​San Francisco’s Ferry Building has a rich historic past. It opened in 1898 as a train depot. During the Gold Rush days, arrival to San Francisco by ferry became the primary way to reach the city, with over 50,000 people per day arriving and departing. The Ferry Building greeted them with an elegant two-story public area with beautiful interior arches and overhead skylights.

​As the automobile became popular and the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge opened, the Ferry Building welcomed very few travelers. By 1955, much of the building was converted to office space. After the 1989 earthquake, San Francisco leaders created a plan for the waterfront, which included the redevelopment of the Ferry Building.

The Ferry Building reopened to the public after an extensive four-year restoration. Many of its original architectural attributes were restored and now the space functions as a vibrant marketplace, where locals and visitors meet to enjoy many of the region's artisanal food purveyors. In 2023, the Ferry Building celebrated its 125th anniversary. During a recent voyage on Ruby Princess, I embarked on a quest to explore the unique artisan foods and crafts offered at today’s Ferry Building. Here are just a few.

​Upon entering the Ferry Building, I found Far West Fungi, established in 1982. This premier provider of gourmet mushrooms and culinary experiences offers a wide range of premium mushrooms and mushroom-based products. 

The array of freshly cultivated mushrooms, dried mushrooms, powders, truffle products, teas, and medicinal tinctures was impressive. They even have kits for growing your own mushrooms at home, which caught my attention as a unique gift idea.

The Carmel Honey Company, a business that began as a fifth-grade homework assignment for young entrepreneur Jake. Now in college, Jake continues to tend to his bees in Monterey County, supplying natural honey to his retail pop-up in the Ferry Building and other locations in California.

Honeys range from Wildflower to Orange Blossom, Sage and Real Raw Honeycomb. Honey-kissed products include Honey Macadamia Nut Caramel Corn, Beeswax Bath & Beauty Products, and even Sweet Honey Dog Treats.

Stonehouse California Olive Oil, a woman-owned and operated business, grows their olives on several Northern California farms. Many of the groves are certified organic, and the olives are packaged sustainably. Their award-winning California Extra Virgin Olive Oils are certified Extra Virgin by Modern Olives, a third-party lab. Tastings are available.

The Village Market is another culinary treasure trove, filled with gourmet products from around the world and a collection of items exclusively sourced from local purveyors. Shelves were packed with everything a chef might need, from condiments and spices to teas and kitchen towels.​

​For wine enthusiasts, the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant is a haven. The dark wood wine bar is a perfect spot to taste local California wines. Whether you prefer whites, reds, sparkling, or still wines, the selection here is impressive. It's a delightful place to find the perfect bottle to take home or to enjoy with friends and family.

Looking for a decadent pairing with a bottle of champagne? Tsar Nicoulai Caviar is the place to enjoy fresh California caviar onsite or at home. The team takes pride in their fish, which are farmed sustainably in pristine conditions and fed a natural diet.

​Sweet tooth? Miette Patisserie, founded by lifelong baker Meg Ray in 2001, brings a taste of Parisian life to the Bay Area. The variety of sweet treats, including Parisian macaroons, chocolate eclairs, gingerbread cupcakes, handmade confections, and cookies, is irresistible. Be sure to sample the Turkish Delights candies, flavored with passionfruit, pomegranate, and blackberry.

Dandelion Chocolate is renowned as a bean-to-bar chocolate factory, whose production team handcrafts their small-batch chocolate products. The process, which involves roasting, cracking, sorting, grinding, and preparing the chocolate, results in delectable bars, truffles, syrups, drinking chocolates, and chocolate pastries. They also offer tours of their factory located in San Francisco's Mission District.

​The Ferry Building also house a curated collection of artisans and locally made crafts. Book Passage, a charming indy bookstore, offers a selection of regional maps, guidebooks, and novels written by local authors such as Armistead Maupin. They also showcase beautiful stationery and postcards crafted by local artists and photographers.

Maison Verbena, with its curated collection of luxury scented candles and soaps, lives by the mantra "The Basics of Beautiful Living." Their three simple candle collections – Signature, Vineyard, and Reserve – and their soaps, available in scents like Verbena, Lemongrass, French Lavender, and Mimosa, make it difficult to choose just one. For those who can't decide, they offer a Reserve Collection Sampler, which I found divine.

Heath Ceramics, one of the few remaining mid-century American potteries, places a strong emphasis on design and handcrafted techniques. Their dinnerware, used in many top restaurants, and their tiles, which adorn renowned buildings, are beautifully crafted. The collection of dinnerware, tabletop items, glassware, tiles, accessories, and décor are destined to become heirlooms. The staff ensures that everything is packed "travel ready," so it will arrive home safely.

​The Ferry Building's blend of history, culture, and artisanal offerings ensure an enriching culinary and shopping experience. Each vendor and craftsman is happy to share a piece of their passion and creativity, reflecting the vibrant spirit of San Francisco. You're sure to depart the Ferry Building with an armful of treasures for yourself, and friends and family back home.