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    On Waverly

    5.0 (37 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Services - On Waverly

    Gift shops

    On Waverly Photos

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    Not too sweet
    Kathleen S.

    This place is a must stop for me when in Chinatown. Such an expertly curated gift shop and it's so amazing to see a gift store that tailors to so many things asian. Bok choy and boba keychains (yes they're as adorable as you would expect) and pineapple bun pins and earrings say what? Also it's such a fun time looking through their sticker collection. So much cute and funny art! Check out the Aiya sticker. You can also find greetings cards here as well as a food section that sells things like chili oil, black sesame butter and tea. Definitely some unique finds you can't find everywhere and would make for a fun gift for a friend or yourself! The book selection also seems very on point. It's so amazing to look at the book wall and see the plethora of AAPI authors and their beautiful books. Prices skew a little on the higher end so you can easily do some major damage here but then there are some lower ticket items so there's something that can be found for everyone. Check out their website for author book signings and other hosted events. I just subscribed to their e-mail list to hear about their in shop events.

    Love this Chinese phrase magnets
    Mitzi W.

    The cutest gift store in SF Chinatown with locally made Asian items. Ornaments. Books. Food items. Cards. This small business is a gem. Kudos to the ladies who opened this store.

    4/14/25
    Mike C.

    When I saw there was a book signing here, I wished that my schedule would allow me to attend but it wasn't meant to be. This would make a great gift for my friend's upcoming birthday. Was I tempted to go online and click that company that starts with an "A"? A little... then my conscience took over. Being in Chinatown and running errands, I walked in and a young lady helped me find a copy (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=24&select=ejb6syQEvLYtGjWXLPPXrQ). Perfect! As I paid, the kind gal offered to gift wrap it for me or wrap it in tissue paper and I told her it would not be necessary as I was combining it with another item as her gift. Big thanks to Madison and Ava in helping me satisfy my shopping list and very nice meeting you. In speaking with them, I shared my history of growing up in the neighborhood and congratulated them on opening a new business here. I need to find some time to browse more when I have time and am in the area. I'm sure there are other great gift items here. Support local!

    Horsiiieeee
    Bri W.

    From cute historic and children's books to beautiful cards to cool stickers and hilarious keychains, On Waverly is my go-to spot for Asian-themed gifts. I first discovered this local small business in 2025 while exploring Chinatown with a close friend. She picked up the cookie-inspired clips and boba stuffies while I purchased the rice cooker pin. Since then I've found a really cool card with a fierce-looking dragon on it, keychains that embody the essence of street slang, and the "dim sum" kids book along with a children's book that encourages us to embrace our differences and see our commonalities. The dolls are all so beautiful as well. Complimentary gift wrapping is available with a purchase. I see the value in supporting these Asian artists and authors. Corporations make so much profit based on mass production and can offer lower prices however I feel like my heritage and culture is heard at On Waverly whereas in mainstream production, it doesn't seem like Asian represention matters as much. These artists and authors seem to be growing their businesses and I'm happy to support a fellow Asian with my purchases from On Waverly to help them follow their dreams. Value is in the eye of the beholder. Everything I've purchased is valuable to me. Yes, I paid a "pretty penny" for these gifts but it's worth it to me and such a pleasure dropping by to see the latest Asian-themed and Asian-created inventory. I absolutely love the vibes at On Waverly. So welcoming and friendly. Can't wait to return!

    Colleen L.

    This store feels like a trip down memory lane, filled with nostalgia. From books and pins to stickers and adorable stationery, every item is thoughtfully influenced by Asian culture. I especially loved seeing stickers with phrases my parents and grandparents used to say--it was such a heartfelt reminder of my childhood. I picked up a few books for my nieces, it was tough to limit myself because everything is so cute here. If you're looking for a stationery store that screams nostalgia and celebrates cultural traditions, this is definitely a place worth visiting when you're in the City.

    Chili oils and butter spreads
    Grace L.

    The cutest gift shop filled with all kinds of creative and relatable AAPI goodies! After browsing through the adorable stickers, pins, magnets, and more, I feel seen, and I'm reminded of my childhood and always tempted to buy everything. It's cool to see work from local artists whom I've seen at other makers markets in this shop, like prints from Felicia Liang and Evil Mizu. I've bought a magnet of Chinese bakery treats and a 500 piece dim sum puzzle from I'll Know It When I See It. This brand's hot pot, Asian snacks, and mahjong puzzles also make great gifts! Amongst all the touristy souvenir shops in Chinatown, On Waverly stands out as a must visit!

    Jennifer C. L.

    I fell in love with this place the second I walked in. The place is filled with joyous books for all ages. I personally fell in love with the childrens book section as you enter to the right. The wall is filled from tip to tip of books filled with Asian American culture, ficitonal tales of livelihood, enriching stories of our history's past, and more. I found it nearly impossible to tear myself away from this section of the store, completely absorbed by the vibrant stories unfolding before me as I explored one captivating book after another. I adored how the rest of the store was brimming with charming treasures like stickers, ornaments, plushies, and original art! There are very unique pieces filled throughout the store including even beautiful jewelry! This place seems like a hidden gem tucked deeply in the middle of San Francisco's Chinatown. It was incredible to discover that many of the books had been signed during in-store author events, with these autographed copies available for purchase right on the shelves. What a glorious place to get lost and dive deep into the stories told within the books whlle getting a chance to play with the shiny little things that highlight the isles of the store. There are books for all ages including cookbooks and literary pieces for adults as well. I think I can spend a whole week in here just exploring the texts alone. So much fun filled in every corner.

    Jewelry
    Rose N.

    Omg this store is so cute. It has a lot of carefully curated items. Every item is beautiful. I love the children's books, the scarves, t shirts and jewelry selections. A good place to buy gifts for friends, family, or yourself. Also, there's a great list of local Chinatown places at the counter.

    Joeydolls
    Monica C.

    I love to stop by this heartwarming store whenever I'm in the area. The first time I went in, I bought so many things I got a free tote bag. There's so much care put into displaying and selecting AAPI merchandise. There's an awesome variety of books for adults and children's books (including board books and many of the picture books are autographed). They also carry foodie themed baby, toddler, and child clothing. If you're looking for dolls, they carry both Jilly Bing and Joeydolls! The greeting cards are so cute. The employee behind the counter was so friendly and even gifted my little one a cute kitty boba plushie. It's a great place to buy gifts. Looking forward to my next visit!

    Michelle R.

    Cute shop located in Chinatown. We stopped by real quick. This place has AAPI merchandise such as books for both adults and kids, cookbooks, pins, stickers, clothes, and etc. Will have to come back here again.

    Sharon H.

    I absolutely loved the concept of the store, and the space. It's open, inviting, modern space with various stickers, trinkets, books, and gifts made by AAPI community members. We bought a few stickers that were funny with Asian/Chinese themes to them. I loved both the adult and children book section, which had tons of books by AAPI authors that both I and my children have enjoyed over the years. Seems they also hold events with book signings.readings etc.

    Montage of images from On Waverly
    Ed U.

    Sisters Cynthia and Jennifer Huie are not only doin' it for themselves but more importantly, the local AAPI community. On the next block of Waverly Place from Mister Jiu's is their inviting corner shop in which they sell quite an array of books, gifts and souvenirs in a bright, youthful setting. A smattering of red chairs indicates room has been allocated for a community space for events like Asian American author signings. The overriding vibe of the merchandise here is an intergenerational energy that ties Chinese traditions to modern interpretations. It's a fun, atypical place to peruse and shop. RELATED - Exploring Chinatown? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2WoF1Z2

    This is the only place that sells this historic cookbook full of recipes from some Chinatown businesses of yore
    Wendy H.

    Cute little shop on waverly place! This reminds me of jmoments in San Jose. They stock goods made by local artists. I picked up some pins and a cookbook written by the oldest service group this side of the Mississippi! Do drop by and check it out when you're in Chinatown!

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    I've never been more obsessed with a gift shop than I am with this one. I wanted to buy everything in this store. So many Asian-core items!

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    Ask the Community - On Waverly

    Review Highlights - On Waverly

    It's open, inviting, modern space with various stickers, trinkets, books, and gifts made by AAPI community members.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    if you're a Disney fan, this is a must ! Make sure you have…read morethe time to visit the museum, so much to see, a lot of historical information. small gift shop at the end. Also they have a little area where you can have some snacks and a couple drinks. And downstairs they have an area where you can sit down and rest. Plenty of street parking if there's no event in the park. We decided to get there when they opened, which was perfect. We found a parking spot right out front.

    I'm a fan of Disneyland, Disney World, and timeless Disney films and characters, so a museum…read morededicated to the man who made it all possible is a gem to have in SF. Last time I had visited was more than a decade ago, so checking the place out this past weekend I was glad to find that it hasn't lost its charm. The various rooms and displays provide a detailed history of Walt Disney and his dream of building his beloved amusement park come to life. Never knew his dream started with his love of trains! What's more, the museum setup makes you feel like you're actually at Disneyland. Thoughtfully curated and full of color, the place was a joy to explore on multiple levels. It included interactive elements, exhibits on synchronizing cartoon sound, a reproduction of an animator's desk, details about Walt's collaborations with artists and musicians for films like Fantasia, and captivating artworks and animated displays of his classic works, such as a whole section centered on the history and influence of Snow White. I was especially a fan of the Mary Poppins display, which featured studio story sketches, film posters, and photos of the actors with Walt Disney in 1964. I also really enjoyed the current exhibition, "Happiest Place on Earth: The Disneyland Story" in the Lower Lobby and Theater Gallery, which included a film screening of Happiest Place on Earth: Walt's Disneyland (2025) included with the admission price. The exhibit as a whole was quite interesting as someone who used to go to Disneyland multiple times per year (can't splurge like that anymore). I learned about Walt's vision and the evolution of each of the rides at the amusement park, especially some of my faves like the Haunted Mansion with original ideas stemming from a "museum of the weird" that was never built. The venue also offers a cafe with seating (open Thursday through Sunday 11-3pm) and a museum gift shop with plenty of Disney-themed goodies for all ages. Staff was professional and helpful, though not really involved in the self-guided tour. And parking in the area is easy and costs a small fee by the hour, payable by mobile app.

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    Japanese Tea Garden - Cherry Blossom

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    4.1(1.9k reviews)
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    5 starsJapanese Tea Garden - peaceful escape inside Golden Gate Park…read more Finally stopped by the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park and it lived up to the peaceful reputation. This is the oldest public Japanese garden in North America and it shows -- well maintained winding paths, koi ponds, the iconic Drum Bridge, pagoda, stone lanterns, and that big bronze Buddha all create a nice calm vibe right in the middle of the city. The garden feels authentic with graceful maples, pines, azaleas, and cherry trees (depending on the season). Strolling the paths and crossing the bridges is relaxing, and the zen garden area is a nice quiet spot to pause. I snapped plenty of photos because the scenery is very photogenic. The tea house is worth a quick stop for matcha or snacks if you want to sit and soak it in. Overall it's a solid little oasis -- not huge so you can see most of it in 45-60 minutes, but still worth lingering if it's not too crowded. A couple small notes: it can get busy with tourists (especially midday), so early morning or weekdays feel more zen. Entrance fee is there but they have free hours some mornings. Parking in Golden Gate Park is the usual hunt -- Music Concourse garage or street spots nearby work if you time it right. Reliable spot for a tranquil walk and some Japan-inspired beauty without leaving SF. Good addition to a Golden Gate Park day. 5 stars. Nice peaceful garden that delivers what it promises.

    I've been to so many different Japanese gardens over the years, one in Saratoga, as well as one in…read moreSan Jose and Fremont, and I believe one in Hayward or in the hillside? This by far had the most monuments, but in such a small area!! On the map, it looked a lot bigger, but my boyfriend and I were happy to walk around. I suggest you book your tickets in advance and get a time slot because we got there at 4:45 on a Saturday and the 5 PM tickets were sold out. The lady at the gate said we could buy the three day pass which was $25 then we could attend the other two parks the following two days. Lol. It was kind of confusing, but I was glad to be able to go to this Japanese tea garden and experience it for myself. The tea garden itself was packed! We didn't want to waste our time in the Teagarden itself just getting tea or snack snacks, as well as experiencing the gift shop, but I wanted to check out the actual garden and monuments within the garden area. There are maybe 10 different pathways you can go to get to each area, but we circled the park maybe three times to make sure we got enough pictures of everything! Lol. A lot of the pathways loop around each other or have multiple entry points, which is rather nice considering there were so many people. I also liked the steppingstone over the water. Kind of cute and interactive. There were these huge steep steps at one of the monuments that were really hard to step down because it felt like you were stepping at least a foot down with each step in a crazy maybe 45° angle! I'm glad we were going down those steps instead of up! There's also a archway friendship bridge that people were climbing. I wanted to take a picture, but there were too many people waiting in line and taking their own personal pictures on. So I didn't want to be weird and take pictures of random people. Lol this is also why I do not have a picture of the Teagarden Cafe portion as well. Overall, I think of taking personal family pictures here or wedding. Pictures would be gorgeous with the beautiful backgrounds if they are allowed. I saw a handful of people taking personal pictures, but with their own cameras. I'm guessing you have to have a license or something to come in the park with a tripod, but I could be wrong. I really love the relaxation of the garden itself but honestly on a Saturday there were so many people here you could hear people talking everywhere. I think coming on a weekday would be a lot more tranquil.

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    San Francisco Railway Museum & Gift Shop - Washington DC car

    San Francisco Railway Museum & Gift Shop

    4.0(64 reviews)
    0.7 miFinancial District, SoMa
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    This "museum" acts as the information center and gift shop for the "F" line. The "F" line are the…read morehistoric streetcars that run down Market St and the Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf. These street cars are the star of the attraction and definitely worth the ride. For $5.70 one can buy an all-day Muni pass which allows you to ride these cars along with all other transit EXCEPT the cable cars. These cars are a collection of preserved vehicles from the '30s to '50s. Each one was given from a city in the US. They were originally brought to San Francisco to substitute for the cable cars when the c.c. Went under major renovation back in the '80s. The street cars became a hit with locals and tourists and are now a part of historic transit systems in San Francisco. The museum is small but detailed. It is open limited hours and run by a team of volunteers. They are passionate about these street cars and it shows. They are very detailed oriented but expect a pause every 10 minutes when a street car goes rolling by. The museum is free with a suggested $5 donation. It will only take about 30 minutes to cover it but a great stop if a rail fan.

    So many trips crossing the Bay to visit San Francisco and I never stopped by the Railway Museum…read more This week it's Spring Break so I took my grandchildren to the Museum. What a treat! The Museum had just opened and not busy. We were given VIP treatment from Brooke, one of the docents. All of the docents were welcoming. We learned so much about the history of streetcars and my grandchildren learned how to drive a streetcar using the museum replica. We were inspired to take a streetcar ride afterward. I recommend to Bay Area and out-of-town families to drop in. The Museum is free! What a bargain.

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    Mission Dolores Basilica/San Francisco de Asís - relic of St Junipero Serra

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    4.3(126 reviews)
    2.4 miCastro

    Beautiful Mission. We drove through the San Louis Obispo area and hit up a lot of those missions so…read morewe decided we should see our local mission. If you're following google maps, make sure you put in the actual Mission and not just Mission Dolores because it will take you to the high school or park. We followed the gps and ended up at the beautiful high school. We also walked along the park. The park is large and lush and attracted lots of people on this beautiful Sunday afternoon. Parking for the mission is challenging. There is lots of street parking, but everyone is parked and we didn't see anyone leaving. We did find Sunday Church Parking. I believe it said tow away zone except between 8:30 and 4:30 on a Sunday. It was a smidge after 4:30 and a space opened up and we took it. Thankfully we didn't get a ticket, but I did see 2 meter maids coming though when we left. The mission is beautiful. I wish we had come earlier so we could have taken a tour.

    This is a well preserved California Mission, one of the 21 along the El Camino Real. Today it…read morestands as a reminder of a time in California history when Spain ruled the area. This mission held its first mass just one week before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Today all that remains is the chapel, a couple of small rooms attached and a portion of the cemetery. The majority of the complex is long gone, buried beneath the city that built up around it. The chapel has been restored and could be used today. The alters, wooden pews and decor resemble what this church may have looked like in its prime over 200 years ago. Today it sits in the shadows of the Basillica. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids and seniors. The site can be easily toured in under an hour. However, to get the full story one may want to spend some more time.

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    Exploratorium - After Dark Thursday Nights - dog friendly and full bar!

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    4.4(1.3k reviews)
    0.6 miEmbarcadero, North Beach/Telegraph Hill

    I have been here multiple times throughout the years, and have only had good experiences. However,…read moremy last visit stood out to me the most. A few weeks ago was my senior prom, which was at the Exploratorium. The exhibits and environment were very fun and made for a super engaging night! As a trans person, I have a lot of anxiety in public bathrooms. Although they were unable to open up the general neutral bathroom (I mean, it's high schoolers, you can't trust them). However, the staff was extremely accommodating and kind, and escorted me to a separate bathroom. They made sure I got to pick the bathroom I was most comfortable in, as well as apologized for the inconvenience. Not only is this place fun, entertaining, and family friendly, they are welcoming, kind, and caring. I will never forget the kindness that I was shown.

    Exploratorium San Francisco, CA…read more Date went 4/25/26 Time went around 1:15pm on a Saturday It was very busy to say the least Bonus the entry fee is $5 for food stamp recipients Atmosphere It was so great to see a mixture of young children with parents, teenagers, and even older people in this establishments. I saw lots of laughter, play, and wonder and despite it being packed everyone was respectful and I didn't see any hogging of the different activities. You could easily spend at least 3 or 4 hours in there. Food Court I ordered a chicken avocado bacon burger and it was surprisingly delicious! Also, not too expensive. Overall I highly recommend coming her with your kids, on a date, or just for some fun scientific exploring! I didn't get to see what the regular entrance fee was, but I'd say this would be worth it for about $25-$30 per person. I wish I would've taken more pictures of the different activities Recommendations - More hand sanitizing stations, I only recall seeing one throughout the entire place

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    On Waverly - giftshops - Updated May 2026

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