Nest
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights

2300 Fillmore St
San Francisco, CA 94115

Kristina R. writes: What a dangerously cute lil' store!  And I do mean DANGEROUS.  I walk in and I want to buy EVERYTHING.  Watch your savings accounts, people.  This place is like a money pit from Hell.  But like a Martha Stewarty kind of Hell.

Also, they have the…

Giant Robot
Neighborhood: Haight-Ashbury

618 Shrader Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

Stanley K. writes: It all started when I saw Choco and Minty art toy in June Edition, Todo magazine.

It was love at first sight. When you see these two crazy looking whack out creature, you know you can't leave them in the box or better yet in a store to be look at.…

DLX Skateboards & Clothing Store
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley, Mission

1831 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94103

Justin C. writes: As a loyal DLX customer for many years, I can safely say that this is the only place you need to go to get your skateboard equipment.

They consistently have the best prices on decks, with all the local brands you know and love.

Real, Anti-Hero,…

MadKat
Neighborhood: Cole Valley

915 Cole Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

Jill K. writes: MadKat is truly a product junkie's paradise. It's always well-stocked with knowledgable sales people that know the difference between helpful and pushy.

I always love coming here; I feel like it's a friendlier business than PureBeauty. Also, they have…

Faye's Video & Espresso Bar
Neighborhood: Mission

3614 18th St
San Francisco, CA 94110

squinka c. writes: short version: GOOD COFFEE, COOL OWNERS, SMART CINEMA SELECTION, GREAT SERVICE

my ode to faye's

I don't really rent very many movies here. I would just watch Moulin Rouge and Big Lebowski again if I did. I mainly go here for the coffee, but the best…

Film Yard Video
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill

1610 Stockton Street
San Francisco, CA 94133

megan w. writes: I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. This video store is the size of a Manhattan studio apartment, with movies stacked up to the ceilings. Also, in my local video stores, I like there to be at least two disgruntled pothead…

A Clean Well-Lighted Place For Books
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin

601 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102

Kristina R. writes: I had a huge fight with my husband at the sushi restaurant nearby and stomped out in a huff.  I didn't have car keys, money, or a working brain, so I stopped into Clean Well Lighted to clear  my thoughts.  I read some selections off the new books…

Arthur Beren Shoes
Neighborhood: Union Square

222 Stockton Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

Ed C. writes: Holy crispy pata!

Here I was, eating my scrambled eggs and sausage and filling out the Travel and Leisure website's The Best City You've Ever Visited questionnaire, when all of a sudden the name of my most favorite shoe store in the world suddenly…

Marc Jacobs
Neighborhood: Union Square

125 Maiden Lane
San Francisco, CA 94108

Darin I. writes: If you swing by now, the Marc Jacobs store has a huge reproduction of the Interview magazine June/July cover photo of Marc Jacobs hanging in the window. In the actual interview, MJ talks about the art-consumerism nexus, Takashi Murakami, and defacing…

Fleur't
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond

15 Clement St
San Francisco, CA 94118

Padmae K. writes: Fleurt is the garden of Eden, displaced in the middle of messy Clement Street. There are exquisite, decadent  flower arrangements and equally luscious home furnishings to engage the senses. While the price to own a selection from Fleurt can be…

National Product
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley, Mission

1845 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94103

Michael E. writes: If I had magical powers and could turn myself into a store, I would be National Product. I would ooze a boatload of cool screenprints, t-shirts and other hand-printed goodness... The little gallery in the back is almost too much for me to handle. I…

Xela Imports
Neighborhood: Noe Valley

3925 24th Street
San Francisco, CA 94114

Christine M. writes: Around the world in 80 seconds.  Xela has jewelry, artwork, clothing et al. from all over the globe at fairly reasonable prices.  True, you can find everything here for a lot less if you visit the actual countries, but tack on the plane ticket, hotel…

Held Over
Neighborhood: Haight-Ashbury

1543 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

Darin I. writes: Everyone knows only two types of people should shop vintage.  Folks gifted with an innate sense of style and asians, who have a genetic predisposition for making trash chic.  If you don't fall into either group, you're seriously fucked.

That said, you…

Bryan Lee Clothing
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow

1840 Union St
San Francisco, CA 94123

Chris C. writes: I didn't even shop here myself but I just had to give four stars because of the service that they provided for my girlfriend.  Just moments after leaving the Blue Jean Bar or whatever it was and being treated like we weren't "worthy" to shop there,…

Supple Integrative Skin Care
Neighborhood: North Berkeley

1543 Hopkins St
Berkeley, CA 94707

Trixie J. writes: Dear God, Allah, Buddha, 8 lb 9 oz newborn baby Jesus, Mr. Trump, Oprah and Ms. Kwan Yin, Goddess of Mercy on your gigantic lotus flower:

Please let me win the lottery so I can get facials at Supple every month and be a regular user of their delicious…

The Other Shop

327 Divisadero St
San Francisco, CA 94117

maria d. writes: Why is everyone so hesitant to give the other shop 5 stars? Too much Dansk furniture, but adorable, reasonably priced vintage clothing (and it is not all size 0!) and real designer shoes make this a great little stop on Divis.  If you want affordable…

Super 7 Retail Store
Neighborhood: Japantown, Pacific Heights

1628 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

May T. writes: i've outgrown the super kitschy japanese anime toys and collectibles, but super 7 has some of the coolest array of star wars and upper playground tees, and exciting post-modern design books. i almost dropped 75 clams on a book featuring haute design…

Timeless Treasures
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights

2176 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

Gourmet G. writes: Small but charming, this vintage interiors store is heaven for browsers. The stock consists mostly of  American and French country and rustic things the owner finds during annual jaunts to New England, so her undoubtedly high excess baggage fees…

A Different Light Bookstore
Neighborhood: Castro

489 Castro Street
San Francisco, CA 94114

Robert P. writes: Contrary to popular belief, I do other things besides look at internet porn and go to concerts. I'll have you know that I'm actually quite the bookworm too. And when I need a new book, I like to go to A Different Light, for a variety of reasons. I…

Dema
Neighborhood: Mission

1038 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Jen D. writes: Really cute clothing boutique. Cool music playing on the stereo too. Saw a really cute dress in the window. Stopped in. Checked the price tag. Not bad. Not bad at all... Too bad I'm a broke ass student these days...

They have everything here.…

Paper Source
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights

1925 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

Keane L. writes: This place is so adorable. I love their cute cards and stationary. And such friendly service... What better place is there to find a "Glad you finally came out of the closet" card to send to myself?

FABU.

Alameda Point Antiques and Collectables Faire

2100 Ferry Point
Alameda, CA 94501

Sammy S. writes: I had a dream in which I was wearing flowy linen pants, a wide-brimmed straw sunhat and SFP 30 sunblock smeared across my face. In the dream I was rolling a miniature shopping cart behind me as I inspected a pencil sketching of two elated clowns. The…

Sports Basement

610 Mason St
San Francisco, CA 94129

Kristina R. writes: I have this kid in my class.  We call him The Energizer Bunny.  Guess why!

Yesterday, I realized how out of shape I was when the Energizer Bunny nearly killed me.  I was walking towards the art table and WHAAAMP...the kid swooshed by like a bolt of…

Smoke Signals
Neighborhood: Russian Hill

2223 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

Fallopian Swim Team D. writes: When we lived in NY, we used to spend $200 a month on magazines (mostly imported). I have long since sobered up, and (mostly) gotten rid of that nasty habit. When I fall of of the wagon, I run right down to Smoke Signals and they never fail to…

City Discount
Neighborhood: Nob Hill

1542 Polk St
San Francisco, CA 94109

ir o ro o. writes: Today I woke up and wanted cinnamon raisin toast, fast! But I didn't have a toaster oven, so I popped on down to City Discounts and picked up a stylish little brushed metal toaster for $22! Yeah!   *munch* This toast is really yummy! *munch*

It is…

Doe
Neighborhood: Lower Haight

629 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117

megan w. writes: I am a big fan of local designers, as well as locally-owned small businesses (like the boutiques that sell the local designers.) As we may have discussed, I enjoy keeping my dolla dolla bills in the local economy. In fact, I poured over $100K into a…

East Bay Depot For Creative Reuse
Neighborhood: North Oakland, Temescal

4695 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94609

Kristina R. writes: I'm putting the kids to work this year.  We're going to solve the Earth's global warming crisis with 10 billion empty cd cases, several ka-jillion mis-shapen notebook covers, and 50 million cracked frisbees.  

The Gore-meister ok'd it...but I'm not…

Chocolate Covered
Neighborhood: Noe Valley

4069 24th St
San Francisco, CA 94114

andy r. writes: LADIES! I GET IT NOW!

I have seen the light (and dark)! Why it took so long, I don't know. I've lived around the corner from Chocolate Covered for years, and only set foot inside last week. My taste runs more the savory than the sweet. CC had about…

Minnie Wilde
Neighborhood: Mission

3266 21st St
San Francisco, CA 94110

Hoa N. writes: A sale sign drew me in. The owner showed me an alpaca jacket--luscious, but I said, no, I'm from a HOT weather place.

She showed me the sales racks but I didn't see any styles that would work for me, seemingly made for women who are small on top.…

In Water
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights

2132 Fillmore St
San Francisco, CA 94115

Nilu r. writes: Beautiful plants and arrangements, done artfully.
Like many other plant and flower shops in the area, the prices are high. But if you want a striking arrangement of orchids or an exotic plant in a cool container, this place will not disappoint.

Hortica
Neighborhood: Castro

566 Castro St
San Francisco, CA 94114

stephy s. writes: When I was a little girl my Dad and I would play this awesomely nerdy game where we would walk around our beautifully landscaped backyard that my Dad created and maintained and he would test me on the scientific names of all the plants. Yes, I was…

Wink SF
Neighborhood: Noe Valley

4107 24th St
San Francisco, CA 94114

laura b. writes: Came in here to beg (so uncouth, i know) for rocket dog rescue silent auction items and the awesome woman who was working got up immediately, grabbed a gorgeous dog dish and handed it over.  how's that for generosity, service and kindness?  truly…

Diesel Bookstore
Neighborhood: North Oakland

5433 College Ave
Oakland, CA 94618

NISHisHOT g. writes: A girl's gotta do some SOUL SEARCHING once in while.  You know, balance your mental books.

So a few months ago . . . I landed here.  My favorite book store.  Small.  Organized.  Eccentric.  Helpful.  

And what more appropriate than to soul search…

Dr. Yunus Kurtbay
Neighborhood: Inner Sunset

750 Irving Street
San Francisco, CA 94122

Chris B. writes: Kurtbay hooks a brotha from another motha up. Although I'm not related to him, and although I'm not a "brotha", he still did indeed bring out the bad ass skills(as if optomitrists have "mad" skillzz) in order to help me out.

I walked in, 1 week till…

Mr. S Leather
Neighborhood: SOMA

385 8th St
San Francisco, CA 94103

Ian M. writes: Total debauchery.  We were in all sorts of disrobedness in and out of the dressing rooms.  Jamie (I think that was his name)  helped SFTrouble and me get in and out of some super fun outfits.  There was tons of eye candy around and for some reason…

Walgreens
Neighborhood: Castro

2145 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94114

Peter M. writes: It's all over people.  Your quest to be the first one to give it to me and be so proud of yourself for the ironic gift choice has been squashed.  You don't get to message your Yelp friends and start a Yelp talk thread about that fact that you were…

Foot Worship
Neighborhood: Nob Hill

1214 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

Matthew R. writes: About as friendly, clean and bright as a place that sells 8" platform fuck-me over and over and over again heels is going to get.

Nish Nadaraja
Neighborhood: SOMA

650 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

Jean W. writes: How does one correctly catageorize Nish Nadaraja? Without being corrected by everyone else? He's good breakfast through last call, with a bourbon. or without. On crackers, or on NPR. And he's got the secret weapon of Wifey. Don't fuck with the Wifey.…

Valencia Cyclery
Neighborhood: Mission

1077 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Laura B. writes: "Hey honey. I was riding our bike again the other day and the pedal broke. Took it in to Valencia Cyclery, they were really nice and helpful.

"Lessee, pedals replaced, tires replaced, and ... what was the other. Oh. I guess I had them put a basket on…