San Francisco Shopping: 7 Best Local Art & Design Shops in San Francisco

What makes shopping in the city so unique is its local bent: there are so many art-orientated people making STUFF that sometimes the city seems nearly cluttered with it. They make from their heads, with no unifying theme, only an internal logic that one is hard pressed to find anywhere else. There are stores filled with butterfly’s pinned to walls, a store dedicated to taxidermy, a store which sells only owl-related accoutrements, and the list goes on. Additionally, there are some of the best cheap-fashion stores in the country, and no shortage of handmade trinkets and baubles.

Amoeba Music

Design & Clothes 7 2

By Camille

The best music store on the planet!

Amoeba Music

Amoeba Music is a Californian independent music chain with a worldwide reputation. The eclectic variety of music offered in its numerous stores makes it a local favorite. I've spent hours digging through the countless shelves of records in Amoeba's largest store in Haight-Ashbury.

by Camille

Crossroads Trading Co.

Design & Clothes 4 0

By Camille

The best vintage stores in town

Crossroads Trading Co.

Crossroads Trading Co. is a well-known company that sells and trades second-hand clothing for both men and women. There are several stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s my favorite place to shop as I always find gems at great prices at their San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland stores.

by Camille

Community Thrift Store

Design & Clothes 7 1

By Camille

A wonderful non-profit thrift store

Community Thrift Store

This store is difficult to miss as it’s the size of a block and has a pink storefront. San Franciscans donate, sell and buy second-hand clothing and all types of goods at this gigantic non-profit store. It’s full of vintage clothes, shoes, bags, electronics, LPs, CDs, books, furniture and trinkets at very low prices.

by Camille

The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse

Design & Clothes 4 0

By Camille

DIY & craft wonderland

The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse

The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse is an incredible place located in Oakland (30 mins from SF by BART). It’s a fun chaos of patterned papers, quirky items and all kinds of used craft materials. It’s a true haven for art teachers, artists, DIY lovers, bargain hunters and parents searching for supplies for their kids’ science and craft projects.

by Camille

Painted bird

Design & Clothes 1 0

By Camille

A vintage clothing store

Painted bird

Painted Bird is a vintage and second-hand clothes shop on Valencia Street. The boutique is very tiny, resulting in a limited choice of clothes, shoes and hats. However, the clothes are of high quality and are very unique.

by Camille

Crocker Galleria

Eating 2 0

By Camille

A chic mall with a rooftop garden

Crocker Galleria

Crocker Galleria is a hidden shopping center in financial district that features a beautiful skylight glass pavillion and atrium. This three floor levels gallery offers a great variety of restaurants, higher ends cafe, mini boutiques and pop-ups stores, open all day long.

by Camille

Salvation Army Family Store

Design & Clothes 3 1

By Camille

Gigantic second-hand & community store

Salvation Army Family Store

This huge thrift store is located at the far end of Valencia Street. Filled with Salvation Army stock and generous donations from the city’s inhabitants, here you'll find all types of low-priced goods: used clothing, kitchenware, furniture, home décor, books and knickknacks.

by Camille