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.