Hands down, San Francisco is home to some of the best record stores in the world, from institutions like Amoeba and Rasputin to the local digs like Thrillhouse and Grooves. Try this list on for size, but whatever you do, avoid testing the dude and the front desk about his knowledge of esoteric music. Your penalty will be severe; fifteen lashings with a sarcastic, seraphic tongue.
Groove Merchant Records
687 Haight Street
(between Pierce St & Steiner St)
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 252-5766
Specializes in funk, r&b, and hip hop. A little on the pricey side, but diligence will bring you many rewards.
Shaxul Records
1816 Haight St
(between Shrader St & Stanyan St)
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 831-5334
A Haight Street sound dispensary that caters to the blood-thirsty, church burning metal head in all of us.
Thrillhouse Records
3422 Mission St
(between Eugenia Ave & Kingston St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 826-0223
One of San Francisco’s newer sweetheart record spots; their collection spans generations and continents, covering all things punk.
Tweekin Records
593 Haight Street
(between Fillmore St & Steiner St)
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 626-6995
Bring your candy necklaces and reckless hedonist idealism with you to this techno and house hot-spot.
Aquarius Records
1055 Valencia Street
(between 22nd St & Hill St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 647-2272
A true blue San Francisco record store – their specialty is obscure music. The higher-end prices are absolutely worth the gems you’ll dig up here.
101 Records
513 Green St
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 392-6369
This is actually two records stores on opposite sides of Green Street. On the top level of one shop there is a keen collection of cheap, usually operational record and music equipment, and in the basement there is an expansive collection of over-priced mostly garbage. The shop on the other side of the street has an excellent jazz collection, and I’ve spotted a few very rare Dylan and Dead records.
Grooves Inspiralled Records
1797 Market Street
(between Mccoppin St & Octavia St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 436-9933
Kudos to this purveyor of all things excellent. Their collection is enormous and comprehensive, and the prices out-compete most other record stores in San Francisco.
Amoeba Records
1855 Haight Street
(between Shrader St & Stanyan St)
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 831-1200
If you’ve ever swollen with pride after out-witting your friends in some obscure piece of musical trivia, but you’ve never heard of Amoeba, you should probably be here right now, or you should stop being such a prick.
