Ghirardelli Square
A red-brick square at the west end of Fisherman's Wharf, converted from an old chocolate factory. It is famous for its hot fudge sundae and offers views of the bay and Alcatraz.
Ghirardelli Square is the site of the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, which dates to 1893. Converted into a commercial plaza in the 1960s, it was one of the earliest adaptive reuse projects for industrial buildings in the United States. The giant neon sign on the roof is a landmark at the west end of Fisherman's Wharf.
Staff at the flagship store often hand out free chocolate at the entrance. The hot fudge sundae inside is very generous and best shared by two or three people, though lines are long during peak season. The square also has restaurants, bars and gift shops, and the terrace offers views of the bay and Alcatraz. It sits next to the terminus of the Powell-Hyde cable car and Lombard Street, so you can plan them into the same route.
Opening hours
Vendors approx. 09:00–21:00
Nearby sights
- Lombard Street
- Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39
- Coit Tower & North Beach
- San Francisco Cable Cars
- Chinatown, San Francisco
- Alcatraz Island
- Transamerica Pyramid
- Union Square