Whenever people ask me what to do in San Francisco, my first answer is always to check out the Ferry Building. And if you are lucky enough to be in San Francisco on a Saturday, that would be the best day to go! The Ferry Building Farmers Market is absolutely incredible with local produce, meats, cheese, flowers, pastries… and the list goes on. It’s kind of amazing to see all the different types of local food products in one delicious place.
The Ferry Building is such a unique and historic building, formally used as a transit center for larger ships and trains. Today, the Ferry Building is still an active ferry transit center for commuters and tourists, with hourly ferries taking you directly to Marin County, right across the bay. When I was younger, I used to take the quick 30-minute ferry on weekends from Marin’s Larkspur Landing into San Francisco with a few friends, always grabbing glazed doughnuts and treats at the on-board café.
After the ferry docks at the terminal, you are greeted by this large gray building with a grand clock tower. Entering through the glass doors into the building, the overwhelming gorgeous glass ceiling provides the perfect sky light onto the vendors and bustling customers below.
The shops in the San Francisco Ferry Building are every tree-hugging locovore’s dream. Grab your reusable bag, throw some braids in your hair and slip on your Birkenstocks and head down to the Ferry Building. Ok, the Ferry Building is not as hippy-like as I am making it out to be but you wouldn’t be out of place if you did dress the part.
Seeing the Ferry Building after living in Arizona, this old and familiar building suddenly had a new, unexplored life. The ceramics, oils, fresh bread and aged cheese, I wanted them all!
The farmers market produce was overflowing with fresh, local goodies! I loved looking through the seasonal selections, which were a little different from my regular Phoenix farmers market favorites. I could browse through colorful produce all day and these particular crops were extra vibrant. How fresh!
The best (and most hilarious) part of the market: the produce valet, where you can drop off your fresh produce and pick it up in a few hours when you are ready to take it home! Maybe when I am in San Francisco next time, i'll try out the produce valet 😉
stephen martinez says
Wow you took some amazing pictures and your details really bring the reader on your journey. I would love to live in a place where I can wake up to something similar to this as far as being able to pick fresh ingredients for meals for the day. The sense of community you showed in the pictures really speaks out to me because this is what I want most from the location that I choose to live in for the rest of my life.
Michele says
Thank you Stephen, and I also dream of being within walking distance from an amazing market like this! It really was a dream market.