So you’re traveling to San Francisco, and you want to bring back more than a t-shirt with the Golden Gate Bridge across the front. I feel you!
SF is unlike anywhere else, with the dramatic, flower-filled turns of Lombard Street, eclectic neighborhoods, cable cars, and the incredible food that makes you want to EAT EAT and then EAT some more.
Truthfully, San Francisco is my favorite California city of all time, and I’ve been through the souvenirs.
From fortune cookies to fridge magnets, these are the best souvenirs from San Francisco-
If you’re reading this because you’ve already been to SF and forgot your souvenirs click here.
Uniquely San Francisco: Zines
Any bibliophile visiting San Francisco has to grab a zine. It’s mandatory.
A Zine is an independently published magazine, usually created by a single person, focusing on self-expression more than literature.
I love Silver Sprocket, a publisher, gallery, shop, and epic spot to experience the authentic San Fran zine scene. Many of the bookstores in SF carry zines, like City Lights in North Beach.
The Classic Souvenir: Magnets
Cheesy magnets are hands down the most amazing souvenirs. They’re small and easy to store, and you can show them off without worrying about them falling apart.
These are the most popular souvenir magnets in SF:
- Golden Gate Bridge magnet (a classic must-have)
- Alcatraz magnet (I’d skip if you didn’t make it to Alcatraz)
- Cable car magnet
- Painted Ladies magnet (for Full House fans)
- Lombard Street magnet
Bonus: unlike those basic t-shirts, you can’t outgrow a magnet.
Where to buy souvenir magnets in San Francisco
Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf will be most pricy for magnets, Chinatown will have better deals, and the airport is a last resort if you don’t have time.
Sweater from the Golden Gate Bridge or Alcatraz
Hands down, my favorite souvenir from San Francisco is the sweater I bought at the Golden Welcome Center on my first trip to the city. It’s been years, and it still makes me smile every time I wear it.
Sweaters make such good souvenirs because they are warm and snuggly and just seem to collect happy memories. In August of 2023, I took my mom to visit SF for her first time, and she got a nearly identical sweater from Alcatraz <3
The Sweetest SF Souvenir: Chocolate
If you’re hunting for the ultimate San Francisco souvenir for the foodie in your life, look no further than the city’s world-famous chocolates. Start with these:
Recchiuti Chocolates
Recchiuti Chocolates is a total game-changer. Michael Recchiuti, aka the Picasso of San Francisco Chocolatiers, handcraft their artisanal sweets.
Unexpected flavorings combined with modern minimalist design are a feast for the eyes and the palate.
Ghiradelli Square
Ghirardelli is another San Francisco icon. Ghirardelli Square is the quintessential SF experience, it’s no surprise that it holds the oldest continuously operating chocolate manufacturer in the US, opening its first store in 1852.
Some of the most iconic souvenirs of San Francisco are Ghirardelli dark chocolates or hot cocoa.
Also, Ghirardelli has a chocolate fountain. You have to see it.
Dandelion Chocolate
Scoping out Dandelion Chocolate in the Mission is a must for anyone wanting to experience San Francisco’s chocolate culture.
DC’s minimalistic, small-batch chocolates are made with only two ingredients: cocoa beans and organic sugar, so you know it’s the good stuff.
Custom Fortune Cookies from the Golden Gate Cookie Factory
Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory is an iconic, family-owned gem in Chinatown that has been making fortune cookies since 1962.
Stop in for the rich history and free samples, and experience the magic of these iconic treats firsthand – not your typical takeout cookies!
Personalized Fortune Cookies
For the ultimate souvenir, personalize your fortunes! Skip the line by ordering online for pickup.
A Pair of Vintage Levi’s
Of all the souvenirs of San Francisco, Levi’s jeans are the ultimate SF swag. Yep, they’ve been rocking the world with their iconic ass-friendly denim since 1853.
The Levi Strauss & Co Flagship Store is a 3-story building off Market Street. You’ll find a rad selection of vintage-inspired jeans like the 501 Original, plus limited-edition collaborations.
Note: If you’re staying at a hotel near Union Square, you can walk to Levi’s flagship store, but Market Street can be shady, and I wouldn’t recommend walking there in the evening.
A Handmade Postcard from a Local Artist
Another bomb souvenir that’s worth grabbing is a one-of-a-kind postcard from a local San Francisco artist.
Buying art from locals is like carrying a little piece of the city’s soul with you (also, it supports someone’s dream).
Snag a mini-masterpiece at City Lights Bookstore, or check out local art galleries, the SF Museum of Modern Art, or the fun, hippie neighborhood of Haight-Ashbury.
A Bottle of NorCal Wine
Yes, San Francisco is known for its craft breweries, but did you also know it’s a short drive from California’s famous Napa Valley?
Considering that you can cross the Golden Gate Bridge and be in Napa Valley’s wine country in just over an hour’s drive, you cannot say that a solid bottle isn’t the most lush SF souvenir to score.
This Napa Valley tour not only takes you to the heart of wine country for crafted tastings, but you get to lunch in the idyllic town of Sonoma and enjoy the shopping and ambiance of this unforgettable little square.
FAQ
What are the best gift shops in San Francisco?
The best gift shops in San Francisco are City Lights Bookstore, Fog City News, Pier 39, SFMOMA Museum Store, and Gump’s. Chinatown is one giant gift shop and where you’ll find the best prices.
Where to buy wine in San Francisco?
Good news: wine is never hard to find in SF.
If you can’t land a Napa Valley tour to buy a bottle onsite, you can pick up wine in San Francisco at K&L Wine Merchants, Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant, and The Wine Club.
What souvenirs should I get with the Golden Gate Bridge?
Some of the most popular souvenirs with the Golden Gate Bridge are postcards, magnets, scale models, shirts and sweaters, keychains, and photography prints. Or, you know, a shirt <3
What souvenirs should I get for San Francisco food lovers?
The best souvenirs for San Francisco food lovers are Ghiradelli chocolates, local coffee beans, Anchor Steam beer, and Boudin Bakery sourdough bread.
If all else fails, you should be able to get some good ‘ol Ghirardelli from the airport!
