17 Holiday Gift Ideas For San Franciscans

From locally made goods to incredible ways to embrace the Bay Area, we’ve got you covered when shopping for the friends and family that just really love San Francisco.

Howl & Other Poems

Give someone a local literary history lesson with a copy of Howl & Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg. This poetry collection epitomizes the beat generation in San Francisco, published by City Lights Books and inspiring a series of famous obscenity trials. You can buy the book on Amazon for $7.95.

Chocolate Making Class

Fog Point Vodka

For the cocktail connoisseur in your life, purchase a unique spirit that embodies the Bay Area – Fog Point Vodka. This vodka by Hangar One is made with San Francisco fog. Purchase a bottle here for $125.

Picnic Set

For the bourgeois outdoorsman in your life, order a picnic set that will give them a chance to enjoy one of the city’s best parks, like Dolores Park, Washington Square Park, or Golden Gate Park. Try this backpack set on Amazon for $47.99, complete with a cooler, blanket, and more.

Custom Fortune Cookies

If you’re looking to satisfy a sweet tooth, head over to Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory to pick up some custom fortune cookies. You can make them as unique as you like, and as a bonus, enjoy watching the cookie-making process firsthand. Customizing costs $1 for two cookies.

Scents of San Francisco Candle

Fill your loved one’s home with the scents of their favorite San Francisco neighborhood by purchasing a candle from Scents of San Francisco. The candles combine various fragrances to create a scent that is reminiscent of a specific neighborhood, covering everything from the Castro to Golden Gate Park. The candles can be found at a variety of locations throughout the city.

Local Coffee Grounds

If there’s one thing San Franciscans are snobby about, it’s their coffee. Purchase a bag of coffee grounds from some of the city’s favorite local coffee shops, like Ritual Coffee, Four Barrel Coffee, Blue Bottle Coffee, and Sightglass Coffee.

Local Clothing

One of the best ways to show off your San Francisco pride is by buying locally-made clothing. Shop with brands like San Franpsycho, BetaBrand, True SF, and Gravel and Gold. A classic? Order a San Franpsycho beanie here for $25-30.

Wild SF Walking Tour

To give someone a totally unique perspective on this city, book a Wild SF Walking Tour. These tours are led by passionate locals, giving you an insider’s perspective on San Francisco in the most entertaining way possible. Purchase a tour gift card here, starting at $18.

Exploratorium Membership

Give your loved one the gift of entertaining education with an Exploratorium Membership. The membership will give free admission to the Exploratorium for a year, in addition to various discounts and members-only event invitations. Purchase a membership here starting at $99.

Succulents

If there’s anything Californians are used to, it’s drought. That’s why succulents have become the trendiest plants around, boasting eco-friendliness with their ability to survive on very little water. Head over to the potting bench at Flora Grubb Gardens to plant yours.

Vertigo DVD

An iconic piece of San Francisco pop culture, Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo is always a great gift for locals. Set on the familiar city streets, San Franciscans will love watching this classic thriller. Order the DVD on Amazon for $10.19.

Full House Box Set

We spent years watching the Full House crew grow up in our favorite city, and even enjoyed the start of Fuller House this year. Buy the whole series box set for someone you love, because nothing beats bingeing your favorite television shows during the holidays. Find the box set on Amazon for $44.96.

Local Brewery Tour

If you have a beer lover in your life, get them an experience they’ll be sure to cherish – a tour of one of the best craft breweries around. Anchor Brewing Company is a local favorite, offering daily tours for $20 – $25.

Travel Guide for the Young, Sexy, and Broke

Know someone young, sexy, or broke in San Francisco? They are clearly in need of Off Track Planet’s San Francisco Travel Guide for the Young, Sexy, and Broke. This guide will help anyone find the best things the city has to offer on a budget. Order the book on Amazon for $15.

Gay Guide to San Francisco

Help a loved one embrace this city’s famously colorful LGBTQ history with the The Stapleton 2016 Long Weekend Gay Guide to San Francisco. The guide will take them through many of the best things to do throughout the city, with an emphasis on LGBTQ sights. Buy the book on Amazon for $9.95.

Boozy Brunch

San Franciscans are certainly a boozy bunch, so if you want to satisfy one, buy them a boozy brunch. Check out our curated list of the best bottomless brunches in the city, and then buy your loved one a gift certificate to the restaurant you think they would love the most.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.