Ghirardelli Square San Francisco

Shops, Restaurants and Other Things to Do at Ghirardelli

Ghirardelli Square San Francisco is on the western side of Fishermans Wharf. It is a small San Francisco attraction for those that love to shop. It is also a great place for those that want to buy some famous San Francisco Ghirardelli chocolates.

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is the main draw to the square. It is the location of one of the original chocolate factories in San Francisco. Chocolate lovers and other San Francisco tourists love to visit to buy special treats this famous square.

Located near the water on Beach Street, you can't miss it. The famous white Ghirardelli sign sits high on top of the building. You can see it from many blocks away.

How do you pronounce Ghirardelli? It is a little different than it looks -- "Gear-r-deli".

Find out more about Ghirardelli Square San Francisco in each of these sections. Click on a link to jump ahead to the topic that interests you the most.

History of Ghirardelli Square | What to See and Do at Ghirardelli Square

Sweet Treats at Ghirardelli | How to Get to the Square

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History of Ghirardelli Square San Francisco

Domingo Ghirardelli was an Italian immigrant. Growing up in Italy, his family introduced him to sugar based treats early on in his life. He always had a fascination with them and set out to start his own chocolate and candy company.

He first tried his skills in Peru in South America. However, he relocated to California during the height of the gold rush. He originally sold sweet treats and drinks to the gold miners.

A few years later he decided he wanted to open up a shop. In 1852, his dreams came true and he opened the first chocolate business in San Francisco. This business would later become known as the Ghirardelli Chocolate company we know today.

In 1893, his business continued to expand. To keep up with demand he moved his chocolate factory to the buildings in what is now known as Ghirardelli Square San Francisco.

Over the years, the company added buildings. They added and sold portions of the business. At one time, they also focused on mustard -- this is evident by signs on one of the buildings in the square today.

The company added the famous 15-foot high Ghirardelli Square San Francisco sign in 1923. Finally, in 1967, they moved the factory to San Leandro in the east bay.

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What to See and Do at Ghirardelli Square San Francisco

Ghirardelli Square San Francisco is just one square city block in size. Investors purchased and updated the original buildings of the factory shortly after Ghirardelli moved out. They turned it into a small retail area.

Here are the things to do and see at Ghirardelli Square San Francisco.

Buy Ghirardelli Chocolate & Other Treats: Most people come to the square to buy chocolates. They want to see what is under the famous white Ghirardelli sign that lights up the San Francisco skyline.

There are four places to buy Ghirardelli chocolates in the square. The first one is the main shop located on the eastern side in the main square. This is also where some of the original chocolate factory equipment is showcased.

Don't fall into the trap of standing in line waiting for hours just to buy some chocolates at this store. Yes, is it the main store, but you can also buy it at three other retail outlets in the square. Unless there isn't really a line at the main store, I recommend heading over to one of the other retail outlets, so you don't end up spending an hour or more in line.

The first is a small cafe tucked into the western side of Ghirardelli Square San Francisco. You can access it from the main square. It is a little smaller, but has many of the same treats available.

Another option is upstairs. You access this one from either Larkin or North Point Streets. It is located outside the square. To get there, exit the main square, head up the hill on Larkin Street and you will find this shop right at the end of the block.

The final location, also the newest one, is right along Beach Street. They recently tucked another small Ghirardelli shop on Beach Street, where you can quickly duck in for some of their famous hot chocolate or chocolate goodies. This is the smallest of the four locations, but perfect if the lines at the other three are too long.

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Shopping in the Square: There are also a handful of other small shops in the square. Most of these are cute little shops with unique souvenirs. Lolo of North Beach sells unique stationary, greeting cards and gifts. One of a kind is another shop with handcrafted gifts from local artists.

You will also find some food related shops such as Kara's Cupcakes. They have some of the best cupcakes in San Francisco. This is worth a stop for those with a sweet tooth!

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Dining on the Square: There are also a few restaurants on the square. You will find casual places such as Lori's Diner -- a 50s themed restaurant with burgers, fries and shakes.

There are also higher end restaurants such as McCormick and Kuleto's Seafood Restaurant. The restaurant sits right on Beach street and has amazing views of the bay.

Another favorite is The Pub. This establishment sits somewhere in between the other two. Featuring southern style BBQ and a full bar, this casual restaurant is a crowd pleaser.

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Wine Tasting: Cellar360 is another popular stop. This wine bar and restaurant features a large selection of wines. They have a tasting menu that allows you to stop by to sample some of their great wines. You can also dine at the restaurant -- if you prefer to enjoy your wine with dinner.

Many of the wines are also on sale as well as other culinary gifts. Cellar360 is right in the center of Ghirardelli Square.

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Tour the Square: If you are a history buff, then you might enjoy the free guided tours of Ghirardelli Square San Francisco. These tours are available just on Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 9:30 am.

During the tour, you will learn more about the history of the square. You do not need to register ahead of time for the tour. Simply show up at the concierge booth in the center of the Square a few minutes before 9:30 am and let them know you are interested in the tour.

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Browse the Internet or Check E-mail: Ghirardelli Square San Francisco now offers free internet access on the square. You can check your e-mail or tell your friends you are enjoying the day in San Francisco. Find the connection "Ghirardelli Square" to use their free internet service.

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You could spend as little as one hour or up to half a day walking around Ghirardelli Square San Francisco. It is a great historical marker in the city. It is worth a stop for a few minutes if you love sweets or want to buy some gifts.

Another thing you might enjoy is grabbing a coffee or hot cocoa at one of the Ghirardelli cafes and then strolling along the water. Ghirardelli Square San Francisco is right across the street from Aquatic Park. You can walk around the park or down the pier to get a better view of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.

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Sweet Treats at Ghirardelli

Okay, I'll admit. I love chocolate and can't resist the Ghirardelli chocolate squares. My favorite is their milk chocolate caramel filled squares. These yummy chocolate squares were first introduced in 1999 -- and my favorite is also one of the most popular.

You can find some fun San Francisco themed treats at all three of the Ghirardelli locations. If you aren't lucky enough to come for a visit soon, or want a replacement of the sweet treats you bought on vacation, you can easily find a wide selection of Ghirardelli chocolate and gift baskets online.

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Would you love to make your own Ghirardelli sweet treats? Wow your friends and family with recipes from this official Ghirardelli chocolate cookbook.

This cookbook is a bakers dream with over 80 recipes Find everything from cookies, bars and cakes to some of their world famous chocolate drinks.

Inside, you will find both simple recipes to extravagant sweets only found in the Ghirardelli shops. Twenty-five full color, mouth watering pictures showcase the final results of some of the best recipes in the book.

This is one of my favorites, but there are also a few other fun Ghirardelli cookbooks available. All have uncovered the secrets of these amazing sweet treats that you can find in Ghirardelli Square.

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Getting to Ghirardelli Square San Francisco

How do you get to Ghirardelli Square San Francisco? The easiest and cheapest way to get from Union Square or downtown San Francisco is by taking public transit. You can take the 30 bus outbound from Union Square to the Marina.

You can pick up the bus at Sutter and Kearney Streets in Union Square. Get off at North Point and Larkin Streets. You will see the Ghirardelli Square San Francisco sign when you exit the bus. This ride takes about 20 minutes. It is a crowded route so many other people will probably be looking for Ghirardelli also.

Another option is to take a cab from Union Square. This will cost around $10 to $15 and take only about 10 minutes. This is a faster -- and probably -- more pleasant way to get to Ghirardelli Square.

From the rest of Fisherman's Wharf, you can walk. It is on the western side of the neighborhood and a pretty quick walk. Walk all the way down Jefferson Street to the end and you will see it on your right -- just past the park. You can also walk down Beach Street until you reach the square.

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Already mapping out your trip to San Francisco? This Streetwise Compact San Francisco map is the perfect companion.

This small map is about 20% smaller than the standard Streetwise map. It is easier to slip into your bag or purse for quick reference during your trip.

Plan out your day or document the places you already visited. This laminated, accordion style map is easy to fold and unfold.

When folded, the map is only about the size of a check book cover. You can hide it away when not in use and pull it out for a look at where you are or where you are heading.

Find out more about the Streetwise Compact San Francisco map Interested in a larger map? Check the ratings, reviews and prices of these other San Francisco maps.

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Want to learn more about San Francisco? Here are some additional pages you might enjoy:

North Beach San Francisco: Located to the north of Fishermans Wharf is the Italian neighborhood of North Beach. This friendly San Francisco neighborhood is full of shops, bars and, of course, Italian restaurants. Discover everything there is to see and do in the North Beach neighborhood.

China Town San Francisco: Another popular neighborhood is Chinatown San Francisco. This unique neighborhood is another must visit. From the amazing food to the inexpensive shopping, you could spend an entire day just soaking in the liveliness of the culture here. Learn more about Chinatown and uncover the secrets of this popular tourist destination.

San Francisco Things to Do: Find information on other great neighborhoods in the city. From the Marina to the Mission, this section has all the details on what to expect from each neighborhood.

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One of the best ways to find your way around the city is the Hop On/Hop Off bus. You can buy one or two days passes.

This is a great first day activity in any city you are visiting. The San Francisco bus has 19 stops, which gets you from one end of the city to the other.

With stops in Union Square, Fishermans Wharf and other popular neighborhoods, you can quickly find your way around San Francisco. They also include recorded audio so you can learn more about the city by the bay during the ride.

The first bus starts in Union Square at 9am. The last bus leaves Fishermans Wharf at 4pm. This is a great way to get over to Ghirardelli Square San Francisco for a few hours or to other parts of the city.

Find pricing and learn more about the San Francisco hop on/hop off bus today!

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Are you looking for additional tips to plan your trip? Check out these great sections to help with the planning process.

San Francisco Lodging: Union Square, downtown San Francisco and Fishermans Wharf are three of the most popular neighborhoods for hotels. Find recommendations for different types of hotels in each location. In this section, you can also look at hotel recommendations by budget. Whether you are looking for a top of the line five star hotel or something a little more modest, you can find it all here.

Best San Francisco Restaurants: San Francisco is home to a wide variety of restaurants. Some of the best restaurants in the world are found inside the city limits. Discover some of the best by neighborhood or by cuisine.

San Francisco Nightlife: Where do the locals go to play at night? Find out some of the best places to go for dancing, drinks or even the theater. Are you looking for live music? You can find recommendations for that here too! Uncover some of the best places to spend your evenings during your trip to San Francisco.