Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [167]
Ghirardelli Square This former chocolate factory is one of the city’s quaintest shopping malls and most popular landmarks. It dates from 1864, when it served as a factory making Civil War uniforms, but it’s best known as the former chocolate and spice factory of Domingo Ghirardelli (say “Gear-ar-dell-y”). A clock tower, an exact replica of the one at France’s Château de Blois, crowns the complex. Inside the tower, on the mall’s plaza level, is the fun Ghirardelli soda fountain. It still makes and sells small amounts of chocolate, but the big draw is the old-fashioned ice-cream parlor. Stores range from a children’s club to a perfumery, cards and stationery to a doggie boutique. The main plaza shops’ and restaurants’ hours are 10am to 6pm Sunday through Thursday and 10am to 9pm Friday and Saturday, with extended hours during the summer. The square has recently undergone a major face-lift, which not only jazzed up its appearance a bit, but brought free Wi-Fi to the area. Along with elegant Vietnamese restaurant Ana Mandara, there’s now an English tea experience (Crown & Crumpet), wine bar (Cellar360), cupcake bakery, and more. 900 North Point St. (at Polk St.). 415/775-5500.www.ghirardellisq.com.
Pier 39 This bayside tourist trap also happens to have stunning views. To residents, that pretty much wraps up Pier 39—an expensive spot where out-of-towners go to waste money on worthless souvenirs and greasy fast food. For vacationers, though, Pier 39 does have some redeeming qualities—fresh crab (in season), playful sea lions, phenomenal views, and plenty of fun for the kids. If you want to get to know the real San Francisco, skip the cheesy T-shirt shops and limit your time here to one afternoon, if at all. Located at Beach St. and the Embarcadero.
Westfield San Francisco Centre Opened in 1988 and given a $460-million expansion in 2006, this ritzy 1.5-million-square-foot urban shopping center is one of the few vertical malls (multilevel rather than sprawling) in the United States. Its most attractive feature is a spectacular atrium with a century-old dome that’s 102 feet wide and three stories high. Along with Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s department stores and a Century Theatres multiplex, there are more than 170 specialty stores, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Herve Leger, bebe, Juicy Couture, J. Crew, and Movado. The bottom level is sprinkled with probably the best food-court fare you’ve ever had, along with a gourmet market and deli, and a fast-service (but not fast food) outlet for Charles Phan’s Slanted Door, called Out the Door. 865 Market St. (at Fifth St.). 415/512-6776.www.westfield.com/sanfrancisco.
Toys
The Chinatown Kite Shop This shop’s playful assortment of flying objects includes attractive fish kites, windsocks, hand-painted Chinese paper kites, wood-and-paper biplanes, pentagonal kites, and do-it-yourself kite kits, all of which make great souvenirs or decorations. Computer-designed stunt kites have two or four control lines to manipulate loops and dives. Open daily from 10am to 8pm. 717 Grant Ave. (btw. Clay and Sacramento sts.). 415/989-5182.www.chinatownkite.com.
Travel Goods
Flight 001 Jet-setters zoom into this space-shuttle-like showroom for hip travel accessories. Check out the sleek luggage, “security friendly” manicure sets, and other mid-air must-haves. 525 Hayes St. (btw. Laguna and Octavia sts.). 415/487-1001. A 2nd location is out in Berkeley at 1774 4th St. ( 510/526-1001). www.flight001.com.
Flight 001 specializes in stylish, travel-size items.
Vintage Clothing
Aardvark’s One of San Francisco’s largest secondhand clothing dealers, Aardvark’s has seemingly endless racks of shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, and hats from the past 30 years. It’s open daily from 11am to 7pm. 1501 Haight St. (at Ashbury St.). 415/621-3141.
Buffalo Exchange This large and newly expanded