The Ferry Building in San Francisco is not only a historical landmark, but a world class food hall full of artisanal and gourmet delicacies. They have one of the best farmers’ market featuring a variety of produce and artisanal food from local farmers and vendors. It’s also an excellent place to enjoy gourmet food while enjoying the incredible views of the bay. With over 50 shops in the building, it may seem challenging to narrow down what to eat. In this article, we’ll cover some of the best Ferry Building San Francisco restaurants that are highly recommended.
General Hours: 10am-7pm (check each merchant for specific hours) Farmers Market: Tues & Thurs: 10-2pm, Sat: 8-2pm Visit: Website
History
The Ferry Building first opened in 1898 as the transportation focal point for those arriving by ferry. At one point, it was the busiest transit terminals in the world. With the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge, it eventually became obsolete and transitioned into office space in 1955. In 2003, it opened up as the San Francisco Marketplace, which is a public food hall and marketplace committed to the Bay Area’s vast ethnic diversity and gathering of world-class food, culture, and cuisine.
Ferry Building San Francisco Restaurants
Hog Island Oyster Co.
Hog Island Oyster Co. is one of my favorite places to enjoy high quality fresh seafood on the beautiful waterfront. They are famous for their oysters, which are brought over from their very own oyster farm in Tomales Bay, CA. Their oyster farm is a trip in itself, which is highly recommend as an day trip from San Francisco. This is where I first understood why oysters are so popular – they need to be fresh and eaten with their signature vinaigrette, which together adds an explosion of flavor. So even if you’re not an “oyster person”, I highly recommend giving them a try. They have both indoor and outdoor seating where you can enjoy the stunning views of San Francisco Bay, the Bay Bridge, and Treasure Island. They usually have a line so try to get there early!
Location: Ferry Building, #11, San Francisco, CA 94111 Hours: Open daily 11-8pm Visit:Website | Yelp
Delica
Delica is a Japanese delicatessen that sells healthy and delicious bento boxes, Japanese curry, and many other side dishes. They are a grab-and-go style, making it a quicker alternative to the other eateries within the Ferry Building. They remind me of Japan’s popular “depachika”, which are basement level gourmet food markets. As someone who is Japanese and very particular about her Japanese food, I can attest that their food is made of high quality ingredients and is very authentic. I highly recommend their bentos as you get to taste different items in one go and their Japanese curry is pretty good.
Gott’s Roadside, also known as wine country’s finest burgers, serves American roadside classics with a modern twist. They use high-quality local ingredients such as Niman Ranch beef and Cowgirl creamery cheese. Known for their burgers, fish tacos, fries, and milkshakes, as well with their nice wine and beer selection. I’m always a big fan of places that use real organic ice cream (Strauss) in their milkshakes. Originally founded in 1999 by the Gotts brothers, their restaurant in St. Helena, is their original location and a great place to stop by when visiting Napa Valley.
This restaurant has lots of outdoor seating and is facing Embarcadero (the main street), making it a great place for people-watching on a nice sunny day. Not to mention, it’s also very kid and dog friendly.
Miette is a charming pastry shop full of artisanal treats and desserts. They resemble patisseries in Paris and all their macarons, candy, cookies, and confection reflect this style in quality and presentation. They are my favorite place for cupcakes with their decadent frosting that I savor with every bite.
Acme Bread is one of the pioneers of the artisanal bread movement in America. They are known for their smokey-tasting pain au levain and of course sourdough breads. They are mainly a wholesale company, but their store in the Ferry Building, along with their original Berkeley location are the only places that carry their whole array of sourdough selections.
El Porteno Empanadas is a gourmet Argentinian bakery that makes their empanadas using traditional techniques and are baked, not fried. They use fresh, local ingredients, and come in both savory and sweet varieties. One bite of their buttery and flaky empanadas is all you need to understand why they are probably the most popular luxury to go snacks in the Ferry Building.
Humphy Slocombe is an ice-cream parlour known for their unique ingredients and combinations like “secret breakfast” (bourbon ice cream mixed with house-made cornflake cookies). They are consistently on the list for “Top 5 Ice Cream Shops in America” in the national press like The New York Times, Bon Appetit, and also Food Network. Expect to see long lines, but they move pretty quickly are well worth the wait.
