TANTRUM

Throwback Thursday, every day. Tantrum’s buyer has an keen eye for collecting simple toys, trinkets, books, cards, and other goods that make you feel in awe. Each item is so simple that I feel like have been swept into a world without electricity and can play for hours with each toy or trinket. Come with curiosity, and leave with simple and practical goods for you and a kid.
I snapped up bike reflectors that just snap onto my wheels — simple, purposeful, and classy. With prices just right, I am excited to drop in some more!

The cutest store in the neighborhood! It’s not just a kids’ store. You can find plenty of party and Birthday accessories over there, jewelry for both kids and adults, cards, books and toys. The toys are amazing: unique and hand made! Complimentary gift wrapping is a deal breaker!

I bought a print made by a local artist here that has a drawing of a human on all fours dressed as a cat and says, ‘FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT.’ I use it as a daily reminder to keep working towards my life goal of being a cat.
Everyday that I woke up as a human I would be just a little bit sad but now I just look at my print and it gives me something to live for.
THANK YOU, TANTRUM.
(also, the shop girl is sweet and the «toys» here are suitable for kids of all ages, so it’s kind of a one stop shop if you’re in the market for some truly unique gifts or personal motivation prints. Plus, they’re open pretty early in the morning so you can come here easy peasy while you wait for a table to open up for brunch at Zazie just a half block away… Mmmmm Dungeness Crab Benedict.)

I love everything about this shop, right down to the fantastic name.
It’s pricey for basic stuff, but has the absolute *perfect* selection for a special gift or baby shower. Lots and lots of Maileg — the biggest selection of Mice I’ve seen at a B&M location.

This is the most magical toy store! Everything has a vintage, magic-​show, circus vibe. The toys are unique and creative, the books well curated and there is the best selection of party supplies, too. I’ll basically get my gifts for everyone here, including adult females because they have great grown up jewelry too. Bonus: an operating mechanical quarter animal ride.

This place is truly a class act. They have the most charming, fun cards and gifts for kids and adults alike! They have artsy retro gifts and novelties too. They are the most friendly, patient, and cheerful people to talk to. They wrapped our gifts artfully, and they happily wrapped and shipped another to a loved one without any hassle. I will definitely be back, and I recommend this to all my friends! Why can’t there be more stores with this awesome service?! Everyone else can take a lesson from them in customer service and style!

This place is SO cute. The array of trinkets and fun little things everywhere call to everyone. There really is something in here for everyone. The toys are unique and I love how they have local artists/​toymakers items in shop. I love the personalization and fact that they handwrap your gifts and stamp your receiver’s name on it. Friendly staff and wonderful childhood store!

My nieces want to come live with me. Thank you, Tantrum, for ensuring my reign as Coolest Aunt Ever. I almost feel guilty for coming here for gifts. But I don’t.
Unless you like digging through big-​box toy aisles for the perfect children’s gifts, I can’t think of a reason not to come here. Heck, there’s even cool stuff in here for my office.
So if you like to shop for kids or like to get things for my office, come here, shop, and make someone happy.

I LOVE this store — so do my kids and all the kids (family and friends) I have bought presents for. This is my go-​to place for kid gifts. Unique, creative, fun and interesting. It’s a wonderful part of the neighborhood.

No matter how I steel myself– and I have no kids– I cannot walk into Tantrum without walking out with a few newly beloved treasures!
The owner, Amanda, has a phenomenal eye for the unusual as well as the utterly familiar– meaning the things we all are nostalgic for from our, or our siblings childhoods.
The slate grey walls and striped red-​0range & white pulled back curtains give the store an inviting festive almost circus theme– a come play inside kind of feel– and Amanda, Her partner and husband Richard and Sarah who also works there are the penultimate hosts, inviting play at every turn. As does the penny M&M machine right inside the door and the fully operational rinding blue seal that balances a ball on his nose for a quarter ride.
It’s a child’s wonderland, but an Adults Portal to a lost world.
You simply MUST take a walk down memory lane thru the doors of Tantrum– you’ll be delighted you have!

Very whimsical like a Wes Anderson derivative but aesthetically sensible or legit. The shop owner is super sweet and gracious; I felt comfortable and happy to shop. I liked their assortment of gifts and accessories; I was able to make a choice fast. Tantrum provides the most excellent gift wrapping too, fyi. I’ll be back for sure. whether it be for care packages or gifts for my younger cousins. I enjoyed shopping here, and am grateful they are in SF.

It never fails: there’s some birthday party I forgot about or some other occasion when I need a small children’s gift. What’s my go-​to shop on those occasions? Tantrum in Cole Valley. Amanda and Michelle have exquisite taste, and there’s almost always something that meets my needs without breaking the bank. Also, when you’re in a pinch, the clerk can often beautifully wrap a gift for you — which is great if you’re on your way to a party! I’m always grateful that Tantrum is here in the neighborhood.

This place is great, Perfect for finding a gift for your friends who have moved to the East Bay with their new infant. It can also serve to remind them how great SF is. Super friendly staff and a great selection of gifts. the store owners clearly put a lot of thought into the store, and it shows in the products and customer service. And you can find all price levels as well. Highly recommended.

This shop is divine. If you have a child, or know a child, or even have a vague awareness that children exist in the world and sometimes like to play with toys, you should come here. The selection is beautifully curated, and the general vibe is that of an anti-​Toys R’ Us (i.e. not a horrid big-​box wasteland of conspicuous consumption).
I’ve walked by numerous times on my way to the N Judah, and have always been intrigued by the window displays. Hula hoops, groovy lunchboxes, retro-​looking toys… so much fun! I finally came in the other looking for a gift for my 3-​year-​old nephew. I have no clue what 3yo children like, but the woman working that day was very helpful. She directed me to an «Animal Jamboree» themed set of mix and match cards that are locally made — a plus when shopping for a kid from another state, as it’s hard to know what someone else may have already bought for him. That and a tiny hand-​crank music box that plays a Beatles tune served my purposes quite well, and I walked out delighted. I even bought a second music box for my desk at work, because who am I kidding? Toys are fun for everybody!

This toy store is worth a peek if you are in Cole Valley or if you like to visit toy stores. It has a toy museum quality about it, bringing together unusual but recognizable toys from the past to present day toys of new emerging toy producing companies.
I bought a simple plastic train with several cars with animals in them to go atop a child’s birthday cake. It is plastic in vivid colors with wheels that work. The charm of it is that it holds standard birthday candles which you can uncouple from ages 1to 6. It is very detailed and pretty sweet!
From Tantrum’s business card —
Mid-​century modern kid-​centric awesomeness

Great store in cole valley that sells a collection of mainly children’s items, but also necklaces, inappropriate occasion cards, etc. Don’t be fooled by the predominance of children’s items– there is something in here for everyone!
My friends and I came in here after grabbing brunch at zazies and spent a good hour browsing. While there, we learned that the necklaces are handmade by the owner and are surprisingly intricate! My friend made off with an envelope necklace that actually unfolds, complete with a letter on the inside that you can easily slide in and out. Then we stumbled upon magnificent music boxes that when you crank, plays a Beatles song. There were about 5 different music boxes featuring 5 different Beatles songs.
This store is pretty magical, and the person who was working the counter was endlessly friendly and welcoming. The entire time we were in there, she was working with a needle and tissue paper crafting décor for the store.
Come stop by if you are in the area! (this is a good shop to browse while waiting for that table at zazie’s!)

This place is so niche you either love it or hate. Think toys from the Fantastic Mr Fox. Or Moonrise Kingdom. But also a very small curated selection. If you’re not into it then you’ll just find this place overpriced and pretentious. But if you’re self-​aware that gifts for children are often really just indulgences of the adults who give or receive them and just accept you’re getting this child something you yourself like and they may not enjoy anymore than a cardboard box, then you’ll be okay. I call this hipster gift giving.
I got my sister some knitted finger puppets here where they represented animals (lions, bears, etc) with cute cardigans, coats and ties on. Came back and picked up a raccoon/​badger doll that looked like a retro bandit.

Hands down the cutest toy store I’ve ever been too. I came in with my roommate and we walked around the whole store and loved every inch of it. Even what was hung on the walls. This toy store has something for everyone, no matter how old you are. I came out with the cutest music box that played the Beatles song, «Yesterday.» Win.
Books, toys, dolls, even jewelry– this store has them all. We were lucky to meet the owner of the store, Amanda, and she was the sweetest woman ever. I wish I could have bought everything inside the store. Love.

I LOVE THIS STORE! Tantrum is a colorful, retro dream filled with adorable toys, clothes, kitchen ware and other goodies guaranteed to make you smile. The décor is inspired by vintage carnivals, and the atmosphere here is every bit as fun. The thing I was most impressed by was the selection – it’s designy and hip and cool, but it’s not the same ol’ stuff you’ll find at most designy shops and toy stores. This place is filled with lots of European, handmade and vintage. The Tantrum gals say it’s «kid-​centric midcentury» but honestly I think big kiddos will have just as much fun in here too. It’s the perfect place to pick up a unique birthday or holiday present – from the danish modern dishware and vintage phones to groovy wooden toys and sweet little animal dolls.
True, some of the items are a little spendy but the quality is fantastic (and many of the vintage items are one-​of-​a-​kind) so I wasn’t put off. There are also tons of cute little smaller items. Pretty much everything in here is adorable. Stop by… you won’t be disappointed. TWO BIG THUMBS UP!

Tantrum (great name) carries vintage and vintage-​inspired new toys as well as new and impeccably-​picked vintage children’s clothing, as well as some housewares like candy-​colored Belgian cookware and vintage telephones and record players.
The shop itself is SO cute. I LOVE the design and all the details — the walls are dark gray so the bright colors of the products really pop. One of the owners was working there and she and her husband did many of the renovations themselves. Good job, guys!
Definitely stop by if you are in Cole Valley or the Upper Haight. Great new gift shop for kids and adults alike.