5 Best Shopping in The Bay Area, California

The ultimate place for Oakland swag started in 2000 as a public art project of local pride and has become a celebrated brand around the bay, with clothing and accessories for men, women, and kids. A portion of the proceeds from hip T-shirts and accessories supports grassroots nonprofits committed to bettering the local community. It's good-looking stuff for a good cause.

Owned and operated by women artists, this gift shop showcases the delightful works of more than 120 Oakland artisans and makers. Browse handcrafted paper and print art, collage art, chocolate, waxworks, jewelry, ceramics, herbs and oils, and quality art and printing supplies. A rotating gallery wall features the latest works from local artists.

Wandering bibliophiles collect armfuls of the latest fiction and nonfiction at this revered shop. The loftlike space, with its high ceilings and spare design, encourages contemplation, and on chilly days a fire burns in the hearth. Past participants in the excellent authors' events have included Ian Rankin, Annie Leibovitz, and Michael Moore.

This store epitomizes the Rockridge neighborhood's funky-chic shopping scene. Look for high-end housewares along with impulse buys like whimsical watches, imported fruit-tea blends, and funky slippers.

This Grand Lake stalwart deserves an enormous amount of credit for showcasing small-producer, low-intervention wines (what some like to call natural wines), and for making wine an approachable, hip subject. Whether you're enjoying a glass at the bar with some cheese or browsing the impressive selection of retail bottles, this is the local game-changer that made boutique wine as trendy as craft beer and cocktails.