The San Francisco Ferry Building has been around since 1898, built in a glorious Beaux-Arts style at the intersection of Market Street and the Embarcadero. It was the original gateway to the city, and boats once brought around 50,000 passengers a day into San Francisco.
Today, the Ferry Building is San Francisco’s premier food hall and a lively place to eat, drink, and shop, with 50+ shops, restaurants, bakeries, coffee stands, and a thrice-weekly farmers’ market. It’s also good for a rainy day in San Francisco, since everything is indoors.
Wander the Ferry Building on your own. Or, if you want your food served with local San Francisco history told by a knowledgeable guide, drop into a Farmers’ Market and Ferry Building walking tour.
In the meantime, here are my recommended places to Eat & Shop in the San Francisco Ferry Building.
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Parachute Bakery– French Patisserie with Twists
A new darling of the Ferry Building, opened in September 2025, and born from the culinary minds behind Michelin-recognized Sorrel, Parachute is where melt-in-your-mouth pastries can be yours if you’re willing to wait in line for them.
The item to secure is the Parachute Chocolate Entrement, a multi-layered chocolate dessert that resembles their logo: a parachute and a croissant.
Honestly, it looks like a piece of modern art, and it disappeared quicker than the ever-present queue of devoted pastry lovers.
You can also get morning buns, croissants, pain au chocolate, and my personal fave—the Everything Kouign Amann, a savory version of the classic pastry with scallions, everything seasoning, and a cream cheese-like mousse. Yum!
El Porteño -Golden Empanadas Worth the Line
There is always a line here, too, and I am often in it. This Argentinian empanada stop sells golden pastries filled with spicy beef, gooey cheese, smoky chicken, shrimp, and some vegetarian options too. Each is perfectly seasoned, hot, and ready to eat on the spot from a paper bag.
It’s the perfect midday lunch on the go, or a fuel-up snack before setting out to explore all the amazing things to do in San Francisco.
Tip: You can ask for the empanadas frozen, then take them home, wipe a little egg wash over the top, and bake.
Hog Island Oyster – Straight from the Source
If you can’t take a day trip to Point Reyes and Tomales Bay, stop here for the freshest bivalves in the city. The outdoor patio hums on sunny days, but I prefer the inside oyster bar. It faces the water and is a great perch for people watching.
They usually have a daily oyster selection to choose from, which you can slurp with mignonette or straight with lemon. You can also try them grilled with garlic and parsley, or opt for the oyster po’boy sandwich.
Oysters are super popular in San Francisco, and many places around the city have them on happy hour specials for just $1-$2 a pop. It’s a way to stretch your dining dollars in San Francisco, and I include it in my guide on How to Visit San Francisco on a Budget.
Nopa Fish– Sustainable California Seafood
Another newcomer to the San Francisco Ferry Building in 2025, Nopa Fish is part market, part casual restaurant, with a focus on sustainable and responsibly sourced seafood.
You can grab sandwiches, fish and chips, and seasonal small plates. They also sell gorgeous fresh catch fillets and seafood to take back to your Airbnb.
A16 La Pala –Roman-style Pizza
A spin-off of the beloved A16 restaurant in the Marina district, this counter-service spot serves Roman-style pizza al taglio, or pizza by the slice. Baked in large rectangular pans, the pizza is sold in square or rectangular portions.
You can also try focaccia sandwiches, salads, classic antipasti, and Italian pastries.
Lunette-Casual Cambodian
Lunette is a casual Cambodian restaurant from chef/owner Nite Yun, who opened in the Ferry Building in 2024.
The colorful spot is perfect for the quick, flavorful, and authentic noodle dishes, rice plates, and a to-die-for pork noodle soup.
Grab a table or sit at the L-shaped counter for wok-sizzling views. Closed on Mondays.
Fog City Flea Trading Post – Local Souvenirs & Vintage Finds
I seriously love this shop, but the word ‘shop’ hardly does it justice. It’s more like a 5,000-square-foot ode to made-in-San-Francisco goods. It’s hard to know where to look, to be honest, but you’re guaranteed to find a fabulous souvenir, and something for yourself too.
The emporium features vintage clothing, T-shirts, home décor, jewelry, hats, printed scarves, coffee mugs, and knick-knacks, all sourced from local makers.
It’s the perfect place to take a rest between stuffing your face and to pick up some San Francisco-sourced goods, too.
Arquet–Modern Med-Meets-Cali Cuisine
Taking over the space occupied by The Slanted Door (RIP fabulous restaurant and Charles Phan), this is the newest full-service restaurant in the Ferry Building, also from the team behind Sorrel. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner.
The coastal California menu is casual, sustainable, and designed for sharing. You can expect to find items like Dungeness crab brioche, roasted chicken, BBQ oysters, and ricotta dumplings. Reservations are essential, though you might be able to walk in and snag a seat at the bar.
Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream– Bold Flavors & Classic Riffs
This is the ice cream you scream for, and is known for its quirky flavors that blend novelty with deliciousness. Perhaps that’s why it’s been a beloved San Francisco institution since opening its first ‘scooperia’ in the Mission district in 2008.
Try some of the best-selling flavors like Secret Breakfast (bourbon & corn flakes) and Blue Bottle Vietnamese Coffee. My personal favorite is the Peanut Butter Fudge Ripple because chunks of peanut butter in my chocolate, or vice versa, take me back to childhood.
Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant– Sips from Around the World
A bottle shop, wine bar, and easy meeting point, this nearly 3,000-square-foot space has been a go-to for me for years as an easy spot to catch up with friends coming to the city from Larkspur or Sausalito on the ferry. Need a gift for a dinner party? Shop for California wine here!
The menu features cheese and charcuterie platters to nibble alongside a selection of California and world wines, poured by the glass or by the bottle. It closes pretty early (7 p.m.) so you can still dash out for dinner in the city.
Delica– Grab ‘n Go Japanese Classics
A great Japanese-California spot with fresh grab-and-go items like sushi rolls, salads, donburi, bento boxes, udon noodles, soup, and more. If they have the wasabi garlic potato salad, don’t skip it! Grab a table or bench outside and watch the ferries roll in with the tide.
If you’r a Japanese-food super fan, don’t skip a visit to San Francisco Japantown, one of the city’s most underrated neighborhoods.
Miette – The OG Cookies & Cakes Outpost
Cute as a French crumb (Miette means crumb in French), this has been a Ferry Building mainstay since the very beginning, arriving in 2005, and is the perfect place to shop for sweets.
What started as a Berkeley farmers’ market pop-up is now a beloved Bay Area go-to for French macarons, cookies, candies, cakes, and more.
If you’re curious about other neighborhoods and their food, check out a food tour. I do one once a year with my best friend and always learn something new. Plus it’s a fun way to spend time with family and friends.
