Ferry Building Marketplace

The Ferry Building is located at the base of Market Street in the Embarcadero area. The area is a hustling and bustling intersection of many comings and goings. Ferries, buses and cable carts all arrive in this one spot to create the hive of activity. The building itself was opened in 1898 and was the entry port to the city. During the gold rush it was the only way people could reach the city and at its peak serviced 50,000 commuters per day. These days, it stands as a historic relic and monument to the times gone by. It links many of the San Francisco neighbourhoods and on rainy days, many seek shelter in the historic Ferry Building.

The building is beautiful and there are historical walking tours available. Tours are free and run on Tuesday and Saturdays by volunteers. The many merchants who have set up shop in the building provide a wide array of goods to visitors and locals alike. Sample the locally-made small batch salami from Boccalone Salumeria or grab a coffee from the much-loved Blue Bottle Coffee cafe. There is certainly plenty to eat and drink so be sure to stroll around before making your choice. Other shops include the Book Passage, a boutique book shop specializing in the books about culinary delights, travel and design. Heath Ceramics is also a must-see for the delicate pottery that has been produced in their local workshop for over half a century. Be sure to also pop by on the weekend to see the farmers market and the fresh produce brought in from the surrounding farmlands and urban workshops.