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Highway 1: San Francisco to Santa Barbara
The classic California coast drive, with record shops in San Francisco, Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara.
Route: San Francisco → Half Moon Bay → Santa Cruz → Monterey → San Luis Obispo → Santa Barbara · 15 record stores across 6 stops
Stop by stop
Stop 1: Lower Haight and Fillmore
I Hate Records
Haight Street shop focused on punk, hardcore and metal records, with a loud, no-frills attitude.
Tip: Sits a few doors from Rooky Ricardo's Records, so the two pair naturally on a Lower Haight walk.
413 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
Hours
Monday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Rooky Ricardo's Records
A temple of 7-inch vinyl and soul music in the Lower Haight: Northern Soul, rare 45s, and handmade comp CDs.
Tip: Tell the owner your favorite artists and let him recommend soul 45s you've never heard.
429 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 7:30 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Vinyl Dreams
SF's go-to for house, techno, and hip-hop 12-inches.
Tip: New stock rotates constantly, say regulars — one visit is never enough.
593 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
Hours
Monday 1:00 - 6:00 PM Tuesday 12:00 - 5:00 PM Wednesday Closed Thursday 1:00 - 6:00 PM Friday 1:00 - 6:00 PM Saturday 1:00 - 6:00 PM Sunday 1:00 - 6:00 PM Groove Merchant Records
DJ-run shop with deep jazz, soul, and funk plus music ephemera and rare photos.
Tip: Browsing here is an education — ask the owner about anything that catches your eye.
687 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
Hours
Monday 12:00 - 6:00 PM Tuesday 12:00 - 6:00 PM Wednesday 12:00 - 6:00 PM Thursday 12:00 - 6:00 PM Friday 12:00 - 6:00 PM Saturday 12:00 - 6:00 PM Sunday 12:00 - 6:00 PM Originals Vinyl
Small, well-curated shop that also professionally cleans and restores records.
Tip: Ask about their cleaning service if you pick up a scuffed used copy.
701 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday 12:00 - 5:00 PM Thursday 12:00 - 5:00 PM Friday 12:00 - 5:00 PM Saturday 12:00 - 5:00 PM Sunday 12:00 - 5:00 PM
Stop 2: Half Moon Bay
Dead Wax Records
New and used vinyl shop on Half Moon Bay's Main Street with a listening station, a funk and jazz lean, and band tees; the owners buy used records.
Tip: Hours vary through the week (Monday noon to 5, closed Tuesday and Wednesday), so check before driving over the hill.
330 Main St Ste 105, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, USA
Hours
Monday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Tuesday Closed Wednesday Closed Thursday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Stop 3: Santa Cruz Downtown Dig
Offshore Sounds
Downtown Santa Cruz shop with a curated stock including Japanese original pressings and jazz represses, plus a listening station.
Tip: Open noon to 6 PM daily.
109 Locust St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
Hours
Monday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Saturday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Streetlight Records
Longtime Santa Cruz shop with new and used vinyl, CDs, DVDs, bargain bins, and occasional live in-store performances.
Tip: Check the bargain bins and the in-store performance schedule. Used vinyl is priced at fair market value.
939 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Redwood Records
Compact downtown Santa Cruz shop with new and used vinyl, plus turntables and other audio equipment.
Tip: A few blocks from Streetlight Records, so easy to combine.
320 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Stop 4: Monterey Peninsula Run
Siren Records
Monterey shop selling LPs, CDs, cassettes and music merch, with occasional listening parties.
Tip: Open daily; closes at 5 PM.
522 Fremont St, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Recycled Records
Long-standing Monterey shop on Lighthouse Avenue, now under newer owners, with older and modern vinyl.
Tip: Open daily, 11 AM to 6 PM.
604 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Vinyl Revolution
Pacific Grove record shop on Forest Avenue with a general mix of vinyl and CDs.
Tip: Open daily; Sunday noon to 5 PM.
309 B, 309 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Pop & Hiss
Record shop and cocktail lounge in one: vintage albums up front, a small stage, a photo booth, a bar and a patio at the back.
Tip: Weekday doors open at 5 PM, so treat it as an evening stop.
215 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 5:00 PM - 11:30 PM Wednesday 5:00 PM - 11:30 PM Thursday 5:00 PM - 11:30 PM Friday 5:00 PM - 11:30 PM Saturday 1:00 PM - 11:30 PM Sunday 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Stop 5: San Luis Obispo
Boo Boo Records
Downtown San Luis Obispo record store open since 1974, with CDs at the front and new and used vinyl, turntables, books and band tees.
Tip: Vinyl is toward the back of the store; the front half is mostly CDs.
978 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, USA
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Stop 6: Santa Barbara
Warbler Records & Goods
Santa Barbara shop just off State Street selling vinyl in every genre plus used turntables, receivers and speakers, with repairs done in store.
Tip: Sunday hours are noon to 5 PM; across the street from a museum.
131 E De La Guerra St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Hours and details come from public listings and may have changed. Small shops often keep short or irregular hours, so check or call before a long trip. See something wrong? Use Still open? in the app and we will look into it.