San Francisco

Green Apple Books

Renowned independent book and record store dating back to before the Beat Era. Both used and new books.

Mo-Su 10:00-21:00 · Wheelchair accessible

Argonaut Book Shop

The bookshelves here are any war buff's haven, with a treasure trove of books on the history of California and the American West. It also has good collections on the American Civil War, American railroads, regional Americana, antiques and maritime books.

Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM, Sat 10AM-4PM · Wheelchair accessible

Booksmith

An independent bookstore that's been around since the 1970s, this bookstore is best known for its events program, with many book signings from famous and honored authors.

Mon-Sat 10AM-10PM, Sun 10AM-8PM · Wheelchair accessible

Kayo Books

"Specializing in vintage collectible paperbacks from the 1940s to 1970s and esoteric books of all persuasions... " They have a large stock of rare and out of print books, many of which are of the lurid and sleazy persuasion.

Thu-Sat 11AM-6PM · Wheelchair accessible

Forest Books

A moderately sized bookstore selling new and mostly used books.

Mo-Su 12:00-20:00

ImagiKnit

These women opened up the yarn shop that they'd like to hang out in and the whole neighborhood concurs that they're doing it right.

Mon-Thu 10:30AM-7PM, Fri-Sat 10:30AM-6:30PM, Sun 10:30AM-5PM

China Station

If you like reasonably priced souvenirs, this is the place for you. They have a very broad selection, selling everything from Chinese exercise balls to Buddha statues.

Mon-Sat 10AM-10PM, Sun 10AM-9PM

Past Perfect

Antique store with a large and eclectic selection of vintage goods and artwork to choose from.

11AM-7PM daily

San Francisco Art Exchange

This is a gallery for those interested in rock paintings and photographs, and they also sport a large Beatles collection and paintings by Ronnie Wood and Alberto Vargas. A must for music enthusiasts, if you have the budget.

Sun-Wed 10AM-6PM, Thu-Sat 10AM-8PM · Prices are high, with most pieces over $1,000

Rincon Center

This is mostly for dining but there are also many shops here as well.

Books Inc

Unusual and quirky book store that holds a storytelling hour for kids every Sunday afternoon.

Mon-Sat 9AM-10PM, Sun 9AM-9PM

General Bead

Thousands of beads and bead-based products for any bead and jewelry lover.

Tue-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun noon-5PM

Amazing Fantasy

A comic book store, owned by a guy named Frank. Friendly staff. They have a small collection of back issues, and will order anything for you by request.

Wheelchair accessible

826 Valencia

The Pirate Store

The majority of this space is dedicated to children's writing workshops. The front, however, is an emporium for all your piracy related needs. Not to be missed. Founded by McSweeney's Dave Eggers.

Noon-6PM daily

A. Cavalli & Co

This shop with its friendly proprietor sells everything Italian, from ornate imported espresso and pasta makers to Italian newspapers, magazines, CDs, and DVDs.

Mon-Sat 11AM-11PM, Sun 11AM-6:30PM

Aldea Home + Baby

A design-minded shop with a wide array of lifestyle accessories, bed and bath products and dining accouterments. It's also a shop that caters to all of your baby needs, with stylish clothing, hand-picked toys, and unique, modern furnishings.

Mon-Sat 10AM-7PM, Sun 10AM-6PM

Alemany Farmers Market

Forget the farmers market at the Ferry Building, unless you just can't live without the high prices and the most fashionable vegetables. San Francisco's original 1943 farmer's market is where it's at. It was founded by the Victory Garden Council as a WWII ag-surplus depot! Rock-bottom cheap, we-picked-it-at-3AM fresh, it's where elderly Asian ladies swarm piles of fresh peanuts and carefully pick out the live chicken to bring home. It has flowers at unbelievable prices and a really stellar selection of basic fruits, nuts, tubers and vegetables, and exotic Asian produce. There aren't that many organic farmers, but there are some. Get there early for salad greens and Euro-American vegetables, as these go fast. The fish market is mixed but sometimes has good local catches.

Sat dawn-dusk

Ambiance

The store has a great selection of women's clothes and jewelry.

Mon-Fri 11AM-7PM, Sat 10AM-7PM, Sun 11AM-7PM

Amoeba Music

The best place in San Francisco to buy vinyl and cds, new and used, with an emphasis on indie music. It has one of the largest selections for an indie music store in the country.

Mon-Sat 10:30AM-10PM, Sun 11AM-9PM

Biordi Arts

For 50 years the owners have been selling imprinted Renaissance style Italian Majolica as well as Italian Hand painted Dinnerware.

Tue-Fri 11AM-5PM, Sat 9:30AM-5PM

Britex

Arguably the largest fabric store on the west coast, filling four floors of a narrow building. Don't look for calicos for your quilting project: this is the land of luxury fabrics for faking couture at home. If you've ever wanted to make a cheap sweater look expensive by adding deluxe buttons, head straight for the third floor, where 30,000 styles await your approval (don't even think of touching a button - the clerks do that). Britex is also notable for selling remnants that are big enough for a real project.

Mon-Sat 10AM-6PM

Cliff's Variety

Toys, gifts, kitchenware, hardware, and the newly remodeled annex next door is where to shop for do it yourself home decor items and is THE place to get rhinestones.

Mon-Sat 10AM-8PM, Sun 10AM-6PM

Embarcadero Center

Spanning five city blocks, this center is one of the largest mixed-use centers in the Western United States. It has over 100 stores and a 5-screen movie complex.

10AM-5PM daily

Gallery of Jewels

This gallery sells distinctive, limited edition jewelry handcrafted by local and international designers. They have a good variety of silver, gold and platinum accessories and sell jewelry for both men and women.

Mon-Sat 10:30AM-6:30PM, Sun 11AM-6PM

Goorin Brothers Hat Makers

These guys are determined to bring hats back in a big way. Along the way they've had many famous customers including Tom Cruise and JayZ. How big is your head?

Sun-Thu 11AM-8PM, Fri-Sat 10AM-9PM

Gump's

San Francisco's source of luxury housewares, from couches to crystal. Though famous names like Waterford appear on the shelves, the selection emphasizes home furnishings as art, often with an elegant Asian feel. The dominant style is not quite modernist but hardly middle-American traditional. It's difficult to do justice to a native's feelings toward Gump's without sounding like a bad marketing piece. This is the "look" that says one's parents and grandparents went to the right private schools. If your home looks like Gump's, you've not only "arrived"—you've been here longer than just about anyone else. As well as housewares, Gump's sells jewelry, holiday decor, and the odd bit of upscale soap.

Mon-Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun noon-5PM

Just For Fun & Scribbledoodles

Stationery and gifts; custom color printing and calligraphy for announcements. They have also opened an art supply store across the street.

Mon-Fri 10AM-6:30PM, Sat 9AM-7PM, Sun 10AM-6PM

Kinokuniya Bookstore

If you're into Japanese books, magazines, or comic books (otherwise known as manga), then this is your place to be. The only San Francisco branch of the famous Japanese chain, Kinokuniya carries thousands of titles, including dozens in English. So a crash course in Japanese is not essential to shop here.

10:30AM-8PM daily

Maido Stationery

Has a huge collection of washii decorative papers that is only surpassed by their incredible collection of pens, stationery and gift items.

10:30AM-8PM daily

Margaret O'Leary

Margaret O’Leary creates timeless women's knitwear rooted in Irish heritage, craftsmanship, and everyday comfort.

Mon-Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun 11PM-5PM