Shopping Center Ghirardelli Square Fillmore Street Stonestown Galleria

San Francisco has a surplus of streets and neighborhoods filled with unique shopping opportunities, each with its own distinct flavor and culture.

San Francisco Shopping Centre - A new redesigned shopping center with America's only curved escalator. The San Francisco Shopping Center is full of nice boutiques, chain stores and the second largest Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom's stores. 

Union Square  - Union Square is the shopping hub in the City. Every major haute couture, jewelry and department store has a presence here, including Neiman-Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, Gucci and Louis Vuitton.

Union Street - The first neighborhood in San Francisco to convert Victorians into chic boutiques, art galleries and restaurants, Union Street offers a distinct turn-of-the-century atmosphere and architecture. This trendy artery (between Gough and Steiner streets) features designer boutiques, upscale chains and gift shops, and is where the city’s most fashionable play. The annual Union Street Spring Festival is a fun street event.  [Top]

Ghirardelli Square - Ghirardelli Square features 70 stores specializing in eclectic gifts, art, clothes, and chocolate, as well as award-winning restaurants, fabulous views of San Francisco Bay, landscaped gardens, and historic walking tours. Although its oldest building, Woolen Mill, dates back to 1864, Ghirardelli Square is famous for its years as a chocolate factory until the 1960s. In 1964 Ghirardelli Square became the country's first manufacturing complex renovated into a festival marketplace. Visit www.ghirardellisquare.com.

Castro Street - The heart of gay life in the City, the Castro is a mecca for quirky, creative housewares and novelty gifts. Gorgeous Italian teapots, handmade cards, phallic keychains, gourmet foods and leather pants all lie within an easy stroll of one another.

The Cannery - Handmade arts are the specialty of this red brick Fisherman's Wharf shopping center.

Chestnut Street - A favorite shopping spot of Marina residents, Chestnut Street retains its local flavor with an abundance of unique shops, grocers and florists.  [Top]

Fillmore Street - Fillmore, between Jackson and Bush streets, offers chic boutiques, handmade gifts and elegant housewares. Not a place for bargain hunting, although there are a few vintage clothing stores.

Haight Street  - Although a Gap looms over the corner of Haight and Ashbury, a non-conformist vibe still lurks in the small stores selling alternative clothes, shoes and accessories. Bargain hunters will find heaps of great vintage clothes and accessories.

Hayes Valley - From distinctive leather goods to fine lingerie, the tree-lined 500 block of Hayes Street in particular is a shopaholic's paradise.

Valencia Street - In the heart of the Mission District, Valencia Street teems with vintage furniture shops, thrift stores, and Mexican folk art shops.  [Top]

Stonestown Galleria - This shopping mall in the Sunset District offers 130 great stores, including Williams-Sonoma, Borders Books and Macy's, plus lots of free parking.

Crocker Galleria - Modeled after Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, this airy and ornate shopping center houses upscale boutiques, restaurants and home furnishing stores.

Embarcadero Center - This slightly upscale, yet comfortable, shopping center consists of four blocks that house specialty boutiques, an art movie theatre, and indoor and outdoor restaurants.  [Top]