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Embarcadero Center

3.6 (97 reviews)
Open 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

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Cheri L.

Although a bit empty in some lots, this is a nice spot to walk through or grab a bite. There are a lot of nice seatings with tables. Near the Embarcadero Plaza if you need to make your way to the Ferry Building after. Nicely decorated for events!

Eva S.

Came here for sip shop eat event on the weekend, love the view of sale-force building on a nice clear night! Street parking is free on Sunday, if you looking for outdoor seating in the city with view! This is the gem for a free city view!

Credits to @_shotby.me
Skyler B.

Very unique place. Lots of open space, a neat water area, restaurants and lots going on cause it's the city of course. Fun place for a shoot! Very quiet right now not too many people and even though the parking is expensive if you eat there the price can be lowered. I think I only paid $5 for parking after eating at a Thai restaurant. Oh and if you like taking photos there's lots of place here to do it :)

Cris I.

One of my newly found places in Embarcadero when I went on a weekday when the area was less crowded. As soon as I stepped out of bart station, I saw a big fountain art installation which I found out is known as "Vaillancourt Fountain". After exploring this massive art installation, I noticed a nearby mini mall so I went ahead to find out what's in here. There are several shopping and dining options but what attracted me more is the concrete sculpture known as the "Tulip". There's a ramp attached to it that enables you to go from one floor to another as if navigating through a spiral staircase. I even went back nighttime to see how it looked like with the lights on and it was wonderful. At the top floor of the concrete structure is a hidden garden with lots of foliage. There are benches to sit on where you can sit down and relax or even enjoy your meal. There are also other art installations all throughout the building which you can see on the pictures I have taken. Come and visit whenever you're in the embarcadero area.

Crystal G.

Now back in the day I used to have my own skate shop in Downey it was called the one and only zero. I used to play skate videos all day long ! I've seen so many amazing tricks in this location. I was willing to go on this trip to San Francisco in one day as long as we were able to stop here so I could take some pictures. Have I ever told you guys I'm obsessed with skateboarding. When I was younger my dream was to grow up and marry a pro skater. Not a doctor or a lawyer a skateboarder LOL ! I still feel the same way but now I want him to also be a farmer and believe in God ! I pray he's out there somewhere... Ha . Honestly why I'm still single ! Back to the location they have deconstructed a lot of things that are not there anymore because of skateboarding. There were still some kids getting their skate on. Which gave me a funny little tingle inside. I honestly love the sound of a skateboard hitting concrete that pop of the wood ! I love all of it !!!!!#SkateOrDie#SK8Industry#Embarcadero #We'reLegendsSk8

2017 Holiday building lighting and Ice Skating Rink opening
Al L.

Embarcadero Center consists of four office buildings with shops, restaurants and services in the street and second levels. There's also a multi-plex cinema located in the Center as well. At Justin Herman Plaza which sits between Embarcadero Four and the Ferry Building, many events are held here. It just held the annual lighting of the buildings and opening of the holiday outdoor skating rink. There were events held for kids at the first levels of all four buildings and performances by Disney on Ice. The event culminated with the lighting of the four buildings and a fireworks display. A fun family event to welcome the holidays.

T C.

The art work , decor and designs are fascinating. Walking through all 4 centers you can see great designs. Good detail and interesting shapes. The stair case and walk ways. One of these days I gotta take more pictures of this place, although I suck at photography. If you've had a chance to go into the offices and get to the higher floors the views are great. The ice rink is a nice touch. Lots of places to eat outdoors. And they keep this place pretty clean. Short walk to the Ferry Building and water. Can get windy sometimes. The shopping is ok. The restaurants here could be better, nothing that great to write about except maybe Pizza Orgasmic. The parking prices is not bad for the area.

Overview of Embarcadero Center from a room view in the Hyatt during Christmas time.
Svetlana S.

I complain about the crowds every time I come, and yet like a moth to a flame where do I end up visiting 9 times out of 10 visits to SF?!? Here!!! Lol. I swear, there's so much more to SF and yet my plans always take me here. Maybe it's because Amtrak's bus stops at the Hyatt conveniently down the street, maybe it's because it's so iconic to see the Ferry Bldg. in the background, or maybe it's because I endlessly can't get enough of trying to figure out this one section of town, but whatever the reason...this is where it's all happening. During Christmas, the ice rink is such a delight to see. However, on any given day just walking around the shops, street vendors, and interesting huge sculpture is enough for an afternoon of family fun or just a good way to escape the mundane.

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The shopping is nonexistent. The premises are dirty. And one security guard was extremely rude. Stay away from this unwelcoming place.

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Ask the Community - Embarcadero Center

Review Highlights - Embarcadero Center

The shops could be upgraded, but I stay out in the sun and enjoy the outdoor garden spaces upstairs so it's really not a bother.

Mentioned in 2 reviews

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San Francisco Centre - Psychedelic escalators

San Francisco Centre

3.7(1.1k reviews)
0.9 miUnion Square, SoMa
$$

Oh man! So I use to perform the Fire Alarm Inspection at the Nordstrom for about 7 years straight…read moretill they closed. Went back to do a job walk foe the entire center and boy was i shocked! I cannot believe how empty this place got. Super sad really. I remember the mall to be packed! One of the most iconic and beautiful Nordstroms. Bloomingdales. The most amazing dome. The upside down Christmas tree under the dome. Man, they use to go all out! And now it's all gone. A literal ghost town inside with scary homeless people running around. Well, at least, Panda is still open and we didn't have to wait in line at all, so that's a plus. I sincerely hope they can salvage this mall and that it would eventually come back to life! I really do hope so!!

Everything went downhill drastically after the iconic four-story Nordstrom and two-story…read moreBloomingdale's were gone. Even 90% of the food court is gone. The remaining eateries are Panda Express and Shake Shack. The movie theater is gone. Walgreens is gone. One entrance to BART/MUNI remained locked. It's so sad to see what happened post-pandemic. The memories of walking around the spiral escalators to Nordstrom, having frozen yogurt while waiting for my grandmother to arrive, sitting next to a Mexican family while eating food court sushi, and shopping for cute clothes at American Eagle Outfitters as a teen. Long live the past of shopping in the 2010s. The entrances on Market Street still smell like urine, though. The majority of SF residents blame the city officials for letting criminals and homelessness go free, which made most retail stores shut down due to robberies. Less than 28 stores remained in business. The best part is that the public restrooms are still open, and there's access to BART/MUNI near the GNC Store. The best shopping mall in SF is Stonestown Galleria, next to San Francisco State University, where you can take the MUNI train M.

Photos
San Francisco Centre - (c) SFGate

(c) SFGate

San Francisco Centre - (c) SFGate

(c) SFGate

San Francisco Centre - (c) SFGate

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(c) SFGate

PIER 39

PIER 39

4.0(1.6k reviews)
1.2 miFisherman's Wharf, North Beach/Telegraph Hill
$$

Having lived in San Francisco for numerous years, I've been to Pier 39 many times -- sometimes to…read moreshow out-of-towners cool parts of my favorite city and sometimes because I just wanna go to a place by the bay that feels like a carnival! The stores are super cute, there are things to do, there are restaurants as well as good quick eats (like the mini donut shop - oh my gosh that's so good - and a cute retro candy shop at the end of the pier. Additionally, the views at the end of the pier are magical, and you get to view it with songs from the sealions! There are also magic shows at the pier you can watch for free and a large carousel! Pier 39 is 100%, touristy, but it is still festive and fun, whether you're an out-of-towner or a local resident. The only downsides are the prices (because this area is a tourist trap) and the parking. Here are some tricks and tips: Look for coupons for some of the pier activities (ie, coupon books, Groupon, and even on the ads in the local map they give you for free). I've found coupons for the Aquarium By the Bay, restaurants, the mirror maze thingy, and The Flyer. You can also go to the Visitor Center office on the 2nd floor of the pier! Just ask politely for coupons, and they'll usually have something. (They gave me 20% off some nice restaurants last time.) As for parking, be careful with street parking because if you are even a minute late, I swear, you'll find a ticket on your windshield! The city ticket workers are like hawks. There is a Pier 39 parking garage that is the closest but costs a lot. You can look for open parking lots further away, like at hotels, which can be cheaper. If you are able to walk, that may be a good option -- or better yet, take public transportation when you can. That is part of the San Francisco experience! One more tip: if it's your first time there, bring a lock to put at the end of the pier! (See photo) There are definitely a multitude of photo opps here!

I came to Pier 39 with my wife and her family while we came to visit San Francisco. I parked in the…read morepublic parking garage across the street. We came at night time so the first thing we did was eat at Wipeout. We had a great experience dining there. There also small vendors on the Pier selling hot dogs and other small food as well. After we finish eating, my wife wanted to shop at some of the stores here. It's a nice walk to do at the Pier, especially if the weather is nice. My wife wanted to try some gelato ice cream but they already closed. She got some gifts at the small shops here and so did her mom. I used the public restroom here and it wasn't too bad.

Photos
PIER 39
PIER 39
PIER 39

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Wharf Central - USA is my favorite country

Wharf Central

3.2(25 reviews)
1.3 miFisherman's Wharf, North Beach/Telegraph Hill
$$

The holidays in San Francisco is a tourist attraction . One place everyone likes to go when they…read morevisit San Francisco is the tourist trap named Fisherman's Wharf. Being a designated tour guide during the holiday season and being a San Francisco native I have to school people from all over the world what to do and where to eat and drink in SF. I know they want to try the Dungeness Crab , Clam Chowder sourdough bread and Buena Vista Irish Coffee. Tourist like shopping and one place on Jefferson and Taylor street you will find lots of things San Francisco is a place called Wharf Central. Inside you will find everything San Francisco related souvenirs. They also have lots of clothing like hoodies and hats that have San Francisco on it. One thing I know is people like to leave San Francisco with some gear which has San Francisco on it. Even some sport front runners who keep saying the Bay from the East Bay and North Bay want to wear San Francisco 49ers and Giants gear in SF ( former Oakland Raiders and A's fans). It's a good thing to see people from around the region, country and world visiting San Francisco in 2025. The year 2026 would even be more people visiting the city and Wharf Central is a place which will have lots items to fulfill the tourist trap needs in SF. San Francisco is my place of "birth"on planet "earth" where you can grab some crab, fish, shrimp and and steak also known as "surf and "turf "at the Tourist Trap called "Fishermans Wharf" Come take a 2026 "San Francisco stroll"where they will play at Moscone Center the NFL "Pro Bowl "and a few miles away is Levi's Stadium home of the Forty Niners and the "2026 Super Bowl" and also 2026 home the FIFA World Cup matches where you will hear a crowd yell" Goooooooal"

On Saturday evening my boyfriend stopped in with me to help me try on some shoes since…read moreunfortunately the ones I had on from a previous store were painfully tight. Looking at their selection they had a lot beach shoes for woman, but it would be nice to see a larger section for men's shoes. Especially since their shoes run on the smaller side in my opinion. I did manage to find a very comfortable pair of Roxy slide sandals that fit me perfectly and were very comfortable walking around SF in! I would recommend this souvenir/beach shop and could see myself returning when in need of something specific, our cashier was friendly and it's conveniently located in the Fisherman's Wharf!

Photos
Wharf Central
Wharf Central - I keep seeing this mouthy person on my social media feed in SF showing off food dishes

I keep seeing this mouthy person on my social media feed in SF showing off food dishes

Wharf Central

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Embarcadero Center - shoppingcenters - Updated May 2026

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