What a fun store! I love the fact that this place has everything from kitchenware to Christmas ornaments to stuff for the bathroom. Was pleasantly surprised to find a powdered sugar shaker here, which even my local Safeway did not carry. It's definitely a fun store to explore if you are in the area, and may even be a destination in itself if you are looking for something random. Go support the local economy and check out this historic business! It's a lot more pleasant and fun than a trip to Home Depot or Target, and they carry a lot of similar product. read more

Very personable folks working there, and great customer service. Fun items at the little annex next door.

Excellent selection of a variety of items... a true variety store. (The home design annex next door often has some really cute and unique finds.) Great if you're working on a project at home and don't want to leave the neighborhood. Still, (as with many things) you pay for the privilege of convenience... some of their prices on basic items can seem really jacked up, because they are. read more

When i moved into my new place a couple of months ago, my roommate told me that this was the place he always goes to, and i'd surely get to know it. He likes to decorate. I dont. So i probably wont be as familiar as he is with the store. I finally checked it out yesterday, for no reason. It's a hardware store with crafts supplies and games and toys and kitchen stuff. Very multi-purpose. I do like to cook, so i might go back to get some missing pans i need. Then again, i may go to ross's, which has a good housewares section though its farther from my house. If you need any hardware stuff, you can go here. I'm not an expert on that stuff, i have a feeling it may be more expensive than a regular hardware store, but who knows. They also have a lot of organic looking cleaners. Cute place to poke around in, especially if you like to decorate up. read more

There ain't nothing Cliff's doesn't have. Except the oyster shucker that I was looking for there this last Saturday. They looked for a secret stash for me - no luck. But they knew exactly the place I should go to get one - and it was there. See, even when they don't HAVE, they KNOW. That's what makes Cliff's magical. read more

Everything you need is here: toys, hardware, drano, coffee makers, tools, stationery, kitchen stuff galore! If you can't find it, the staff will show you the way. Next door, the gifty section is pretty darn sweet. read more

When I needed to make an over the top Easter Bonnet, Cliff's was the place to go. This store is a dream for the crafty folks in SF - ribbons, feathers, and glitter galore! And the staff is very helpful with whatever project you're working on. I love Cliff's! read more

Best hardware store I've ever been to. Great local vibe with some old fashioned genuine service. Hardware, pots, pans, wine glasses, toys, pens, paper you name it and they got it! read more

This place is amazing and has the best stock. I give 5 stars to all he buyers. But you loose a star for the horrible puzzle collection. My boyfriend and I rode our bikes over there cause I really wanted a puzzle. We were awed and amazed by all the great things the store sold and found several items we hadn't planned on purchasing on our visit. BUT the puzzles had the most awful selection. Ed Hardy puzzles? Really?! read more

Go here to waste time playing with all the toys in the front of the store before embarking on the aisles of household goods. It's like an amusement park or something, everyone is so friggin happy when they're in Cliff's! read more

Just a cool place where you can find interesting stuff! Even if I don't buy anything, I just like coming here to look! Whether it's bobble heads you are looking for or for party wear, etc., this is the place to go! read more

If this place is overpriced, then i don't care. this is a neighborhood store... i would rather have the convenience of walking here then having to drive to colma to save a few bucks at home depot. I would rather save my gas and my eyesight from that nuclear orange color theme. read more

Is it the name? Cliff's Variety is the Cliff Clavin of hardware stores, it knows a little bit about almost everything.

This place makes me happy. Seriously, I just love coming here for all the little things I need around my apartment, from light bulbs to paint supplies and everything in between. Bought some energy saving fluorescent bulbs. Very helpful staff, which is always nice. read more

I love you Cliff. Your manager Rich made me an absolutely incredible acrylic lid for my vintage Le Cruset terrine. He took care and time, and the finished product exceeded my wildest expectations. When I lift the nearly air tight lid on my first pate, it will have a little brand from the underside of the handle! This store is not only good for light bulbs and feather boas, their staff is great and they care about their community. Cliff, will you marry me? read more

This place has it all, every time. Went in today looking for some M4-12mm machine screws and colorful LED rope lights...they not only had both, but had multiple varieties of each to choose from. Nine out of the last ten times I've gone here I've left happily full handed with what I went in to get. How they fit all of everything into such a small store is a mystery to me, but a miracle worth celebrating more often than not! read more

I can't walk out of this place without spending $300. But I always get my money's worth. Yes, more expensive than a Target, but I don't have to sort my way through low quality items - I can just get the good one. It is amazing how much is packed in here and how helpful everyone is - they all seem to know, in intricate detail, every item that is carried in the store, from bolts to toys to paper to serious tools and hardware to stick on moustaches and eyelashes! read more

A true SF institution. Hadn't been here in years, and forgot how great it was. Power tools, drawing supplies and fake barf, how can you miss. I'll be coming here more often. read more

What can I say? This place is a San Francisco institution--and much deserved. Cliff's, you never disappoint.

Great local hardware store with the friendliest staff I've ever met at a hardware store.

What can I tell you, I love Cliff's Variety, you'll find things that you don't know you need untill you get in there and the staff are just always nice. Always stop by Cliff's when there's nothing to do. Hooray for Cliff's. Cliff's makes me smile. Oh and you can stock up with so much rainbow stuff at the counter because it's all there at the register. read more

I gladly and regularly spend quite a bit of my disposable income here. Well worth it for the personal, knowledgeable and professional service. Cliffs is a hell of a LOT smaller that Home Labyrinth place but somehow they cram in an amazing almost dizzying amount of stuff in there. They almost always seem to have just what I need to fix things in our 80+ year old house. read more

One really good reason to go to the Castro. This place is such a good idea. It has everything, without that whole Walmart vibe. The toy section is weird and cool but expect to be hounded if you open the packaging of the toys in the far aisle... The kitchen area is well-stocked and organized. But best of all - they carry the most sizes and best prices of the BALL JAR! Seeing as BALL COUNTRY is my homeland, I have pride in seeing these jars still being sold - on the other side of the country, no less.! And really, Ball jars are great - I keep all my grains and legumes in there, and they do look so lovely on the counters. read more

Maybe I'm being inappropriately stereotypical, but I find something amusing about effeminate men who know their shit about hardware. It just seemed like something of a contradiction, but man, do they know their shit. They're extremely helpful and will tell you exactly what you need. Things seemed pretty reasonably priced too, although I was just buying some screws to mount a set of blinds. The one annoying thing was the screwheads were getting eaten away by my screwdriver, so I am not so sure about the quality of the screws. But the service is great. I'll definitely come back, and probably soon. read more

Another business that really makes San Francisco a great and special place to live. They have everything and have top notch customer service. A cornerstone of the Eureka Valley/Castro hood they are a great supporter of the community. You could not ask for more. Cool art supplies to referbing your Victorian house, it's here. read more

I've been to Cliff's many times over the years and have always received great service from a very knowledgable staff that seem to be happy to go the extra mile to help me find what I'm looking for. I live in the neighborhood so am very happy about their broad selection of goods so I don't have to travel around town or order supplies online and wait for them to arrive. read more

Fantastic place! Reminds me of McGuckins Hardware in Boulder, Colorado (one of my other all-time favorite stores). Was especially happy to see that they are open on Sundays (when many hardware stores are closed), and were open until 6pm at that! And they had not one but TWO different mogul lightbulbs that fit the antique floor lamp my boyfriend's aunt gave us. Looking forward to coming back here soon! read more

The best hardware store with flashy windows and pithy staff. It's not just a showpiece, its my go-to place for getting advice on home projects and repairs. (Thomas has saved my butt soooooo many times they should build a statue of him! It is so easy to goof up a Victorian-- be it the plaster, anaglypta, door hinges, or whatever. ) read more

We all know how awesome this store is and pretty much an adult candy shop with everything you could ever need, so I'll skip to to the important info. Rich, one of the managers gave me the BEST customer service I think I've ever had in SF. We had a pretty weird and difficult Halloween project which included cutting a big plastic bowl. Rich was beyond accommodating, and really worked so hard to see our vision and make it perfect. He even worked more on it after it was finished and we forgot to add something. He's amazing and deserves a huge raise or something. Rich gets it and is amazing at his job, all while being so beyond friendly and professional. Thank you so much! read more

I love this place! It has most of the things I want for last-minute crafting or costuming- and is super convenient. For those who have never been, cliff's is a variety store that has everything from children's crafts to more intense building stuff. The store connected to them has fun costume-y stuff like wigs and also fabrics, ribbons, buttons, etc. it's a really fun store and the employees are super friendly and helpful. read more

Best customer service in ANY store in San Francisco. Friendly, helpful, smiles and quick service.

Turbo charged VARIETY...from plumbing supplies to toys to kitchen towels to everything to start a new life for those new to the Variety of Hardware of many different colors. read more

Hammers and Fake Eyelashes! All you need for your weekend craft projects! But they don't rent ladders.

Cliff's has most everything you need, but more importantly they have helpful, knowledgable staff who will go out of thier way to get you the right answers to your DIY questions. Thanks guys for all your help! :) read more

One word: OVERPRICED! If you don't mind paying sometimes DOUBLE what some the other hardware stores are charging then you should love this place. Friendly staff and lots of things you end up buying that you don't really need. read more

The people who work here are great, the products varietable, and the location oh so convenvient for me. thanks for having an electric saw the time i ordered a couch that was too big to get into my apartment. read more

3.5 stars. Yes, they have everything. This place is very convenient for people living in the 'hood. Service is not bad. In fact, they are downright helpful lots of times! But the prices are very high. Go to Cole Hardware if you are going to spend more than a few bucks and you have the time to drive. read more

Cliff's wins my vote for best local business. They are so welcoming and helpful that in the past we've bought chocolates to give the staff as a thank you. As a woman, I also find them very helpful and not at all patronizing even though I don't know much about home repairs. I love their seasonal displays and they are very dog friendly, too! read more

Great selection, great help, great location. Just a little expensive on some items that shouldn't be.

They have a VARIETY to choose from! A garbage can, light bulbs, anything for Dolores park or get a key made. They Always finish with a smile* read more