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. Read on for the best things to do at the Ferry Building this month.
Visit the Ferry Building website for more details about each of these events.
One-time events at the Ferry Building
- Father’s Day activities
- June 11 (10am-4pm) – A free craft day to create trophies, ties, and candy cards for fathers and father figures.
- Cookie Decorating Class
- June 15 (5:30pm) – Make ice cream cookies with local bakers Maya and Murrah.
- 6th Annual Black Food & Wine Experience
- June 17 (7-11pm) – The Grand Tasting event for SF’s week-long Black Food & Wine Experience. Sample food, wine, and cocktails of the African Diaspora.
- Awesome Orchestra Serenades the Marketplace
- July 9 (12-2pm) – Ring in the Ferry Building’s 125th anniversary at this symphony concert featuring 100+ musicians.
- Pop ups on the Plaza: Juneteenth on the Waterfront
- June 10, Sept. 23, and Dec. 9 – These recurring events celebrate local Black-owned businesses at Foodwise‘s Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market.
- A Very Ferry Birthday Party
- July 13 (11am-2pm) – Celebrate the Ferry Building’s 125th anniversary with free ice cream from Humphry Slocombe, Ferry Building merch giveaways, and more.
Recurring events at the Ferry Building
- Free Community Yoga
- Wednesdays (11am-12pm): An outdoor yoga series on the Ferry Building Back Plaza for all levels.
- HEAD WEST Marketplace
- First Sundays (11am-5pm) – A local outdoor marketplace showcasing the best makers, crafters, designers, and artists in the Bay.
- Wednesday Flight Nights
- Select Wednesdays (4-7pm) – Taste a selection of rare and famous wines at the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant.
- Live Music on the Plaza
- Thursdays (4-6pm) – Bay Area musicians will perform live for the Ferry Building lunch crowd.
- Gardeneur Plant Market
- Second Sundays (10am-4pm) through September – This beloved plant market sells a variety of indoor and outdoor plants on the South Plaza.
- Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market
- Tuesdays & Thursdays (10am-2pm) / Saturdays (8am-2pm): 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.
Keep a close eye on the Ferry Building’s events calendar, as fun pop-ups and events occur throughout the year. The building is also available for private events.
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 to office spaces 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 which 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.
What’s more, the popular Fog City Flea pop-up market became a permanent installation at the Ferry Building this year.
Visiting the Ferry Building
The Ferry Building is open daily from 7am-10pm, but hours for individual businesses vary. Find it on the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street at One Ferry Building in San Francisco.