Loved to Death
The Verdict
"Not for everyone, but if oddities and Victorian mourning culture interest you, this is one of the best curated shops of its kind. On Haight Street between Ashbury and Clayton. Free to browse."
What you need to know
A Curiosity Shop for the Morbidly Inclined
Loved to Death is a small shop on Haight Street that sells oddities, antiques, and death-themed art. Owner Audra Hubbell was featured on the Science Channel’s “Oddities San Francisco.” The inventory leans dark: antique medical instruments, Victorian mourning jewelry, anatomical art, skulls, and preserved insects. The shop stopped selling taxidermy over ethical sourcing concerns, but the aesthetic remains firmly in the realm of the beautiful and macabre.
What Makes It Worth It
This is the kind of store that rewards slow browsing. Every shelf holds something unexpected, like a framed collection of antique glass eyes, a necklace made from a real animal tooth, or handmade jewelry incorporating bone or vintage watch parts. The craftsmanship across the inventory is high. This isn’t a Halloween store; it’s a curated collection of objects that sit at the intersection of art, history, and mortality.
The Haight Street location fits. The neighborhood has always attracted the unusual, and Loved to Death is one of the few independent shops left on the strip that feels wholly distinctive rather than tie-dye-for-tourists.
Plan for a 15-minute browse. Longer if you’re buying. The price range is wide, from affordable small jewelry pieces to expensive antique medical items.
Skip this if gothic or macabre aesthetics aren’t your thing. The shop leans into its theme fully.
Visiting
Address: 1681 Haight Street, Haight-Ashbury
Hours: Daily, approximately 11:00 AM-7:00 PM (hours vary)
Cost: Free to browse. Items range from $10 to several hundred.
Best time to go: Weekday afternoons when the Haight is less crowded.
What to know: Small space. If it’s busy, wait for a few people to leave. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the inventory.
Getting There
Transit: Muni 6-Haight/Parnassus, 7-Haight/Noriega, or 33-Ashbury/18th to Haight and Cole.
Parking: Street parking on Haight and side streets. Tight on weekends.
Walking: Right on Haight Street between Masonic and Ashbury. Combine with Amoeba Music, the Haight-Ashbury intersection, and a walk into Golden Gate Park.
📍 Location: This activity is in Haight Ashbury. Explore the neighborhood →
