What To Buy When in San Francisco? (2023)

San Francisco is one of the world’s most beautiful cities with a peaceful environment, ecstatic locations, moderate temperature and delicious cuisines. Apart from this, it beholds some of the breathtaking mountain peaks and landscapes. Shopping in San Francisco is just a cherry on the cake because the markets there are cheap, and the items are very affordable. Be it groceries, culinary items, furniture, antique pieces or any other stuff, and one can buy them in San Francisco at minimal rates. There are a lot of fun and unique souvenirs for one to purchase and collect.

What To Buy When in San Francisco?

Some of the things to buy in San Francisco are:

Wine artistry

If you enjoy wine or know someone who does back home, a bottle of local wine makes a beautiful San Francisco gift. You can go wine tasting and take a tour of the vineyards in Napa and Sonoma, and you can still buy a bottle or two to take home after the time.

Coffee is a delectable souvenir from San Francisco!

In the morning, a nice cup of coffee is always welcome. So, why not go to one of the coffee shops and buy some local coffee? San Franciscans are serious about their coffee, so you can be sure it’s healthy. Four Barrel Coffee, Ritual Coffee Roasters, Blue Bottle Coffee, and Sightglass Coffee are some local brands worth checking out.

One of the most famous San Francisco souvenirs is chocolate!

Ghirardelli chocolates are one of the most iconic San Francisco souvenirs. However, Ghirardelli chocolate isn’t the only chocolate maker worth visiting during your visit to San Francisco. Chocolate from Dandelion Chocolates, Poco Dolce, Recchiuti Confections, Jade Chocolates, Socola Chocolates, and Charles Chocolates is just as sweet as Ghirardelli’s. Buying a box of chocolates and bringing it home to share with your friends and family is a great idea!

Olive Oil from the Region

California is a strong producer of olive oil, which many people are unaware of. Spanish missionaries brought “mission olive trees” to California in the 16th century. In the last decade, California farmers have made a renewed and significant effort to revive the domestic olive oil industry. Stonehouse is one of the best olive oil producers in the United States, and their California Extra Virgin Olive Oil has received numerous awards. If you know someone who enjoys cooking, this is one of the best things to buy in San Francisco for chefs and bakers.

Local Jewellery

Jewellery is often a good option for a gift for someone you care about or for yourself. Make a point of visiting some local jewellery designers while in San Francisco. Necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets can all be there. Oficina is a jewellery store in San Francisco that sells lovely pieces of jewellery. Moreover, by purchasing things from the city’s local artists, you will contribute to supporting the city’s art and innovation. Image Source

Retro Prints by Michael Schwab

Among artsy friends and family members, a work of art is often a welcome present. Michael Schwab is a well-known Bay Area artist who specializes in retro illustrated prints of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including Alcatraz, Crissy Field, and the Golden Gate Bridge. These prints are incredibly cool and are common San Francisco gifts for art enthusiasts.

Fog Vodka is one of San Francisco’s most exclusive souvenirs!

Potatoes, wheat, grapes, milk, and honey are all used to make vodka. However, have you ever heard of vodka made of fog? Yes, you read that correctly. You can purchase vodka made from natural San Francisco fog. Fog Point is the name of the wine, and a bottle costs 125 dollars. Buying fog vodka from the street markets of the city makes shopping in San Francisco a memorable experience.

The goal with this vodka was to make something that was both organic and local. People installed fog catchers (mesh sheets) in four Bay Area locations, allowing them to capture water drops from the fog. This vodka business gathered enough water from the mist to manufacture 2400 bottles of vodka over six months. This is a green souvenir that will give you a taste of San Francisco (lite).

Ornaments for Christmas

Christmas ornaments are a standard souvenir to buy when travelling. It’s a fun souvenir to get and can be used to decorate your Christmas tree. San Francisco markets have beautiful ornamental pieces and decoration stuff for this occasion. One of the most purchased things over there is the cable car, symbolizing the city.

Levi’s Jeans, Vintage

Levi’s was born in San Francisco, in case you didn’t know. Yes, it’s real, and this is one of the best places to shop for vintage Levi’s. San Francisco has the third-largest store of Levi’s. It has everything from retro 501 jeans to high-waisted shorts and denim jackets for sale. Levi’s denim is high-quality and can last a lifetime if properly cared for, making it one of the best San Francisco souvenirs for a fashionista or simply someone who enjoys vintage clothes.

Traditional Hats

Goorin Brothers have been making hats since 1895 and are one of the oldest in the United States. Its felt flat caps conjure up black-and-white memories of tweed-clad days in the region. Goorin will promote “a life of sport and leisure,” as well as the end of all searches for bowlers, Panama hats, feathers, and fedoras. Hats were commonplace when the store first opened, but with the decline in their sales, the brothers turned to other suppliers. Apparently, in the 1960s, they were the headwear sponsor for the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley.

For much of its century-plus history, the store has been a wholesaler, but in 2006, it opened its first retail stores, and two and a half years later, it started expanding throughout the globe. The 1333 Minna Collection, built by local tattoo and graffiti artists, working out of an industrial warehouse at 1333 Minna Street in SoMa, is exclusive to the shops. The caps are made up of different combinations of fabric and embroidered materials.

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants are Major League Basketball’s oldest teams, having been formed in 1883 as the New York City Gotham’s. They have the first ballpark that was privately financed since Dodger Stadium (at $357 million). After a victory, a New York manager allegedly called them “my giants,” and the moniker stuck for a lifetime. The New York Giants’ logo consisted of an alternating N and Y in orange and black, identical to the existing S-F style.

The initial rivalry between the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers was resurrected in a division between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Willie Mays (24) and Jackie Robinson (42) are two well-known retired numbers; a nine-foot statue of Willie Mays stands at the stadium’s entrance. Lou the Seal (Lucille) is the official mascot for the seals swimming outside the stadium walls.

Dried Mushrooms

Some of their best-producing mushrooms include shitake, tree oyster, king trumpet, bear’s head, and maitake. Porcini has become one of the most common gourmet mushrooms, despite being one of the most challenging species to cultivate. It survives because of the symbiotic relationship it forms with other plants. In terms of vegetable fibre, the wood ear is at the top of the food chain, with three times the liver’s iron and two times the calcium. The city also bears wood ear, chicken of the woods, red parasitic lobster mushrooms and chanterelles.

Conclusion

Purchasing souvenirs is enjoyable, but it can also be harmful to the local community. So, keep this in mind while shopping for souvenirs in San Francisco: don’t buy something you won’t use or enjoy after your ride. Many people purchase souvenirs in San Francisco to bring home to their relatives and family to learn about the culture, which is a fantastic idea. Only make sure that the price is fair. Moreover, buying street market stuff also helps the communities grow and feel accepted by people worldwide. It also makes them feel appreciated for their art and culture.