Downtown San Francisco has long been the primary destination for both shoppers and tourists. Centered around Union Square, this neighborhood overflows with an eclectic mix of stores and retail spaces, not to mention many offices. However, there is residential real estate in downtown San Francisco, much of which consists of 1920s apartments, condominiums and a handful of lofts.

Tourists and local shoppers stream into the area by public transportation and cable car. They’re sure to hit the larger retail destinations like Macy’s, Levi’s, Niketown, the Apple Store, H&M, Crate & Barrel, Old Navy, and the vertical shopping malls at the Westfield Shopping Center and San Francisco Centre.

But take a look around: you’ll see a few stores that you might not otherwise notice. There are, of course, the most respected luxury brands here, such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Armani (Collezioni,  Emporio and Exchange), Dior and Barneys. But keep your eye out for smaller, interesting places like Kar’ikter, Alessi, Ben Sherman and the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Design.

The eating options in downtown San Francisco offer some of the greatest restaurants in the country. Options include Campton Place, Millennium (luxurious vegan cuisine), Farallon, Michael Mina in the Westin St. Francis, Asia de Cuba and, of course, Sears Fine Food for their 18 Swedish pancakes.

Entertainment options abound. Catch a show in the theater district at such venues as ACT’s Geary Theater, the Curran Theater and the Marines’ Memorial Theater. There are more wild, late-night options, too. Check out Ruby Skye, the Redwood Room at the Clift, Vessel, Harry Denton’s Starlight Room and the perennial Gold Dust Lounge.

On the northern end of this district you will find the so-called Tendernob, due to its proximity to the Tenderloin and Nob Hill. Centered along Sutter and Geary, here you will find an up-and-coming neighborhood filled with hip stores, restaurants and bars. For shopping,stop by Brand Fury, Look Boutique, Silverman Gallery, Floreal, Shooting Gallery, Huf, The Hundreds, Guruguru and Ransack Studios. For eats, consider Pearl’s Deluxe Burgers, Colibri, Le Colonial, Fleur de Lys, Brick, and an Urban Bay favorite, Canteen.

The Tendernob is also known for its drinking establishments. A few are quite stylish, like Minx, Cantina, Rye, Slide, The Ambassador, Sugar Café and Swig, but be sure to check out more dive-y options like The Outsider, Edinburgh Castle, Whiskey Thieves, Owl Tree and Castle Club.