I had just started wearing glasses within the last six months, so I honestly had no idea what I was doing when it came to getting lenses -- especially for a pair of smart-ish glasses that can play music and take calls. Luckily, I found Optical Underground, and they made the whole process easy. They knew right away that there is more than one kind of office progressive lens, and when the wrong lenses were sent, they didn't just hand them over and send me on my way. Instead, they told me immediately and ordered the correct replacements. The quality was clearly much better than the cheap online glasses I had started with, and once I realized the original lenses weren't right for me, I found another pair of the same frames and they swapped in the correct lenses without any hassle. The staff was knowledgeable, quick, friendly, professional, and open late, with great prices and high-quality lenses. If you have smart glasses and aren't sure how to get lenses for them, I'd definitely recommend checking them out. read more

Optical Underground - smart glasses deserve good well fitted lenses! - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - San Francisco, California

OPTICAL UNDERGROUND at 333 Linden Street is in a Little throughway alley in Hayes Valley that offers an eclectic and affordable selection of eyewear. You're welcomed on entering the shop and given plenty of room to browse. I did a once over, staff was helpful with questions, Their pricing for prescription lenses is pretty competitive. Apparently quite a few people have their optical eyeglass prescription loaded on their phone. Not so for me. Their frames are unique, fashionably pleasing but can be limited in quantity. So I bought an eyeglass frame that caught my attention and will plan to return to have it fitted with my prescription. Really happy to find a new source for fashion forward eyeglass frames! read more

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I recently had an outstanding customer service experience at Optical Underground. Kiara, in particular, provided exceptional attention to detail and went above and beyond to assist me with updating my lenses and glasses. When one of the lenses didn't feel quite right, the owner personally ensured the issue was resolved and promptly replaced the lens. As someone who works in customer service, I know how rare it is to encounter employees who genuinely prioritize customer satisfaction and demonstrate such a high level of care. Kiara exemplifies this commitment, and I am truly impressed. I will absolutely be returning as a loyal customer and highly recommend Optical Underground to anyone seeking quality design, service and genuine professionalism. read more

I wanted to update my previous review. I had a frustrating experience before with delays and poor communication, which is why I left a negative review. But I recently came back for a repair, and it was a completely different experience. This time, everything was smooth--great communication, quick service, and my glasses were ready on time. Really appreciate the improvement and the effort the team made. Happy to update my recommendation based on this visit. read more

After looking at some not very exciting frames at my own optician, a friend told me about optical underground. An amazingly diverse selection at great prices. Go! read more

I can't say enough about the professional care I received at Optical Underground. They were very informative and knowledgeable. Would recommend there business. read more

Got two frames here in 2023, one of which I love and one which is a bit mid but that's on me for picking them out. Prices are so good that it's tempting to walk out with many, many frames (putting the lenses in makes that less financially practical, unfortunately!). I had to have specialty lenses manufactured, so I went to my regular optician for that, but in terms of retail the staff here is super helpful and will let you take your time trying on frames. Was just thinking about this place because I'm due for a new pair and I can't wait to see what they have in stock! read more

I got glasses here back in the '90s when they were on Union Square. Always loved them, but got distracted by the corporate likes of Warby Parker. When I returned recently, I happened to notice a series of diplomas on the wall--some very intricate and practically Victorian. Turns out the proprietor is a THIRD-generation SF optometrist, and very dedicated to his craft. While I might save a few bucks by going to Warby (or, God forbid, Zenni), I'm SO happy to have rediscovered this place. read more

Optical Underground - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here randomly one day while roaming the streets. This was my first time looking for a new pair of sunglasses in 9 years after losing them twice (they are officially lost). So came here spontaneously and tried on a few pairs but wasn't ready to buy. Came back a few days and got the one pair I was most in love with. Everyone is unbelievably nice and friendly. Chris is the one who was helping me. Though I had the pair I for sure wanted, I needed them to fit perfectly before I left the store because I'd be traveling for a bit and knew I couldn't come back. Chris was extremely patient and corrected all the issues to the fullest. And compared to many other sunglasses I've tried on, the prices for these sunglasses are comparable / less expensive and just as great quality. I like the ambiance of the store. The lighting just makes it easier to see what the glasses look like indoors. They even let you try it outside with the sun (they have an outdoor mirror). Thankfully SF has been sunny lately so I've lucked out at trying them on with sun. I highly recommend! read more

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Friendly, helpful service, and incredible selection of frames ranging from basic to high fashion (though from last season), at reasonable prices for both frames and lenses. The store branding is worth a visit in itself, with lots of references to the London Underground without being at all kitschy. Even the train ticket business card is so perfect. read more

Optical Underground - Optical Underground - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Optical underground has super cool unique stylish sunglasses that I don't think you can easily find in other places! I stumbled upon their store in Hayes Valley while walking with my dog. They are super dog friendly. They also have amazing staff! The store is very dark and they recommended I go outside to see what the glasses looked like. They even have a mirror on the door so you can easily see what they would look like in the light of day. Michael helped me and when my glasses ended up being wrong after I have received them they checked them out and fixed them free of charge. I would highly recommend them for their staff, products, and they have a good sale section! read more

Excellent selection of glasses from various designers. Chris is also very helpful and knowledge! Prices are very affordable for high end designer brands. Also their lens prices are unbeatable. $189 for transitions- just amazing!!!! read more

Absolutely horrific store and terrible employees. They'll tell you they know more than your doctor and refuse to look for frames with the specs your doctor sent you in with. When you insist you're going with your doctor recommendations and not their gut feeling, they'll get aggressive. In fact, they may even invite you outside to fight, as the man in the photo did. read more

Optical Underground - Angry gentleman will try and fight you outside - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - San Francisco, California

Update to my prior 3 star review. The owner reached out to me, invited me in to tell him what happened, and went beyond my expectations in setting it right. I did not have the old lenses nor full documentation, but he took care of me on my word. The owner Lloyd definitely stood behind his work, apologized, and said he is going to bring this up in staff training. Five stars, and I am definitely going back for future glasses. read more

A very nice store, responsive staff, nice styles, good prices, fast turnaround. Thanks

Good selection of past-season designer frames, with better prices compared to buying those same frames when they first came out. You're limited to what they have on hand but if you're not set on a specific frame you may find something you love here, and at a decent(ish) price. They're not *quite* the bargain they used to be. (I suspect the move from their previous location to Hayes Valley may have something to do with that). But they're still quite fair, and they don't charge for anti-reflective or scratch-resistant coatings, which other places may charge $75 for. (Ouch!) However, they don't accept vision insurance so the savings may not be better than using insurance elsewhere. So if you've got insurance, compare what you can get with that (elsewhere) for equivalent lenses and a frame here. If you don't have insurance, definitely take a look at what they've got. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and can leave you alone to try on frames or give you all the attention you need. (First stop for a coffee next door at Blue Bottle for a caffeinated shopping experience!) read more

Lab tech Chris rocks and new CS rep Tiara is AWESOME! Excellent pricing and service--THE BEST value in SF! Lab onsite saves cost. Redoing my 10th pair of glasses. Owner Lloyd is amazing--if something is wrong, he'll make it right. A generous gentleman. Family owned business for a century! Support our local businesses! read more

CLASSY OR TRASHY? A little of both. We've been coming to this place for a few years. I find that their old store used to be so much more convenient, and, they had so much more to choose from. The new spot is hidden down an alley way, where if you don't know about this place, you wouldn't know it exists. Very sad. They have less frames to choose from. Now, it's a hit or miss trying to find a unique pair of frames. My advice, is, go online... Google... low price, unique eyeglass frames. read more

Optical Underground - Optical underground - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I went in yesterday to get my sunglasses repaired as a small screw fell off the side of the frame and the lens fell out. They repaired quickly and at no cost to me. While waiting I looked around at their extensive collection of frames and ended up buying a beautiful pair of Stella McCartney sunglasses for a very reasonable price. Customer service and product selection is excellent. I highly recommend this business. read more

I've loved optical Underground for a long time and am equally thrilled with their Hayes Valley location. They truly have the most interesting eyewear, and their own brand is cool too. You can't get these brands at these prices any other way. read more

I have been going here since 2013. They have a great selection, incredible prices, helpful staff and a very cool storefront on a quiet little street. Recently, I had to bring back some frames and get the lenses redone. Even though it had been six months, the kind owner let me make the adjustment because he said stands by his products and his service. Highly recommended! read more

What a gem of a store. And super reasonably priced prescription lenses when you bring your own frame. They have a great selection of frames, too, of course. Chris was *incredibly* helpful and knowledgeable. A really genuine person with a knack for helping you find frames that work for you. I also interacted with the owner Lloyd, was really friendly and knowledgeable. Support your local lens store. And enjoy those cool doors when you walk in! read more

Great selection, good prices. Worth the drive the from Sonoma! Helpful staff and it's a great neighborhood for shopping!

This is the second time I've come in and been saved by Payless Optical, My daughter's glasses were broken and her birthday is this weekend, post places take day but he managed to fix them within hours and the price was affordable.Very nice man and he(genuinely)wished my daughter a Happy Birthday.Will definitely be back to order her next pair , Awesome assortment of glasses to choose from. read more

I have been meaning to write this since I went there last year, so better late than never! My new glasses I had ordered were exciting and unique. I was so excited! I rushed to Costco to have them put lenses in. They looked at the fragility of the frames and said they couldn't do it. Wha???? I couldn't believe it! Then. one of the guys said, "There is a place that I know of, and they may be able to do it." He wrote the name and address down for me. I looked at the piece of paper, and on it were the words Optical Underground and the address. I tried to visualize where it was located and just couldn't. It is on Linden Street between Octavia and Gough Streets. I found parking and looked for the place. It was easy to find as the store was open air! I looked at the fotos on the wall, that depicted four generations of opticians. A family business! How nice! The owner was the third generation, and his son, Sam, is the fourth generation. I walked around the shop which is truly unique. I told Sam what I was trying to do, and he said they would try, but couldn't guarantee that my frames would hold up, but I opted to take the risk. They required payment up front, so I told them I would be back. After payday, I went back. San showed me the less options, and his father measured the space between my eyes and I guess the center of my pupil, with a thing that looked like a Viewmaster. Afterwards, Sam showed me the different lens compositions, tints, etc. I opted for plastic lenses to keep them light, and no Transition colored lenses. I paid and came back for them in two weeks! The frames did not break, and my progressive lenses were in the frames! Awesome! So, that first experience was so memorable, I refer everyone there for their eyeglasses and visual needs! I won't go anywhere else for my visual needs. If you wear glasses or have any visual needs, I would start here. You won't be sorry, or disappointed. read more

Two years ago, I bought a cute pair of glasses here. Friendly service and a diverse selection of glasses is what I remembered from that initial time. Today I visited the new location and got a pair of frames that were on sale for $39, so I paid just $148 for a complete pair of glasses! I'm very much looking forward to picking them up in 2 weeks :) I can't recall the name of the associate who helped me most of the time, but Selena gave me a brief explanation of the sales selection when I arrived, and then Priscilla completed my purchase. When I was ready to check out, I didn't know where the person who had been helping me disappeared to. She was super friendly, very attentive, and probably brought me 20 pairs of glasses to try out. I highly recommend this spot if you're wanting to purchase glasses without pushy sales associates cornering you. read more

Nice selection of glasses but customer service is nonexistent. Unanswered e-mails and voice mails encouraged me to purchase elsewhere.

Oh my lord, for around $300 CHEAPER than the neighborhood place in El Cerrito, I got some handmade designer frames that are unique and painfully stylish. The lenses were much cheaper too. GO! GO! GO!! read more

Optical Underground - Getting these babies!! - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great service-knowledgeable! Great selection of frames, or bring your own! Great value. I known about them for years and I'm a repeat customer. read more

I've always enjoyed coming here because they have an amazing selection. I recently purchased a pair of glasses and Rhea (I hope I spelt her name correctly) was very helpful. Thank you read more

LOVE Optical Underground. I've purchased all of my glasses from Zenni. I heard about Optical Underground from a friend and thought I'll check em out. I went by for their grand re-opening party a couple weeks ago and was very impressed. They're a family run business, which I think is a huge win. For me, it's important to keep small businesses thriving so I loved that piece of knowledge. What separates them from buying glasses anywhere else is the personal touch. I was greeted and treated just like a member of the family. I tried on lots of glasses without feeling rushed or forced to make a purchase at the time. Lucky for me, I found a pair that I just LOVE. As I'd purchased my other glasses online, it was nice to try on glasses and see what they truly look like and how they fit my face etc. Something else that separates Optical Underground: it's designer eyewear for half off! So I was pretty stoked to find myself a *nice* pair of glasses that weren't $700. I opted for a pair of Kirk & Kirk frames and get compliments on them daily. Thank you so much Optical Underground. read more

Optical Underground - New glasses from Optical Underground - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cute underground glasses shop with super nice employees! Rhea was so helpful and kind even though I came in right before close. She let me know when the sales were happening and answered all my questions. 5 out of 5 stars! read more

Great selection and even greater prices!!! Unique selection of frames. Everyone is friendly and helpful!!! read more

Optical Underground - Charlie (their mascot) the sweet pitty!!! - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This was a great find for me. They have awesome glasses at incredible prices. The brands they carry are high end, very stylish but they're all discounted. There was a rack of sunglasses all for $89 and they had amazing selection with polarized lenses. I recommend going and checking it out. read more

This place is just what it is--underground and thriving, Bro! Optical Underground is the sort of like the--you know you have arrived to San Francisco feeling--it's a true DLSF tip when natives tell you about the underground undergrounds; this is when you KNOW you've been crowned down-then you get the hits-This place is a hit. Art on the outside and inside. Love how it's a haven for dog's but it's outta sight. Got an insider's tip on the place and, you know what? Me loves it. Not to mention there's a nursery/plant shop, Fatted Calf around the corner, and a bounty of canines at the people and pets park. Great spot; great people. Perfect kind of place for those who have a thing for pretty things on sight. read more

I was visiting from out of town and needed a frame adjustment, so I thought I'd check it out. After gazing at some colorful plastic frames for $450, I shouldn't have been too surprised when the gal behind the desk said there wud be a $10 charge for a frame adjustment Ouch read more

I've never heard of this place until recently. I decided to check it out for a little bit because the sign on top of the store looked cool. When you enter, there are stairs that actually lead you underground. The store has a chill and laid-back vibe unlike other eyeglass stores I've visited. The store is pretty small but there's lots of neat stuff here. The staff is also very friendly and helpful as you browse through the store. There's plenty of trendy, stylish frames for men and women at affordable prices ($50 - $120 range). Most of the style frames I've seen are the huge-framed sunglasses from well-known designers. If you like these types of glasses, check this place out because there's plenty of markdowns! One of the coolest things in the store is the camera monitor. You basically wear any of the frames in the store and take a pic of yourself. The monitor will show yourself with the frames in 4 different angles. I thought that was pretty awesome and one of the highlights of my short visit. I think you can also take an eye exam but I'm not sure and didn't ask around. They did have the whole optometrist setup (chair, eye chart, and phoropter). It's near the stairs when you enter so you can't miss it. I asked one of the workers if they can ship your frames. I was told that it would cost $10. Pretty good if you're out of town and can't pick up your glasses immediately. I didn't get to buy anything as I was on a time crunch when I visited. Definitely check this place even if you're just browsing. Lots of good stuff in here! read more

Optical Underground - Eyewear & Opticians Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love this store!! It has a huge variety of glasses and sunglasses-anything your heart desires. I appreciate it because there are unique and trendy styles to match what I need. The staff is also lovely. They are helpful in guiding you to find exactly what you want! Perhaps best part-super reasonable prices. Go check them out (& you can grab Blue Bottle on your way out!). read more

Cute selection of glasses and apparently their lenses are not name brand, so you can get a really good deal. BUT! Do not get your glasses adjusted here! I brought mine in last week and they snapped them right in half! They glued them back together, but after I let them dry for an hour and carefully tried to put them on, they snapped right back in half. They were very apologetic, but the remedies they offered were were useless: 1) I could purchase the same frame, new, for them to pop the lenses into, or 2) I could pay $60 for them to be sent out for repair. No store credit or anything. Had they offered me anything of value, I probably still would have gotten my new glasses there. Instead I got a same-day appointment that night at a (much more expensive) place in my neighborhood, where the staff all stayed late so I could decide on a new pair and they stand by their work. read more

Just this year I found out I could use glasses for the computer. Naturally, I was traumatized. This whole time I was led to believe by my parents, friends, and others that there were 2 categories of people: those who need glasses when they're a kid, and those who need them when they turn 40. Since I didn't need them as a kid, clearly I thought I was safe 'til I was 40. Not so fast. Apparently all these years of poli sci paper-writing and consultant-ese have caught up to me, and now I have a slight astigmatism. Bummer. Given my propensity to not want to spend a lot of money on an accessory I was already unhappy to have to purchase, I wanted the cheapest, yet fashionable, pair of glasses I could find. After price-comparing at Costco, and being shocked and dismayed by the prices at the "See" boutique by my house, I came across Optical Underground one day whilst walking to a dentist appt. Luckily, their house music and catchy name caught my eye. I found a cool pair of Modo glasses, for a very good price, and the service has been decent too. read more