San Francisco's Best Shopping Districts

Shopping in San Francisco can take you all over the board, from the fashionista shopping in Union Square to the unique boutiques in Noe Valley. Whether you’re a local looking to stand out from the crowd or a visitor hoping to take home a piece of San Francisco with you, one of these five shopping districts will have you covered.

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Union Square

The most popular shopping district in San Francisco is the famous Union Square. In the blocks surrounding Union Square you’ll see a massive Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton. The streets branching off of those blocks are a retail lover’s dream, featuring countless other great spots to shop such as Barney’s, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. Walk three blocks south from the square and you will find the San Francisco’s Westfield Centre, featuring a huge variety of stores including J. Crew, H&M, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, and Victoria’s Secret.

Although Fisherman’s Wharf is known as a tourist district, it offers great shopping options for visitors and locals alike. Pier 39 houses touristy shops, like the Alcatraz Gift Shop, the Aquarium of the Bay Gift Shop, the Hard Rock Cafe Gift Shop, the Cable Car Store and Only in San Francisco. Some of the less touristy options at Pier 39 include Stone Flower, Alpaca Fashion, Cariloha, and Sunglass Hut. Nearby, Anchorage Square is home to DP Boutique, California City Wear, Feet First, and LIDS.

SoMa

Much more trendy than touristy, SoMa offers a variety of shops where you can find more distinctive, edgy clothing. Clothing stores include 440 Brannan, Gama-Go Store, Isda & Co., Jeremy’s, and Stormy Leather. This district also houses some of the city’s best bookstores, such as Alexander Book Co., Foto-Grafix Books and the Green Arcade. Other great stores selling a variety of goods include Adolph Gasser, Ann Sacks Tile & Stone, Dandelion, General Bead, Hello!Lucky, Kryolan, and Podesta Baldocchi.

Haight

Based on the neighborhood’s rich history, the Haight district offers a unique shopping experience. On Haight Street itself, clothing shops include Ambiance, Piedmont Boutique, Positively Haight Street and Stuf. Some of the stores selling more unique goods include Dreams of Kathmandu and Skates on Haight. This neighborhood is also a popular spot for thrift shopping, hosting stores such as Buffalo Exchange, the Good Will, Held Over, Wasteland and Decades of Fashion.

Noe Valley

Noe Valley is quaint, quiet neighborhood that features a variety of specialized boutique shops instead of chain retail stores. Clothing stores include Isso, Two Birds, Astrid’s Rabat Shoes for Men and Women, Peek-a-Boutique and See Jane Run. This is a great neighborhood to shop for home goods and decor, with stores like Echo Furniture, Global Exchange, Wink and Urban Nest. Shops selling a variety of other goods include Just for Fun and Scribbledoodles, Common Scents, Ladybug Ladybug, the Ark, Phoenix Books and 24th Street Cheese Company.

Courtney Holcomb

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.

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