Situated on the city’s waterfront, the Ferry Building has been welcoming people from all walks of life since its erection in 1898. The building, which originally functioned as a train station and then a ferry terminal until the 1930s, was remodeled in the early 2000s. It reopened in 2003 as the Ferry Building Marketplace, a public market showcasing artisan crafts, food, wine and more. The open layout of the building, which includes a long central pass (the Nave), invites visitors and locals alike to experience the market from end to end. The arrangement of stalls and stores along the way makes the experience of perusing the shops similar to that of exploring an outdoor market. And if you feel like catching some real fresh air, the benches on the backside of the building offer a spectacular view of the Bay Bridge, while the street performers and skaters provide colorful entertainment from morning until night. So whether you are a foodie, a photographer, a lover of design, or just a person looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon, consider spending your day at some of our favorite Ferry Building destinations!
Miette Patisserie
Characterized by its chartreuse trim and floral accents, Miette is a charming take on a French patisserie. Miette, which is the French word for “crumb,” offers everything from pastries and cakes to gummies and hard candies. Among their most popular sweets are homemade vanilla marshmallows, caramel confections, and French macarons in flavors like chocolate-lavender and rose geranium. If you are looking for a truly unique sweet, test out Miette’s “ballpark brittle” – a marriage of peanut brittle and caramel corn sprinkled with pretzels.
Frog Hollow Farm
This diversified fruit stand is tucked away in an alcove off the central pass. Famous for their fresh peaches, Frog Hollow also offers a selection of seasonal dried fruit, fresh fruit “conserves,” and an assortment of baked goods. Some of their most popular pastries include stone fruit turnovers and scuffins (a cross between a scone and a muffin), made from their farm-to-table ingredients. On our visit, we picked up a bag of dried summer flare nectarines, which were delightfully sweet and chewy.
Beekind
If you are a bee-lover, you have to visit this quaint stand right on the central pass. Its rustic decor will make you feel like you are on the farm, harvesting the honey for yourself. Selling everything from honeysticks – in flavors like chai, chocolate, sour cherry, and blackberry – to 100% beeswax candles, Beekind doesn’t let any part of the hive go to waste. Because of their wide selection of natural products, Beekind is a great place to look for gifts. They also offer delicious samples of their infused honey flavors, so even if you aren’t in the market to buy, we encourage you to stop by and take a look!
Boccalone Salumeria
Situated in the center of the central pass, Boccalone Salumeria is the Ferry Building’s destination for Italian cold cut sandwiches and platters. The shop serves more than twenty varieties of handmade cured meats, which are made from sustainably raised, heritage-breed pork. Boccalone’s main attraction is their unique “Salumi Cones,” which feature either mixed salumi or prosciutto. There is also a custom salumi cone option for those who prefer to mix and match their premium meats. On our visit, we particularly enjoyed the prosciutto crudo sandwich with greens and olive oil (we added whole grain mustard for a kick) and we’ll certainly be back to try “The Messy Piggy” pulled pork sandwich with spicy pickled peppers.
El Porteño Empanadas
El Porteño Empanadas has a warm, welcoming aroma as you near the well lit display of savory pastries. You can choose from a selection of Pollo (Chicken), Carne (Beef), Fugazetta (Cheddar, onion, oregano), and the Acelga (Swiss chard, gruyere, pine nuts, raisins). If your sweet tooth is calling you, the specialty shop also offers Argentinian Alfajores de Dulce de Leche, two Argentinian cookies with a sweet dollop of dulce de leche in between.
Book Passage
Tucked away from the busy main corridor of the Ferry Building, Book Passage offers a cozy space to explore a wide selection of books while sipping a Peet’s Coffee, or waiting on your order of carne asada tacos from the nearby Mijita Cocina. From modern poetry to classic literature, science fiction to bible studies, the small but well-stocked bookstore caters to a range of interests. While exploring your favorite selections, the glass of the east facing wall provides a beautiful view of the bay. A cozier corner, enclosed in bookshelves, constructed on the other side of the store, is targeted towards a younger audience. Whether you’re looking for political books, biographies, young adult literature, or a gift for a bookloving little kid, Book Passage offers the classic bookstore experience in an increasingly digital world. (Book Passage has several other locations which host speakers, book signings, and writers’ workshops.)
Humphry Slocombe
Named for the co-founders’ favorite British sitcom characters, Mr. Humphries and Mrs. Slocombe from the 1970s show Are You Being Served, this ice cream shop is known for its out-of-the-box flavor combinations. Blue Bottle Vietnamese Coffee, Secret Breakfast (bourbon and cornflakes), Candied Ginger, Horchata Rose, and McEvoy Olive Oil are just a few of the flavors you may see on Humphry Slocombe’s constantly changing menu. They also serve other sweet treats, such as bacon peanut brittle and frosted almonds, which are delicious on their own or on top of a scoop of their ice cream. If you are a foodie with a sweet tooth, we guarantee this shop won’t disappoint!
Out the Door
If you’re the on-the-go kind of foodie, Out the Door is the perfect blend of carefully crafted Vietnamese food to go. Located across from the perpetually crowded Blue Bottle Coffee, Out the Door offers a wide selection of fun and delicious Vietnamese dishes, such as steamed buns, lemongrass pork, and green papaya salad. If you’re more of a do-it-yourself kind of foodie, you can pick up cookbooks at the Out the Door kiosk across the way, along with Chef Phan’s favorite cooking ingredients and utensils.
The Gardener
Located close to the front entrance, The Gardener is stocked full of original products from handmade ceramics to gardening tools. Handloomed and handpainted linens and instructive books welcome you to the artistically laid out shop. If you’re looking to furnish your home with unique and distinctive furniture or bowls, The Gardener is the shop for you. It markets a unique, clean, and earthy aesthetic, with wooden crafts, colorful teapots, and small tree-like centerpieces that will transport you from bustling city life to a quaint tea garden.
Benedetta
Located at the south end of the Ferry Building, Benedetta is an earthy shop that sells Sonoma County-based skin and body care formulas. Offering products like lavender body lotion and rose hydrosol, the shop’s sweet aroma will make you feel like you are picking the ingredients yourself. And if their wide range of aromatic lotions aren’t enough to entice you, their use of recyclable packaging, non-toxic cleaners, ethical businesses practices, and organic ingredients may be; Benedetta is perfect for the conscious consumer.
