We get excited about a toy truck that comes apart, because choosing a truck suddenly also means choosing a little puzzle. Or a book where the pictures make you want to stop halfway through reading and point something out. Those are the details we like getting into when we're thinking about what belongs in our shop.
There are plenty of different ways to put together a toy store, and that's part of the pleasure of shopping at independent places around San Francisco and the Bay Area. We've gathered a few here, including our own, to help you find a stop that suits the child you're buying for or the kind of afternoon you have in mind.
Come see us in North Beach
Colorful Bunch is our shop and studio at 700 Lombard Street in San Francisco. We make clothes and carry things from other makers, with books, toys, art supplies and gifts alongside the everyday pieces. You might come looking for a birthday present and want to put a book with a colorful tee, or just spend a little time choosing the book.
The trucks are a good place to start if you're buying for a child who likes putting things together. Luke's Toy Factory's Fire Truck has five parts to assemble; the Green Dump Truck has four. Both are for ages three and up. Once assembled, they're trucks to play with, and you can take them apart and build them again.
If you're leaning toward a story, our Sandra Boynton books range from bedtime silliness to animal sounds and birthdays. Think about the person who'll be reading along, too. Some books invite a bit of singing; others leave more room to sit together and look. Check which edition you're picking up, since the size and format can change the experience of the same title.
Tantrum: San Francisco and Mill Valley
Tantrum brings a playful vintage sensibility to toys, books, art supplies and party things. If color and the look of a gift are part of what you're choosing, it's a place to browse. The San Francisco shop is at 248 Clement Street, and the Mill Valley shop is at 129 Miller Avenue, Lumber Yard Suite 100-B.
Mr. Mopps': Berkeley
Mr. Mopps' Toy Shop, at 1405 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, focuses on specialty toys and largely low-tech, open-ended play. Its departments include building toys, arts and crafts, bath toys and books. That gives you a few directions to explore if you know what a child enjoys doing but haven't decided on a particular present.
A Child's Delight: Corte Madera
A Child's Delight is in The Village at Corte Madera, at 1506 Redwood Highway. It carries puzzles, games, dolls, trains, craft kits and outdoor toys. You could start with an existing interest, like trains or making things, and look within that part of the shop.
Toy Safari: Alameda
Toy Safari, at 1410 Park Street, mixes new toys with used, vintage and collectible finds. We'd keep that in mind for someone who enjoys the search as much as the purchase, or who has a particular collecting interest. There may be something familiar from your own childhood in the mix.
A few things worth knowing before you go
Ask about the child's current interests and the age range you need, then think about where the toy will live. A many-piece construction set and a single book ask different things of a small apartment. If you're bringing art materials, knowing how much setup and cleanup the grown-ups are comfortable with helps, too.
For a new baby, we've put together a separate San Francisco baby-gift guide with clothing, shared reading and things for parents. And if your trip brings you to North Beach, we'd love for you to come by and see what catches your eye.
We checked these locations against the shops' own websites in October 2026. Have a look at their current hours before heading out, and contact the shop first if you're making the trip for one particular item.
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