FRIDAY FIVE
It’s February, and that means it’s the official month of love in all its forms: boyfriend love, girlfriend love, parental love, friendship love, self-love (all the love). It doesn’t matter if you have a romantic partner with whom to spend the often-dreaded holiday that is Valentine’s Day—there’s always one common way to honor love for all: flowers.
Plus, research consistently links indoor flowers to better moods, so there’s no reason not to buy flowers this month. Tossing aside the dated notion that someone needs to buy you flowers in order for you to enjoy them, we all deserve to go out and buy ourselves a bouquet of flowers once in a while. Here are our top five favorite flower shops where you can do just that:
1. San Francisco Flower Mart
The San Francisco Flower Market in SOMA is a lifesaver for those who work in the area and need a place of refuge on a hard day. The establishment is one of five grower-owned wholesale flower markets in the United States. In other words, it’s a unique flower haven, unlike no other, and we’re lucky to have it in our city.
Bonus: it has a fascinating history, as its origins date back to the late 1800s. The Flower Mart has a tiny window during which it’s open to the public, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, but making time in your schedule for the trip is very worth it.
640 Brannan Street (SOMA) | www.sanfranciscoflowermart.com
2. Marigold SF
This is a very “it” spot at the moment in San Francisco, and for good reason: its modern, feminine and tranquil energy make it a hard place to leave. Step into this Mission establishment, and you’ll immediately understand the hype. That is likely why in addition to being a floral shop, Marigold is an event space that has hosted many trendy parties since its opening on the summer solstice in 2018.
Fortunately, the founders are working on opening up the back space to become a coffee shop, so one will be able to fully immerse oneself in the serenity that is Marigold soon. Until then, it’s worth a stop on an afternoon to put a small bouquet of single stems together for yourself.
2681 21st Street (Mission) | https://www.marigoldsf.com/
3. Sol Ambiance
Located in the Richmond, Sol Ambience attracts loyal customers from all over the Bay Area thanks to its great selection of both flowers and foliage. Head designer Oxana Sanukova is known for her talent in capturing wild, albeit natural, energy in her arrangements. Sanukova got her start as a child gardening alongside her grandfather in a small European village. While Sol Ambiance is mostly known for creating gorgeous arrangements for events such as weddings, a customer is always welcome to visit the shop and pick out single stems.
5522 Geary Boulevard (Inner Richmond) | http://solambiance.com/
4. Utsuwa Floral Design
Utsuwa Floral Design is not your average flower-only floral shop. Instead, it’s a full-service bonsai, flower and plant establishment. For those who are looking to get a little wild with their arrangements or have an interest in both plants and flowers that make you feel like you’re in nature, this is your shop. Located in the Polk Gulch area near Nob Hill, Utsuwa is run by Hiro Hayama, who grew up in Tokyo and is known for being a master of bringing nature to small spaces. This spot is also known for its reasonably priced terrariums (yes, those exist) and floating plant arrangements.
1288 Polk Street (Polk Gulch) | https://utsuwa.myshopify.com/
5. Le Bouquet
For the last 30 years, Le Bouquet has been focused on creating unique arrangements out of seasonal flowers. This adorable shop is a great place if you just want to stop by and get advice from a savvy florist, as Yelp customers often comment on how helpful the service is at Le Bouquet. Tucked away on Union Street, this quaint little shop is always adorned with a daily selection of gorgeous stems that make the experience of assembling a bouquet very calm and relaxing. Le Bouquet also hosts flower workshops for making everything from flower crowns to holiday arrangements.
2205 Union Street (Cow Hollow) | https://www.le-bouquet.com/
