Dear Anneke:
If you are looking for some character, forget the big chains. They all look alike after a while.
San Francisco is full of beautiful small shops that offer treasures that are not found anywhere else. I lived in San Francisco for a year and I had a lot of fun discovering hidden treasures.
For dishware I recommend highly "Biordi Art Imports". They have been in business since 1946 and they are one of San Francisco's treasures. Biordi's web site is at:
http://www.biordiartimports.com/
Please ask to speak with Gianfranco when you call and tell him that I recommended you to him. Ask him for suggestions on other culinary products that you might need to find in San Francisco.