San Francisco shopping
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An expert guide to shopping in San Francisco, including recommendations for the best shops, boutiques and malls, as well as suggestions for things to buy. By Sara Benson, our San Francisco expert.
San Francisco has several distinct shopping areas depending on your taste. At one end are the mass-market department stores and high-end international boutiques centred around Union Square, and for the free-spirited creative types there are the unique artsy shops strung like pearls along Valencia Street in the Mission District and Hayes Street in Hayes Valley.
Union Square: This is the city’s major shopping hub, where most of the major labels (Coach, Cartier, Bulgari, Prada) and department stores congregate: Barneys New York (77 O’Farrell Street), Macy’s (170 O’Farrell Street) and the unique SF institution Gump’s (135 Post Street), which specialises in exotic home furnishings and where a giant Qing dynasty Buddha greets visitors. A 10-minute walk away is Bloomingdales (845 Market Street), at the Westfield San Francisco Centre shopping mall.
Mission District: Valencia Street between 14th Street and 25th Street (and along some of the side streets) is lined with dozens of great one-of-a-kind boutiques, vintage stores, cafés, bars and restaurants. This is where the arty heart of the city lies. Highlights include Betabrand (780 Valencia Street) fashions, Paxton Gate (824 Valencia Street) for nature-themed curiosities, Gravel and Gold (3266 21st Street, east of Valencia Street) design collective and, a couple of blocks’ walk away, the Bi-Rite Creamery (3692 18th Street at Dolores Street) for the city’s best artisanal ice cream.
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Hayes Valley: A fashionable rival to the Mission District, Hayes Valley has innovative boutiques along Hayes Hayes Street between Franklin Street and Laguna Street. Start with a coffee at Blue Bottle Coffee (315 Linden Street) or Ritual Coffee Roasters (432b Octavia Street), both just off Hayes Street. Then truffle through Flight 001 (No 525), which stocks hip travel gear; Ver Unica (No 526) for exquisite vintage pieces and up-and-coming labels; Lava 9 (No 542), displaying handmade jewellery and bags; Propeller (No 555) for home décor – and a dozen other spots. Around the corner, Marine Layer (No 498) sells super-soft, sporty looks designed and made in San Francisco
Pacific Heights: Fillmore Street between Geary Street and Bush Street is flush with chic boutiques and elegant houseware and beauty stores. Rag & Bone is at No 2060, James Perse at No 2028, Asmbly Hall at No 1850 and Zinc Details at No 1633.
