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North America United States San Francisco, California Shopping Paxton Gate

Overview

Paxton Gate

The guide was updated: 2023-10-20

This quirky little store sells items very much out of the ordinary. From taxidermy paraphernalia to carnivorous plants, plus an eclectic array of home decor, candles and soaps. This place is a must-visit when shopping in San Francisco — even if it's just to see a taxidermy unicorn head on display (and for sale!)

Useful Information

Address: 824 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA
More Info: Between 19th & 20th Streets
Opening hours: Daily 11am–7pm
Website: www.paxtongate.com
Phone: +1 415 824 1872

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

Embarcadero Center

Embarcadero Center

The Embarcadero Center actually consists of ten structures, but the shopping mall area is four buildings connected by skywalks. Check it out just for its architecture alone, that seamlessly flows between indoor and outdoor spaces with greenery at every corner. There's tons of restaurants and shops, two hotels and a cinema complex, as well as tranquil places to just sit around.

Union Square

Union Square

No visit to San Francisco is complete without a stop at the bustling Union Square. The cultural and shopping hub of the city is a great place to spend your day. From art galleries, theaters and music venues to salons, spas, department stores, luxury boutiques and eateries, there's always something happening around here.

Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf

Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf

A festival marketplace with 13 bay-view restaurants, dozens of fun attractions and over 110 stores, many one-of-a kind. Bling Things (jewelry), Alpaca Fashion (sweaters), the Cable Car Store (collectibles), Field of Dreams (sports and celebrity gift store), Houdini Magic, and Puppets on the Pier. If you can’t find it here, you can’t find it anywhere.

City Lights Booksellers & Publishers

City Lights Booksellers & Publishers

Since 1953, City Lights has been a prominent San Francisco landmark embodying the 50-year history of the Beat Generation. It specializes in arts, world literature, and progressive politics. If you are a book lover, you must check out this place, which happens to be the first ever all-paperback bookstore in the U.S.

Chinatown

Chinatown

Eclectic Chinatown invites shoppers into this bustling maze of streets and alleys that brims with small shops jam-packed with mahogany furniture, carved statues, exotic gifts, green and rose scented black teas. Don’t miss the Fortune Cookie Factory on Ross Alley.

Amoeba Music

Amoeba Music

The sheer size of this place is guaranteed to impress you, but the vinyl selection this store offers will simply leave you speechless. CDs and even cassettes are also sold here in abundance. Music lovers won't be able to get away empty-handed.

Haight-Ashbury

Haight-Ashbury

Still maintaining its reputation as the 60s psychedelic-hippie-counterculture capital, this quarter's streets are dotted with Victorian houses, piercing salons and vintage clothing shops. Music and bookstores are the biggest draws to this area.

Sacramento Street

Sacramento Street

Situated in a sophisticated area of San Francisco between Presidio Heights and the Financial District, Sacramento Street is a long shopping and residential section of the city where you will find great interior decor shops, antiques, upscale boutiques as well as many eateries. From here you can also get some of the best views of the bay.

Westfield San Francisco Center

Westfield San Francisco Center

The opulent Westfield San Francisco Center offers a variety of shops — more than 200 — as well as many eateries and a movie theater. Here you will find from the large and popular American chain stores such as American Eagle, Footlocker and Victoria’s Secret to high-end stores like Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Rolex.

Ferry Building Marketplace

Ferry Building Marketplace

After its opening in 1898, the Ferry Building became the transportation focal point. At its peak, as many as 50,000 people a day commuted by ferry. An elegant two-story public area with repeating interior arches and overhead skylights, the Ferry Building is a great place to be whether you're looking to dine, shop for fresh and local produce, or just look around. You'll find lots of delicious seafood restaurants along the back of the building where you can overlook the harbor. Don't miss Hog Island Oysters, Cowgirl Creamery, and Gott's Roadside. The farmers market takes place every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10am–2pm. As a city committed to environmental sustainability, every vendor here has adopted a sustainable mission, and therefore, sells mostly organic products. Speaking of eco-friendly practices, the Ferry Building has been working closely with the transit authority to support the revitalization of the waterfront and the wildlife that resides in the bay.

The Cannery

The Cannery

Built in 1907 as the Del Monte Peach Canning Factory, The Cannery is a vibrant waterfront marketplace. The historic brick warehouse includes three levels of unique shops, galleries, restaurants and winding walkways. In the center is an inviting courtyard boasting several cozy outdoor cafes surrounded by 130-year-old olive trees. Live music and a variety of events entertain visitors.

Solve It! Think Out of the Box

Solve It! Think Out of the Box

Adults and kids alike will enjoy browsing through the shelves at this puzzle store, where puzzles, brain teasers and games for all age groups are on sale.

Ghirardelli Square

Ghirardelli Square

Since 1852, Ghirardelli Square has housed the oldest continuously operating chocolate manufacturer in the country. To attract crowds, it has added more than fifty premium shops, galleries, restaurants and a hotel. A large open-air plaza is a great place to relax during the weekend or after work.

Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory

Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory

A tiny fortune cookie factory at the Chinatown district where visitors have a chance to observe the fortune cookie-making process. You also get to taste these crispy treats as part of a free tour.

Paxton Gate

Paxton Gate

This quirky little store sells items very much out of the ordinary. From taxidermy paraphernalia to carnivorous plants, plus an eclectic array of home decor, candles and soaps. This place is a must-visit when shopping in San Francisco — even if it's just to see a taxidermy unicorn head on display (and for sale!)

Candy Baron

Candy Baron

As the name of the store suggests, everything here revolves around candy, but taffy in particular is the true star of the show. The enticing display of the candy in giant barrels makes it difficult to leave without a bag full of candy in your hands.

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