Ferry Building Marketplace

The Ferry Building Marketplace occupies the 1898 Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street on the Embarcadero in San Francisco, California. The building, topped by a 245-foot clock tower modeled on the Giralda tower in Seville, was once the busiest transit terminal in the world. After falling into decline when bridges and freeways replaced the ferries, it was restored and reopened in 2003 as a food hall, and it is now a center of the city's artisan food scene while still serving commuter and tour ferries on the bay.

Inside, the long central nave is lined with shops and stands that favor Northern California producers. Visitors can find cheese from Cowgirl Creamery, coffee from Blue Bottle, oysters from Hog Island Oyster Co., bread, chocolate, olive oil, mushrooms, books and kitchenware, along with sit-down restaurants and casual counters. Windows at the bay side look out on the water, the Bay Bridge and the ferries that arrive and depart from the docks behind the building.

The outdoor farmers market operates on the plaza and sidewalks around the building on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with the Saturday market the largest. Growers sell seasonal produce, flowers, meat, eggs and prepared foods, and the setting draws both locals and chefs. A typical visit takes one to two hours, or more with a meal. The clock tower and the bay views from the waterfront promenade make good photo subjects, and the long hall itself is a pleasing architectural interior.

Crowds are heaviest on Saturday mornings, when the farmers market fills the plaza, and on weekend lunch hours. Weekday mornings and midafternoons are calmer. The building is reached easily by BART and Muni Metro to the Embarcadero station, and the F-line historic streetcar and several ferry routes end here, so arriving by public transport is practical.