While boasting the large-scale facilities and international names you'd expect in a major city, San Francisco's shopping scene is low-key and unpretentious. This means prices are slightly lower, and shopping here is a pleasant, relatively stress-free activity.

If you want to run the gauntlet of designer labels, or just watch the style brigade consume, Union Square is the place to be. The heart of the city's shopping territory, it has a good selection of big-name and chic stores - Neiman Marcus, whose prices have earned it the nickname "Needless Markup," Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Gump's and a completely redesigned Macy's - worth a few hours if you're into serious dollar-dropping.

SoMa is home to the new Sony Metreon mall at Fourth Street and Mission, a form of "shopper-tainment" with its technology-driven stores and state-of-the-art movieplex

Books
The Booksmith 1644 Haight St tel 415/863-8688. Good general Haight-Ashbury bookstore with an excellent stock of countercultural titles. Borders Books and Music 400 Post St tel 415/399-1633. Massive, emporium-style chain stocking...
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Music
Amoeba Music 1855 Haight St tel 415/831-1200. A massive, independent record and CD store with one of the largest and best used collections you'll ever find (over one million new and used). They also host live performances within the store. ...
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