Downtown
4
About
Downtown is a boutique that presents the most underground designers of ready-to-wear, footwear, jewelry, bags and accessories. From Tokyo to Antwerp, Paris to Rome, our collections are crafted in very limited quantities, of exclusive fabrics and leathers, in ateliers where the work is done almost entirely by hand. Expect to discover something new and unexpected with every visit. The hard-to-find designers carried include Agatha NYC Leather, ma+, Guidi, LGB/If Six Was Nine, and Lost and Found.
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The area
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Neighbourhood: Union Square
Originally home to rallies supporting the Union Army in the Civil War, this grand square has become the city's premier shopping and entertainment district containing the largest number of upscale department stores, chic boutiques, art galleries and theatres in the city. It's a large open area where tourists and locals gather, watch cable cars and crowds go by, enjoy a snack, or plan their day of shopping and sightseeing, If feeling the pulsating energy of the city is on your agenda, Union Square is the place to soak it in.
How to get there
- Montgomery St • 5 min walk
- Montgomery St • 5 min walk
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1 072 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
77 reviews
Excellent
18
Very good
36
Average
18
Poor
2
Terrible
3
TravelingSoccerLoon
Saint Paul, MN5 970 contributions
Oct 2022
Assuming "Downtown" is the Union Square area and Market Street, it is a busy area with high-end shopping both boutiques and impressive malls, along with restaurants and entertainment options. Homeless are everywhere but I suppose this is part of the San Francisco experience. There are much more interesting parts of the city to explore.
Written 11 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA17 790 contributions
Jul 2023
I worked near downtown for many years and always got a charge out of walking around. Such a great street scene everywhere especially at lunch time and after work. But now with work from home, it is not busy. The gorgeous architecture is still here, but the dynamism is gone. It will be back, maybe even better.
Written 19 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SoCalOregonian
Murrieta, CA10 355 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
Downtown San Francisco to me is the Union Square area, Civic Center, Financial District and SOMA. This area is home to the numerous galleries, museums, theaters and civic buildings along with some of the best restaurants in the city. Around Union square are numerous high-end stores for your shopping pleasure (Louis Vitton, Tiffany, Gucci, Chanel, Nieman Marcus and others). A great place to explore and sight see.
Written 21 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary R
Brighton, MI17 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
Travelers visiting the City of San Francisco by car need to be very careful since the city administration is in desperate need of cash and decided it is more profitable to tow improperly parked cars rather than simply write $88 tickets. We were visiting the Japanese Gardens and drove to a nearby neighborhood for lunch. Parking is hard to find, but we found what we thought was an open metered space and fed the meter. Returning about 25 minutes later, we found our car gone, another parked in its place and time still on the meter. We contacted the number on the meter for Auto Return, Inc., the company contracted by the city to handle towed vehicles. They were very efficient but we were shocked when they told us that it would be $532.50 to recover our car from their location ($263 city "administrative" fees, $270.25 tow truck). If we did not pick it up within 3 1/2 hours, the charges would increase. After a $25 taxi ride, we recovered our car, which also had the $88 parking ticket on the windshield (not included in what we had already paid). The personnel at Auto Return were very well organized and courteous, but warned us not to park in public places due to the Mayor's aggressive enforcement program. Essentially, private tow trucks are given a bounty to search out parking violations, no matter how minor, and immediately tow the vehicle. In many cases, they follow a car, usually a rental car since out of town people are less likely to protest tickets, and tow it as soon as the occupants are out of sight. Auto Return told us that there was a special "sweep" planned between 3 and 8 pm later that afternoon. In the few minutes we were in Auto Return's lot to recover our car, we witnessed a parade of half a dozen tow trucks bringing in cars.
Our "crime" was apparently parking in a "commercial" space. The meter did not indicate this, although there was a cryptic sign mounted low on the post and obscured by the bumper of my car. Not being from a large city, we didn't appreciate the subtleties of San Francisco parking.
This program allows the mayor to more than double his take on parking violations and leverages enforcement by including every tow truck in the city in the take. While we applaud the efficiency of the mayor's privatization program, he would probably not need the money if he privatized other inefficient city departments. At under 25 minutes, a 911 call probably doesn't get as fast a response as our parked car received.
In any event, we would recommend visiting other cities that are more tourist friendly. Everything about San Francisco is overpriced, but a $645 parking ticket is over the top.
Our "crime" was apparently parking in a "commercial" space. The meter did not indicate this, although there was a cryptic sign mounted low on the post and obscured by the bumper of my car. Not being from a large city, we didn't appreciate the subtleties of San Francisco parking.
This program allows the mayor to more than double his take on parking violations and leverages enforcement by including every tow truck in the city in the take. While we applaud the efficiency of the mayor's privatization program, he would probably not need the money if he privatized other inefficient city departments. At under 25 minutes, a 911 call probably doesn't get as fast a response as our parked car received.
In any event, we would recommend visiting other cities that are more tourist friendly. Everything about San Francisco is overpriced, but a $645 parking ticket is over the top.
Written 4 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mega traveler
Jacksonville, FL4 contributions
Jul 2012 • Couples
If you're planning on visiting San Francisco, you may want to reconsider. There are some awesome tourist areas and events to attend in this great city but it’s really changed over the years and now it’s impacting the visitor's enjoyment. You should be aware of the terrible homeless problem that exists in this area and the many mentally ill people that you’re likely to come into contact as you walk around. My wife and I were visiting some shops in the area and it looked like something from a movie set. People were sleeping on the sidewalks, church steps and benches. Fast food places were refuges for many of the street people. Panhandlers could be found on almost every street asking for your money. A few interestiing facts: You may not be able to light up a cigarette, but you have a green light to smoke pot. There are more dogs registered with the city than children registered at schools in this city. The lack of families and children has had a profound impact on expounding the values that made this city the great place it once was. This appears to be a city without the morale leadership that is needed to care for its people.
Written 26 July 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mini
Fremont, CA212 257 contributions
Dec 2019
We webt to the downtown area of San Francisco to do some Christmas Shopping an e the Christmas decoartions.
Written 18 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vyacheslav_S879
Yekaterinburg, Russia48 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
I was so disappointed with SF downtown. Compared to other american towns SF offers nothing special. Parking is hard to find and its very expensive. There're homeless people on every street. Shocking. Smells horrible. Stay away from San Francisco. It just doesnt feel safe and smells like pee everywhere.
Written 29 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jasmineontheroad
Leucadia, CA197 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
There is a ton to do and see downtown and most within walking distance. My family and I drove into town about 11am on a Thursday over the Golden Gate Bridge via Highway 101. I followed the signs and GPS to easily get into the downtown area. There is parking on all the streets, but I would recommend following the parking signs or GPS-ing a parking garage (there is one right in front of Fisherman's Wharf). It is a tad expensive at $30 for 4 hours in a garage. Yes, there is a lot of traffic and a lot of people. San Fran is full of narrow streets but well worth seeing the houses built into the hills and the streets on the hills (think Full House....even decades later, they still promote the crap out of the beginning shot of the houses.....believe me you will remember it when you see it EVERYWHERE). The most famous city for electric street cars as well......definitely worth seeing it and laughing about the city not upgrading their transportation (okay, maybe there is a little charm in seeing it, straight out of the late 1800's). Homeless, yes. Street performers, yes. Musicians, yes. Elmo, yes.
My trip was fairly tame as my mom and I were dragging along a 8 and 9 year old. Arrived at 11am, parked farther away than I should have because I didn't know there were closer parking garages. Started at Pier 39, walked through the shops, wandered around with our coffee. Stopped at the end to see the sea lions hanging out and playing. We did not take a boat tour out to see them. Nor did we take the boat trip out to Alcatraz (heard that it is 4 to 6 weeks out on tickets but as we were walking there were people with boat tours selling ticket/tours for $15...idk) . There are signs all over that talk about where to see the sea lions and there were a ton of people lined up taking pictures of them as the fog winds its way around the golden gate bridge. Also a good place to take Alcatraz pics. The fog in the bay is real, the sun doesn't come out until midday and the wind whips up at the wharf and the pier...in other words, bring a jacket or sweater. Probably a good idea to bring a large bag that you can place your items is as you buy them......it is 10 cents a bag at all the stores. The shops were tourist traps in my opinion...magnets and t shirts and handbags. We did not try any of the restaurants on Pier 39, but there was plenty and it smelled like roasting garlic the whole time (yummy!).
From here we walked to Fisherman's Wharf. Along the path was Boudin Bakery - stop there get some sourdough bread. There is a large picture window where you can watch the bakers making all kinds of fun shapes - she was making a crocodile, crabs, and a lizard when we were there. Upon walking in, it is very confusing (my mistake because it was lunch time and there were lines going everywhere in the place). There is a seating area for sit-down lunch/dinner. There is an outdoor seating area that people stand and descend like vultures when someone acts like they are leaving. There is a line through the café area that you order and take to a table. And there is cash registers with a wall of bread (all shapes and sizes, including the croc and the crabs) to buy. I chose a 1lb loaf of sourdough and a garlic volcano. $9 total for both. The garlic volcano was a round loaf with minced garlic baked into the top. The crabs were $19.99. I would also recommend the clam chowder (New England style) in a sourdough bread bowl. You can get it in multiple places throughout San Fran too.
Also along here are small fishing charter boats moored up with posted rates on white boards. Very convenient if you are looking to do that sort of thing. Most have 1/2 or all day, prices, and what they are catching.
Fisherman's Wharf is all seafood. There are sit down and outdoor open air areas to get food and drink. Everything from Fried calamari and fried shrimp to crab/lobster/shrimp rolls and the clam chowder in a sourdough bowl. Keep walking to visit Hyde Street Pier which is the National Maritime Historical Park. Pretty cool to walk down to the end of. Check out the house boat that people used to use as their 2nd home. Also, watch for swimmers that go out across the bay as the Dolphin Club is right there as well.
From here, Ghirardelli Square is up a couple blocks and west. You wont miss the Ghirardelli sign above the building. I was fairly unimpressed unless you like upscale shopping with a few shops and chocolate. They have a sundae and chocolate shop inside.
We left at 3pm and boy was that a nightmare. It took almost an hour to move about 6 miles. All of the main roads in and out were blocked with traffic and construction. I would suggest arriving early and leaving early. Overall, I would definitely recommend this to anyone to see and do. You can easily stay downtown and spend a couple days. I am sure there is a ton more than what I have outlined here.
PS - There are bathrooms throughout and easy to spot.
My trip was fairly tame as my mom and I were dragging along a 8 and 9 year old. Arrived at 11am, parked farther away than I should have because I didn't know there were closer parking garages. Started at Pier 39, walked through the shops, wandered around with our coffee. Stopped at the end to see the sea lions hanging out and playing. We did not take a boat tour out to see them. Nor did we take the boat trip out to Alcatraz (heard that it is 4 to 6 weeks out on tickets but as we were walking there were people with boat tours selling ticket/tours for $15...idk) . There are signs all over that talk about where to see the sea lions and there were a ton of people lined up taking pictures of them as the fog winds its way around the golden gate bridge. Also a good place to take Alcatraz pics. The fog in the bay is real, the sun doesn't come out until midday and the wind whips up at the wharf and the pier...in other words, bring a jacket or sweater. Probably a good idea to bring a large bag that you can place your items is as you buy them......it is 10 cents a bag at all the stores. The shops were tourist traps in my opinion...magnets and t shirts and handbags. We did not try any of the restaurants on Pier 39, but there was plenty and it smelled like roasting garlic the whole time (yummy!).
From here we walked to Fisherman's Wharf. Along the path was Boudin Bakery - stop there get some sourdough bread. There is a large picture window where you can watch the bakers making all kinds of fun shapes - she was making a crocodile, crabs, and a lizard when we were there. Upon walking in, it is very confusing (my mistake because it was lunch time and there were lines going everywhere in the place). There is a seating area for sit-down lunch/dinner. There is an outdoor seating area that people stand and descend like vultures when someone acts like they are leaving. There is a line through the café area that you order and take to a table. And there is cash registers with a wall of bread (all shapes and sizes, including the croc and the crabs) to buy. I chose a 1lb loaf of sourdough and a garlic volcano. $9 total for both. The garlic volcano was a round loaf with minced garlic baked into the top. The crabs were $19.99. I would also recommend the clam chowder (New England style) in a sourdough bread bowl. You can get it in multiple places throughout San Fran too.
Also along here are small fishing charter boats moored up with posted rates on white boards. Very convenient if you are looking to do that sort of thing. Most have 1/2 or all day, prices, and what they are catching.
Fisherman's Wharf is all seafood. There are sit down and outdoor open air areas to get food and drink. Everything from Fried calamari and fried shrimp to crab/lobster/shrimp rolls and the clam chowder in a sourdough bowl. Keep walking to visit Hyde Street Pier which is the National Maritime Historical Park. Pretty cool to walk down to the end of. Check out the house boat that people used to use as their 2nd home. Also, watch for swimmers that go out across the bay as the Dolphin Club is right there as well.
From here, Ghirardelli Square is up a couple blocks and west. You wont miss the Ghirardelli sign above the building. I was fairly unimpressed unless you like upscale shopping with a few shops and chocolate. They have a sundae and chocolate shop inside.
We left at 3pm and boy was that a nightmare. It took almost an hour to move about 6 miles. All of the main roads in and out were blocked with traffic and construction. I would suggest arriving early and leaving early. Overall, I would definitely recommend this to anyone to see and do. You can easily stay downtown and spend a couple days. I am sure there is a ton more than what I have outlined here.
PS - There are bathrooms throughout and easy to spot.
Written 12 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DP49
Edmonds, WA1 454 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
We really like the city and walking is our preferred way of getting around. Unfortunately, with each visit we feel the homeless plight throughout the city appears to be growing, especially in the Financial District and along Market Street. While we consider ourselves to be very compassionate, sometimes it comes down to safety – ours. From mental health issues, to drug use to aggressive panhandlers; the homeless overshadow one’s sense of security that is exacerbated during the evening hours. Adding to the problem is the stench of human waste. Sadly, homelessness is not unique to SF but it does play a part when we make our vacation destination decisions.
Written 15 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clivey57
London, UK772 contributions
Aug 2017
Nice area for staying in hotel, we had the tram stops outside our hotel which is in Powell st, and this is the area for shopping, you do see many homeless people in San Fransico, this city is very expensive.
Written 6 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ilesh S
Iselin, New Jersey
Hi,
Re: SF SAFETY?
We plan to visit San Fransisco beginning of June 2023. During this weeklong trip, will be an excursion to Yosemite.
We are very concerned about safety (with what we see in the news). Of course, we will only be doing the main tourist must - dos, since this may be our first and only trip there.
Can someone please comment on the general safety? We are well travelled, but SF appears to be a little different these days......
Thank you kindly,
Ilesh
Written 7 May 2023
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