As befits its location in San Francisco's Mission District, this concept store offers a mix of cute, hipster and nouveau-grunge pieces. Favorite finds include succulent plants, limited edition lithographs and unisex flannel shirts.

A liquor store for millenials, Cask offers a range of artisanal bourbons, whiskeys and special wines in a chic store in downtown San Francisco.

In business here for more than thirty years, Dottie Doolittle is the most high-end kids’ store in the city. It carries a sweet array of toys and books, tutus and spangly shoes, as well as clothing in up to size 12 for boys and size 16 for girls.

Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, San Francisco’s famed farmers’ market, outside the Ferry Building, is something to see even if you have no intention of cooking during your visit. From stands in the rear plaza, overlooking the bay, you can buy everything from cappuccino to fresh tortillas. Inside the Ferry Building (open seven days a week), there are more than twenty-five permanent tenants, including purveyors of chocolate, wine and bread, as well as take-out boutiques and restaurants. Tip: Go on Saturday to get the most action. Between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. is when serious foodies and chefs show up; from 10 a.m. to noon, serious foodies who like to party at night. From noon to two, a social crowd comes mostly to be seen.

Margaret O’Leary began with a few beautiful pieces of knitwear and now designs a new collection twice a year. In addition to luscious cashmere sweaters seen on plenty of celebrities, the shop carries the stylish jeans and shirts you’ll want to wear with them. There is another location in Berkeley and a third in Mill Valley.

This airy, inviting, and just a little eclectic shop on Fillmore Street offers beautiful objects for the home sourced from around the world.

This quirky curiosities store sells everything from taxidermy to succulents—and a lot of things in between. Browse Paxton Gate for one-of-a-king finds, check out the cool fossils and laboratory paraphernalia.

Susan has cream-of-the-crop designers from Lanvin and Balenciaga to Marni and Comme des Garçons, all served up with a fair dose of attitude. If you can ignore the pretension, you can find some wonderful fashions, particularly international labels.

A quintessential San Franciscan experience, this longtime city boutique now has a location in Palo Alto. It started as a men’s store and still stocks such gorgeous lines as Brioni and Bogner. There’s a women’s boutique with designs from Valentino, Monique Lhuillier and Oscar de la Renta and a home collection on the lower level that includes luxurious items from Pratesi, R&Y Augousti and L’Artisan Parfumeur.