From Betsy Malloy,
Your Guide to California Travel.
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• Hours: Open daily
• Location: Just above the waterfront at the west end of Fishermans's Wharf
• How Long: A few minutes to a few hours, depending on how much shopping you do, and whether you stop for a snack or meal
• Best Time to Visit: Any time

Domingo Ghirardelli came to San Francisco during the 1849 Gold Rush, making his fortune by selling chocolate. Today's Ghirardelli Square was originally built as a woolen mill in 1864, and the Ghirardelli Company moved here from Jackson Square in the late 1890s. The chocolate factory is elsewhere these days, but you'll find a retail outlet and sweet shop here.

Shopping and dining are the primary activities at Ghirardelli Square, but you can also enjoy special events that include the Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival, held in September.

Ghirardelli Chocolate Chocolaterie & Cafe: The gift shop sells chocolate in San Francisco souvenir packs. For a chocolate fix on the spot, stop by the dessert and coffee cafe. To avoid long lines at the shops nearest the entrance, head for the other end, where you'll find another one selling the same items, but much less busy.

Sights Near Ghirardelli Square

• Cable Car Turnaround: The end of the Hyde Street cable car line is at Hyde and Beach near Ghirardelli Square. You can get good photos at the big cable car turnaround here, but when you're ready to get on, you'll have a shorter wait at the end of the Powell line at Taylor and Bay. Both lines go to the same end point near Union Square.

• Street vendors: As you walk up the hill from the cable car turnaround to Ghirardelli Square, there are usually a lot of street vendors along Beach Street. Their prices are reasonable and quality is good.

• Buena Vista Cafe: Hyde at Beach. Local lore says this is where Irish coffee made its U.S. debut, and they sell the hot coffee-and-whiskey drink by the hundreds.

• Maritime Museum: 900 Beach Street. A ship-shaped building, housing displays of ocean-going history.

• Aquatic Park: Just below Ghirardelli Square, this protected cove is a good place for kids to play in the sand, and there's an outdoor shower nearby to clean them up afterward. The grassy area above the water is a good place for a rest or a romp. Fourth of July fireworks go off from the end of the pier.

Ghirardelli Square Review

We rate Ghirardelli Square 2 stars out of 5. It's basically just another place to shop for souvenirs and decorative items, and you can buy their chocolate almost anywhere in town.

Others may disagree. You can see what other people just like you think about it, then bookmark this page and after you've been there, come back and tell us what you think.

What do you think of Ghirardelli Square as a tourist destination?

• 0 = Yuck! Just say no to this tourist trap
• 1 = So-So More fun than a night in jail, but you might enjoy a good nap more
• 2 = OK Some people find it interesting. I didn't
• 3 = Good Go if you have time, but it's not a big deal if you miss it
• 4 = Great I really liked it. I think you will, too
• 5 = Awesome! It's a must-see sight that I recommend to everyone

Getting to Ghirardelli Square

Ghirardelli Square
900 North Point Street
San Francisco, CA
Ghirardelli Square Website

From Fisherman's Wharf, walk west. The Powell-Hyde cable car will let you off just below Ghirardelli Square. If you're driving, you'll find it bounded by Beach, Larkin, Hyde and North Point Streets. The parking garage entrance on Larkin between North Point and Beach Streets. You'll also find free, four-hour parking toward the water from North Point Street on Van Ness.