San Francisco’s Embarcadero: A Local’s Guide To The Perfect Waterfront Walk

If you’re blessed with a sunny day in San Francisco, cancel your other plans and head straight for the Embarcadero.

Stretching along the city’s eastern waterfront, the Embarcadero packs an incredible amount of goodness into a relatively walkable route.

Over the course of a single day, you can browse one of the country’s best farmers’ markets, snack your way through the Ferry Building, visit museums, ride historic streetcars, play antique arcade games, watch sea lions, eat fresh seafood, take in bay views, and even hop on a boat to one of America’s most infamous prisons.

What I love most about this part of SF is that there isn’t really a need to rush. The entire waterfront is designed for wandering. And if the sun is out? EVEN BETTER!

This is one of the most beautiful walks in the city. The Bay Bridge sparkles in the distance, sailboats drift across the water, palm trees line portions of the promenade, and nearly every few hundred steps seems to offer another excuse to stop for food or a photo.

While you could technically rush through the highlights in about an hour or two, I think the Embarcadero is best enjoyed as an all-day affair. Start with breakfast at the Ferry Building, work your way north at your own pace, and see where the day takes you!

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Hit the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Saturdays

If you’re in SF on a Saturday, do yourself a favor and plan your morning around the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. It’s one of the best examples of why Northern California has earned its reputation as one of the country’s great food destinations.

Whenever Papu and I start brainstorming about spending a Saturday in the city, this market is usually the first thing that pops into our heads.

We’ve been countless times, and despite there being more than 100 vendors to browse, we almost always make a beeline straight for Primavera, the Ferry Plaza outpost of Sonoma County-favorite El Molino Central.

Their mole-smothered pork tamales are one of my absolute favorite market breakfasts anywhere, and if we’re especially hungry, we’ll tack on an extra plate of chilaquiles. So, SO delectable.

The market stretches across the front of the Ferry Building, along the Embarcadero, and even onto the rear plaza overlooking the Bay.

You’ll find oodles of farmers selling seasonal produce, artisan cheeses, fresh flowers, local honey, baked goods, prepared foods, and enough snacks to completely derail any lunch plans you thought you had!

If Mexican fare isn’t your thing that early in the AM, you can stand in line for Roli Roti (gourmet rotisserie, a local fave) or Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen (bagels), just to name a few.

Browse the Ferry Building Marketplace

When you’ve finished grazing your way through the farmers’ market outside, head into the Ferry Building. Today, it’s one of the best food halls in California, but the building itself is just as interesting as what’s inside.

Completed in 1898, the landmark served as the city’s main transportation hub before bridges were built.

Travelers arriving by ferry from across the Bay would pass through the Ferry Building’s grand hall on their way into the city, making it one of the busiest transit terminals in the world during the early 1900s.

Today, it’s still one of the most recognizable buildings in San Francisco and serves as the gateway to the Embarcadero. Admire the Beaux-Arts architecture, watch the boats/ferries come and go, and appreciate how much history is packed into this waterfront stretch.

The colorful vintage F-Line streetcars passing by only add to the old-world charm!

Inside, you’ll find dozens of artisan vendors selling everything from fresh cheese, oysters, and pastries to mushrooms, coffee, and handmade chocolates.

Before committing to anything, I recommend you start by just wandering through the building, sampling whatever looks good, and only once you’ve taken stock of what’s in there, go off and get whatever called to you!

For first-timers, here are a few spots I find yummy, delightful, or just fun to peruse:

• Acme Bread Company — A Bay Area institution famous for its crusty artisan breads.
• Humphry Slocombe — Home to one of my favorite ice cream flavors anywhere: Vietnamese Iced Coffee.
• Lunette — Cambodian-inspired noodle bowls that pack serious flavor.
• Far West Fungi — The mushroom vendor that locals line up for.
• El Porteño Empanadas — Excellent Argentine-style empanadas that make for an easy snack while exploring.

Take the Ferry to Alcatraz Island

Few attractions are more synonymous with SF than Alcatraz.

Located on a small island in the middle of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz has lived many lives throughout its history. It served as a military fort, military prison, federal penitentiary, and Native American occupation site, and eventually became one of the country’s most-visited national park attractions.

Most people know it as the prison that once housed notorious inmates like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly, but the island’s history extends far beyond its years as a federal prison.

If you’re into history, take a ferry from Pier 33 and explore the island through a variety of immersive tours.

The most popular option is the self-guided daytime visit, which includes the famous Cellhouse Audio Tour narrated by former correctional officers and inmates. There are also highly sought-after nighttime tours that offer additional programming, access to areas not always open during the day, and some truly spectacular views back toward the city skyline after sunset.

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My strongest memory of Alcatraz is actually from my visit as a kid. I was probably 12 or 13 years old, and for whatever reason, what stuck with me wasn’t the escape stories—it was seeing the tiny prison toilets right next to the beds! Haha.

Something about realizing people actually lived in those cramped cells made the whole experience feel very real. Decades later, that’s still the image that pops into my head whenever someone mentions Alcatraz!

Beyond the prison stories, the island’s military history, Native American activism history, and role within San Francisco Bay make it one of the most fascinating places in the city.

See Coralee (the mermaid of the Embarcadero)

A few steps north of the Ferry Building, you’ll find one of San Francisco’s more unusual public art installations: Coralee, a shimmering mermaid sculpture created by artist Dana Albany.

Constructed from recycled glass and mixed metals, Coralee originally debuted as part of the Radical Horizons exhibit connected to Burning Man. It’s super Burning Man-looking, right???

Up close, you’ll notice countless small pieces embedded throughout the sculpture, giving it a jewel-like appearance when sunlight hits it. The piece draws inspiration from ancient mermaid folklore in England’s Peak District while also encouraging visitors to reflect on environmental stewardship and ocean conservation.

Visit the San Francisco Railway Museum

If you’ve ever wondered why San Francisco’s historic streetcars feel so special, the San Francisco Railway Museum provides the answer.

This small but surprisingly engaging museum sits directly across from the Ferry Building and celebrates the city’s rich transit history. Exhibits include vintage photographs, historic artifacts, interactive displays, and even a full-size replica of a 1911 streetcar operator’s platform where you can pretend to drive a historic streetcar.

The museum itself doesn’t take very long to visit, but if you’re a train/automobile aficionado, it’ll provide that much more context to the significance of the cute F-Line streetcars you’ll see rumbling along the waterfront throughout the day.

Splurge on oysters at Hog Island Oyster Co.

Few foods feel more appropriate for a San Francisco waterfront day than oysters.

Originally founded in nearby Tomales Bay, Hog Island Oyster Co. helped put California oysters on the national map. Their briny local oysters are the obvious choice, but don’t overlook the grilled options or seafood chowder.

If you’re only ordering one thing, make it a dozen oysters paired with a glass of California white wine while looking out toward the bay.

Grab an award-winning croissant at Parachute Bakery

Parachute Bakery is one of the Ferry Building’s newest success stories—and one of the few bakeries that has ever managed to give me sticker shock before I even took my first bite.

When we first looked at the pastry offerings, I remember thinking, “Wait… HOW much for a croissant?” Then we tried one and immediately understood why people keep lining up.

The bakery made headlines when co-owner and chef Armand Armar won the 2026 Best Croissant San Francisco competition less than a year after opening.

While the classic butter croissant is excellent, I’d encourage first-timers to branch out and try one of their laminated cube pastries. The passionfruit version, filled with vanilla cream and passionfruit, is especially drool-worthy!

Arrive early if you can. The most popular pastries often disappear long before lunchtime!

Stop for a burger (and soft serve) at Gott’s Roadside

Originally founded in California’s premier wine country, Napa Valley, Gott’s Roadside has become one of NorCal’s most beloved burger joints.

The burgers and sandwiches are excellent, but honestly? We almost always end up ordering dessert first. Their soft serve (made with the famed Straus Family Creamery dairy) is one of our favorite treats in the Ferry Building!

On a recent visit, we also tried one of their oversized cookies, expecting something average, and instead got a surprisingly fluffy, bakery-quality cookie that was worth every calorie.

Get hands-on at The Exploratorium

I’ve visited plenty of interactive science museums over the years, but The Exploratorium remains one of the few that never get old. Yes, even for grown adults!

The museum is absolutely PACKED with hundreds of hands-on exhibits exploring science, perception, light, sound, psychology, and human behavior.

It’s nearly impossible to walk through without finding yourself touching buttons, spinning wheels, trying to figure out why you’re falling for optical illusions, and experimenting with things you probably haven’t thought about since elementary school.

If you’re traveling without kids, one of the best-kept secrets is Exploratorium After Dark, held every Thursday evening from 6–10 p.m. This event transforms the museum into one of the city’s most unique date-night venues.

You can explore all 650+ exhibits without the daytime crowds, grab a drink, attend talks and special programming tied to rotating themes, and even venture into the museum’s famous Tactile Dome (a maze navigated entirely in darkness).

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Visit Pier 39

Locals love to complain about Pier 39. I still think first-time visitors should go.

This is one of the largest tourist attractions in SF and despite how touristy it is, you gotta walk through at least once.

Pier 39 is home to dozens of restaurants, shops, activities for families and kids, and kitschy attractions (merry-go-round, a wax museum, 3D rides, candy shop, mini-donut shop, etc).

Fan of marine animals? Don’t miss the Aquarium of the Bay and the sights of the famous SF sea lions (they’re nearly always there!).

Play vintage arcade games at Musée Mécanique

When I say “vintage”, I don’t mean a pinball machine from the 80s. We’re talking WAYYYY older than that.

The first time Papu and I visited, we planned to spend maybe 15 minutes popping in for a quick look. Instead, we ended up staying nearly an hour feeding quarters into antique arcade games, laughing at bizarre mechanical fortune tellers, quirky little “peep show” machines, and competing against each other on century-old machines.

The collection at Musée Mécanique contains hundreds of vintage arcade games and mechanical amusements dating back decades (over a century even!), many of which are still fully operational. And yes, you are 100% encourage to play them.

You can commemorate your time there with a keepsake photo thanks to the old-school black-and-white photo booth on-site! We still have ours years later, and it’s one of my favorite photos of us.

This spot is easily one of the most charming attractions in all of San Francisco!

Eat your way through Fisherman’s Wharf

You can’t talk about the Embarcadero without eventually ending up at Fisherman’s Wharf.

I know Fisherman’s Wharf gets a lot of eye-rolls from locals who favor more “local” neighborhoods like North Beach, but I have a hard time being too critical of it because it’s tied to so many of my childhood memories in SF.

Growing up, this was always where we’d take visiting family and friends from New York whenever they came to visit. Looking back, I realize that’s probably true for a lot of Bay Area families.

This was where we’d walk along the waterfront, watch the sea lions, eat something fried, buy a souvenir we didn’t need (or just window shop if your family was as cheap as mine was LOL). You could leave with nothing but the vibes and somehow end up having a great time anyway.

Yes, it’s touristy. Very touristy! But sometimes, that’s part of the fun.

If it’s your first visit, cross the classics off your list: grab a sourdough bread bowl filled with clam chowder from Boudin, snack on Dungeness crab cocktail cups(when it’s in season, usually Dec to April), or order a half-and-half crab/shrimp roll and eat it overlooking the water.

The area is also packed with candy shops, seafood stands, souvenir stores, and street performers that create a fun atmosphere throughout the day.

And if you’re looking for a meal that feels a little more contemporary, head a few blocks inland to Abacá, one of San Francisco’s star Filipino restaurants.

Ideas On Where To Go Next…

At this point, you’ve got options: take public transportation back to where you came from or continue exploring additional neighborhoods in SF.

The easiest option to head back down the Embarcadero is to hop aboard one of the historic F-Line streetcars that run along the Embarcadero. They’re not only practical but also part of the attraction itself, with beautifully restored vintage cars from San Francisco and other cities around the world.

If you’re not totally burned out yet, continue into one of these nearby neighborhoods:

North Beach: San Francisco’s historic Italian neighborhood filled with espresso bars, old-school bakeries, cocktail lounges, literary history, cannolis, and tons of amazing seafood restaurants.

Chinatown: the oldest Chinatown in North America and one of the largest Chinese communities outside of Asia. Immerse yourself in the lantern-lined streets, traditional herbal shops, bakeries, produce markets, restaurants, and the iconic egg tarts at Golden Gate Bakery.

Haight-Ashbury: Few neighborhoods are as tied to a specific moment in American history as this one. This was the epicenter of the Summer of Love in 1967, and while the hippie movement has long since faded, the neighborhood still retains much of its counterculture spirit. Perfect for vintage shopping, record stores, colorful Victorian architecture, and exploring Golden Gate Park!

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