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It’s amazing to me what has happened to the Ferry building in the past few years. I remember not too long ago walking in the building and thinking that it must have been something in it’s day. Now There's no better way to enjoy a San Francisco morning than strolling this gourmet marketplace in the newly renovated Ferry Building and snacking your way through breakfast or lunch. I used to skip this as part of my showing friends the city, but now taking the ferry from the East Bay to SF and then into the Ferry building really sets a mood.
Today the building houses local favorites such as Acme Bread, Scharffen Berger Chocolate, Cowgirl Creamery, and Slanted Door, which share space with the street-level gourmet Market Hall. The seafood bar has a fantastic city panorama, or you can take your purchases around to the building's bay side, where benches face views of the Bay Bridge. The waterfront promenade, which extends from the piers on the north side of the building south to the Bay Bridge, is where San Franciscans throng to jog, in-line skate, watch sailboats, or enjoy a picnic.
The beacon of the port area, erected in 1896, has a 230-foot clock tower modeled after the campanile of the cathedral in Seville, Spain. On the morning of April 18, 1906, the four great clock faces on the tower, powered by the swinging of a 14-foot pendulum, stopped at 5:17, the moment the great earthquake struck, and stayed still for 12 months
An added bonus and a San Francisco favorite is the Farmers' Market which is open on Saturdays from 8am to 2pm and Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to 2pm. There you can find Northern California fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy, flowers, and readymade snacks by a few local restaurants. You can also pick up locally made vinegars and oils Drop in on Sunday from 8am to 2pm for the gardener's market, which focuses on plants but also has a bit of produce. Leave a Comment Directions: The Embarcadero at foot of Market St
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The Ferry Building, one of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks, stands on the original site of the 1875 wooden Ferry House. The building that presently exists was originally built in the late 1800’s. Construction commenced in 1896 and the building opened in 1898. Long since then, many incredible San Francisco merchants inhabit the Ferry Building with great fresh choices of food, wine, grocery items and other amazing delectibles.
It was opened to the public in 1898, when getting around the bay area via ferry was the only way. The Italian looking clock tower and long building sitting on the bay was an impressive sight. It survived earthquakes and the decline of ferry service in the bay area. Today it's been reborn and is once again the gem it was in years past. The shops are all high end, and currently they are not overrun with knick-knack or T-shirt shops like other places in the city. You will find cheeses, breads, Italian ice cream, caviar bars, chocolates, wines, flowers, mushrooms and teas and coffees. There are wonderful floral shops, kitchen stores, bookstores and much more. It is full of rare and unusual finds, a perfect place to find a one-of-a-kind gift.
On Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, the area in the back of the Ferry Building hosts one of the BEST Farmer's Markets in California. Farmers from Napa and Sonoma bring in their produce to sell. You will find flowers, fruits and vegetables that are the top of the line. Everything has just come off the farm or out of the bay. Even if you are only here for a visit, stop by and take a look. I suggest getting some bread, fruit and cheese and sit by the water and enjoy a great snack with a world-class view.
Open Daily 10am-5pm
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The Ferry Building stands at the end of Market Street and you will see the clock tower as you drive into the financial district downtown. Not only can you take a ferry ride to the lovely villages across the bay of Sausalito & Tiboron, but also you can enjoy the open market inside the ferry building and shop for a specialty olive oil or some other goumet specialty. Leave a Comment
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If you are in town during the weekend, trying jogging through the financial district and along the Embarcadero. Along the waterfront, from about the Giants Baseball Stadium, jog under the Bay Bridge and past the Hills Brothers Coffee building, the Bow & Arrow Monument, Ferry Building, and through to Pier 39, the concrete is generally smooth and the space wide enough for joggers, rollerblade enthusiasts, and cyclists. During the weekend, the financial district is virtually empty of traffic in the morning, so cycling is generally very safe except for the occasional piece of uneven pavement. I recommend taking breakfast at the Ferry Building Marketplace, but there are countless numbers of coffee shops from the ballpark through the financial district to Pier 39. If jogging through the financial district, don't forget to jog up the escalator and through the normally empty third level rooftop gardens of the Embarcadero Center 1-4 Shopping (don't get this confused with the ferry building, it's a several block long mall in the center of the highrise buildings, Sacramento to Clay Streets), which has great views of the highrises above and intermitent views of the ferry building and the bay. Leave a Comment Directions: Begin at the Ballpark or Hills Brother Coffee Building area below the Bay Bridge where the morning sun first shines on the city. Then, travel north to as far as you like. Loop back through the Financial district, if you are jogging or on a bicycle.
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A great looking building that hosts delicious specialty shops inside, and the really fun and excellent Farmers Market four days a week - Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
You can buy some of the best culinary items in the world (some of the chocolate is to die for) and then sit out back and enjoy it with a great view of the bay.
At this link is an excellent article with details on the Slanted Door and a few of the other excellent places to eat in the Ferry Building:
Ferry Bldg Leave a Comment
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Once serving as a major transportation hub before the Golden Gate and Bay bridges were built, the Ferry Building was recently renovated to again provide transportation to Larkspur and Sausalito. Besides the Golden Gate Ferry service that operates at the building, the main floor market place is a mecca to foodies and showcases California agriculture and cuisine. And ... it's just plain fun to browse!
The Marketplace runs along the main floor, with offices on the 2nd and 3rd floor.
My fave shops were:
Frog Hollow Farms - Fresh fruit, preserves and pastries
Lu Lu Petite - Condiments galore
Recchiuti Confections - Unusual chocolates (try the lavender vanilla cremes and the fleur de sel caramels)
Far West Fungi - All things fungi plus truffles in all forms; go on, buy that bottle of black truffle oil you've been wanting
Stonehouse California Olive Oil - Make sure to try the blood orange and roasted garlic olive oils Leave a Comment
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When coming from Market Street to the Embarcadero, the first thing you see is the Tower of the Ferry Building.
Now it has been restored and houses lots of shops, restaurants, as Slanted Door, where we met Rochelle.
Here it stops the F streetcar…
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Taking the ferry can be fun, but going sailing in the bay is so much more. As long as you don't have a weak stomach or have a phobia of the ocean, this is one event in San Francisco you don't want to miss. I planned a surprise 30th birthday for my husband on this boat (the Sunday afternoon sail), and it went off great. I had no idea that we would have such a wild time. The skippers that run this are top-notch, although I do have to admit I don't remember talking to them that much. Mostly I was in the front of the boat getting soaked by the waves, as the boat was keeling heavily. We wound up with so many good memories from this excursion. I'd love to do it again.
Unfortuantely, one person lost their hat. Fortunately, no cameras were lost. So please be careful dressing for this event. Do not ever bring anything that you wouldn't mind losing to the ocean. Leave a Comment
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The Ferry Building is one of San Francisco's most popular landmarks. The building was built in 1892 and has survived earthquakes, freeway construction, and modern progress. At once it was the transportation focal point of the city. But with new roads, highways, and progress it all but became obsolete. Today it has been renovated and has a marketplace which contains many of the Bay area's famous specialty foods and produce. There are also excellent restaurants including The Slanted Door where I attended a VT meeting documented in a travelogue on this page.
The clock tower was modeled from the 12th century bell tower in the Seville Cathedral in Spain. Leave a Comment
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Here's a great place to spend time with friends. Have a bite to eat (no fast food either), stop by the wine bar for a drink, or maybe get everything you need for your picnic.
Several ferries dock here too, hence the name. Take the boat to Sausalito, Tiburon, Vallejo or Oakland.
The Ferry Building is easily recognizible too. Leave a Comment Address: The Embarcadero, at the end of Market Street
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