Oh man! So I use to perform the Fire Alarm Inspection at the Nordstrom for about 7 years straight…read moretill they closed. Went back to do a job walk foe the entire center and boy was i shocked! I cannot believe how empty this place got. Super sad really. I remember the mall to be packed! One of the most iconic and beautiful Nordstroms. Bloomingdales. The most amazing dome. The upside down Christmas tree under the dome. Man, they use to go all out! And now it's all gone. A literal ghost town inside with scary homeless people running around. Well, at least, Panda is still open and we didn't have to wait in line at all, so that's a plus. I sincerely hope they can salvage this mall and that it would eventually come back to life! I really do hope so!!

Everything went downhill drastically after the iconic four-story Nordstrom and two-story…read moreBloomingdale's were gone. Even 90% of the food court is gone. The remaining eateries are Panda Express and Shake Shack. The movie theater is gone. Walgreens is gone. One entrance to BART/MUNI remained locked. It's so sad to see what happened post-pandemic. The memories of walking around the spiral escalators to Nordstrom, having frozen yogurt while waiting for my grandmother to arrive, sitting next to a Mexican family while eating food court sushi, and shopping for cute clothes at American Eagle Outfitters as a teen. Long live the past of shopping in the 2010s. The entrances on Market Street still smell like urine, though. The majority of SF residents blame the city officials for letting criminals and homelessness go free, which made most retail stores shut down due to robberies. Less than 28 stores remained in business. The best part is that the public restrooms are still open, and there's access to BART/MUNI near the GNC Store. The best shopping mall in SF is Stonestown Galleria, next to San Francisco State University, where you can take the MUNI train M.

I've been coming to Union square for years, and it never seems to get old. Right in the middle of…read moredowntown surrounded by big stores and busy streets, Union square just feels like a peaceful little spot where you can put a pause on the chaos of the city. The lawn is always green and beautiful, perfect for letting my fur baby run around and play (potty too) and you will always see people enjoying the space, stretched out reading or talking with friends or just soaking up the peaceful space. One of my favorite things about Union square is the art. The giant hearts are iconic in San Francisco and they're always being repainted and reimagined by different artists. So no matter how many times you come here, you will always see something new. I've seen so many versions over the years but I still stop to look at them every time I'm here because there is always something new to. The hearts the statues, the occasional pop-up installations or performances, the square always feels peaceful but alive. There is also always something going on. On my last visit here there were ping pong tables set up everywhere with people playing. I saw juggling classes being offered and arts programs for kids with people gathered around having a good time. There was a reading area and books brought in on carts. They even still had up there holiday backdrop that looks like it was put there just for people to use for the perfect insta shot. There are plenty of tables and benches scattered around so it's easy to grab a seat and stay a while. Even if you're just passing through and you need to rest your dogs for a few minutes, this is the perfect spot. I spent more than a few afternoons here people watching or enjoying a snack from the little stand nearby. It's really a great place to spend some time and a must do if you are in San Francisco. On the weekends you will find people trying to usher you onto bus tours or maybe sell you souvenirs, but you might also witness an event or see straight performers so you never really know what you're going to get. This is a place for visitors and locals with nice surroundings where you can really get a feel for and just to take in the city.

This is one of my favorite parts of San Francisco; the shopping is high-end. There is so much here…read moreto do and lots of restaurants to choose from. We always stay at St. Francis, a beautiful, perfect location. In winter, they have an ice skating rink and the big Christmas tree, a great holiday spot to get your Christmas celebrations started. As I said, the shopping is fierce! Cheers, my friends SYOY 04/01/26

Pier 39 is honestly so touristy but it's worth it. Come during the fall or spring and try to come…read moreon an off day so it's not too packed. There are plenty of restaurants with great views as well as casual spots to eat. It is lovely to have a view of the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Ferris wheel all in one. On the other end, you can see the sea lions and Alcatraz. The sea lions are really really fun - there is one sea lion that is absolutely MASSIVE. The parking is expensive but you can get 1 hour comped when you validate. On a beautiful day, this is reallly a fun spot to come (even if it is touristy).

I grew up in the East Bay, and have been visiting Pier 39 since shortly after it opened. Back in…read morethe day, they used to have a recording studio where you could record a demo, and that is a favorite memory. But, the sea lions, the views, and the shops are the heart of why I visit almost every time I come to the City. It is just such a cool atmosphere and fun place to visit. On our most recent visit in early September 2026, it happened to be a foggy day, but cool after a few days of unusually warm weather. We stopped by to see the sea lions, and visit many of the stores. It Pier 39 geared for tourists? Yes. But, I love the gift shops, the restaurants, the attractions, and everything else that is Pier 39! I enjoyed our recent visit, and I look forward to the next one!

I went to Lowell HS, so I used to walk past Stonestown daily, when it was an outdoor mall with only…read moreMacys taking up a huge indoor space. Today, Stonestown is the hotspot of students as well as families in a city where there are no other malls. With a cinema, food court, bowling, arcade, a escape rooms, along with supermarkets and major stores as well as lots of restaurants, no wonder it's a major shopping attraction. Plus, there's plenty of parking, a rarity in San Francisco!

The parking and getting there is a bit bizarre since there's an underpass bridge that the mall…read moreitself goes over I think? It reminds me of a smaller Del Amo Fashion Mall if anything. Parking and driving around looked quite busy in the front where you can see that tiny Trader Joe's that's overshadowed by the giga Whole Foods and what I think are protestors against Uniqlo, I think. Never seen protestors for that brand in particular, but it is what it is. There's LOTS of college students (near SFSU apparently) and Zoomers since it was, I suppose it's after school on a Tuesday. Parking the back was no issue. Also a decent selection of shops that I would go to normally, like Daiso or Miniso, as well as a Round 1. Neat that they have a Quickly's that looks like it's untouched by time (portraits of cute Ulzzang style workers enjoying the drinks and food there), there's charging tables, and a good amount of eateries and options to get boba and snacks. Completely incomprehensible unless you're specifically from the 626, but this mall reminds me of a mix between the Santa Anita mall and the West Covina mall (during it's prime). Pretty bustling and lots of businesses that actually interest me. I think my only qualm is that everything is at a smaller scale and smaller store, like their Pop Mart and Miniso are markedly smaller with a smaller stock, so keep that in mind.

Yep... another reason to LOVE SF. Culture, community, and somehow... magically clean?! Like I don't…read moreknow what spell they cast over Japantown but the usual city "aroma" is nowhere to be found lol. Just good vibes, music, anime, cosplay sightings, and me absolutely losing it over a Japanese vintage shop like it was a life event. Gifts everywhere, manga on manga on manga... I blinked and suddenly I needed everything. You can literally watch fresh udon being made, bounce between ramen spots, sip tea like you have your life together, and yes... plenty of veggie and vegan friendly options so we're all thriving. And the history? Not just cute... it's legit. This is the OLDEST Japantown in the U.S. and one of only three left, built after the 1906 earthquake when Japanese communities relocated here and made it their cultural home (Japantown Cultural District⁠). It was once a booming hub with hundreds of businesses before WWII internment basically wiped it out, and the community had to rebuild from scratch after . So yeah... what you're walking through now is resilience with really good snacks. Hit the mall, the Peace Pagoda, the paper stores (origami, stationery, art... obsessed), and all the Ghibli love. Cute AND historic... we love a neighborhood with depth.

Just learned that Japan Center is isn't going to house KOHO anymore. JC needed an organization like…read morethat to give it heart & soul. The whole place felt different with KOHO there, better. When I first moved to the SF area over 20 years ago, I felt that JC had a lot of potential. It had some good shops & restaurants, but needed to be reinvigorated. It's improved to a certain degree over the years, in certain ways, but has also lost some good anchor stores that gave it a more authentic Japanese feeling, like Genji Antiques, the Kotobuki ceramics shop, and Sain Saine traditional anma massage. There are so many shops, ideas, and products that could have been brought over from Japan over the years; it made me wonder if any of the JC decision makers have ever been back to the mother country! KOHO gave JC a cultural base, with creative people, which, over time, could have positively influenced the development of the entire mall. I'll be attending KOHO's Obon event in Golden Gate Park next weekend. Having a large space to organize from in the heart of Japantown has made important events like that possible. Before KOHO moved in, there was just another dollar store there. Then it was empty for a long time. I imagine it will be empty for a while after KOHO moves out, so the rent money JC is seeking won't be coming right away. And who will move in? Another uninspiring shop w/ a weak connection to Japan and its culture? Or another Korean cosmetics store? (I'm not against Korean cosmetics, but there are so many interesting Japanese products and brands that could be promoted via JC.) Anyway, money wins out over heart & soul yet again. It's sad.

This is just a review for the space itself. There's only like a handful of shops left here, but the…read moreoriginal architecture is still notably pretty. I came here many years back when it was a very lively place, but it is no longer this today. Maybe something new will come up, but will have to wait and see. There's plenty of two-seat dining tables to have lunch here and it still has public access, so you're welcome to walk through the main two floors. Security and cleaning staff are still very much visible at this center. Just zero shopping vibes unfortunately.

Crocker Galleria is such a nice spot in downtown SF! I love the open, airy vibe and the natural…read morelight from the glass ceiling, it feels relaxing just walking through. Great mix of cafés, local shops, and lunch spots. Super convenient if you're working or hanging out nearby!

My first time ever visiting Japantown and also coming to this mall today. It was a really fun but…read morevery crowded experience. Went here for my BIL and his friends birthday for a scavenger hunt around the mall and it was really fun! I would definitely come back here again to try all the wide variety of food!

#4/2016 Not in the…read moreBrutalist style but the equally charmless 1960s box architecture of the same era squarely situated in the heart of Japantown where you'll find the Kinokuniya and Kintetsu Malls otherwise known as the Japantown Center. Inside, there are scores of stores selling everything from Japanese wood sculptures to kimonos, dolls, trinkets, anime and salons and plenty of restaurants. Japantown Center offers an eclectic array of goods and is ideal for strolling and waiting for inspiration to strike- or if you're like me, being very directional and making a beeline for a favorite kimono store that's "on the bridge" connecting the two malls. The mall itself is slightly rundown. There's no music, no decorations, shabby floors and scuffed up stairwells. It's best described as "utilitarian." Teenagers roam in happy, harmless packs (there's at least one math learning center at the mall) and moms with strollers suddenly stop mid-course as the world's sloppiest security guard ambles by with his shirt askew. This is the perfect place to go on a rainy day especially to grab steaming hot bowls of ramen at any one of the 15+ restaurants inside the Kintetsu mall. If the weather's pleasant, head outdoors to Peace Plaza and meditate on this slightly melancholy space that feels world's away from the bustle of the City. Before 6pm, metered street parking's fairly easy to find and even better, there's inexpensive ($2/hour) parking under the Center and most businesses validate, too. If you're heading home, stop across the street at Soko Hardware for Japanese cook/dishware or grab some groceries or a Bento box at Nijiya Market on the corner of Post & Webster.

This is a review for the IMAX theater at the Metreon. We…read morehave been coming to the Metreon since it was built eons ago, but i have to say i appreciate its awesomeness more now when we went to see the Odyssey. This movie used 77mm film and it was totally awesome on this huge imax screen!! Of course the theater was at full capacity for this movie. The ripples of water in the oceans when they were calm, or during the storm were just so vivid!!! The sceneries, the rocks, etc... everything just popped out in front of you. I read somewhere there are only about 40 IMAX theaters capable of showing the 70 mm films, and one is in San Francisco. Totally appreciate it.

Bait-and-switch pricing. Misleading AMC advertising offers…read more "50% off Tickets on Tuesdays & Wednesdays" with free AMC Stubs. They even mis-state "The 50% off tickets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays benefit is available anywhere AMC tickets are sold." The AMC Metreon theater doesn't participate. Fine print says "Valid at participating AMC Theatres locations only." Prices are deeply hidden, so much so AI can't find them or misquotes 'em. Similarly, "AMC Stubs A-List Classic" is not valid at this theatre. So the cheapest monthly plan isn't $14.99 as advertised, or $19.99 as advertised, or really even $29.99! It's a minimum of $90, for 3 months, auto-renewing. Also, the AMC cards at Costco are also a bait-and-switch rip-off.

In the red brick building, there is a smaller Ghirardelli store and a bigger one that sells the…read moresundaes, drinks, and has a bigger gift shop. We got the World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae - $17.50 / 970 calories and shared it. Definitely sharable! There were a few tables with a great view of the bay and if you are lucky - brave people swimming in the cold water. Besides smaller gift sets, there are three main ways to buy bulk Ghirardelli candy although expect to pay more for the privilege of buying it in their store. They have 1 pound and 2 lb bags of their Signature (raspberry, caramel, 60% dark chocolate, mint) and Dark Chocolate, and may be others but those are what I got. The Dubai chocolate is more expensive. They also sell 1/2 pound for $20 of flavors you can pick, except Dubai, which is more expensive, but you can pick the flavors you want - I highly recommend the lava and mint chocolate.

Being a geometric shape myself, I can't tell you how much I appreciate that they make every…read morechocolate Ghirardelli square IN Ghirardelli Square. (So meta!) You can get more than just squares here! There are chocolate cable cars, chocolate chips, and you can even get amorphous chocolate in a cup. As far as chocolate destinations go, Ghirardelli is in top shape. This square gets five gold stars!

FYI for visitors, I thought I would try to find some boots during a trip of mine (was staying…read morenearby) but every store is closed in here except subway and a smoke shop. So feel free to skip this spot if you're on the hunt for a mall!

This is for the parking only. Pretty close to all the SF things to do. Relatively cheap for SF…read more There is onsite staff, and the ground floor is covered. Booked a spot with SpotHero ($25 for 6 hours on Saturday afternoon) and all went well.