Indulging in the gorgeous abundance at Almond & Co.
1920 Ingalls St.
Established in 2011, Almond & Co shows a superb collection of twentieth- and twenty-first-century design works and contemporary art with global origins. From fine art, furniture, and lighting to porcelain, vessels, and vases, the gallery’s preeminent selections evince the innovations of design luminaries like Paavo Tynell, Charles and Ray Eames, Adrian Pearsall, Eero Saarinen, and Charlotte Perriand, among others.
See San Francisco culture through the Chroma lens as we share some of our top recs for inspiration, connection, and sourcing art, design, and goods in the city we’ve made home.
We’re captivated by the vibrancy of San Francisco. It’s eclectic, it’s curious. There’s a distinct sense of rebellion. And that’s always been both an intrinsic and an intentional part of our aesthetic and our very ethos as a studio. The art scene, the music scene, the culture here—it’s all about expression and embracing that within yourself: the weird, the wild, the wondrous.
Whether you’re local or planning a trip, start here…
Visceral tactility teems at WHITE DIRT Studio.
By appointment only
Dana Harel’s WHITE DIRT Studio creates alluring objects made for everyday rituals. Storytelling is at the core of the studio’s explorations, which center on the transformative potential and innate qualities of materials like white gypsum, muslin, brass, and paper. Each WHITE DIRT collection iterates a new, rebellious experiment, translating history and tradition into a wildly elevated contemporary vernacular.
Shaking up the museum scene at the Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco.
901 Minnesota St.
The Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco is a free, non-collecting contemporary art museum dedicated to experimenting in public, operating transparently, and embracing constant reinvention. As a new museum, the ICA SF has had the uncommon opportunity to ground its foundation in distinct values: prioritizing individuals over institutions and modeling equity and expansion in the artistic canon. Through exhibitions, programming, and social opportunities, the ICA SF seeks to broaden the possibilities for civic and creative engagement within the local ecosystem—empowering artists to push boundaries, experiment with unconventional ideas, and take risks, while connecting communities to the expansiveness and relevance of contemporary art.
staircase gallery is our Roman Empire.
148 Clement St.
staircase gallery is an experimental gallery founded by Lindsay Albert and Ivana Colendich in 2023 in response to a need for more alternative and affordable art spaces in the Bay Area. Transforming an ordinary apartment hallway into a gloriously subversive experience, the project showcases various art forms and hosts events connecting audiences to revelatory artists.
Blurring literary boundaries at Park Life.
220 Clement St.
Park Life is an independent retail store and art gallery with a simple goal: to showcase art and design that represents the diversity of the San Francisco community. The retail space features hard-to-find, limited edition, and unique items—from books, design objects, artist multiples, original art, prints, and editions to paper goods, apparel, home wares, jewelry, and more—while the gallery aims to show the most engaging contemporary art being created today.
Past, present, and The Future Perfect.
3085 Sacramento St.
The Future Perfect’s San Francisco gallery opened in 2013 in Pacific Heights. Forgoing the traditional gallery format, the expansive apartment-like space, which changes frequently, offers guests a sense of discovery through interconnected rooms with a casual yet elevated tone. With minimal architectural intervention, the space balances a sense of immersion with NoCal approachability. Design professionals, collectors, and casual admirers alike can explore the gallery’s rigorously curated collection of one-of-a-kind contemporary art and design works within a vibrant, multidimensional environs.
Dumpling perfection at China Live in Chinatown.
644 Broadway
From the dramatic Dragon Gate pailou and lantern-lined balconies of Waverly Place to the thrilling nightlife of Grant Avenue and the lively markets of Stockton Street and every iconic block between, San Francisco’s historic Chinatown neighborhood is a vibrant maze of culture and cuisine. A world-renowned dining destination and marketplace, China Live features gourmet fare, fine spirits, and takeaway artisanal spices, sauces, snacks, and teas.
Resonating with the sensory multidisciplinary experiences at Jessica Silverman Gallery.
621 Grant Ave.
Founded in 2008, Jessica Silverman is an ambitious, internationally renowned gallery that builds artists’ careers and supports buyers keen on establishing noteworthy collections. The eponymous gallery, based in San Francisco’s Chinatown, represents artists making innovative work at all stages of their careers and shows regularly at Art Basel Miami Beach and intermittently at the Swiss, Parisian, and Hong Kong editions of Art Basel. The gallery also participates in the Frieze fairs (Los Angeles and Seoul), the Armory (New York), and FOG Design + Art (San Francisco), among others. Recent exhibitions include Skeena by 2023 New York Times Breakout Star Rose B. Simpson and Octaves by Tanya Goel.
Le Point—the spot for inimitable cool, period.
301 Valencia St.
Focusing on contemporary and emerging labels, Le Point offers an expertly curated mix of clothing, accessories, home goods, and beauty products. Every item in this super hip boutique is hand-selected to enhance your life. A sought-after stylist from coast to coast, owner Pauline Montupet is the visionary behind the brand, discovering rising designers from around the world and introducing them to devoted followings.
Savoring the delicious joy of tradition and innovation at Rintaro.
82 14th St.
A Japanese izakaya by way of California, Rintaro became an instant phenomenon and has been Michelin-recommended since 2016. Its menu centers on a binchotan-burning yakitori grill, the freshest udon, and house-made tofu, umeshu, and umeboshi. Owner Sylvan Mishima Brackett, the former creative director at Chez Panisse, was born in Kyoto, raised in Northern California, and trained in Saitama and Tokyo. Designed by Frost Tsuji Architects, the space—which incorporates a historic 1906 earthquake relief cottage—features personal iconography that celebrates the merging of cultures.
