Having lived in San Francisco for numerous years, I've been to Pier 39 many times -- sometimes to…read moreshow out-of-towners cool parts of my favorite city and sometimes because I just wanna go to a place by the bay that feels like a carnival! The stores are super cute, there are things to do, there are restaurants as well as good quick eats (like the mini donut shop - oh my gosh that's so good - and a cute retro candy shop at the end of the pier. Additionally, the views at the end of the pier are magical, and you get to view it with songs from the sealions! There are also magic shows at the pier you can watch for free and a large carousel! Pier 39 is 100%, touristy, but it is still festive and fun, whether you're an out-of-towner or a local resident. The only downsides are the prices (because this area is a tourist trap) and the parking. Here are some tricks and tips: Look for coupons for some of the pier activities (ie, coupon books, Groupon, and even on the ads in the local map they give you for free). I've found coupons for the Aquarium By the Bay, restaurants, the mirror maze thingy, and The Flyer. You can also go to the Visitor Center office on the 2nd floor of the pier! Just ask politely for coupons, and they'll usually have something. (They gave me 20% off some nice restaurants last time.) As for parking, be careful with street parking because if you are even a minute late, I swear, you'll find a ticket on your windshield! The city ticket workers are like hawks. There is a Pier 39 parking garage that is the closest but costs a lot. You can look for open parking lots further away, like at hotels, which can be cheaper. If you are able to walk, that may be a good option -- or better yet, take public transportation when you can. That is part of the San Francisco experience! One more tip: if it's your first time there, bring a lock to put at the end of the pier! (See photo) There are definitely a multitude of photo opps here!

I came to Pier 39 with my wife and her family while we came to visit San Francisco. I parked in the…read morepublic parking garage across the street. We came at night time so the first thing we did was eat at Wipeout. We had a great experience dining there. There also small vendors on the Pier selling hot dogs and other small food as well. After we finish eating, my wife wanted to shop at some of the stores here. It's a nice walk to do at the Pier, especially if the weather is nice. My wife wanted to try some gelato ice cream but they already closed. She got some gifts at the small shops here and so did her mom. I used the public restroom here and it wasn't too bad.

This is my favorite place to buy a hoodie. They are affordable and everything is arranged by size…read more It's a great place to purchase souvenirs that won't break the bank.

Cannot beat the price. $5 baseball caps, $10 sweatshirts, $15 hoodies…read more Buy $40+ get a free $15 hoodie Right across from the Wharf. Just down the street from pier 39. If you are chilly, get over there & get a hoodie sweatshirt or two.

Unique store and brands and a denim sewing machine on hand to make edits to your break in length of…read morejeans just as you want it. My husband was looking for black jeans but ended up finding a great fitting light grey pair! The Jeans were hemmed and sewn and ready the next day- awesome, cause he was needing them soon. The price is the price. They have their own brands and others I haven't seen before a lot of unique tops, sweater's, jackets to check out as well etc. Nice to discover a new place to look. Definitely check them out. We were like a broken record always going to the same place- this felt fresh. And he has a new pair of Summer jeans.

I visited this past weekend. Howard (the owner) was incredibly knowledgable and helpful, clearly…read moreknowing denim at an expert level. Melina was also very knowledgable and quite helpful. This is definitely one of the best shops for jeans. I highly recommend it.

Funny little shop at Pier 39, where all the products change color in the sun. The second we stopped…read morein, an enthusiastic staff member greeted us with a demonstration (they have a sunlight simulator centrally placed in the store) of how the products work. Pretty gimmicky and touristy; kids would probably get a kick out of it.

It's quite fun to see things change colors in the sun, but the designs are not as nice as it use to…read morebe. There should also be larger sized clothes with better designs. This is more for children right not. The nail polish is cute and there are a lot of colors. There is also a Del Sol in San Diego I went to and this one is better.

I picked up a coat (the gorgeous Dylan in ivory) I had been eyeing for a while and was so impressed…read morewith the customer service of the staff. Comparing it to the Anine Bing location in NY, the people that work at AB SF are thoughtful, friendly, and helpful but not at all pushy. They even honored an online discount to help me save some money as it was an investment piece. So glad I came into the store rather than buying online.

My go-to place when I am eyeing some Anine, and I love shopping here more than the online store…read more Great to try on pieces and the stylists there are AMAZING -- when I was going to Paris, I shopped with Joanna and she helped me find pieces that were not only chic and timeless, but also so flattering and made me feel incredibly confident. Everything about shopping here, especially with Joanna, is a top tier, feel good experience.

Glad to discover this place. I had many clothes done here…read moreThey always come through for me. Let them know what you want done to your clothes they will tell you how much it will cost. You pay cash in advance. Best to go here on foot parking can be difficult. Not to be confused with the shop out front, you have to walk in through the little mall it's inside on the left you passed the beads for bracelets shop. Good service for a reasonable price. Will definitely come back again.

Took my RL leather jacket to get my sleeve hem repaired and replaced the missing button.The price…read moreand quality is TOP NOTCH!! The price was half the cost compared to others..Very nice and welcoming.The aunties are straight up Jedis..

The most amazing collection for those who are obsessed with socks!…read more Located on Pier 39, The San Francisco Sock Market this store carries every style of sock imaginable! From character themed socks, catchy puns, intricate designs, or even the most basic boring pair- this place gotchu. With my child's teacher being a milk tea lover, I couldn't help but want to find her something boba themed for her upcoming birthday. I was hoping to pick from a number of designs but was only left between 2 when it came to this particular motif. Our purchase was cute and my toddler felt so accomplished being able to personally pick out something for her teacher. The cost for the items vary so it's very budget friendly. 5/5 stars. I always enjoy stopping by even if there isn't anything I specifically need and now my toddler is just as excited to do the same.

Great selection of socks. Super funky designs, definitely something for everyone. Service was…read moregreat. Priced decently, on average $7-10.

Cute little spot! Lots of Z Supply clothing, which I love…read more They have a cute assortment of jewelry (a little pricer than I wanted) and mini perfumes/lotions - I ended up buying some of the mini perfumes, as they're super convenient to throw in a handbag or to take when traveling. I felt that the perfume, lotion and clothing were all priced on par with other businesses. It was only the jewelry with unfortunately, seemed a little out of line. Had it been a little less, I probably would have walked away with some! Worth a stop in if you happen to be visiting the ever-touristy Ghirardelli Square. 2025: 63/100

Found this while wandering around Ghirardelli. Love the aesthetic and selection, will definitely…read morereturn when I'm not worried about the time on my meter

I'm not gonna lie, the old western hats drew me into this store!!…read more Located on Pier 39, once inside, there were all sorts of old western items. As someone who has watched plenty of old western movies, lots of things in here caught my eye! I don't know why 'Wild Wild West' kept playing in my head while I was in here, lol!! I'll definitely be back here when I'm able to spend more time, lots to see in here!!

Awesome Family Business with stellar personal attention…read more Great selection of Western Wear and reasonably priced!

Zara in Union Square had a great selection of clothes available!…read more I was hunting for one specific jacket that I had seen at a Zara in my home state but didn't grab and I regretted it so badly LOL. At the time, the jacket was new and wasn't released completely online or via app yet so in store find only. I did find the jacket but unfortunately didn't have my size haha. Still, the store was kept very clean and they've got security at the front.

Good shopping experience! I came in looking for some wide leg black pants. Unfortunately, the sizes…read morewere very picked over. I ended up finding a casual shirt that was a decent price. Store was fairly tidy; second floor seemed a little haphazard in its layout. Ability to text receipts; nice green concept. 2025: 62/100