Goth and Punk in San Francisco: The Best Stores, Clubs, Bars

Gothic fashion is a style that has been around for decades and is still popular today. San Francisco is known for its vibrant fashion scene, clubs, and bars, and the city has a number of stores and clubs that cater to those who are into the goth aesthetic. Let’s explore some of the top punk and goth stores, clubs, and bars in the San Francisco area.

San Francisco Goth and Punk Stores

Dark Garden Corsetry & Couture

Located in the heart of San Francisco’s historic Haight-Ashbury district, Dark Garden Corsetry & Couture is a go-to destination for those who love corsets and gothic fashion. The store offers a wide range of corsets, from traditional Victorian styles to more modern designs. They also offer custom fittings and consultations, so you can be sure you’re getting the perfect corset for your body.

Loved To Death

Loved To Death is a quirky and eclectic shop located in the Inner Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco. The store specializes in oddities, taxidermy, and vintage items, but also has a great selection of gothic clothing and accessories. You’ll find everything from Victorian-inspired dresses to punk rock accessories, all with a dark twist.

Dolls Kill

Dolls Kill is a popular online retailer of alternative fashion, but they also have a brick-and-mortar store in San Francisco’s Mission district. The store has a fun and edgy vibe, and offers a wide selection of goth, punk, and grunge-inspired clothing and accessories. You’ll find everything from black lace crop tops to studded leather jackets.

Five and Diamond

Five and Diamond is a retail store in San Francisco that specializes in avant-garde fashion and accessories. The store is located in the heart of the Mission District, which is known for its arts and culture scene. They carry a wide selection of clothing, jewelry, and accessories from a variety of designers and independent brands. The clothing and accessories are often described as steampunk, goth, punk, tribal, futuristic, or post-apocalyptic in style.

Hot Topic

Hot Topic is a popular chain store that specializes in alternative fashion and pop culture merchandise. They have several locations in the San Francisco area, including one in the Stonestown Galleria shopping center. Hot Topic offers a wide range of gothic clothing and accessories, from skull-print leggings to gothic punk boots.

Wasteland

Wasteland is a vintage and designer California clothing store that has locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica. The San Francisco store is located in the Haight-Ashbury district and offers a great selection of vintage and designer clothing with a gothic twist. You’ll find everything from vintage band t-shirts to designer leather jackets.

In conclusion, San Francisco has a great selection of punk / goth stores that cater to those who love gothic fashion. Whether you’re looking for corsets, vintage clothing, or casual wear, there is a store in the San Francisco area that will have what you’re looking for. So, if you’re a fan of the dark and edgy aesthetic, be sure to check out some of these top goth stores in San Francisco.

DNA Lounge

DNA Lounge is one of several prominent San Francisco goth clubs, with alternative, gothy and punk vibes galore. They feature a variety of music genres, including punk, goth, and industrial. Located in the SoMa (South of Market) district of San Francisco, the club has been in operation since 1985 and has hosted many famous performers and DJs.

The Fillmore

The Fillmore is a historic music venue that has been a fixture in San Francisco since the 1960s. Although it’s not strictly a goth or punk club, it has hosted many shows by bands in these genres over the years. While it may not be considered exclusively one of the San Francisco goth clubs you might be look for, from one night to the next it is certainly possible you’ll find what you are looking for.

The Warfield

Judas Priest at The Warfield

The Warfield is another historic music venue in San Francisco that has hosted many punk and goth shows over the years. Located in the Tenderloin district, the venue has a capacity of 2,300 and has hosted many famous bands and performers.

Aside from a number of the above San Francisco goth and punk stores, there are many options for online stores that people can browse outside of the area. Here are a few major options.

Tragic Beautiful

If you’re not necessarily looking for a NYC goth store or punk store and you just want something to come in the mail, online stores like Tragic Beautiful could be the right option. Tragic Beautiful is an Australian-based online store that has been around since 2006. They carry Killstar, Punk Rave, and many other major goth brands. As they say on their website, they provide “a niche for the outsiders – those that go against the grain, wander off the path and live outside of the box.”

They provide everything from goth clothes to pillows, wall art, goth jewelry, to witchy things such as stones, candles, and jars. It’s a great place to start for all your goth needs.
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Punk Rave

Punk Rave was founded in 2006 as a punk and goth brand and online shop. Their main collection is inspired by punk, gothic lolita, and “visual kei” clothing that includes punk and goth shirts, jackets, pants, and kinds of accessories. The brand includes both Punkrave and Pyon Pyon.
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Killstar

Their motto: In Goth We Trust. Established in 2010 in the UK, Killstar is a fashion and lifestyle brand with a lot of goth clothing mixed with some fun plush and all kinds of weirdness. They boast that their products have “a twist of darkness, channeling emotional power and raw energy into every thread.”
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Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

Last Updated on April 7, 2023.