If only you could learn about Originals Vinyl as I did you, you'd understand the 5-star rating…read more The best way to experience Originals Vinyl is to happen upon it by chance, when you're out walking the neighborhoods. Wander inside, enchanted by the sounds emanating from the spinning discs. Rifle through the modest bins of records, each labeled, organized, perhaps even curated. Stop to inquire about the big machines you see behind the counter. Learn that this is where you can bring your LPs for whatever the world has decided is the best way to clean them. Wish that you could just hang out on a sofa here, drinking in the sounds. But this is not a place to linger unless you're looking though the bins. It's intimate and the vibe is whatever the owner or staff is spinning at that moment. On this visit, it was a pure delight.

Owner super friendly & I always find good stuff here. Been going here for over 14 yearsread more

The size of Amoeba overwhelmed me, but positively. This place was easily way bigger than my local…read morerecord shop, let alone any record shop I've been to in the past. Amoeba offers a VAST collection of vinyls, DVDs, CDs, stickers, and magnets. My partner and I collect vinyls, and we didn't leave disappointed.

I still remember when this location was Park Bowl, but that was (gasp) over thirty years ago when…read morebowling was still a popular social activity. I myself was on a bowling team named the Orient Express, and I wish I still had my red team shirt with the dragon on the back. But I digress as this has been an independent record store since 1997, an offshoot of the Berkeley store on Telegraph. Digital downloads be damned, this shop is focused on physical media...CDs, DVDs, cassette tapes, Blu-rays, and of course, vinyl. Even before picking up spares at Park Bowl, I recall that moment in my youth when I made the monumental decision to switch my record purchases from vinyl to CDs. Nowadays, vinyl is making a comeback among a younger generation looking for a higher quality, more realistic sound quality. I saw these Gen Z audiophiles flipping through the long LP bins in search of the elusive underground classic their stereophonic friends could appreciate and envy. Personally I could find nuggets of my own. Albums like The Very Best of Spike Jones (Photo 10) and The Complete 2,000 Year Old Man (Photo 5) resonated with me. I was happy to see individual LPs consolidated into boxed sets like the Linda Ronstadt retrospective. Beyond the music is the expansive DVD collection of movie titles both classic and obscure. There's also books and collectible merchandise like pop-culture lunch boxes and celebrity prayer candles. I'm not sure I need a candle that deifies Aubrey Plaza, but it's good to know where I can get one. RELATED - Exploring the Haight? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/Mq6DbbrGGJ

We were looking for a record shop that used to be around the corner from here and it is gone! So we…read morewalked into this little gem and the older guy behind the counter told me that the closed store was his second location but this one is the original - and it has been here for 39 years! I love old shops like this. It is small but packed with records! You'll find all different genres here- including a bin filled with records by local musicians. Though they didn't have the particular record we were looking for, we may head back tomorrow when we have more time to look through their collections. They are open every day. If you are looking to add vinyl to your collection, check this place out! It's old school in all the best ways and could use the support.

Looking for some special music / vinyl? This place likely has it…read more Cool atmosphere, a small but densely packed store with all manner of vinyl (and a few cassettes) for the discerning music fan. No nonsense but friendly service, ask for some help if you need inspiration!

I had some old vinyl albums that I wanted to recycle, they took them and will offer to the public…read moreat discounted places, which I found very admirable

If I could give 6 stars I would. Great record store run by the icon that is Mr. Mike B. I can…read morealways count on getting good recommendations from him, as he takes time to understand the 'ear' of the customer and what 'sound' they're into. Always fun to just chill out and talk music and hear great music there. Better than top notch!

love all the star wars in the store so i walk in..wearing a star wars tshirt no less…read more walked in and the guy at the desk didn't acknowledge me. thought it was a fluke went back a few weeks later and again...no hello, no eye contact...nothing. A smile and "Hi Welcome" goes a long way.

Quant and clean, this place packs a punch with top tier records in fantastic condition. Come here…read morefor a solid "selection" of soul, funk and jazz. Plus some damn good all around records. It's my new goto on this side of the bridge.

One of the neatest bookstores in the US. The Poetry room upstairs is wonderful. So much fun…read morehistory here to learn about. And this bookstores has some amazing staff book recommendations with little tags on the bookshelf telling you why they loved that book so much; found some great new finds that way. Dont forget to get your books stamped with their bookstores stamp on the way out!

An amazing bookstore and so glad I asked chatGPT to give me some ideas for a stroll around SF near…read moreUnion Square. Well, ok, this place isnt close to Union Sq, about a mile away, but it was a perfect delicious end destination for a post dinner stroll! I like bookstores and I like eclectic, unique ones. I'll go to Barnes & Noble if I had no other choice, but my favorite bookstores are independent ones and ones where they carry very unique books you can't find elsewhere. This bookstore made my inner little nerdy self so happy. I immediately got lost up front looking at very recent publication by Ai Weiwei. I then wandered onto the main floor and found an entire section of Asian works, which you will not find at B&N. I also found books from Norwegian writers too which I had never seen before, which thrilled me. I then made my way up to their attic floor which is dedicated to poetry and seems I just missed Allen Ginsberg's Howl centennial celebration. Ugh! I then came back down and then proceeded to their basement section and again I was quite pleasantly surprised by the depth and breadth of Asian themed books they had. They had plenty of the Chinese classics in English and found so many different versions of Journey to the West, I was completely overwhelmed. And then, saw an entire section on Africa and I had to fight hard to not pick up a copy of a book titled Prison Letters, which is a collection of Mandela's letters while imprisoned. I ultimately settled on two books by Ai Weiwei as he has continued to inspire me to be proud, to not conform, to be brave, to speak up, to be authentically and unapologetically me, to honor my ancestry and to push boundaries and to fight for what matters. And it just so happens too that my Chinese give name is also Weiwei. I loved coming to this bookstore and it will definitely be on rotation for me when I am in SF again.

I went to Out of Sight (not the pizza place)at North Beach in San Francisco. Out of Sight records…read moreis a store which sells vintage clothes, records, and home decor located in North Beach in an alley which is out of sight from the bars, and restaurants which makes it a hidden gem. I stumbled here and went down the stairs and I felt I transported in a time machine to the past. A record store selling vinyl records sighting in San Francisco is a rarity like meeting a San Francisco born native still living in San Francisco. There were some interesting items here for sale . Lots of vintage items inside and it seems like a movie and television props storage space . It's a good place to explore classics from the twentieth century. Out of Sight records is a blast from past when things were built to last. Although record shops in San Francisco decreased and are at a low percentage Go to Out of Sight Records if you want to shop and go vintage

I've been on the lookout for vinyls recently to start my collection and I found this place by…read morechance and it's really dope! There's chill music playing in the background and the owner said he'd put a record on his order for me. And everything is priced good too. Definitely will be back.

Cool spot for older vinyl, though they're a bit pricey on the 12in singles for sure. Probably best…read moreto come here if looking for older pressings.

True survivors. Look at that groovy exterior. Best browsing ever, but people, you have to buy…read moresomething eventually, or this blast from the past will fade into history. Grooves is next door to the long shuttered It's Tops cafe & that's about it. Everybody else gone. I've bought a couple albums just for the cover art. Cheap Pete's sells square album frames. Hint, hint.

Finally stopped by after living in the neighborhood for 5 years. Big selection of classic rock and…read moreclassical records. They got cassettes and CDs too. Got a couple records at good prices. Tammy at the counter was super nice. I will come back again when I don't have my dog with me so I can take my time and browse.

This little book shop is amazing. We found it on a stroll after a show down the road and it was…read moregreat. From the moment you walk in, you smell Peet's Coffee. Such a good combo! ;) They have a variety of genres at good prices. Friendly staff too! We will be back.

Books Inc was acquired by Barnes and Noble and it looks like it's an improvement because they…read morebrought back the magazines. You get a limited stock of the magazines a full service B&N carries. They also now accept Apple Pay and you can get your B&N points through here. Still a great bookstore. Drop by and browse!