Categories: Local & Entertainment; Travel & Events

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BART Stop Spotlight: Embarcedero

By Mitch.Kocen
updated about 1 month ago

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system can take you to a lot of great places. These guides will spotlight some of the most fantastic places along the track. This guide will focus on fun things to do at or near the Embarcadero station. Also known as Tourist central, there are a lot of crazy fantastic places to visit.

BART's website

Once again, use the trip planner to make sure you’re where you need to be when you need to be.

BART Stop: Embarcadero

I know this seems like a HUGE map, but you really can navigate easily. There’s a street car that runs down the Embarcadero that you can transfer from BART for free.

Embarcadero BART Station

298 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94105

Your point of origin for this magical journey. Spitting you out on the not spectacular Market St., there’s little incentive to linger around this stop. Get out and start moving!

The Bay Side of the Ferry Building

Ferry Building

Unless you come in to San Francisco by boat, you almost never see the neon signs welcoming you into the city.

Ferry Building Marketplace

1 Ferry Bldg , San Francisco, CA 94111

Once upon a time just a big concrete building where the boats drop you off, the Marketplace has evolved into a cornucopia of upscale shops and restaurants. They do a rocking farmer’s market on the weekends. It’s also the top secret way to connect the North Bay with the BART line. Just catch a ferry in Larkspur and ride it in. Then you can hop the Embarcadero BART and pretty much go wherever the hell you want without having to drive over a bridge. Here are some specific places to check out at the Ferry Building.

Once upon a time just a big concrete building where the boats drop you off, the Marketplace has evolved into a cornucopia of upscale shops and restaurants. They do a rocking farmer’s market on the weekends. It’s also the top secret way to connect the North Bay with the BART line. Just catch a ferry in Larkspur and ride it in. Then you can hop the Embarcadero BART and pretty much go wherever the hell you want without having to drive over a bridge. Here are some specific places to check out at the Ferry Building.

The Ferry Building

Ferry Building

Cowgirl Creamery Artisan

1 Ferry Building 1, San Francisco, CA 94111

Growing up in the North Bay, you really get to know and love the local cheese makers in your area. Sorry Sonoma Jack, but the best one is Point Reyes’ Cowgirl Creamery. The Ferry Building has a Cowgirl retail shop, and it’s TOTALLY worth stopping in for a sample. The Mt. Tam is slap you in the face delicious.

Growing up in the North Bay, you really get to know and love the local cheese makers in your area. Sorry Sonoma Jack, but the best one is Point Reyes’ Cowgirl Creamery. The Ferry Building has a Cowgirl retail shop, and it’s TOTALLY worth stopping in for a sample. The Mt. Tam is slap you in the face delicious.

Hog Island Oyster CO

1 Ferry Building 11 A, San Francisco, CA 94111

If you’re in the mood for a lighter meal, or you have enough money to get really full on oysters, check this place out. The food is good, but like sushi, I have a hard time eating a full meal off of oysters without dropping a LOT of money. Their Oysters Casino are worth the visit, though.

If you’re in the mood for a lighter meal, or you have enough money to get really full on oysters, check this place out. The food is good, but like sushi, I have a hard time eating a full meal off of oysters without dropping a LOT of money. Their Oysters Casino are worth the visit, though.

Ferry Building Interior

Ferry Building Interior

Scharffen Berger Chocolate

1 Ferry Building 14, San Francisco, CA 94111

Listen. I know that it’s sacrilegious not to bow down at the altar of Ghirardelli, especially in San Francisco. I don’t care. Scharffen Berger is just plain better. Sure, you can’t get fancy ice cream sundaes there (yet), but when it comes to their candy, they are tops.

Listen. I know that it’s sacrilegious not to bow down at the altar of Ghirardelli, especially in San Francisco. I don’t care. Scharffen Berger is just plain better. Sure, you can’t get fancy ice cream sundaes there (yet), but when it comes to their candy, they are tops.

Taylor's Automatic Refresher

1 Ferry Building San Francisco, CA 94105

It sounds like a place where a robot would go for a meal, and the giant neon sign ordering you to EAT isn’t helping, Still, once you get past the mechanical meets kitchy 50’s diner layout, you can get some really great (if not terribly inspired) food. Their onion rings are the best in the city, if you dig the real thick batter.

The Ferry Building Marketplace Website

Check it out to scope out anything I missed that might interest you.

 

Embarcadero Center

1 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA 94111

A great little shopping center along the water. There’s nothing you can’t find at every other mall in the Bay Area, but it’s still a cool place to stop and shop or eat if you’re at the Embarcadero to see the ships.

A great little shopping center along the water. There’s nothing you can’t find at every other mall in the Bay Area, but it’s still a cool place to stop and shop or eat if you’re at the Embarcadero to see the ships.

Fog City Diner

1300 Battery St, San Francisco, CA 94111

It’s pricey, but it’s worth it. Delicious food in an iconic train car shaped restaurant. You may remember it from “So I Married an Axe Murderer.” It’s not standard diner fare, so expect a nicer experience.

It’s pricey, but it’s worth it. Delicious food in an iconic train car shaped restaurant. You may remember it from “So I Married an Axe Murderer.” It’s not standard diner fare, so expect a nicer experience.

Fog City Diner

Fog City Diner

You’ll know it when you see it.

Coit Tower

1 Telegraph Hill, San Francisco, CA 94133

One of the most memorable parts of the San Francisco skyline, Coit Tower is something that every visitor to San Francisco needs to visit at least once. It gives you a great view of the city, and if you’re afraid of heights it’s like a terrifying thrill ride.

One of the most memorable parts of the San Francisco skyline, Coit Tower is something that every visitor to San Francisco needs to visit at least once. It gives you a great view of the city, and if you’re afraid of heights it’s like a terrifying thrill ride.

Coit Tower

Coit Tower

So pretty at night, like a little beacon of phallic might.

Pier 39

39 Pier, San Francisco, CA 94133

The ultimate in crass consumerism and touristy party time in San Francisco. All kinds of great shops (a fantastic magic store, a store for left handed people, novelty hats. Etc. Etc.) and chain restaurants. It hasn’t been the same since they took out the Alcatraz restaurant, but it’s still a great place to get a bowl of clam chowder and watch the seals do their thing.

The ultimate in crass consumerism and touristy party time in San Francisco. All kinds of great shops (a fantastic magic store, a store for left handed people, novelty hats. Etc. Etc.) and chain restaurants. It hasn’t been the same since they took out the Alcatraz restaurant, but it’s still a great place to get a bowl of clam chowder and watch the seals do their thing.

Pier 39

DSC15617, Pier 39, San Francisco, California

The “Turbo Ride” mentioned in the back is a cool motion simulated roller coaster, not unlike Disneyland’s Star Tours.

McCormick & Kuleto's Seafood Restaurant

900 North Point St. San Francisco, CA 94109

There are a lot of places on Fisherman’s Wharf to get some seafood, but the best is McCormick & Kuleto’s. You can get a seat inside for a great meal, or grab something from their stand outside for a fantastic lobster roll on the go.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! - San Francisco

175 Jefferson St, San Francisco, CA 94133

A museum of oddities and tricks. More fun than the wax museum, more exciting than the little comics that they used to publish about Ripley’s Believe It or Not. There’s a lot of interactivity to be found for a museum dedicated to old pictures, videos and wax depictions of the guy who can fit a bunch of billiard balls in his mouth. Don’t forget, you are given a choice. You don’t have to believe everything you see there.

A museum of oddities and tricks. More fun than the wax museum, more exciting than the little comics that they used to publish about Ripley’s Believe It or Not. There’s a lot of interactivity to be found for a museum dedicated to old pictures, videos and wax depictions of the guy who can fit a bunch of billiard balls in his mouth. Don’t forget, you are given a choice. You don’t have to believe everything you see there.

Alfred Hitchcock

Ripley's Museum

A display from the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum. Click to see a closer look to see what’s special about this picture.

International Spy Shop

555 Beach St, San Francisco, CA 94133

My most favorite store in the world. Not just wacky “spy” toys, you can buy some serious surveillance and security gadgets here, and a 007 branded lighter that doubles a digital camera. It’s like a toy store for espionage fanatics.

My most favorite store in the world. Not just wacky “spy” toys, you can buy some serious surveillance and security gadgets here, and a 007 branded lighter that doubles a digital camera. It’s like a toy store for espionage fanatics.

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