Ghirardelli Square

Not much shopping to do here, but the plaza is beautiful and the ice cream shop is good. Banana Split and Warm Brownie Sundae are YUM! There’s a small beach across the street, a nice place to just sit and relax.

beautiful

The line may be long, but WORTH it to enjoy the treats!

Tourist trap. The shop doesn’t have much variety (compared to the shop at Pier 39), so you’re better off ordering from the 800 number. If you want to see a chocolate factory, Hershey is the place to go.

i used to work in an architecture firm whose office was in one of the restored chocolate factory buildings, the cocoa building, at ghirardelli square. it was great: there’s a beach across the street, there were amazing views of the bay and alcatraz, and they give out free chocolate downstairs.

Being a native Californian, I’ve been lucky enough to visit San Francisco several times. Somehow I never made it to Ghirardelli Square until this past February.

Although you can but Ghirardelli chocolate at Target and the grocery store now, it was still really cool to go here. They give you a yummy chocolate sample for just walking through the doors. We shared an ice cream sundae covered in delicious Ghirardelli chocolate, made right on the premises.

Watching the men producing the syrup was fascinating. I had an idea how chocolate was produced due to a visit to the Schokoladen Museum in Cologne, but it this is a far more intimate setting.

The first time I went to United States was in 93 which covered San Francisco, New York City and Arizona(Flagstaff & Phonenix)..And then went back to San Francisco again the 2nd time on the following year and got to visit this Ghirardelli Square and Soda Fountain. I have had fond memories of this chocolate store and Fountain area. Bought lots of chocolate goodies and coco powder, and oh ya, lots of people watch at the surrounding ;)

Strangely enough, didn’t get the chance to go back there much while working in San Francisco in 98. But would definitely love to pay a visit again.

This pic was taken in 94 during Spring break while studying in Denver, Colorado.

You need to visit Ghirardelli Square. Visit their store, and they give you free samples!

The chocolate is divine. And the seafood restaurant was also very nice!!

Be sure to eat at the soda fountain first; your receipt will give you a discount in the candy store. I did it backwards the last time I was there, and the cashier felt bad that I hadn’t known about the discount, so he gave me like half a bag of those individual chocolates.

Mmm, cinnamon almond chocolate. (munching on Christmas sweets)