Best Record Stores in San Francisco
San Francisco's record stores stretch from the Haight to neighborhood shops with focused bins. The city is a strong place to move from a huge general selection into soul, jazz, punk, and independent catalogues.
Quick Takeaway
Start with Amoeba Music for scale, then use the Haight and Fillmore shops to narrow the search. Groove Merchant and Rooky Ricardo's are the key stops for soul, funk, jazz, and 45s.
The 7 Best Record Stores in San Francisco
Amoeba Music
Flagship / destination mega storeAmoeba Music is a flagship / destination mega store with a focus on Huge back catalog, rare reissues, deep crates across every genre. Its selection makes it a useful stop for shoppers who want rock and pop records.
Best for: Huge back catalog, rare reissues, deep crates across every genre
Location: 1855 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117.
Plan for a focused stop and check the store details before visiting. The rock, pop, jazz bins are the clearest reason to add Amoeba Music to this route.
Groove Merchant
Specialist / collector soul, jazz, funk, R&B boutiqueGroove Merchant is a specialist / collector soul, jazz, funk, r&b boutique with a focus on Rare groove, 45s, deep soul + jazz sides. Its selection makes it a useful stop for shoppers who want soul and jazz records.
Best for: Rare groove, 45s, deep soul + jazz sides
Location: 687 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117.
Plan for a focused stop and check the store details before visiting. The soul, jazz, funk bins are the clearest reason to add Groove Merchant to this route.
Rooky Ricardo's Records
Vintage / soul / 45 specialistRooky Ricardo's Records is a vintage / soul / 45 specialist with a focus on Deep 45 racks, soul + girl-group pressings, vintage singles. Its selection makes it a useful stop for shoppers who want soul and r&b records.
Best for: Deep 45 racks, soul + girl-group pressings, vintage singles
Location: 419 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117.
Plan for a focused stop and check the store details before visiting. The soul, r&b, funk bins are the clearest reason to add Rooky Ricardo's Records to this route.
Originals Vinyl
Boutique / genre-spanning indie shopOriginals Vinyl is a boutique / genre-spanning indie shop with a focus on Strong jazz + soul, soundtrack rarities, well-selected genre blends. Its selection makes it a useful stop for shoppers who want jazz and soul records.
Best for: Strong jazz + soul, soundtrack rarities, well-selected genre blends
Location: 701 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94117.
Plan for a focused stop and check the store details before visiting. The jazz, soul, blues bins are the clearest reason to add Originals Vinyl to this route.
Stranded Records
Boutique / curated used + newStranded Records is a boutique / selected used + new with a focus on Archival label ties, limited pressings, local indie + reissue drops. Its selection makes it a useful stop for shoppers who want indie rock and jazz records.
Best for: Archival label ties, limited pressings, local indie + reissue drops
Location: 1055 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110.
Plan for a focused stop and check the store details before visiting. The indie rock, jazz, experimental bins are the clearest reason to add Stranded Records to this route.
Thrillhouse Records
Punk / underground / DIY shopThrillhouse Records is a punk / underground / diy shop with a focus on Punk + hardcore comps, label releases, local underground scenes. Its selection makes it a useful stop for shoppers who want punk and hardcore records.
Best for: Punk + hardcore comps, label releases, local underground scenes
Location: 3422 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110.
Plan for a focused stop and check the store details before visiting. The punk, hardcore, metal bins are the clearest reason to add Thrillhouse Records to this route.
Tunnel Records
Neighborhood / local-leaning vinyl shopTunnel Records is a neighborhood / local-leaning vinyl shop with a focus on New arrivals, regional scene, local favorites. Its selection makes it a useful stop for shoppers who want rock and soul records.
Best for: New arrivals, regional scene, local favorites
Location: 3614A Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116.
Plan for a focused stop and check the store details before visiting. The rock, soul, jazz bins are the clearest reason to add Tunnel Records to this route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I start record shopping in San Francisco?
Start with Amoeba Music for the broadest first stop in this guide. Then choose a nearby or specialist shop based on the genres you want to browse.
Which San Francisco record store is best for a specialist selection?
Groove Merchant is the strongest specialist follow-up in this guide, with Rare groove, 45s, deep soul + jazz sides.
How should I plan a record-store visit in San Francisco?
Use each listing's address, hours, and website before setting out. The stores are spread across the city, so grouping stops by neighborhood will leave more time for browsing.
Final Thoughts
San Francisco's record stores offer several good ways to spend a digging day, from broad used inventory to focused genre rooms. Start with the first stop listed here, then leave time for the specialists that match your want list.
Explore More Record Stores in San Francisco
This guide features our top 7 picks, but San Francisco has more to explore in our directory. Browse the full list for hours, addresses, and detailed descriptions.