Shopping
Shopping in San Francisco is a delightful
experience with varied shopping centres, charming districts and
wonderful malls to keep you interested. The prime shopping area is
probably Union Square, home to boutiques and top labels. Haight
Street may have shed much of its hippy heritage in favour of steady
gentrification but has still retained an eclectic selection of
stores that makes this area one of the most interesting to shop in.
In a similar vein, Hayes Valley is also a good bet for a galleries,
boutiques and studios. Don't miss Chinatown for a fascinating
stir-fry of Asian products, while Alemany Market and San Jose flea
market - on the edge of town - offer a hugely varied range of
goods. The best of the many shopping malls are probably Embarcadero
Centre and Westfield San Francisco Centre, both packed with retail
brands and decent value stores. Top purchases while in the city
include music CDs and books, wine from the Napa Valley, and
invariably, miniature reproductions of the Golden Gate Bridge. The
price of all goods includes a non-refundable state sales tax of
8.25%. This tax can be refunded if goods are shipped outside
California; keep your receipts and enquire when departing at the
airport.
