San Francisco
Anyone born in the wrong place or time to be a NorCal hippie architect can still look the part, thanks to General Store. Pine-lined walls showcase…
Must-see shopping in California
Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights
San Francisco prides itself on innovation, but this one's Canadian: custom-blended lipstick, with food-grade essential oils and nontoxic, organic…
San Francisco
Looking good in leather since 1979, Johnson Leathers custom-tailors classic cuts to suit all styles and genders. The motorcycle gear is made with quality…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
America's most-wanted men's look is classic California outlaw – and nobody does it better than designer John Varvatos. Western jackets, waxed jeans and…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
The reception area looks more like a doctor's office than a Haight hippie den, because Sparc has been a medical marijuana pioneer since 1998 – and to be…
Santa Barbara
Filled with specialty boutiques, restaurants and whimsical art galleries, this historic red-tile-roofed passageway was designed by Myron Hunt (builder of…
Silver Lake & Echo Park
Kathryn Bentley's fine jewelry isn't cheap (some pieces are priced well into the thousands), but it is exquisite, with extraordinary attention to detail…
Venice, Marina Del Rey & Playa del Rey
High-end women's jewelry known for Bittar's use of lucite, which is hand carved and painted in his Brooklyn studio. Some of it looks like stone. He…
Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights
Hey bargain hunters: see those upscale design boutiques lining Fillmore St? You can probably score their recent designs for less at Crossroads, thanks to…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Action-packed shelves of novels and graphic novels keep Missionistas well read, and trusty staff picks ensure you don't miss out on key local authors and…
The Mission, Dogpatch & Potrero Hill
Keep those muscles warm and show local cyclist pride as you whip through downtown streets wearing San Francycle's California-bear-on-a-bicycle tee and SF…
San Francisco
Gifts come from the heart inside this front-parlor gift shop, packed with outer-avenues necessities: flax clothing, indigo beach totes and fisherman's…
Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights
Hang a left at Ruth Asawa's bronze Origami Fountains and discover worlds of possibility. Family-run since 1968, this paper-craft emporium is fueling a…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Seven floors of name brands spanning a city block and the historic marble I Magnin building offer charming old-school amenities – including actual powder…
Disneyland Resort
Fanboys and girls of all kinds – wannabe gangstas to fashionistas, skate rats, surfers and anime geeks – get their own store at Disney. If you’ve got…
Los Angeles
Permanent's black crates are jammed with new and used vinyl. The Chicago import pays decent money for vinyl, which translates into a strong offering of…
Silver Lake & Echo Park
Cassette-themed paintings, leather satchels, felt coasters, retro-themed mugs, kitsch tomes, hand-printed LA-themed cards: Nico & Bullitt is all about…
Lyle Tuttle Tattoo Art Museum & Shop
North Beach & Chinatown
Tattooed ladies are the life's work of icon Lyle Tuttle, who inked women across seven continents – including Janis Joplin, Cher and Joan Baez. Since the…
San Francisco
Popsicles, tide pools, stained glass: Tina Frey's hand-cast vessels light up rooms and fire up neurons with their hypnotic, translucent color. If the urge…
San Francisco
Nob Hill socialites share a secret that's hiding in plain sight on Polk St: hot-off-the-runway high-end fashion for men and women, bought and sold on…
Los Angeles
A quirky concept store dedicated to Stateside designers, artists and artisans. Stock up on contemporary photography and digital art, playful buttons,…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
The mother lode of magazines since 1973. The Magazine's old wooden shelves barely contain all the 1940s pinup mags, 1950s Vogue, trippy 1960s underground…
Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood & Westwood
This New York import is the ultimate diamond purveyor to the stars. It dressed Best Actress winner Jennifer Jones at the 1944 Academy Awards, making it…
Los Feliz & Griffith Park
This is one of the city's coolest, quirkiest gift boutiques, where fine jewelry, art tomes, papier-mâché mounts and aromatic candles mingle with stuffed…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
Host gifts that earn return invitations to SF dinner parties come from Fatted Calf. This Bay Area salumi maker's showcase is a one-stop shop for…
North Beach & Chinatown
Ditch your day job and take up painting at this employee-owned art-supply store, housed in the former Hippodrome burlesque theater. This Barbary Coast hot…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
Strap on goggles and hang onto your top hat: with steampunk styling from Distractions, tonight you're gonna party like it's 1899. This gold-rush mad…
North Beach & Chinatown
Hollywood pinups borrowed their slinky silk-robe style from Chinatown burlesque stars back in the '30s – and now you can rock that retro hottie look in…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
Get geared up in San Francisco–designed styles to suit every local weather condition: arctic Alamo Square winds require minimalist Golden Gate hoodies,…
Sausalito
Near Sausalito's houseboat docks, this factory has been baking and glazing iconic dinnerware and home goods made of clay since 1959. Even chef Alice…
Los Feliz & Griffith Park
Set in a converted abode, this cozy, upmarket boutique-cum-cafe keeps every aspect of daily life looking oh-so-gorgeous. You'll find cool and preppy…
Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights
Get cheeky with BeneTint (liquid blush made from crushed roses) or raise eyebrows with Big Sexy Eye Kit – two of Benefit's signature products, invented in…
The Haight & Hayes Valley
Stuffed deer exchange glassy stares with skeletons over rusty dental tools: the signs are ominous, and for sale. Head upstairs for Goth gifts, including…
The Marina, Fisherman’s Wharf & the Piers
For the prankster in your life, Houdini's stocks all the classic gags – rubber chickens, exploding caps, marked cards, escapable handcuffs – plus…
Los Angeles
You'll find around 700 small-batch and heritage sodas at this family-run grocery store, from botanically brewed British cola to American almond cream soda…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Ignorance of the fog is no excuse in San Francisco – but should you confuse SF for LA (the horror!) and neglect to pack the obligatory sweater, Margaret O…
Silver Lake & Echo Park
An inspiring gift, antique and home-decor boutique filled with color, style and sheer originality. Stop by for stalactite rings and sterling-silver Navajo…
Japantown, Fillmore & Pacific Heights
It's a wonder you got this far in life without penguin soy-sauce dispensers, Pikachu socks, extra-spiky hair wax and the ultimate in gay gag gifts, the…
Downtown, Civic Center & SoMa
Wabi-sabi is the fine appreciation for imperfect, organic forms and materials, and the stock in trade of Gallery Japonesque. Owner Koichi Hara arranges…
Los Feliz & Griffith Park
One of our favorite unisex consignment stores in LA, SquaresVille is never short of fun, unique and just plain outrageous wearables. Dive in and expect to…
