Union Square
Located in the heart of the city, Union Square is San Francisco’s biggest shopping district. The historic square itself was renovated in 2002 – overseen by an iconic bronze statue of Victory, it hosts art shows and outdoor concerts and features a pleasant outdoor café. The surrounding streets are lined with department stores, designer boutiques, and luxury hotels. Just to the west is the theater district, where theaters of all sizes show everything from Broadway musicals to one-man shows year round.
topTheaters
SHN Theaters
Tickets: 888-SHN-1799
Curran Theater, 445 Geary Street
Golden Gate Theater, 1 Taylor Street
Orpheum Theater, 1192 Market Street
These three historic theaters offer shows fresh from Broadway, as well as new works and pre-Broadway productions. Dating from 1922, the elegant Curran would fit right in on Broadway. The Art Deco Golden Gate Theater, also dating from 1922, was recently restored to its former splendor, as was the 1926 Spanish-style Orpheum. The current season features West Side Story, Shrek the Musical, Rock of Ages and Billy Elliot.
A. C. T.
415 Geary Street
Box Office: 405 Geary Street
Tickets: (415) 749-2228
American Conservatory Theater is known for groundbreaking productions of classical works as well as bold contemporary works. Its intensive actor-training program has groomed talents such as Annette Bening and Denzel Washington.
SF Playhouse
533 Sutter Street
Tel: (415) 677-9596
Opened in 2003, this intimate theater has been very successful, delivering eclectic, award-winning productions of both premiers and classics.
EXIT Theater
156 Eddy Street
Tel: (415) 931-1094
Home to the San Francisco Fringe Festival and DIVAfest, the EXIT theater presents independent, experimental works on five stages.
Marines Memorial Theater
609 Sutter Street (at Mason)
Tel: (415) 771-6900
Dating from 1926, this theater once hosted national radio broadcasts featuring stars like Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra. Today it offers New York, regional and local productions, from concerts and one-man shows to Shakespeare classics.
topRestaurants
Bourbon Steak
In the Westin St. Francis, 335 Powell Street
Tel: (415) 397-3003
Michael Mina’s award-winning steakhouse.
Fleur de Lys
777 Sutter Street (between Taylor & Jones)
Tel: (415) 673-7779
A daily-changing menu of fine French cuisine by Chef Hubert Keller, served in opulent surroundings. One Michelin star.
Hakkasan
One Kearny Streetz
San Francisco, CA 94108
Tel: 415-829-8148
The local branch of the famed London-based restaurant opened in Dec 2012. Upscale Chinese cuisine, dramatically beautiful decor.
topShopping
Westfield San Francisco Centre
Anchored by the Nordstrom and Bloomingdales department stores, this five-story mall houses over 170 boutiques featuring brands like Calvin Klein, J. Crew, Nine West and Abercrombie & Fitch. On the top floor is a 9-screen multiplex. The lower concourse holds a gourmet food court and a Bristol Farms market, and offers direct access to BART and Muni subway stations.
Maiden Lane
So called because it was once lined with bordellos, this pleasant pedestrian avenue now features a range of sidewalk cafes, elegant boutiques, and unique shops like the landmark, four-story Britex fabric store.
Stockton, Grant, Geary and Post Streets
These are the main shopping streets in Union Square – here you’ll find the Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Barney’s New York and Saks Fifth Avenue department stores, flagship stores for Prada, Ferragamo, Bulgari, and Louis Vitton, and high-end boutiques like Chanel, Tiffany & Co., and Gucci.
Bottega Veneta
108 Geary Street
Tel: (415) 981-1700
Britex Fabrics
146 Geary Street
Tel: (415) 392-2910
Offering one of the country’s largest collections of fabrics for over 50 years, including designer textiles.
Bulgari
200 Stockton Street
Tel: (415) 399-9141
Chanel
156 Geary Street
Tel: (415) 981-1550
Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun noon-5pm
Emporio Armani
1 Grant Avenue
Tel: (415) 677-9400
Ferragamo
233 Geary Street
Tel:(415) 391-6565
Gucci
240 Stockton Street
Tel: (415) 392-2808
Georgio Armani Boutique
278 Post Street
Tel: (415) 434-2500
John Fluevog
253 Grant Avenue
Tel: (415) 296-7900
Hermès
125 Grant Avenue
Tel: (415) 391- 7200
Louis Vuitton
233 Geary Street
Tel: (415) 391-6200
Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun noon-6pm
Mark Jacobs
125 Maiden Lane
Tel: (415) 362-6500
Paul Smith
50 Geary Street
Tel: (415) 352-3520
Prada
201 Post Street
Tel: (415) 848-1900
Scotch & Soda
59 Grant Avenue
Tel: (415) 644-8334
“Amsterdam Couture.” This Dutch label offers well-made but casual attire for men and women, with interesting details.
Ted Baker
80 Grant Avenue
Tel: (415) 391-1256
Thomas Pink
255 Post Street
Tel: (415) 421-2022
Open Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-6pm
Tiffany & Co.
350 Post Street
Tel: (415) 781-7000
UNIQLO
111 Powell Street
Tel: 1-877-4UNIQLO
Open Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun and holidays 11am-8pm
Japan’s answer to H&M – trendy, affordable fashions for men, women and kids.
Vince
36 Geary Street
Tel: (415) 951-0771