The Embarcadero
About The Embarcadero
The 1989 earthquake collapsed the Embarcadero Freeway and gave San Francisco back its waterfront. Now this promenade runs from Fisherman’s Wharf to the ballpark, one of the great urban walks in America.
What to See & Do
The Ferry Building anchors everything. That clock tower spent decades hidden behind concrete, and now it presides over a marketplace that draws food obsessives from across the region. Saturday mornings the farmers market fills the plaza with produce that Bay Area restaurants build their menus around.
The historic streetcars run the full length of the Embarcadero, vintage cars from cities around the world painted in their original liveries. The F line connects the Ferry Building to Fisherman’s Wharf with views of the bay the entire way.
Walk south from the Ferry Building and the piers stretch into the water. The Exploratorium occupies Pier 15, a science museum that adults enjoy as much as kids. Pier 24 houses a photography collection that operates by appointment and rewards the effort to book ahead.
Oracle Park rises at the southern end where the Giants play from April through October. Kayakers paddle in McCovey Cove hoping to catch home run balls that clear the right field wall.
Where to Eat & Drink
The Ferry Building marketplace is the main draw. Cowgirl Creamery ages cheese in the back. Hog Island shucks oysters at the bar. Acme bakes bread that sells out by noon. The quality of vendors under one roof makes this one of the best food halls in the country.
Runners and cyclists share the waterfront path with tourists and office workers on lunch breaks. The flat terrain offers relief from San Francisco hills.
Getting There
The Embarcadero BART and Muni station sits directly beneath the Ferry Building. The F streetcar runs the full length of the waterfront. Walking the promenade end-to-end takes about 45 minutes and never gets boring. Come on a Saturday morning for the farmers market, or any clear evening for the sunset over the bay.
Things to Do
All activities →
Alcatraz Island
Book tickets 2-3 weeks ahead or you won't get on.
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Saturday morning is the main event. Get there by 9 AM for the best selection. The Tuesday and Thursday markets are smaller but less crowded. Inside and behind the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero.
Ferry Building
The Saturday farmers market out front is the main draw. Inside, Cowgirl Creamery, Acme Bread, and Hog Island Oysters are the standouts. Weekday mornings are less crowded. On the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street.
