Ambiance

First off -- a little bio intro about me!…read more Ever since I was in grade school my mom introduced rock and mineral shows to me. Back in 1994 I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go to the best rock show in the US, which is in Tuscon, AZ. Yup! It's a pretty big deal! Also I recall going to science summer camp and studying geology was by far my favourite. (NB: If you haven't already noticed, I'm kind of a nerd lol) With that said, I LOVE rock shops especially when they throw in the spiritual/agnostic/"new age" elements such as smudging and candles. Another side note -- San Luis Obispo has always been a family vacation spot for me since I was very little. DTSLO was one of my favorites. The sad thing is I never knew this shop was here! Apparently they have been there for over 10 years. Maybe even 15 years... *mind blown* They did such an amazing job to make the shop eye catching and have a great vibe. The energy there was amazing. My body naturally walked towards this one case and of course I see rainbow moon. It is funny. I never find moonstone when I am actually looking for it. I find it when I am not on the hunt for it! That day I got a beautiful rainbow moonstone meditation bead bracelet, a smudge stick and abalone shell. I wish I could have bought more but I had to watch my spending since I already went all out on food and beverage that weekend lol! Bonus was I got to meet one of the owners -- Christine. She was so wonderful and took great care of me. Seriously, I had such awesome vibes at that shop and my chi was at peace and balanced. I will definitely be back!

Exquisite selection of crystals and jewelry (from high-end rings to simpler gemstone bracelets) in…read morea beautiful retail setting in downtown SLO. Gaia's Gallery has such a vast collection of gems in different variations and prices, and an ample selection of amethyst, labradorite, jade and lesser-known or rare precious rocks like moldavite. Gaia's also has good info on the crystals they sell, and can find what you need. It's a fun place to browse and gift shop, and the staff are always friendly.

Moonstone aka: White Labradorite

Trilobites. Cool.

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Bigger rocks

Blackwater

4.0(59 reviews)

Very cute store with a fun mix of San Luis Obispo merch, Halloween decorations, planters, cards,…read morevintage clothes, and housewares. I got a sweatshirt! It's definitely pretty pricey, but it's fun to look around and you might find a cute little souvenir.

The feel of this store is so cohesive. They have plants, plant pots, vintage clothing, jewelry, and…read moreother lifestyle items. Very trendy spot!

San Luis Obispo sweatshirts Home of the California Cowboy America's Happiest City

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Romp

4.1(14 reviews)

•$$$

Very disrespectful and disappointing display in their front window…read more U.S. FLAG CODE United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 §8. Respect for flag d. The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. I hope this store takes the time to educate themselves on the U.S. Flag code to show proper respect to our nation's beloved flag. It really does mean a lot to many, many people.

Beautiful store, with great quality products not found in the other downtown stores…read more Why the 2-stars? Customer service. My sister and I walked into Romp yesterday afternoon while on a shopping spree downtown. I specifically brought my sister in because she has been missing her favorite shoe store from downtown Santa Barbara since moving to SLO. She immediately fell in love with a pair of boots and with a couple other items. We were greeted once when we walked in, but never attended to or acknowledged after that. There was one single other customer in the store who was trying on a pair of shoes and making a purchase. We perused for about 10 minutes, ooohing and ahhing over certain items and were very interested in trying on a few pairs of shoes. Unfortunately, we weren't deemed worthy enough of attention from the sales lady, who ignored us the entire time. We left the store without being acknowledged or thanked for our visit. This was an extremely sour taste to be left with and we both agreed that driving down to Santa Barbara for our high end shoe purchases would be worth it, rather than being ignored and not helped.

Romp Shoes

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Trio Boutique

4.8(10 reviews)

Wow did I ever get lucky to land in this store! We are only…read morespending a few days in SLO and I decided rather than wait in line for the movie To move around! Not wanting to spend money lol I was able to have a super duper talk with owner! While poking around and buying these fantastic hair clips and pony holders and earrings, I realized how reasonable their prices were! This am I figured I'm going back to buy my Xmas Presents! Highly recommend you check them out!!!

I visited Trio on my way to Santa Maria and loved this boutique! Have really cool stuff and was…read moreable to pick up a few items for myself and girlfriends but i think it will all end up for myself!! Very helpful, warm and friendly service. Will make it a MUST STOP now when i am going that direction from Northern CA!

Clothing Jewelry Gifts

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New location!

French Quarter

3.6(36 reviews)

Really loved this store! I've only been in the SLO area a few times so I've been trying to venture…read morearound more. I stopped at a bookstore across the street and this little boutique caught my eye. The girl working(I'm so upset I can't remember her name) was so sweet and very nice about which sales were going on. (And she wasn't pushy about it either like most sales workers are) The clothes are extremely cute and it was hard walking out of there without taking everything. Outside of clothing, they also have shoes, jewelry, bags, and misc items (candles, plaques, water bottles, you name it!) I ended up leaving with a really soft, striped long sleeve and a wooden plaque that read "This is a reminder to breathe" (something that really spoke to me at the time with what I had going on in my personal life - it was a sign!) I've been extremely satisfied with my purchase and would definitely return

Olivia was so helpful when I was trying to pick out a cardigan, she really helped me in…read moreunderstanding my budget and style. I had such a wonderful experience and will be coming back. I love the selection of jewelry and variety of clothing but the customer service is what will keep me coming back!

Window Displays and Large Handbag Selection 3-5-11

Very me.

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Accessories (Cashier Counter)

Len Collective

4.4(35 reviews)

Gorgeous collection of small -mostly fine- jewelry from small businesses designers. I wish I could…read morebuy everything but for now I just like to pop in and look. Staff is always welcoming, friendly, knowledgeable and attentive.

Service was excellent and the selection has improved. The items on the pricey side but well curated.read more

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Nordstrom Rack

3.2(22 reviews)

1.5 mi

Passing through town and we eyed the Nordstrom Rack sign while traveling on Highway 101. We decided…read moreto stop since the Hubs needed a belt. We dropped in on a weekday early evening. It was located in a complex with other stores such as Cost Plus. The Nordstrom Rack interior was modern, clean and organized. A lot of square footage too. It had a large inventory. Not sure if this was the norm or just caught them on a good day after restocking. Hubs left empty handed. But not me. I scored. Bought a few Caslon brand tops at bargain prices. And we hopped back onto Highway 101. By the way, the shopping complex is across the street from the iconic Madonna Inn. A

I thought I would give them another try. I purchased some jewelry here only for the color to last a…read moreweek. Manager tells me well it's costume jewelry, well no **** Sherlock, but it should last longer than a week. After having to go to bat they advised they would return. Although it was well within the 40 day window they didn't want to because it was worn. Well sorry, you need to stand behind the quality of your product! Be very mindful of their return policy! If they don't stand behind their product and you used your credit card, go right to the credit card company! Horrible value for only lasting a couple wears. If you are looking for cheaper jewelry, TJ Maxx is a much better solution and lasts much longer!

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Summerland Co.

5.0(6 reviews)

Any time I'm in the downtown area, I always make sure I go into this store. The clothes are…read moreadorable and reasonably priced. There's also a wonderful selection of various items to gift a friend or yourself. The staff is always friendly and I enjoy seeing any new items the store has.

The service was so nice. One of the lady's was so sweet. They have very good options for jelly…read morecats. I got a pink macron heart for my sister once and she loved it! And the values pretty good for jelly cat's. So over all pretty great.

The Hat Bar By Kate Kaney

5.0(2 reviews)

Had a super fun ladies' outing today at this truly special place in San Luis Obispo where you can…read morehave a private party to customize your own hat, along with some of your best friends. Imagine having a hat that no one else on the planet has?? The experience included champagne and two different plates of charcuterie!! Everyone used their creativity to build their own final product. What a wonderful concept!! Kate's staff spent considerable time with each of us to help make our individual accessory choices come together to produce our amazing, individual creations. With choices ranging from feathers, to pins, ribbons, leather cords, glitzy chains, animal print bands, playing cards, strips of lace and flowers...you can go as simple or ornate as you want. Each person pays for their hat and its accessories (so the more ornate you go, the more you'll pay and keeping the decor more simple will correlate to a lower price). There are hat styles and sizes to fit everyone...colors from cream, hot pink, blue, shades of brown, green, dusty rose, grey, black and cinnamon. You can even add initials in a 'brand' to your hat. The coolest thing is that these are privately booked events, so the focus is on you and your group (no walk-ins to disturb or distract from your experience). I can't recommend this experience highly enough and hope they stay in business for many years to come (as I suspect the next nearest state that offers something like this may be Texas)!

We went to the Hat Bar on Mother's Day. It was the perfect day- they had mimosas ready for us and…read morethey were so patient with us as we decorated our hats. Highly recommend

My hat

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Eileen's hat

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20 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Jayne W.

299

8 years ago

Historically, I've had a tendency to be a bargain shopper, but I stopped that when I realized the items off the sale rack were costing me more in wasted money for poor quality and poor fitting clothes. Now, I save my money and spend it on quality product that fits me properly, looks great and lasts much longer. Changing my old habits was hard, but I learned this from shopping at Ambiance. Now, I rely exclusively on their personal shopping experience. I've shopped at many high-end stores, and I've never been able to rely on the help the way I can at Ambiance. Typically, we women walk in a store, browse items, make our selections, then ask for new sizes or colors once in the dressing room. We do this because we've done it this way for years and because we can't really trust the shopping attendant to make selections for us. Ambiance is the game-changer. When I walk in, I let them know why I'm shopping--whether for an event, for work, for play or for a date. Then I let them select what will look great on me. They're happy to fill my room with options then take away items that don't work. No one knows their product better than the staff there. Every time I buy a cheap t-shirt from another store, I'm reminded that it lasts a season whereas the ones I buy from Ambiance last years and years. One of their key benefits is that they'll show me 3 or 4 ways to wear an outfit and how to accessorize it to maximize my wardrobe. This is a tremendous value I've never experienced anywhere else as competently. Sidebar - If notice yourself feeling pressured to buy (whether internal or external), just remember your budget and let the staff know. They're human, and we all have limits. Be clear. From a reformed discount shopper to a dedicated Ambiance fan, I'll encourage you to retrain your shopping habits and trust in their system. You'll save yourself a LOT of money in the long-run and look incredible while you're at it. read more

Jade A.

346

15 years ago

I've always wanted a reason to shop at Ambiance, and I finally found one in a $200 gift certificate. I'm usually a really frugal shopper, I started out in the sale section which had enormous markdowns on brands I love like Free People and Desigual. Then a salesperson found me, Victoria was her name. I usually shop alone, so naturally I felt a little uncomfortable, but Victoria had great style herself, was bubbly and interested in what event I was shopping for ( my birthday party ), and was super complimentary. She brought me a pair of heels so I could really see how the clothes would fall. Thanks to her, I left with a stunning FP dress that I'll be able to wear in any season, and they have layaway so I'll be back soon! I left a ring in the fitting room and because they take your info, I got a call hours later telling me to come by for it. Hands down, best customer service I've ever had at a boutique. Thanks Victoria! read more

Lauren W.

17 years ago

The most incredible boutique I've found in California yet. From the ultra feminine decor to the architectural interest of the building itself... Just walking in the door is a pleasure. And the clothing ranges from classic, vintage and one-of-a-kind, to contemporary. I've bought things here for every possible occasion- weddings, yoga wear, work wear, and everyday casual. Also all of their jewelry is locally made, which I love to support. And they've started to carry more and more green and fairtrade products. Super cool, and knowledgeable ladies to help and go the extra mile to make me feel special. Sometimes pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for. Plus they have an in-house designer, which is unlike anything I've found in any other store. She was able to customize a skirt to fit me while I waited. Amazing. Ambiance is more of an overall experience than just a store. read more

Michelle G.

7 months ago

Looking for a well crafted experience curated just for you? All while supporting an all women owned Brick and Mortar?? Ambiance in San Luis Obispo is just that and so much more. Earlier this year - I had the opportunity to rebrand myself. I had a friend go in during the day to look at options. When I arrived in the evening, Kaya had a dressing room filled with several different options. The attention and thoughtfulness to make sure I felt good as well as looking amazing was beyond. Im Petite so finding the right fit can be challenging- before I left , I casually said if something comes in you think would be perfect - please reach out. Recently Kaya did just that - I asked her to send some pictures. She did, it led me back in and I found an outfit for event I have later this year. Shop Local - Support your Community read more

S. W.

13 years ago

I used to enjoy shopping at Ambiance before it moved across the street, but the last five or so times I've been there, I've left in a hurry without buying anything because the sales people are overly aggressive, hovering as I shop, watching to see what my eye lands on, then recommending items for me to try that I would never in my life consider wearing. When I shop for clothing, I just want to browse in peace; I know what I like, what looks good on me. I do not want items pushed at me so that the store increases its sales. It's painfully obvious to observe. That said, if I need another size or a recommendation from a sales person, it's nice to have someone available who can find what I want and give honest opinions. Not everything I try on looks "so awesome" on me. read more

Carla W.

15 years ago

I love this store! It is really the only place to shop in town for quality women's clothes, shoes and accessories. The girls that work here are so nice and not pushy at all, but when I wanted help picking out an outfit they were so helpful! It was like have my own personal shoppers! I love all of the Free People they have and I love that they carry local clothing and jewelry designers. They have a huge selection, my mother in law and my grandmother both found things they loved when I brought them in last, and my friends and I come here when we need something sexy to go out in. I'm so glad we have Ambiance in SLO!! read more

Jade T.

15 years ago

I feel like I could try on a burlap sack and the girls would tell me i look like a supermodel. I understand the business is about sales, but it should also be about customer service and making sure the customer feels confident in what they are wearing. If you ever shop in Ambiance you will constantly hear the girls telling potential customers how amazing they look, even if something is the wrong size/color/whatever for them. A little honesty goes a long way in retail and Ambiance should take that into consideration. read more

Julie S.

2 years ago

I purchased a beautiful pair of boots recently that I absolutely adore. They are exclusive so I love knowing they are original. The entire team at Ambiance always provides such quality customer care and a high level of personalization. It's my favorite place to shop on the Central Coast. Everyone at the store is amazing from the owner to the stylists, I know I'm in good hands. read more

Kathy D.

11 years ago

I am a picky shopper -- purchasing goods made in America and fashionable has been a journey! Ambiance carries a beautiful fashion line with many styles 'Made in the USA' so I am in good company as I applaud their efforts to not only maintain the small town/slotown feel of downtown but extend the 'Americana' that I enjoy! Thank you. read more

Nancy S.

1 year ago

Ambiance caries the best cloths for both work and play! But the best part of an Ambiance experience is the people! I know many of them personally and the keep their eyes out for items they know I may like! Shopping at Ambiance a wonderful way to spend the afternoon with friends! read more

allison b.

5 years ago

I received the best customer service I've ever had at ambiance, I can tell that service is their focus, beautifully curated products and pieces I will use indefinitely. read more

Tanya P.

2 months ago

There're many beautiful pieces at the store and the lady named "Pam" is very nice , always happy to help while i was there.

Lisa H.

5 years ago

Visit this store every time we are in SLO. Unique store. Great style. Great ambiance. Great service. Super cute clothes. read more

Sarah R.

Elite 24

533

215

730

7 years ago

Jameere is such a helpful sales person! I felt Like he was there to help me shop, as if he was my Personal shopper!! read more

Georgia H.

6 years ago

Not what I expected. They staff is rude. Prices way to high. I am going on line where I will be treated better

Beth L.

16 years ago

love this store, it's one of my favs in SLO county, and the prices are great too.

Ashley R.

224

13 years ago

My parents aren't rich so I can't afford to shop here. CUTE DRESSES THOUGH :[

Danielle L.

181

4 years ago

Great price (on sale) and quick delivery all the way to Alaska!

Tiffany H.

5 years ago

I didn't love the selection when I visited

Kelly B.

5 years ago

Bad experience. Wouldn't recommend.

Ambiance - womenscloth - Updated October 2026

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Apropos

3.2

(34 reviews)

•$$$

The owners of this store used to have a boutique called "Up Your Alley," which was one of the most…read moreimaginative stores in town. Apropos follows that trend by featuring lavishly embroidered clothes with a romantic and retro vibe. The mother-daughter team who are often present, are fun and full of information on the clothing lines, which no other store in town carry. There is a full range of sizes here. I often buy what become my most basic staples for my wardrobe here, and thanks to the little pink sales notices that appear in my mail box, I often score a sale. I am currently sporting a pair of perfectly fitting jeans with black embroidery and "jewels" up the side that mimic a pair of Versace jeans I flirted with in Las Vegas. These are much more practical and will survive many seasons. I have also gotten black stretch jeans that fit like a glove and lasted forever, or at least more than one year. One of my pals got what became her "go-to" shirt, a navy blue silk smock with a deep V neck, embroidered with flowers and fruit. Apropos also has perhaps the best stock of bridesmaid or mother of the bride type dresses in town. These romantic gowns range flirty to fabulous and are sure to flatter. These are practical clothes with a touch of glamour. My most recent purchase is a "costume fur" chinchilla vest that reverses to a sport vest with a reversable zipper. This has been by constant companion this cold, wet winter. If you are in town, be sure to peruse their lovely and romantic merchandise.

I stop by after I've been to the SLO rep. I usually find something and on sale. I have purchased…read moreover the year, nice dresses for weddings etc. Have always greet me and ask if I need help. Lots of jewelry also available. Nice shop, great merchandise is always on sale, so some good bargains.

Blackwater

4.0

(59 reviews)

The feel of this store is so cohesive. They have plants, plant pots, vintage clothing, jewelry, and…read moreother lifestyle items. Very trendy spot!

Collections Clothing Boutique

3.7

(73 reviews)

Adrian Hernandez Collections fine jewelry…read more Repairs, custom, batteries, Rolex Buy Gold, Silver, Diamonds

AVOID!!! The owner…read moreis absolutely horrible. She has ZERO customer service skills. I just witnessed her talk absolutely disrespectful to a customer returning an item. I left and will not be returning. I absolutely will not support this wicked lady's business and neither should you.

RoCoco Luxe Boutique, New & Resale

4.8

(39 reviews)

This was my second time at the boutique and I found exactly what I was looking for! I needed a…read moresolid black top or dress to be paired with an accessory that I haven't been able to wear because I didn't have the right garment. I found the perfect little black dress on the rack. - I also purchased a summer top, something casual and simple and it was half off! The staff is so welcoming, communicative and works really hard to help you find whatever you're looking for. I look forward to returning.

Very stale, dusty place with old looking clothing. Great if your shopping for a person 50+…read more Staff (which I believe was the owner) gave terrible service. Hate to say it but move along.

Finders Keepers

4.6

(43 reviews)

I have committed to being more mindful of my buying habits. And, one of those is - buying quality…read moreclothing and not fast fashion. Enter: Finders Keepers. But, on top of being able to buy quality pre-owned clothes and shoes, the shop assistants are the best. I walked in without much direction, but I knew I needed something for work. They asked questions without being pushy. They made suggestions without any judgement. Go to this place. It's amazing!

while they are nice, you would be better off to sell on marketplace, I ended up getting 5 dollars…read morefor a expensive pair of shoes. Never again!

Len Collective

4.4

(35 reviews)

Service was excellent and the selection has improved. The items on the pricey side but well curated.read more

Humankind Fair Trade

4.9

(36 reviews)