San Francisco’s Ferry Building is one of the city’s most iconic buildings, serving as a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. It’s a center for events, pop-ups, a farmers’ market, and countless excellent merchants who sell their wares daily in the building’s many stalls.
This April, the Ferry Building is hosting various great events, including live music, farmers markets, and more.
- Head West Marketplace
- The monthly market takes place on April 6 from 11 am to 5 pm.
- Gardeneur Plant Market
- A packed plant market from 10 am to 4 pm on April 13.
- Live music on the marketplace
- Every Tuesday: From 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, you can listen to live music at the Ferry Building market.
- Tiny Plants, Big Joy
- create a mini-living magnet with plans on April 13 from 10 am to 4 pm.
- Daisy Refinery Pop-up
- Refill your household products and body care products to celebrate Earth Month on April 25 from 11 am to 5 pm.
- Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
- Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays: This popular market is regarded as one of the finest farmers’ markets in the country and is frequented by high-profile chefs and farmers alike.
- Mondays Wellness
- Every Monday, the Ferry Building hosts a free vinyasa yoga class
- Mahjong Wednesdays
- Play Mahjong every Wednesday from 3 to 6 pm. All levels are welcome.
Keep a close eye on the Ferry Building’s events calendar as fun pop-ups and events occur throughout the year.
History of the Ferry Building
American architect A. Page Brown designed the Ferry Building in 1892, taking inspiration from the Giralda bell tower in Seville, Spain. Construction was completed on the edge of the Bay in 1898, and it served as the city’s portal for ferry fleets and trains. As many as 50,000 people commuted by ferry, making the building one of the world’s busiest transit terminals at the time. Thanks to its sturdy structure, the building survived both the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes with minimal damage.
Upon construction of the Golden Gate and Bay Bridge, ferry transit became obsolete, and much of the Ferry Building was converted into office space in the 1950s. It was also obscured by the massive elevated Embarcadero Freeway for 35 years, which came down after the 1989 earthquake.
The Ferry Building underwent an intensive 4-year restoration and reopened in 2003 as we know it today. It contains a world-class food marketplace promoting regional artisans and high-quality goods from Northern California. The ferry terminal continues to operate, connecting San Francisco to nearby Oakland, Alameda, Richmond, and more.
Ferry Building merchants
You truly can’t go wrong with any of the Ferry Building’s merchants, all of whom are celebrated local artisans in their field. Their expansive outdoor dining area has excellent views of the Bay.
Dining options are abundant, with both sit-down restaurants and grab-and-go meals available throughout the building. Some of our favorites include Red Bay Coffee for unique drinks like their popular Charcoal Vanilla Latte, Humphry Slocombe for out-of-the-box ice cream flavors (bourbon and corn flakes, anyone?), and Hog Island Oyster Co. for fresh oysters and shellfish with beautiful Bay views.
Artisanal products include everything from pottery to caviar. The Epicurean Trader is an essential stop for small-batch products to round out a luxurious charcuterie board, among other things. Heath Ceramics specializes in mid-century American pottery, and Benedetta brings high-quality sustainable beauty products. Pick up your weekly loaf from Acme Bread Company, or treat yourself to some “bean-to-bar” chocolate products from Dandelion Chocolate.
Visiting the Ferry Building
The Ferry Building is open daily from 7 am-10 pm, but hours for individual businesses vary. Find it on the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street at One Ferry Building in San Francisco.
By Jamie Ferrell and Dana Flynn