, so you can grab a coffee before you shop the rest of the Mission.
Photo: Kim Lucian

Self Edge Denim

Denimheads come from all over to shop this tiny Mission District menswear shop, which stocks hard-to-find selvedge brands like The Strike Gold, Iron Heart, and Mister Freedom, among others. Since opening in 2006, denim experts Kiya and Demitra Babzani have exported their know-every-detail approach to selling jeans to New York, Los Angeles, and Portland, too.