This review is for the online ordering process. I ordered 3 shirts yesterday and they came today. I live 60 miles away but good damn that was fast! I'm super excited to rep the t-shirts especially the prints from Jeremy Fish, the raddest illustrator around. Also, I want to say if you have any questions, UP responds very quickly about any sizing, garment questions. Very pleased with their response time and the information they have handy. I will be ordering from these dudes again and will be dropping in when I'm in the city next! read more

I drove in from out of town to buy Xmas presents. Last Christmas there were all kinds of issues trying to order online and have it delivered. Ie. Wrong items and taking far longer than promised with nobody reaching out to the customer (me). So I decided I'll stop by when the SF store is open and grab stuff myself. Now I am sitting on your doorstep at your store that was supposed to open 1 hour ago. Not a soul here. Amazon almost gave me a package for you but changed their mind at the last minute. Other customers are asking me if you are going to be open today. I am a long time customer. Great products. Your customer service is shit. I love the style upper playground provides. But I can't rep you bc you won't deliver the correct product promptly or hire employees that, seemingly, can't roll out of bed. Disappointed. You've lost my business. read more

2 months and 4 emails after ordering and zero response from the company. Nobody answers the phone at the store. Shame, used to order from them all the time. read more

Ordered online, my card was charged, there has been no communication or product shipment. I sent 2 emails requesting information. No response. Are they in business? Or just taking orders and not sending anything? read more

Upper Playground I've gone to the brick & mortar store at 220 Fillmore St #222 San Francisco, CA 94117 during their advertised open hours & it is never open. Frustrating. I called them via phone, but the voice message system was full, so no option to contact them. Ugh. I am leaving San Francisco in a couple of days, so... C'est la vie. Pas de vente read more

Friendly and helpful staff, and a go-to spot for solid SF Bay Area merch. The artwork is unmatchable with a selection for all ages. Highly recommend you check them out! read more

Keeping it down for SF, super dope local small artists work. Cool clothes, the lower haight is better because of this store

Man this placed lived up to the hype! Popped in close to closing on Sunday night and were warmly greeted by Matt. He didn't rush us and was very quick to help with any questions we had. Friend and I grabbed some shirts, book and patches while enjoying all the great art around the shop. You can definitely (and easily) drop a penny here but absolutely worth it! read more

See all

I don't often wear tee shirts but when I do they are from Upper Playground lol. Super creative clothing here. Love the George Washington eating a burrito shirt. Actually wore it to a party with an Italian sport coat and it was a hit. Now I'm pissed I didn't buy the Abe Lincoln eating nachos wearing 3 D glasses shirt. read more

It would be nice for this business to be open when they say their business is open. It's Friday at a quarter to 1 and the store is closed. And good luck with ordering on line because the last time I did that, it took a month to get my merch. To add insult to injury I live on the other side of the city. The worst part about it is the have nice stuff read more

I have been waiting for 3 weeks for my on-line order to be shipped. I wonder if this retailer even pays attention to its on-line orders? I reached out to their customer service and received a generated response that did not answer my question about my order and expected shipping. I wouldn't recommend purchasing anything on-line from Upper Playground, cause they are not playing!!!! read more

Used to love them before the pandummmmy The last time I went in they had old designs - this was like 2 years ago. The other day I tried to go in no one answered made it seem like they were closed so I didn't waste the trip to sf from the town Went online to order- blah selection but the design they had was on point for me and my friend - so I copped but I had also accidentally put the wrong address and emailed them the instant I saw on my confirmation email - they didn't respond till 2-3 days after- and the shipment was sent - But they did say if it was returned they would reship with no charge which is great! I am happy with the service But over all I think the changes of times has taken its toll on this really cool boutique local shop. I hope they bounce back and come back stronger than ever cus I'm a big fan! Even tho my experiences weren't 100% awesome I definitely recommend cus this place they are pretty cool! I also once got sweater from their Portland location and the quality was bomb! Def worth it. read more

Ubered to get here but locked at 4pm on a Friday. Cool story bro. Tried callin but straight to voicemail. read more

Upper Playground - Flip the sign if yer closed. - Men's Clothing Near Me - San Francisco, California

I ordered through IG on a T shirt I liked. I placed the order forgetting the Promo code on the post. Once I realized it, I sent an email to customer service asking if it was too late to do anything about it. I just a few hours a representative named Olivia reached out & notified me that the promo code discount was still valid & that they would happily credit my card for the amount. Website was easy to navigate and customer service was on point. I love my "West Coast Offensive" T shirt with Bill Walsh on it! read more

Was really looking forward to checking out the shop since I just moved to the neighborhood but the employee who was smoking on the stairs said "your vibe is tripping me out" and pushed me out of the doorway. Very disrespectful and rude for no reason whatsoever. I imagine there is great art and clothing in there so this is by no means bashing the owners, artists, and creatives alike. I've never been disrespected like that in any store so I'm just shocked by his behavior. read more

I am a diehard San Franpsycho fan, but I've grown to keep Upper Playground right up there with them. The nod to local street culture and artists means you can't walk into the shop and not find something great. As a guy who already owns twice as many T-shirts as I need, I struggle to keep from buying several more when I stop by. They have a lot available online as well, but always prefer to hit up the actual shop when I can. Staff is great, really helpful and make the process easy. I'm a big guy and had someone find a couple larger shirts for me a time or two, which keeps me coming back. read more

I come from a family of creativity so I've always appreciated art, music, and hella cool t-shirts. And if you know me, you know I have more unique t-shirts than underwear. Seriously I could choose a different tee for everyday of the month. Upper Playground to the rescue! Upper Playground near Haight in San Francisco is the mother of all. It's the original location, founded in 1998. This location is convenient for anyone as street parking is usually available within a couple blocks - remember it's in "not as busy" lower Haight. The company highlights the work of local and international artists such as Sam Flores, Alex Padre, Jeremy Fish, David Choe, and Estevan Oriol. UP has also partnered with Adidas for past collections. Upper Playground has more than just t-shirts, but also long sleeve, hoodies, headwear, caps aka lids, books, dvds, original art, and other "street art" inspired goods. Just note that although the merchandise is popular with the next generation it is not cheap, as t-shirts average nearly $30 each, tho sales are always going on too. One of my fav t-shirts from UP is a San Francisco Giants Baseball inspired of a large walrus styling a SF Giants lid tilted to the side. Haha! Okay you either get where I'm coming from or you don't. It's relaxed wear, so no one should be stressing it, playa! Just be who we want to be. I guess working in corporate America and forced to wear suits on the daily made me appreciate the relax wear of today. Just note there's a difference between being lazy and tossing on last Tuesday's t-shirt and actually choosing an artistic inspired creation for the day. I still have to "dress up" for work nowadays, but every chance I get I'm in t-shirt & jeans. Yes, the t-shirts are hella expensive at Upper Playground, but you have to admit it's hella dope! It's all about self expression & freedom... read more

Upper Playground - Styling my Upper Playground with the cool crowd aka Rihanna & Barbara Walters;) - Men's Clothing Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Every time I am in the city, I drop by here and pick up something uniquely San Franciscan. Love this place, cannot recommend enough for your artistic, urban, street compadres. Loyal fan since 1998. Miss the Portland shop. read more

UP you sure have grown up! It's been a few years since I went into the shop and I was blown away by how much it had grown. The artists showcased here, as well as the UP issued items, are top notch. Being Bay Area born and raised makes it nice to stop in and grab some home squad gear. The choices were overwhelming and I wanted everything. I dialed it back to just one tee - a SJ Sharks tee. The one downgrade - the customer service. Not as on point as it was back in the day. My wife spotted a card in the front case where the register is. I asked that the card be added to the order and the employee happily added it to my order. This morning I opened up the package to check out the card and it's a map. A map. Not what my wife had in mind as she requested a "greeting card" but apparently the employees don't really know what they sell. Price point for gear is standard for street wear so be prepared to pay boutique street wear prices. read more

See all

Upper Playground is located in the Lower Haight on Fillmore between Haight and Waller. There is meter street parking in front of the shop and limited residential parking in the area. Upper Playground's items vary from books, hats, shirts, sweaters and other accessories. All items from here are made with very good quality printing and material used. Upper Playground has many original designs from various artists. There are plenty of creative designs along with pop culture and sports inspired designs. Check out their annual sales for great deals. If you cant make it out to this location then there is an online shop and another location across the Bay Area in Berkeley off Telegraph Ave. If you're in the area and looking for unique designs and good quality clothing then come by check out Upper Playground. read more

I love this local boutique in San Francisco. I've been shopping here since 2003. The artist that create the designs represent the city right. Quality shirts for a good price. In the peak of covid they closed down their store, but you can get them online and shipped out within a couple weeks. I usually shop online because they have all the styles and sizes. read more

UP has delivered in providing quality products celebrating what make the West Coast home. It introduced a generation to the ability to open up possibilities in style based on culture rather than the other way around. read more

This is one cool store loaded with designer tshirts and badass prints from various local and non-local artists. They carry a larger selection of Sam Flores prints and sell them for pretty reasonable prices for the fact that they are original and signed! The store is bigger than I expected, as they have two adjoining rooms one of which is filled more so with more upper playground branded clothing and accessories, whereas the other room is solely dedicated to the artists and their respective lines be it tshirts, sweaters or prints. The staff here is very friendly and knowledgable about their artists as well as their clothing lines and can always help you find something that suits your tastes. I must agree though, the design of their male hoodies are way better than their female lines! read more

Very San Francisco, street art inspired gear in the Lower Haight. If you're looking for a gift for a dude, come here. They have hats, hoodies, tees, bags, accessories and art from the same artists that do the silk screened designs. They have sizes up to 3X (but those designs are more limited). Most all of them go to 2X. They also have cute hoodies and tees for chicks and kids tees from infant to 6T. My favorite designs are by Sam Flores. They also have some heritage designs that celebrate San Francisco's history. A cup with Mr. Bimbo on it. A doggie diner plate. A shirt with the bushman. Mugs with Alcatraz mugshots. Get on their mailing list to get a heads up on their 50% off sale (everything but the art) in the store and online they have every so often. read more

I have seen a lot of Upper Playground designs throughout the years on the internet. I was walking around the city, saw the sign and decided to wander in. They have some great print art on these shirts. I could not justify buying a lot of them because they are very Bay Area-centric and I can't be walking around Cleveland, OH with this stuff and no direct ties to the Bay. I will probably end up buying the Libra shirt although I am on the Scorpio cusp. Maybe I could do a half and half design of both, front and back. That is one of the true Libran characteristics that I display; duality and balance. They are running an online sale for Black Friday which I need to take advantage of. read more

Upper Playground - Men's Clothing Near Me - San Francisco, California

Only the best in men's clothing. This place has all the best designs you see around the city. The best artists and the best gear, not just for the guys. It's all fresh. My daughter is always looking good in her shirts. They also have some sick art in the shop most of the time, really great art shows. They have a sick hat selection. Most of my favorite t's have come from Upper playground over the years. I always get mad complements on the hats. They have great jackets and bags as well. Original styling and sick designs from a bunch of artists. If you need some local goods this should always be the first stop. Once in a while they have a killer sale so it's great to be on the email list and follow them on social media. I usually suffer economically at sale time. read more

I loved this store the moment I saw a small exhibition of it at the (at the time) newly built and open for business, Metreon. I found their store online and repped the brand. Whenever I am in the Yay Area, I go inside and buy everything I am able to see right away with my big bug eyes. I buy Jeremy Fish art, Ron English books, sketch and drawing journals, prints, and pillows that say the strain of good weed such as AK-47 and Sour Diesel. I just adore this store and I remember that I have been a fan since I was 17. read more

I ventured on over to Upper Playground yesterday as I was working in the area and wanted to check out some of their clothing. Inside, the first thing that struck me was how clean and orderly the place was. That made a very good first impression with me. As I browsed the neatly stacked clothing (feeling a bit guilty every time I unfolded a shirt to look at the graphic on it), I was asked politely if I needed any help but never felt pressured into buying anything. I stated I was "just looking" and was told that if I had any questions, to feel free to ask. Very cool. I picked out a couple of shirts that caught my eye and asked if I could try them on. I was led to the dressing room and the salesperson said that if I required a different size, to just let her know. Nice. Several minutes later, I was ready to make a purchase. The shirts here run a little bit on the expensive side, but as interesting as the graphics are on them, I feel like I'm wearing art, and I love art. Sweet! I'll be back again some day. I recommend you check them out, even if you have no intention to buy anything. Just walk in and check out some of the cool stuff these artist's are putting on cotton. read more

Upper Playground - Men's Clothing Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I went here on a rainy Thursday night and spending time in this shop completely improved my mood! I loved the wide selection of designs. I came for the t-shirts but also found hoodies, baby clothes, hats, pillows, and other things. The store is very clean and well-maintained. It's easy to find things and the people that work there are super helpful. The two men that I interacted with were so sweet, patient, and helpful. There was even a design that I'd had my eye on for a while but it only came on men's tees and one of the guys printed a new one up for me on a women's tee on the spot! He even swapped out some of the colors in a way that suited my coloring and the t-shirt color I chose. I wasn't in the store for a long time but my time spent there was the highlight of my day. I came through for the art, and left feeling joyful :-) read more

My husband is a fan of this clothing line and asked me if I wanted anything during the Black Friday sale of 2019. I picked the California Love racerback tank and when it arrived, the item fabric was so poorly done: whoever serged the edge of the fabric left long tails of thread stitch. Definitely a rushed job. My husband emailed them and they admitted to rushing through orders because of the high volume and they offered an exchange or refund. I opted to switch the item to a t-shirt. When the t-shirt arrived, the screen print (which was done twice) was misaligned and pretty noticeable. Because the ink was yellow on a black shirt, I understand that you have to print screen it at least 2 times because it's a bright color on a dark fabric. But, this too, seemed rushed. I figure I've past the exchange/refund time but nonetheless I'm really disappointed in Upper Playground. My family is very supportive of local brands, but not if they don't meet basic clothing quality. read more

Great street art gear. Hoodies, tshirts, beanies, etc.... They even have original art in the store from a lot of their favortie artists (all the Sam Flores prints are for sale). Staff is super friendly and if their gallery two doors down is closed they will usually pop out an open it up for you if you'd like to take peek. read more

I'd give a zero if possible. Shitty customer service and zero response. Ordered online a month again and still didn't get anything.

Upper Playground is the way I expect heaven to be, as I stepped inside I instantly felt like a kid in a candy store. I have worn Upper Playground for years, there are not too many places that carry the Upper Playground brand, which is something I both love and hate. The selection of shirts, jackets, and hats available are so dope, it is really hard to not want to empty my wallet because I want everything they have here. You will find the artwork and t shirts of Sam Flores, Jeremy Fish, Estevan Oriol (my personal favorite, shirts are dope). There is a great selection of artwork here, a bit pricey, like the Estevan Oriol "West Coast'" framed piece for $5,000 (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/aL926g_FXBYnxHXFsbrF-A?select=FLr3_PpY8tdwVOISLRHNjQ), 5X7 and 8X10 prints, and silkscreen posters. If you're into the hip hop/street culture you'll definitely love this place, and it is definitely great place to find a dope gift for someone you heart. read more

See all

Designs are still dope AF, but I bought a new hella fresh kitty t-shirt here like a month ago and the threads on the beck are already breaking from the fabric. Low quality ftl. read more

Always gotta come here everytime I'm in the Bay area.... Urban, unique, street wear...with swag... People that know Upper Playground...know. Love the clothing and shirts fit great too! Very chill and laid back employees and store. My favorite are the the urban artist stuff they carry...from books, shirt prints etc... Highly recommended if you are in the area!!! read more

I think it's hard for a guy is to go shopping during the holidays. You get dragged into a mall with ; screaming kids, rude pedestrians, and 22 year old retail employees showing you things that make you look like "old dude in the club". Top that off with low blood sugar and it's not a good experience for the guy or anyone else in his vicinity. I recommend guys do two things. 1. Don't wait last minute to by gifts. You'll be stuck in a store with your fellow procrastinators fighting over a Nintendo Wii for your nephew. 2. Shop at small stores, you know, mom and pop and independent businesses. One of my favorite small business in SF is Upper Playground. It's great for what I call the everyday "mindful/casual" look. This place has durable gear that fits me really well, it can be intermingled with basics I already have, and they can shift into streetgear you can rock at night. You may look like a bum but you get to show you have a little style. I did about a 3rd of my x-mas shopping there;) I bought two prints for 2 couples I know, a few T's for my hommies, a couple of mugs for clients, some baby clothes, and a couple of books. You don't have to be knee deep in Hip Hop roots to shop there either. It's all about urban dwelling. You'll see a big mix of folks in there and the staff is helpful and mature, meaning- you won't have to know the the real names of the Wu-Tang Clan to stroll in and have someone help you out. go... read more

I remember the day very distinctly. It was the summer after fifth grade and I was swimming in our backyard pool. One of my neighborhood friends called me over to the fence and in a very contraband way passed me a cassette tape through the links. All he said was, "Listen to this." We always had a jam-box playing while we were swimming, so I popped out the tape (which was probably Phil Collins) replaced it with the new and pressed play. I ran back and jumped in the pool before the song started. It was La Di Da Di by Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh. It was the first rap song I had ever heard. I honestly don't remember how many times I listened to it that day but I'm sure it was on repeat til I went to bed that night. I was mesmerized. Since that day, I've been a Hip Hop Junkie. There hasn't been a time in the last 23 years where I haven't been listening to it. It's not just rap that fascinates me but Hip Hop as a whole. You may ask, "Aren't they the same?" As a much smarter man than me once said, "Rap is something you do, Hip Hop is something you live." That was KRS One. Hip Hop is a lifestyle. It's that lifestyle that's on sale at Upper Playground. Shirts, hats, hoodies, prints, dvds, art. It's a great spot. Spacious and clean. I'll pop in every now and again and never leave empty handed. My only complaint here is that you are watched like a hawk anytime you are in the store. They have a side room and if you walk in there and no one else is in there... an employee will magically appear in that room in a matter of seconds just to deter shoplifting I'm sure. Which I understand, but I don't like being watched while shopping. That's actually a big grievance and it really does kind of irk me, but it really is my only complaint with this store. Otherwise this would be a glowing five star review. read more

While these cats have posts in SF, Sac, Portland, Seattle and even Mexico City... wearing their threads makes me feel like a real local. Whether or not I actually look like a local sporting their wears is a whole other question... but at least I feel like I'm contributing a small slice of my expendable income to a solid local operation like Upper Playground. Culture-wise, they're way too cool for me. I'd look like a complete ass wipe wearing about 98% of the stuff they have on their shelves, but I can get away rockin' the other 2% of their duds without looking like too much of a poseur. If you're more hip and stylish than myself (not hard), however, you'll dig the wide assortment of unique apparel they have on stock every day at their headquarters in the Lower Haight. From loud, vibrant hoodies (as the kids call 'em) to shirts that say things like "San Franfuckingcisco," if you have the huevos to wrap yourself up in their gear, you'll be rewarded with nods and inquiries as to where you swooped it up. But again, if you buy something that makes it look as though you're entering a 1/4 life crisis by dressing like a high school student, people will take you for a daft, desperate old man. In addition to clothing, they have a small assortment of local artwork and home accents like pillows and throw blankets. They all look pretty dope, and for what it is, they won't completely drain your bank account either. Also, if you're a fan of Blik, check out the Upper Playground decals available on their website! read more

THIS PLACE IS WACK!!!! What would appear to to be a store celebrating independent culture influenced by hip-hop, graffiti and skateboarding is nothing but a CORPORATE HOAX. Allow me to share a little story about this poorly managed store: For the holiday's I received a sick Jeremy Fish shirt. A friend of mine picked it up at "Weathering The Storm" show in Laguna Beach, the only problem was it was a size to big. I was like oh no worries I live 4 blocks from the shop on Haight. Im sure they'll just swap it out. So I went into the store and found this wonderfully, too cool for school, kid with big black glasses at the counter. I took out the brand new perfect condition shirt, told him my predicament and asked if they could swap it out. He explained to me that because It was from a show they could not swap it out. I asked "do you guys have this shirt" He answered "yes" I said "so cant you just swap it out for a smaller size" the clerk said "no cause you didn't buy it here I dont have the upc" I was like "dude it says upper playground on the tag" "still I cant" I promptly left without even perusing through the store. LET ME JUST HIGHLIGHT WHAT HORRIBLE SALES PERSON THIS KID WAS! Had he exchanged the shirt I would have A.) walked through the store and quite possibly found something else I liked and bought it. B.) Gone into the store and saw something I liked and came back for it. C.) Saw something cool and told a friend about it. D.) Told a friend what a positive experience I had with that store. But instead I went right in the door right out the door. That's just bad retail. You get someone in the door you make them comfortable. Tell them what's new, what cool, you don't send them right out the door they just walked in. Moral of the story: UPPER PLAYGROUND IS POORLY STAFFED AND CORPORATELY OPERATED! If you want mass produced graphic T's and arrogant sales people I recommend shopping there otherwise Id find a shop that values your business. And the staff actually comes out from behind the counter to help you while you shop. I am sorry but any real shop with roots in skateboarding, hip-hop and graffiti, would of exchanged that shirt in heartbeat. I might as well had been shopping at zumies or metro park. PS . I had some extra cash in my pocket from the holiday season I planned on spending there. But I most certainly took my cash else where. Which I recommend you doing as well!!! read more

As stated before, I am not a tee and hoodie wearing kind of girl. I like them on guys (except for the all over print hoodies) but I only need that stuff for the gym or if I don't feel like wearing my pj's around my neighborhood on a particular day. So I didn't really expect much when I walked into Upper Playground but I came this close to actually purchasing a hoodie. It had cherry blossoms and a pretty graphic that I could almost picture myself wearing but I decided in the end it was a little too Asian for me. They also sell prints of some of the designs and if they weren't out of the ones I liked, I would have bought one. The dressing room was covered by shower curtains that would look great in my bathroom but I didn't notice them for sale anywhere around the store. This is the first store with a much larger men's section than women's section I have seen in a long time. Take that for whatever it's worth. read more