90 Best Shopping in San Francisco, California

Twentieth-century European and American paintings, including Bay Area figurative works, are displayed throughout two airy floors at this well-respected gallery established in 1970. Some recent exhibitions have included the works of Robert Kelly and Isca Greenfield-Sanders. Look for thematic shows here, too; past exhibits have had titles such as Summer Highlights and Four Decades.

Fantastic organic-milk cheeses—such as the mellow, triple-cream Mt. Tam and bocconcini (small balls of fresh mozzarella)—are produced at a creamery an hour's drive north of the city. These and other carefully chosen artisanal cheeses and dairy products, including a luscious, freshly made crème fraîche, round out the selection at the in-town store.

The original Diptyque boutique in Paris has attracted a long line of celebrities. You can find the full array of scented candles and fragrances in this chic shop that would be at home on the boulevard St-Germain. Trademark black-and-white labels adorn the popular L'eau toilet water, scented with geranium and sandalwood. Candles come in traditional and esoteric scents, including lavender, basil, leather, and fig tree. Also available are Mariage Frères teas.

This renowned gallery represents museum-caliber photographers or their estates, including Nicholas Nixon, Nan Goldin, Richard Misrach, and Garry Winogrand. Recent shows have included work by Robert Adams, Idris Khan, and Hiroshi Sugimoto. Most shows feature one or two artists, but the annual Several Exceptionally Good Recently Acquired Pictures showcases the range of works the gallery exhibits.

This store has been making its own salami, sausages, and cold cuts since 1896. Other homemade specialties include meat and cheese ravioli, tomato sauces, and fresh pastas. Do like the locals: grab a made-to-order sandwich for lunch and eat it at one of the sidewalk tables or over at Washington Square Park.

A handblown-glass chandelier winks at you through the store's front window, while DJs do their thing in the back. Sandwiched in between are styles like Cameo miniskirts or Shona Joy's hip-hugging skinny pants. There's something special for men, too: double-layered muscle tees and Gitman Bros. blue oxfords and vintage chambray shirts. Think progressive and of-the-moment.

A visit here is like being in someone's home and being able to buy everything you see, from the organic sheets to the chairs to the shampoo in the shower. The aesthetic is modern, with bright references to Mexico, India, Turkey, and Japan. Aldea is the perfect place to find a hostess gift or to deck out a corner that's missing something special. Nearby Aldea Niños (at 1017 Valencia) sells green products for kids.

Specializing in beautifully restored furniture from the 1930s through the 1960s, this store sells Heywood Wakefield tambour buffets, art-deco bars, and French art-deco desks. Jewelry, glassware, and lamps are on display, too.

This SoMa maze of museum-quality English and French antiques and objets d'art might include an 18th-century French harp or delicate tortoise-shell miniatures. The shop's inventory leans toward items from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Get a gift for your favorite globe-trotter at this oasis for the unordinary. You'll find maps, boxes, vases, and vintage furniture, as well as European artifacts.

Fashion is taken seriously here (a pair of distressed shoes that look like they've been mowed down on the highway can cost you over a grand), but it's always offered with a wink and a smile. Witty touches abound, from the infamous store windows to the design details throughout. As you enter Barneys' six-story corner locale, a flight of stairs extends to the mezzanine, with its salon displaying thousands of shoes. Below street level, cosmetics and fragrances reign.

You can find this locally based line of cosmetics and skin-care products at Macy's and Sephora, but it's much more fun to come to one of the eponymous boutiques. No-pressure salespeople dab you with whimsical makeup such as Ooh La Lift concealer and Tinted Love, a stain for lips and cheeks.

The revered microroaster's practitioners brew their sacred beans in a $20,000 siphon bar from Japan with halogen-lighted glass globes that resemble a science experiment. A stop here makes for a perfect reprieve from shopping.

Wineshops exist all over the city, but this is the only winery within city limits. Grapes are brought in from Russian River Valley, and all production takes place on-site, reviving an industry that was once thriving a hundred years ago in SoMa before Napa and Sonoma took it over. Come to the tasting room to sample light summery rosés, rich Pinot Noirs, or refreshing Sauvignon Blancs. On the last Saturday of each month, the space becomes a farmers' market with local vendors selling honey and eggs alongside the wine.

The Spanish brand's whimsical footwear is wildly popular with young adults. Unexpected embroidered patterns (leaves, butterflies) adorn many of the pairs, sometimes beginning on one shoe and continuing on the other. Other styles are reminiscent of bowling and boxing shoes.

This bright, authentic, fair-trade artisan store sells the work of Mexican artists, as well as decorations for various Mexican festivities. If you're looking for traditional sugar skulls, papel picado banners, or even Dia de los Gigantes (Day of the Giants, in honor of the hometown baseball team winning the World Series on the Day of the Dead in 2010) tees, look no further. The friendly owner and welcoming vibe will beckon you in.

Discounts of up to 50% apply to the hand-loomed cotton sweaters with fanciful, intricate designs. There's also a large selection of colorful sweaters for children. Pillows, stuffed animals, and assorted knickknacks are also on offer in this small showroom.

This is the perfect spot for all things British; C&C serves traditional afternoon tea starting at 11 am, complete with cucumber sandwiches and scones. The shop also sells china cups and other teatime accessories such as candies, clocks, and coasters.

The trendy vintage furniture sold here will fit right in any space. With items that include Tommi Parzinger wall sconces, Hans Olsen's "Fried Egg" chairs, and even bronze coffee tables, the selection at De Angelis is truly inspirational.

This quaint boutique offers up fashions by dozens of brands, among them Kathy Kamei and Ulla Johnson. The clothes have been thoughtfully selected with entire wardrobes in mind. Items don't crowd the racks, and the service is friendly without being overwhelming. You can sometimes find good bargains here.

Three floors of designer shoes, both dressy (Kenneth Cole, Anne Klein) and sporty (Adidas, Timberland), beckon bargain hunters. In return for the bare-bones ambience and do-it-yourself service at this branch of a national chain, you get discounts of 25% to 50%—and up to 70% off the clearance items in the basement.

A destination for organic products, cleansing, and relaxation—not to mention massage treatments to melt for—this eco-spa offers transformative workshops and rituals that help you heal from within. The Goddess Treatment, a client favorite, includes body exfoliation, a hot-oil scalp treatment, and massage using products infused with wildflower blossoms.

Feeding and fueling the city's obsession with international designers, this intimate boutique stocks Caroline Constas, Kinder Aggugini, Isabel Marant, and Timo Weiland, with an emphasis on the very finest fabrics.

In addition to paints, brushes, and art supplies, this sprawling creators' playground sells beautifully made photo albums and journals, fine pens and pencils, crafts kits, stationery, and inspiring doodads for kids.

Ultrastylish travel accessories—retro-looking flight bags, supersoft leather passport wallets, and luxury toiletries—line the shelves of this brightly lighted shop, which vaguely resembles an airplane interior. High-tech travel gear and a small collection of guidebooks speed you on your way.

The cosmetics line's only Northern California store occupies a quaint historic structure built just after the 1906 earthquake. Indulge in oval milk soaps from France, sugar-lemon lotion, and pomegranate conditioner. Fresh is most popular for its body-care sets, the Umbrian Clay being one of them. During the holiday season, the Seaberry Restorative Body Cream can be hard to come by.

New and vintage goods sit stylishly side by side in this fun, well-lit Outer Sunset space that sells books, lotions, hats, cups, dog leashes, and other items, most of them designed by local artists. Don't miss the greenhouse in back.

From the chunky to the sleek, the shoes carried here—including those by Chie Mihara, Red Wing, Del Carlo, and Paul Smith—are top notch. And if $500 seems steep for a pair of black boots, perhaps you haven't seen the perfect pair by Fiorentini + Baker.

Nestled in a narrow alleyway, this tiny destination is impossible to find unless you have directions. This is the place to watch fortune cookies being made; the intricate process involves flattening, folding, and pressing patches of dough. You can purchase big bags of cookies in various flavors, shapes, and sizes to take home.