San Francisco Ferry Building and Farmers Market

• Hours: Open daily, but many businesses close by 6:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving¹, December 25 and January 1
• Location: On the Embarcadero near the Bay Bridge (directions below)
• How Long: Allow an hour or so for browsing, longer if you stay for a meal
• Best Time to Visit: Liveliest (and most crowded) on Saturday morning

The historic San Francisco Ferry Building was first built in 1898 as the city's transportation center. Its distinctive tower punctuates the waterfront, and since a 2003 renovation, it's become one of the city's premiere stops for foodies who love its boutique food shops, restaurants and the weekly farmers market.

Inside the San Francisco Ferry Building, open-fronted shops feature Northern California's boutique, specialty food-makers, including such Bay area standouts as Recchuiti Confections, Cowgirl Creamery's Artisan Cheese Shop, Blue Bottle Coffee and McEvoy Ranch Olive Oil.

Opportunities for a full meal at the San Francisco Ferry Building include Marketbar Restaurant, whose menu features ingredients from the market, Gott's Roadside (Taylor's Refresher) gourmet hamburgers and milkshakes and upscale Vietnamese restaurant The Slanted Door. Hog Island Oyster Company serves shellfish straight from their Tomales Bay farms, an especially good deal during their Happy Hour, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

San Francisco Ferry Building Farmers Market

Outside, the San Francisco Ferry Building hosts an organic farmer's market. Markets are held year-round, several days a week, but the largest is on Saturday mornings. Local cooks and food-lovers flock here for fresh seasonal produce, but even if you're on vacation and won't be cooking, you'll enjoy browsing the variety available and you can pick up some fresh fruit, ready-to-eat baked goods and other prepared foods.

Touring the San Francisco Ferry Building

Until the late 1930's when the bridges were built, the San Francisco Ferry Building served as the city's principal entry. Its 240-foot clock tower, modeled after Seville, Spain's 12th-century bell tower, has been a San Francisco waterfront icon for more than 100 years.

If you'd like to learn more about its architecture and history, San Francisco City Guides offers free San Francisco Ferry Building walking tours several days a week.

Getting to the San Francisco Ferry Building

The San Francisco Ferry Building is located on The Embarcadero, near where Market Street ends.

Ferry Building Marketplace
One Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA
415-693-0996
San Francisco Ferry Building website

Nearby lots are at 75 Howard St. and Embarcadero at Washington. Street parking in the area is metered and the Embarcadero Center parking lot is also close enough to walk. The historic Embarcadero F-line streetcars stop in front of the San Francisco Ferry Building. And of course, many ferries depart and return from behind the building.

¹ Thanksgiving is celebrated on the third Thursday of November.