An updated guide from last year!
Since some of you are traveling to the Bay Area for our Holiday Pop-Up Shop, we thought we'd put together a brief guide to the Bay for kawaii/J-fashion enthusiasts! Most of our recommendations are in San Francisco, but we've thrown in a few other options in East Bay and South Bay in case you are willing to travel a bit further.
J-Fashion Shops
Important Tip: We recommend making an appointment before visiting either Angelic Pretty or Baby! While they have walk-in hours, making an appointment is the best way to ensure that you can visit the shop - you wouldn't want to travel to your favorite J-fashion store only to realize that they're not open!
Angelic Pretty/Harajuku Hearts (SF, Union Square)
Angelic Pretty is located inside Harajuku Hearts, which is a J-fashion retailer that carries other brands as well, such as Atelier Pierrot, Emily Temple Cute, Enchantlic Enchantilly, Melody BasKet, and Listen Flavor, among others!
Baby, the Stars Shine Bright & Alice and the Pirates (SF, Japantown)
Baby, the Stars Shine Bright/Alice and the Pirates is located inside the New People building on the second floor - take the elevator or stairs up, it should be easy to spot!
Food/Drink
December is a busy time of year, so we recommend making reservations at restaurants that you want to eat at. Weekends can be especially hectic, so for those of you staying a while, try getting a reservation on a weekday!
Tea Salons
The Holiday Pop-Up Tea Party is full, and while you can sign up for the waitlist, there are also plenty of options to get tea around the city! We recommend booking seats at Crown & Crumpet if you wish to stay close to the event in Japantown, but we have listed tea salons from all over the Bay if you're feeling adventurous.
Lovejoy’s Tea Room (SF, Noe Valley)
Lovejoy's is a staple of SF meets for good reason! Their food is delicious and filling, and the staff are extremely kind and friendly. Don't forget to take a pic in front of the giant heart outside!
Son & Garden (SF & Peninsula)
Son & Garden has two locations - one in San Francisco, and one in Menlo Park. You can order their set tea service for two, but they also have great brunch options! Visit this location if you want beautiful images for your Instagram - their interior decor & food presentation is divine.
Crown & Crumpet (SF, Japantown)
Crown & Crumpet is an adorable tea salon located conveniently in the New People Building on the first floor!
Sip Tea Room (SF, Sunset)
A modern take on traditional tea service - Sip Tea Room has all the options of a full tea service with the option to dine outside on their back patio.
Dartealing Lounge (SF, SoMa)
Dartealing is now serving limited tea service on weekends, and currently have reservations open for their holiday tea!
Maison Danel (SF)
Afternoon Tea, but make it French! Maison Danel specializes in pastries and baked goods, and has a tea service option that includes sparkling wine.
An elegant tea service in downtown SF with a dietary restriction-friendly options.
Luxurious dining under a beautiful glass dome! Their Holiday Tea starts on December 2nd, so if you happen to be in town, head over to The Palace if you're feeling fancy.
Japanese Tea Garden (SF)
Traditional Japanese tea in Golden Gate Park
Hosted on Sunday, December 4th only, this is a 10-course pastry & dessert Filipino-inspired afternoon tea experience!
Pardee Home Museum Tea Service (Oakland)
The Pardee Home Museum is a historic building that invites guests to explore the history of early Oakland. Tea parties of 6-20 guests can be booked two weeks in advance, tour included!
Malaya Tea Room (East Bay)
Located in Alameda in the East Bay, Malaya Tea Room combines traditional English tea with Malayan flavors!
Lisa’s Tea Treasures (South Bay)
Serving traditional English tea, Lisa's Tea Treasures has locations in both Los Altos and Campbell.
iCHINA Afternoon Tea (South Bay)
A new Dim Sum Afternoon Tea located in Westfield Valleyfair in Santa Clara.
Food
Marufuku Ramen (SF, Japantown)
Kui Shin Bo (SF, Japantown)
State Bird Provisions (SF, Japantown)
On The Bridge (SF, Japantown)
Beloved family-owned restaurant located in the Japantown mall, serves Japanese-style Western cuisine. Kelp always orders the Hamburger Steak, but they should have something for everyone!
Hikari Bullet Train Sushi & Bar (SF, Japantown)
Sweet Maple (SF, Japantown)
Luxurious and filling brunch spot with highly Instagrammable meals
Ippudo (SF, Downtown)
Excellent ramen
Little Lamb Hot Pot (SF, Downtown)
Shizen Vegan Sushi Bar and Izakaya (SF, Mission)
Entirely vegan sushi, noodle, and curry options
El Farolito (SF, Mission)
Mission-style burritos (what more do you need in life)
Panchita's PupuserÃa & Restaurant (SF, Mission)
Pupusas are an El Salvadorian flatbread filled with cheese, beans, meat, or other savory fillings. Great if you are in need of vegetarian/vegan options!
Limón (SF, Valencia, S Van Ness)
Peruvian restaurant specializing in rotisserie chicken, w/ small plates & cocktails
Cha Cha Cha (SF, Haight Ashbury)
Cuban tapas restaurant & bar on Haight St
Ghiradelli Square (SF)
Historic chocolate factory-turned shopping and dining complex
Ferry Building (SF)
A marketplace filled with amazing food & drink options
ACME bread
Hog's Island Oyster Co
Miette
Daily Driver
El Porteno Empanadas
Gott's Roadside
and more!
Eataly San Jose (South Bay)
An Italian-inspired market with two restaurants located in in Westfield Valleyfair in Santa Clara.
Sweets/Snacks
Uji Time (SF, Japantown)
Ice cream taiyaki
Mochill Mochidonuts (SF, Japantown)
Matcha Cafe Maiko (SF, Japantown)
Sophie's Crepes (SF, Japantown)
Belly Good Crepes (SF, Japantown)
Japanese-style crepes with cute animal faces that you will deffo take a photo of for your socials.
Yasukochi's Sweet Stop (SF, Japantown)
Daydream Cake Shop (SF, Sunset)
Try the cheese wedge-shaped yuzu cheesecake. They also have earl grey molten boba cakes and adorable drinks!
Ice cream w/ unique flavors
B. Patisserie (SF, Lower Pacific Heights)
U: Dessert Story (SF, Castro)
Dandelion Chocolate (SF, Mission)
Stonemill Matcha (SF, Mission)
Gram Cafe (SF, Stonestown)
Fluffy soufflé pancakes
The Ice Cream Bar (SF, Cole Valley/Haight Ashbury)
1930s ice cream & soda bar (has alcoholic milkshakes)
Boba
Many of the shops on this list are chains or franchises, and have multiple locations all over the Bay. We've mostly listed just the SF locations.
Gong Cha (SF, Union Square)
Teaspoon (SF, Russian Hill)
Sharetea (SF, Union Square)
Brew Cha (SF, Mission)
Plentea (SF, Union Square)
Urban Ritual (SF, Hayes Valley)
Happy Lemon (SF, Embarcadero, Mission Bay)
Known for cheese tea (a layer of salty foam on top of the tea)
Yi Fang (multiple locations, but there is one in Japantown!)
Honeybear Boba (SF, Dogpatch)
Bobabunni (SF, Inner Richmond)
Asha Tea House (East Bay)
Cafes
HOME SF (SF, Sunset, Richmond, Chinatown)
Adorable and colorful lattes
YakiniQ Cafe (SF, Japantown)
Sweet. Potato. Latte.
Sightseeing
Museums
Did you know it just so happens to be Free Museum Weekend 2022 in San Francisco Dec 3rd and 4th? Check out the link to see all participating museums, including both the Legion of Honor and the de Young Museum (SF, Golden Gate Park)
We also recommend the Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles located in the East Bay. It's a lace & trim embellishment shop, with museum exhibition tours available by appointment.
Shopping
Japan Center Malls (SF, Japantown)
The Holiday Pop-Up is hosted in the Kabuki Hotel, right next to the Japantown Malls, so it's a perfect place to explore in your downtime, with plenty of food and shopping options!
Vintage shopping in the Haight (SF)
So-So Supermarket - vintage and kawaii goods
Kitschy shops on Valencia in the Mission (SF)
Sour Cherry Comics - queer-owned comic shop
Union Square high end stores (SF)
Activities
Erie Bazaar Art Market (SF, Mission District, Dec 4th)
Free Museum Weekend 2022 (SF, Dec 3-4th)
Pier 39 (SF)
Church of 8 Wheels (SF)
Roller rink in a repurposed church
Winchester Mystery House (South Bay)
The Menagerie Oddities Holiday Market (Dec 3rd - 4th)
Photo Ops
Sutro Baths/Lands End (SF)
The Painted Ladies/Alamo Square (SF)
Conservatory of Flowers/Golden Gate Park (SF)
Palace of Fine Arts (SF)
Nightlife
The Bar at the Kabuki (SF, Japantown)
If you're waiting to shop at the Pop-Up, why not head over to the bar for a drink?
DNA Lounge (SF, SoMa)
Monday night Death Guild
Cat Club (SF, SOMA)
Goth Club
Smuggler’s Cove (SF, Hayes Valley)
Pirate-themed tiki bar specializing in rum-based cocktails
Whitechapel (SF, Tenderloin)
Gin bar w/ Victorian decor
Bourbon & Branch (SF, Tenderloin)
1920s-themed speakeasy
Wunderbar (Peninsula)
A reservations-only tarot-themed speakeasy
Holy Water (SF, Bernal Heights)
Church-themed bar
Last Rites (SF)
Spoooooky tiki bar
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