Given
Neighborhood: Castro

575 Castro St
San Francisco, CA 94114

Darin I. writes: My apartment is tragic.

I don't mean tragic in that Aristotelian dramatic unity way or the Amy Whinehouse way or the Katie Couric as an anchorwoman way (come on, everytime I hear that bitch singsonging the nightly news I think she should be selling me…

Five and Diamond
Neighborhood: Mission

510 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA 94110

Oksana T. writes: Sometime during my conversation with the salesman this happened:

"My dad so would not approve of this."

"Really? ... Where are you from?"

"o.O"

Little did he know that belt was going to be the biggest part of my costume.

There are many things I can't…

Jennifer Tuton Jewelry

San Francisco, CA 94115

Nish N. writes: I know Jennifer personally and she's made some of the coolest custom-made pieces of jewelry I've seen. She has a studio in the city and takes private appointments - perfect for brides/bridal parties - or just for having something fun for yourself. I…

Book Passage
Neighborhood: Embarcadero

1 Ferry Bldg
San Francisco, CA 94111

Ed U. writes: Those of you familiar with the Book Passage in Corte Madera know this to be the Lilliputian outpost, the Mini-Me version of the vast selection to be found up in Marin. And still, there is a certain claustrophobic charm to this iddy-biddy Ferry…

Billion Dollar Babes
Neighborhood: Nob Hill

Regency Center
1290 Sutter St
San Francisco, CA 94109

Drue C. writes: This sample sale has lots of new higher end designers at pretty good savings. You have to get there early for a selection that will not make you look like Bjork on a bad day, but there are deals to be had.

For yelpers with discerning taste they have…

Patrick & Company
Neighborhood: SOMA

1390 Market Street
Suite 102
San Francisco, CA 94102

jessica t. writes: My brother in kindergarten had the brilliant idea to collect erasers, accumulating a whopping total of 2000 rubber gems.  Not so weird, except these were also all the same erasers: those lame but useful pencil erasers that you could always buy at the…

Manifesto
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley

514 Octavia St
San Francisco, CA 94102

Kevin S. writes: Che Guevara baby tees are THE baby fashion statement of the year.   Great stuff, but I don't think it's all vintage--aren't some of these new items, like all the printed tee shirts?  Beautiful designs and I like the people in the shop.

Get Lost Travel Books Maps & Gear
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley, Mission

1825 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Kristina R. writes: I'd love to get lost somewhere, hence the name "Get Lost."  Very clever, those travel dudes.  And also, very sweet.  The staff here is very friendly and welcoming.

Maybe too welcoming.  I've spent many an hour at this place being the lookey-loo...the…

Sloat Garden Center
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond

327 3rd Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118

KayJay .. writes: So, you can't see me, but I'm shaking my head at myself.  Yup, I'm staring in a mirror and shaking my head in shame at myself.

Go take a look at Miriam B.'s review of Sloat Garden Center.  It's ok... I'll wait... (whistling and twidling thumbs)

Ok, ya,…

Target

133 Serramonte Center
Daly City, CA 94015

laura b. writes: Whilst shopping at Target for Method Laundry Soap, Baked Lays and a pink wrench (all the better to murder you with!!), I recently made the most brilliant discovery ever.  I noticed a very fashionable dress out of the corner of my eye.  I was…

Shimmer
Neighborhood: Union Square, Nob Hill

266 Sutter Street
Floor 4
San Francisco, CA 94108

Janney B. writes: "Tan fat looks better than pale fat" - My mom.  

I was terrified to lounge poolside in Las Vegas with my gorgeous friend, Lindsey.  Add to this equation 3 Million boobless/buttless spring breakers, and 50 million March Madness businessmen with…

architectural elements
Neighborhood: Mission

573 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Sally K. writes: Hands down one of the best furniture stores in the city.  Mike is such a great guy, and his inventory is hand-picked to fit a perfect aesthetic.  

If you like the style of the store but can't quite find the right piece ask to see their catalogs, as…

Urban Ore Building Materials

900 Murray St
Berkeley, CA 94702

Miz Susan B. writes: Back when we moved into our vintage 1962 Ranch-style home, I practically lived at this place. Seriously, I think I was here a few times a week for at least a couple of months (but this was at the Gilman Street location). This place saved my butt on…

X21 Modern
Neighborhood: Mission

890 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA 94110

Suge K. writes: If this store were a man, I'd marry it. Wait, no I wouldn't. Because I wouldn't want it to get too familiar. If this store were a man, I'd make sweet sweet love to it and have a very long, very tawdry affair with it. Simply put, I am madly and…

Costco Wholesale Warehouse
Neighborhood: SOMA

450 10th St
San Francisco, CA 94103

Richard T. writes: You wanna know why Costco is so great? You really wanna know why?

Because you can get a FORTY PACK of Trojan-Enz Condoms for $9.69!! - That same product at Safeway is $10.19 for a TWELVE PACK. Why would you go anywhere else?!!

Depending on how much of…

Wisnom's Hardware

545 1st Ave
San Mateo, CA 94401

Amanda S. writes: This is so much more than a hardware store - they have house goods, pet stuff, etc.

If you want a higher quality of products and a higher level of service than home depot -- go here.

Andronico's Market

1181 Locust St
Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Mathew H. writes: There's an old adage about coke: "if you can afford to have a coke habbit, then you have too much money". If you can afford to shop at andronicos as your weekly shop,  you have too much money. However, this place rules. The layout is great, and the…

Nature At Play

1375 Burlingame Ave
Burlingame, CA 94010

Jennifer B. writes: Love, love, love it!  Nature at Play is a sure bet for baby gifts, birthday goodies or any time you want to spoil your little rascal.  They have an amazing selection of baby blankets, wooden toys, puzzles, accessories, plus other unique "must haves".…

Paradise Foods

5627 Paradise Dr
Corte Madera, CA 94925

Robyne G. writes: My new favorite Marin Market....  The deli is to die for... the service is great... the market is clean and very well stocked... Yes it is my new favorite Marin Market....  Thank god my kids are out of the house otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford…

Ma Maison Home Accents
Neighborhood: SOMA

592 3rd Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

Lolia S. writes: Finding unique and tasteful gifts here with a French flair is a breeze at Ma Maison.  You'll find greeting cards, place settings, candles and French incense, drinking glasses made out a thick glass and decorated with fleur de lis or dragonflies,…

Box Dog Bikes
Neighborhood: Mission

494 14th St
San Francisco, CA 94103

Dan V. writes: I went in here for a wheelbuild and bottom bracket install and they were fast, courteous, professional, knew exactly where I was coming from and no-nonsense.  But really these guys are really sweet and nice, especially John, Gabe & Brian.  Thanks…

Missing Link Bicycle Cooperative
Neighborhood: Downtown Berkeley

1988 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA 94704

vivian c. writes: Sometimes I think the word "cooperative" is Berkeley hippie code for "hard to fire pretentious a-holes."  The Link may suffer a little bit of this, but overall, the staff is just fine.  The few times I've dropped in, I've always gotten good help and…

Thrift Center Thrift Store

1060 El Camino Real
San Carlos, CA 94070

Chai T. writes: This place is ghetto fabulous. Ghetto in the sense that when we went there this past weekend, we saw, smelled, touched, and heard way too many disgusting things. Seriously. I gagged a couple of times and used hand sanitizer 10-fold...I stepped on…

San Francisco Flower Mart
Neighborhood: SOMA

640 Brannan Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

Jeremy S. writes: How did I not know about this little mall of greenery? Well I didn't, but now I do and it's pretty cool. The hours are kind of weird (earlier the better on weekends), but the prices aren't. You can get fresh cut flowers at cut rate prices, but I was…

Smith & Hawken
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights

2040 Fillmore St
San Francisco, CA 94115

Joyita A. writes: I buy Special Presents here-and usually when they are on sale. I got a Beautiful Chinese Lantern blossoming plant here that my professor really liked. It was a present from us nursing students and she really liked it. I also got for my friend's…

Walgreens
Neighborhood: SOMA

116 New Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

Drue C. writes: The top of the receipts at all Walgreen's say "I'm ____, Thank you for allowing me to serve you today".

The only service I see when I walk in here are stanchions placed in aisle 1 so the customers can all line up, with looks on their faces like they…

San Francisco Stereo & Theater Systems
Neighborhood: Castro

2201 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94114

Steve S. writes: I've always received good recommendations from their staff, and never a hard sell. This is a good shop for all levels of audiophile: from the "I'm just starting out on a budget" audiophile, to the "I can truly hear a difference in the cymbals when…

AB Fits - Union Square - CLOSED
Neighborhood: Union Square, Civic Center/Tenderloin

40 Grant Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94133

Ralph C. writes: I have what is affectionately known as a brother's butt, a spankable ass, as some women have called it.  And while that is all good for play and all, it sucks when it comes to buying pants.  So instead of dropping a couple of bones on a pr of jeans…

Hermes
Neighborhood: Union Square, Civic Center/Tenderloin

125 Grant Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94108

Nish N. writes: There is nothing like a good visit to Hermes to remind me that I need to keep asking for a salary raise and/or bonus. Pretentious or not, I love the classic Hermes sense of fashion. It's Parisian snootiness updated for modern times, and sometimes…

Lone Palm
Neighborhood: Mission

3394 22nd St
San Francisco, CA 94110

Starla D. writes: If I were ever going to do a Craigslist Casual Encounter, I would pick this bar to meet him/them for a drink first, and break the ice.**  The Lone Palm is classy, in a cougar wearing faux fur and smoking a Virginia Slim kind of way.  It's dark and…

Jeremy's Retail
Neighborhood: SOMA

2 South Park St
San Francisco, CA 94107

jessica t. writes: I scored a pair of slutty Miss Sixty overalls with a deep plunging back and a v-cut neckline.

For 10 dollars.

That's less than a full Thai crunch salad at CPK without the avocado.

I tried on practically the same pair at Miss Sixty in Las Vegas - and…

Saks Fifth Avenue
Neighborhood: Union Square

384 Post St
San Francisco, CA 94108

Rachel G. writes: The life of an addict:

10:58am Sunday morning find me waiting outside Saks with my fingers on the glass, my hot breath steaming up the window, my pulse pounding at an alarming rate, beads of sweat forming at my temples, the shakes beginning to show in…

Ambiance
Neighborhood: Haight-Ashbury

1458 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

jessica t. writes: I have tried to resist this place for awhile now.

I run in.

I run back out.

Whew.

That was close.

But Ambiance has been pulling out some sharp punches lately.

I've been noticing more of their sale items.

I've been lured in by their shoes.

their colors.

their…

Fields Book Store
Neighborhood: Nob Hill

1419 Polk St
San Francisco, CA 94109

Fallopian Swim Team D. writes: Its very easy to pass this place and not notice it. Just another bookstore, and the much larger Acorn was just up the street, right? Wrong. Fields is a spiritual bookstore that caters to all religions and beliefs. Everything from the Bhagavad Gita,…

Adidas - Harputs
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA

1527 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

jordano k. writes: harputs is where old school sneakers come to die... at the time of this review, almost everything in the store was 50% off. woo, i want that adidas. woo, i want that onitsuka tiger. woo, i want another pair of adidas. i'm such a sneaker whore...…

Jack's on Chestnut
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow

2260 Chestnut St
San Francisco, CA 94123

Ryan W. writes: Alright, the fact that I had to take a moment to collect myself before writing this review should give you an idea of how truly bad ass this clothing store is. From theory to modern amusement I have yet to find a single article of clothing I did not…

Burberry
Neighborhood: Union Square

225 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94108

Peter M. writes: I thought this year for Valentine's day I would purchase the pretty lady a Burberry Scarf.  She loves scarves and rather than jewelery or flowers I thought something cashmere might say love a little bit more.

Now, I'm Mr. Schmoopy when it comes to…

Diva International

1 Market Plz
San Francisco, CA 94105

Runt T. writes: so here's the deal.  i freaked out one day and through shear (pun intended) frustration, i pulled my long almost elbow length hair into a loose pony tail and lopped it off.  yup and after the first cut i thought to myself "oh f*ck, i just cut my…

Savers

875 Main St
Redwood City, CA 94063

Tiff L. writes: Pros:
Department store of second hand items
Everything is cheap, unlike Salvation Army thrift store
Sometimes you get the item for even cheaper than the price tag. I bought a mug there that said 99 cents it ended up ringing up as 47 cents.
A large…

Alternative Design Studio - ADS Hats
Neighborhood: Mission

418 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA 94103

Kristina R. writes: My hubba-hubba-husband bought me a bright red felted hat with a casual bow on the side.  He brought it home with pride, and we even had a "girls" moment when he bragged about what a deal he got at the store.

I love it.  It's fabulous and chic, with a…