CASTRO
At the heart of: Market St. and Castro St.
A walk along Castro Street takes you along a friendly bustling business district with shops including the famous Cliff’s Variety with hardware, toys, and all sorts of gifts and housewares, Friendly Spirits wine shop, a Diesel store, Rolo fashionwear, Crossroads Trading Company vintage store, and lots more unique boutiques, many catering to the gay community, interspersed with eateries. Streetlight Records, 2350 Market Street, specializes in hard-to-find vinyl.

CHESTNUT STREET
At the heart of: Chestnut St. and Scott St.
A local favorite, Chestnut Street is composed of an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, coffee houses and services. While sophisticated in nature, the street has a distinctive neighborhood feel. Here shoppers find incredible shoe boutiques featuring trendy but functional footwear and specialty shops. Visit Fireside Camera, at 2117 Chestnut Street, and get high-quality prints from your digital camera while you wait. 415-567-8131.

CHINATOWN
At the heart of: Bush St. and Grand Ave. sanfranciscochinatown.com
Step through the Chinatown Gate on Grant Avenue and you’ll experience a new shopping adventure. At every turn, candles burn and vivid silks grace the jam-packed window fronts, where import vendors sell nearly everything, including (but by no means limited to) carved Buddhas, paper parasols and regal mahogany furniture, perfect for exotic gifts or indulgent tourist fodder. Apothecaries abound, selling delicate green teas, rose-scented black teas and a variety of other ailment-banishing brews by the ounce. Continue north towards Jackson Street and walk over to historic Ross Alley (between Grant & Stockton, Washington & Jackson) to tour the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company, 56 Ross Alley, and take home some samples.

CIVIC CENTER/HAYES VALLEY
At the heart of: Hayes and Franklin. hayesvalley.com
This stretch of San Francisco shopping, in view of the San Francisco Symphony and Opera House, is a great place to find out-of-the-ordinary items. Hayes Valley does not tolerate chain names or major outfitters that would infringe on the artful and airy style of the neighborhood.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT/BARBARY COAST
At the heart of: East of Kearny and The Embarcadero
Crocker Galleria, 50 Post Street, is a stylish, Milan-inspired, multi-level center with designer shops and a restaurant court on the top level, under a glass pavilion. Embarcadero Center, bounded by Sacramento, Clay, Battery & Drumm, is a retail haven with 125 well-known & unique stores and restaurants, including Gaylord India Restaurant, coffee shops, a wine bar, designer apparel, books, toys and gifts, and the SF Jazz Store. The mall’s spacious outdoor and indoor design lends itself to a more comfortable and easy shopping experience. The shopping mall is also home to the Embarcadero Theater, a movie house showing the brightest alternative and independent films by top directors.

FERRY BUILDING MARKETPLACE
At the foot of Market Street and The Embarcadero.
A people’s marketplace serving residents and travelers alike. Located within the historic Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street, shops large and small celebrate food in all its forms, offering everything from artisan cheeses to the freshest of local fish. A wonderful Farmer’s Market is set up outside on Tues & Sat mornings.

FILLMORE STREET
At the heart of: Fillmore St. and California St.
Fillmore Street combines a busy wealthy Victorian neighborhood with a thriving San Francisco shopping center. Every shopping wish list is checked off here with select perfumeries, furniture designers and specialty beauty outlets and one-of-a-kind boutiques. A distinctly picturesque part of town, Fillmore Street maintains an air of charm and simplicity while still offering a luxurious and high-end lifestyle.

FISHERMAN’S WHARF
Fisherman’s Wharf is renown for its Bayside setting and family-friendly activities. A stroll along our northern waterfront takes you past breathtaking views of the Bay, world famous attractions and restaurants, ferry cruise docks and the fishing fleet boats, and several of the City’s distinctive marketplaces located in historic settings. At Fisherman’s Wharf you’ll find unique one-of-a-kind shops and boutiques, wonderful “Only in San Francisco” souvenirs, art galleries, specialty gift stores, men’s and women’s sportswear retailers and more. You can even take some of their fresh seafood home with you by purchasing it from the fish vendors on Jefferson Street.
Located in this area are:
ANCHORAGE SQUARE, Jefferson and Jones Streets, is a family center with activities, stores, restaurants and services including Benneton, Crazy Shirts, Sunglass Hut and Walgreens; plus Bike Rentals, Duck Tours, and City Sightseeing Tours. Dine at In ‘N’ Out Burgers, Hooters, Coldstone Creamery, Subway and Starbucks. Convenient validated parking available on Beach Street.
THE CANNERY AT DEL MONTE SQUARE, at the foot of Columbus Street at Leavenworth and Beach. is a complex of restaurants, shops, nightclubs set inside the old Del Monte Cannery buildings. Don’t miss SF Fire Engine Tours for a unique city tour!
GHIRARDELLI SQUARE, Beach and Larkin Streets, is a complex of historic buildings now housing upscale specialty shops and restaurants overlooking a lovely open-air plaza. Eating spots include Lori’s Diner, McCormick Kuleto’s Seafood, Cellar360 wine bar, O’Neill’s Irish Pub, a gourmet grocer, and the Ghirardelli Chocolate ice cream parlor. Shop at ElizabethW perfumery, Richter’ Glass Works and Waddle Creek Winery. Shops open Monday-Thursday and Sunday 10am-6pm; Friday and Saturday 10am-9pm.Restaurant hours vary.
PIER 39, Beach Street & The Embarcadero, is the City’s most famous bayside festival marketplace with unique shops and boutiques offering collectibles, souvenirs, apparel, and gourmet gifts, plus restaurants; game arcade and attractions. California Welcome Center has visitor information and Internet Cafe. Shop at the Crystal Shop, Houdini Magic Shop, Le Beastro for dogs, and Lefty’s for lefties. Dine at the Crab House, Bubba Gump Shrimp Factory, Hard Rock Cafe, and other acclaimed restaurants. Shops open daily at 10am; restaurant hours vary.
NORTH POINT CENTER, 350 Bay Street at North Point is where you will find a grocery store, pharmacy, ice cream parlor, ATM, Radio Shack, and Pizzeria Uno. Daily 6am-midnight.

HAIGHT STREET
At the heart of: Haight St. and Ashbury St. haightshop.com
Haight Ashbury was the epicenter of the hippy culture and it can be said, still is. Mixed in between those shops of the ‘60s up and down Haight, high-end vintage clothing stores and a number of exclusive boutiques and many hip restaurants have sprung up all with their own flavor and color. A few highlights include Ambiance, 1458 Haight Street, for romantic, vintage-inspired clothes, shoes, and accessories; Buffalo Exchange, 1555 Haight Street, one of the City’s most famous locations to buy, sell and swap gently worn clothes, and vintage garments; and Positively Haight, 1400 Haight Street, for tie-dye and Grateful Dead memorabilia along with colorful t-shirts.

JACKSON SQUARE
At the heart of: Battery St. and Kearny St.
Antique and art lovers will enjoy browsing this area's many shops and galleries.

MISSION STREET
At the heart of: Valencia St. and 16th St.
For tourists and San Francisco shoppers with more eclectic and far flung tastes, the Mission is the perfect place to cater to unconventional whims. The Mission is a colorful stretch of blocks with offbeat boutiques and funky ethnic clothing and furniture stores.

NORTH BEACH
At the heart of: Grant St. and Columbus Ave.
The City’s Little Italy with sidewalk cafes and roasteries offers a place to sit and relax with a fresh made coffee and pastry. City Lights Booksellers, 261 Columbus Avenue, is a landmark bookstore where visitors can browse titles on world literature, the arts, and progressive politics. Biordi Art Imports, 412 Columbus Avenue, is the place to shop for Italian hand-painted ceramics.

POLK STREET
At the heart of: Polk St. and Broadway St.
Polk Street is one of the most divergent shopping neighborhoods in San Francisco, offering a blend of high-end consignment shops, affordable retail outfits shops and low-end clothing stores. Polk is best for out-of-town shoppers who like the gritty mixed in with some high style, the upscale with the zany.

SACRAMENTO STREET
At the heart of: Sacramento St. and Presidio.
On the cusp between Pacific Heights and Presidio Heights in a quiet residential neighborhood. The main features are the interior decor shops and high-end, but fun, clothing boutiques. Sacramento offers household items from small to large, from cashmere sofa throws and scented Florentine soaps to oversized Persian rugs and 19th century French tables. Sacramento Street is the ultimate deluxe shopping avenue with fantastic finds.

SOUTH OF MARKET/YERBA BUENA
Across Market Street from the cable car turntable at the foot of Powell street.
Westfield San Francisco Centre, Fifth and Market Streets, is a multi-level collection of upscale boutiques and shops, with Nordstrom on the top levels, Bloomingdale’s, and a theater multiplex. The lower level features a dining court, gourmet grocery store and access to BART and Muni stations. Don’t forget about our museum gift shops, for example SF MOMA. They offer great books, home decor, prints, jewelry, and other unique gifts. Metreon Center, Fourth and Mission Streets. houses shops with the latest home entertainment technology, plus a movie complex with IMAX; and food court. Popular with locals, the 9th Street Mall, 555 9th Street between Brannan and Bryant, includes Bed Bath and Beyond, Trader Joe’s grocery store, Nordstrom Rack. There is a parking garage, or take Muni bus 27; catch on Jones or Mason near O’Farrell.

UNION STREET
At the heart of: Franklin to Fillmore. unionstreetsf.com
Union Street offers all the charm and services of an old-fashioned shopping street where you could find virtually anything you need on foot. The street is lined with lovely Victorian buildings housing friendly merchants selling clothing, jewelry, home furnishings, skin care and spa service, and unique gifts. Some favorites are CocoaBella Chocolates, 2102 Union Street, for, mmmm..fine chocolates from around the world; Jest Jewels, 1869 Union Street, for fun, fashionable and affordable jewelry and accessories; and Images of the North, 2036 Union Street, a local institution since 1979 presenting one of the largest collections of Inuit art.

UNION SQUARE
Bounded by: Market, Kearny, Bush and Taylor Streets.
Union Square is the City’s most popular visitor shopping destination with one of the highest concentrations of luxury retail shopping in the world, offering the convenience of mall shopping in a historic open air setting. Most stores are open until 8 p.m. , and some even later. The square is surrounded by Macy’s, Saks, Neiman Marcus and Levi’s stores along with colorful flower stands and street performers.