I love heading to the Ferry Building whenever I travel to San Francisco’s waterfront.

Originally built in 1898, this structure was renovated in 2003. Located at the end of Market Street in the Embarcadero area of this city, the Ferry Building has a wide variety of unique artisan food stores and restaurants including those that specialize in chocolates, caviar, cheeses, mushrooms, flowers, and cooking gadgets.

I’ve been told that the emphasis is on purely organic and that the restaurants are strongly encouraged to use the products that food vendors provide.

Regular free walking tours of the Ferry Building  are offered and start at noon on Saturdays and Tuesdays at the same time as the terrific Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

Not only does this farmers market offer a huge selection of products from around the area, it also has a unique free service that it provides on Saturdays. It’s called “Veggie Valet” and its for those customers who buy items there and want to have them held while they continue to shop.