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.

Don’t leave the neighborhood without stopping at the big momma of new/vintage clothing retailers, American Rag et cie. Admittedly, it’s geared to a young crowd, but every age can love the connecting French housewares department and café, Maison Midi and Café Midi.

Owner Dave Allen has assembled a fantastic collection of 19th- and 20th-century European stone fireplaces and mantels, garden fountains and hand-blown glasses from his travels around the world. Large rattan spheres and seashell saltshakers make great gifts.

This quirky knitwear shop is the brainchild of a Venice local, and it stocks unique printed sweaters and tank tops in an airy, light space. Prints are unique and formulated in-house, ensuring one-of-a-kind finds for all customers.

Housed in a charming beach bungalow along Cedros Avenue, this upscale home goods boutique stocks jute rope mirrors, block printed pillows, candles, rugs and more.

This shop is a standout for its dazzling mix, such as a pair of root chairs and matching console table that once furnished Al Capone’s Wisconsin cabin, a large selection of Italian Lucite and chrome pendant lamps by Angelo Mangiarotti, and 16th-century ceramic jars covered in barnacles found in the seas off Indonesia.

A go-to spot for celebrities and TV shows, Bleu Clothing is a stylish boutique that is well-priced for its quality of clothing and accessories. The owner, Gabrielle, sources primarily from young designers and can offer styling tips.

Recommended by an Indagare community insider

A lovely garden and home shop, Botanik has an artful display of objects that bring the garden indoors (leaf-engraved glasses and lily-shaped candles, for instance) and the comforts of home into the garden with well-designed outdoor furniture.

A cotton candy–hued dreamland, Bountiful stocks everything one's heart could desire, from gorgeous ceramic cake stands to vintage pill boxes and statement costume jewelry. Devotees rave about the wide-selection and friendly service, but be warned–prices are steep.

A visit to this big red barn with fabulous little shops and a few family-friendly places to eat has been a tradition since 1948. On weekends, celebrities and their kids eat at picnic tables surrounding an outdoor fire pit.

Occupying a bungalow in the Silverlake neighborhood, this homewares and artisanal foods store stocks everything from glass carafes and linen dishtowels to speciality jams and pickles. Afterward, grab an espresso and pastry by LA-based Valerie Confections and head to the sunny patio.

Burning Torch caters to Venice Beach’s hipster crowd, turning out recycled, on-trend clothes and accessories for women. The collection is made from sustainable materials that are in step with the brand’s socially conscious philosophy. Shop for one-of-a-kind 1970’s sunglasses alongside Victorian fine jewelry–everything is for sale in the brand’s Abbot Kinney flagship store, from the vintage wall tapestries to the antique chairs.

This family-owned shop and studio has been producing fine pottery for more than 35 years. The showroom offers glazing demonstrations and children's activities.

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

A former darling of San Francisco’s boutique circuit, Chariots on Fire recently relocated to Los Angeles after owner Ritz Yagi decided she needed a change of scenery. Yagi has already made a splash on the Boulevard, teaming up with super-cool label Tortoise for a sold-out jewelry collaboration. The store stocks a variety of artisanal gems, from solid perfumes and luxurious body balms, to hard to find jewelry from the likes of Marianne Anderson and Polly Wales.

In this shop, you’ll find an elegant assortment of Astier de Villette dishes, antique furnishings and such playful “objets d’art” as an antique children’s train. Old beehives, quail eggs and antique butterfly collections are original decorative accents.

Located in the Barlow complex in Sebastopol, this whimsical gift shop stocks old-fashioned children's toys made from high-quality and locally sourced materials.

French-born, LA-based Clare Vivier turned into a handbag designer by accident in 2008 when she couldn’t find a stylish yet functional laptop bag. Since then, her simple and chic leather bags, including the signature foldover clutch and messenger carry-alls, have been selling out across the globe. Browse her entire collection at her  flagship store in Silverlake, which was modeled after a French pharmacy.

Dozens of dealers bring their wares to Cominichi’s, a “flea market” selling secondhand furnishings, jewelry, designer clothing and antiques. Vintage-loving entrepreneur and owner Gina Comin originally set up shop on State Street—and helped spruce up the area’s once down-and-out image. Later it moved further away and then came back very near to State Street on Haley Street.

Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley were fans back in the ‘50s, and even today, Hollywood celebrities are still loyal to this gourmet Brentwood chocolatier, which has grown and evolved along the way. Much of the credit goes to 28-year-old wunderkind chocolatier Jonathan Grahm, who bought out his family chocolate business four years ago and practically reinvented it. Grahm brings his passion of travel to chocolate, experimenting with unique flavor combinations such as mango saffron and olive oil rosemary. Our favorite truffle? It’s a close tie between the Mexican hot chocolate and pear cardamom.

As the original shop in a collection of several stores across northern California, Copperfield’s is a charming independent bookseller ‘where authors and readers meet.’ This shop in Sebastopol hosts events and book signings featuring a wide array of authors.

With her skill at providing tomorrow’s fashion trends to today’s tastemakers, owner and buyer Nevena Borissova keeps Curve’s selection one step ahead. Celebrating over a decade of style in L.A. and recently opening up shop in Soho, the bicoastal boutiques deliver an eclectic mix of luxury and sportswear options, stocking everything from couture Viktor & Rolf jackets to popular 7 For All Mankind jeans. Since the selection tends toward the avant-garde and fashion-forward, it is helpful that the stores’ personnel act as stylists—showing you how to pair a Samantha Treacy boxy blouse with Bruno Pieters neutral cuffed shorts or Blur’s draped leather jacket with a 16-strand copper and crystal necklace by T. Ciya. Curve also offers a handful of special services such as trend forecasting, wardrobe maintenance and personal shopping.

Decades, atop a leopard-carpeted stairway, is one of the city’s headquarters for designer vintage dresses and aged status bags. Don’t expect warm and friendly service, however. Unless you’re a recognizable face, a lot of attitude accompanies a shopping experience here. Decades Two, just downstairs, feels more approachable with its more recent castoffs.

The local institution is known for its designer labels, including Isabel Marant, Rag & Bone and Helmut. Much of the clothing is casual chic, but you can also find the perfect dress for an evening soiree, as well as au courant shoes, bags and sunglasses.

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.