Markets and independent shops in San Francisco

468 markets, bookshops, record shops and makers in San Francisco.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 468.

BuyBookshopThe Avenues
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
BuyBookshopNob Hill-Russian Hill
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
BuyBookshopHaight
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
BuyBookshopCivic Center-Tenderloin
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
BuyBookshopWestern Addition
Forest Books
A moderately sized bookstore selling new and mostly used books.
Mo-Su 12:00-20:00
BuyCraft shopCastro-Noe Valley
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
BuyGift shopChinatown-North Beach
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
BuySecond-hand shopGolden Gate
Past Perfect
Antique store with a large and eclectic selection of vintage goods and artwork to choose from.
11AM-7PM daily
BuyUnion Square-Financial District
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
BuyFarmers marketSoMa
Rincon Center
This is mostly for dining but there are also many shops here as well.
BuyBookshopGolden Gate
Books Inc
Unusual and quirky book store that holds a storytelling hour for kids every Sunday afternoon.
Mon-Sat 9AM-10PM, Sun 9AM-9PM
BuyCraft shopSoMa
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
BuyBookshopThe Avenues
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
BuyMission
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
BuyChinatown-North Beach
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
BuyMission
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
BuyBernal Heights
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
BuyGolden Gate
Ambiance
The store has a great selection of women's clothes and jewelry.
Mon-Fri 11AM-7PM, Sat 10AM-7PM, Sun 11AM-7PM
BuyHaight
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
BuyChinatown-North Beach
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
BuyUnion Square-Financial District
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
BuyCastro-Noe Valley
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
BuyUnion Square-Financial District
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
BuyGolden Gate
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
BuyChinatown-North Beach
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
BuyUnion Square-Financial District
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
BuyCastro-Noe Valley
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
BuyWestern Addition
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
BuyWestern Addition
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
BuyGolden Gate
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
BuySoMa
Metreon
This mall/entertainment complex was built by Sony in the late 1990s at the height of the fever dream of the Dot Com Boom. While it no longer has the extensive arcade and indoor theme parks of its past glory, it still has some interesting shops and a 15-screen movie theater with an IMAX screen. A food court on the lower level serves the convention area and is overwhelmed during lunch hours of the major conventions. The space is next to Target.
11AM–7PM daily
BuyThe Avenues
Mollusk Surf Shop
Cheery local shop with easy to wear California clothes, colorful surf boards and surf gear, and an art gallery. Sometimes they host fun music shows and art opening parties. Medium pricing.
Mon–Sat 10AM–6:30PM, Sun 10AM–6PM
BuyCivic Center-Tenderloin
Napa Valley Winery Exchange
Well known wine store featuring hard to get and small production wines.
Mon-Sat 10AM-7PM, Sun 10AM-5PM
BuyUnion Square-Financial District
Nintendo San Francisco
Lots of Nintendo merchandise and photo opportunities; this popular store's 2025 opening has been part of Union Square's post-covid revitalization.
Mon–Sat 10AM–8PM; Sun 11AM–6PM
BuyTwin Peaks-Lake Merced
Stonestown Galleria Shopping Center
Trendy two-story indoor shopping mall next to SFSU, with an emphasis on Chinese and Japanese shops and restaurants. Anchor stores include Target, Uniqlo, Sports Basement, and an Apple store. Good Chinese food.
Mon-Sat 10AM-9PM, Sun 11AM-7PM
BuyUnion Square-Financial District
Thomas Pink
This place might seem obsessed with its eponymous color, if you judge by the store displays, but the upscale clothier also knows about white, beige, blue, and yellow.
Mon-Fri 10AM-7PM, Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun 11AM-6PM
BuyNob Hill-Russian Hill
Velvet da Vinci
Established in 1991, the gallery shows contemporary jewelry by international artists and craft-based sculpture. Housed in an old furniture factory the gallery has 10 exhibitions a year and is a must see for fans of cutting-edge jewelry.
Tue-Sat noon-6PM, Sun noon-4PM
BuyUnion Square-Financial District
Wilkes Bashford
This is just the place to pop in for a $1,000 jacket, a $500 cashmere sweater, or those delicious Jimmy Choo shoes. Every now and again, there is a major sale on the top floor. You don't need to watch for the sales banners -- just notice when the crowds mobbing into the store look suspiciously like the same people who bussed your table the night before.
Mon-Wed and Fri Sat 10AM-6PM, Thu 10AM-8PM
BuyThe Avenues
6th Avenue Aquarium
Small store selling aquarium supplies and fishes, but its small scale beats many public exhibits for fun and colorful fish.
Mon-Fri 11AM-10PM, Sat?Sun 10AM-10PM
BuyThe Avenues
Blackbird Bookstore and Cafe
Cafe and bookshop with a patio in the back. Highly curated (read: limited) book selection and lots of non-book gift options. Great for kids.

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to San Francisco (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps.