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Good Vibrations
This female-oriented sex-toy shop is more straightforward and empowering than seedy, thanks to the open, nonjudgmental attitude of the staff (who own the place, incidentally; this is a…
Nest
It’s hard to categorize Nest—it carries everything from throws and handmade quilts to flowing boho dresses and sleepwear. What ties it all together is the impeccable taste of the…
New People World
More than just a store, New People is a $15-million complex dedicated to modern Japanese culture, both its Zen side and its over-the-top anime wackiness. In the basement, a…
Bonhams
Part of a world-renowned chain of auction houses, Bonham’s deals in international goodies, from exquisite ancient Japanese screens to Hopi pottery to Art Deco jewelry and more. Open…
Therien & Co.
Once a showroom primarily for Scandinavian, French, and eastern European antiques, in the past few years they’ve expanded to include Mid-century Modern furniture, as well. You’ll find…
True Sake
Some 150 different brands of sake are available at this specialty store, many of which, owner Beau Timken claims, are available at no other retail store in the U.S. Don’t be…
Adobe Books & Arts Cooperative
Yes, they sell books, both new and used at great prices, but to call this beloved Mission District institution just a bookstore would be selling it short. It’s also a haven for…
Argonaut Book Shop
When Alfred Hitchcock walked into this bookstore while filming the movie Vertigo, he said something to the effect of “This is exactly what a bookstore should look like,” and promptly…
Book Passage
Run by the ebullient Elaine Petrocelli, this bookstore in the Ferry Building may be small but it’s wonderfully well curated, meaning you’re sure to find something entertaining to read…
Books Inc.
Holding the title “The West’s Oldest Independent Bookseller,” Books Inc., established in 1857, is living proof that an indie book seller can adapt, survive, and even prosper, despite…
The Booksmith
A true gem, with erudite, handwritten recommendations for books dotting the shelves. This Haight store may not be huge, but it’s smartly curated and has more than 1,000 different…
City Lights Booksellers & Publishers
The city’s iconic bookstore—once owned by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the renowned Beat Generation poet—is still going strong. The three-level store is particularly good for art, poetry,…
Green Apple Books
A massive purveyor of both new and used books—the store boasts more than 160,000 tomes!—it’s an excellent resource for those seeking special books, like modern first editions and rare…
The Chinatown Kite Shop
This delightful Chinatown classic sells all sorts of kites, from ones you design yourself to color-saturated fish kites, windsocks, hand-painted Chinese paper kites, wood-and-paper…
Dianne’s Old & New Estates
A preferred pick for vintage engagement rings, this family-owned shop has baubles for all tastes, from fine antique jewels to contemporary pieces. It also has a very forgiving payment…
Love and Luxe
There’s jewelry and then there’s wearable art: The highly curated conversation-starters at this Mission District jewelry atelier are the latter. A tad on the edgy side, necklaces,…
Union Street Goldsmith
Locally made contemporary jewelry is the focus here, and many of the pieces feature vibrantly colorful stones. The staff will also create custom designs upon request. Open Tuesday…
Occidental Cigar Club
Hinton Rowan Harper, an 1800s Gold Rush–era writer, once remarked he’d seen “the purest liquor, the best segars (sic), the finest tobacco, the prettiest courtezans (sic)” and it was…
Vendetta Men’s Apparel & Vintage Cuban Cigars
Vendetta’s motto is “living well is the best revenge.” and owner Bruce Rothenberg is all about the finer things in life. At his shop in Nob Hill’s Fairmont Hotel, he sells high quality…
Good Byes
The style-conscious citizens of San Francisco consign their cast-offs to this shop, meaning the quality of the goods is high, but the prices often surprisingly low (we’ve seen $350…
La Rosa
Specializing in clothes from the 1940s through the 1960s, this long-established store (founded in 1978) has a lot of great buys for folks who enjoy vintage fashions. Rumor has it that…
826 Valencia/Pirate Supply Store
When A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius author Dave Eggers wanted to set up a literary salon to inspire under-resourced young people to write, the city said his Mission District…
Flight 001
he store for jetsetters, it sells the coolest of luggage tags, TSA-friendly manicure sets, sleek travel pillows, and all sorts of gadgets to make your flight home that much more…
Alessi
Functional yet whimsical—that about describes the kitchen utensils of Italian designer Alberto Alessi (love his spiderlike lemon squeezer), and this is his North American flagship.…
Biordi Art Imports
Exquisite Italian majolica pottery is the lure here. Some use it to eat off of, but it’s so pretty, my guess is most buyers take these plates, bowls, and other items and stick them on…