Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    PIER 39

    4.0 (1.7k reviews)
    Closed • 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

    PIER 39 Photos

    Recommended Reviews - PIER 39

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Joe C.

    The Views PIER 39 in San Francisco, CA, delivers a quintessential and delightfully vibrant waterfront experience that beautifully captures the energy of the bay. The absolute highlight of a visit is the unrivaled, panoramic views of the city's most iconic landmarks; standing along the open-air railings offers stunning, unobstructed vantage points of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and the historic Coit Tower cutting through the San Francisco fog. The bustling two-tiered wooden pier is packed with lively entertainment, from street performers and local artisan shops to the famous, barking colony of California sea lions lounging on the K-dock marina. Whether you are grabbing a steaming bowl of clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl or simply walking the boardwalk to enjoy the crisp ocean breeze, it serves as a joyous, highly memorable destination that provides the perfect, picturesque introduction to the charm of the San Francisco coastline. Thanks

    clam chowder
    Darwin P.

    San Francisco's finest, Pier 39 in fact, walking throughout all the Piers, you realize 39 is the one with most tourism and attractions: you have elite food, you have attractions and live shows, and the Sea Lions too as you walk through this Embarcadero area, you'll also find hotels, the Aquarium and many spots that out Pier 39 on the map

    Dan R.

    "And Sandy, the aurora is risin' behind us This pier lights our carnival life forever" (Bruce Springsteen) Our family was in San Francisco for a wedding, and we were looking for somewhere within walking distance from our hotel where we could do some sightseeing and entertain the kiddies. Pier 39 was the perfect choice to do just that. Pier 39 is basically San Francisco's big waterfront playground and a big tourist attraction. It's a pier packed with shops, restaurants, a carousel, street performers, a video arcade, an Aquarium, and those famous sea lions lounging around like they own the place. There is a big staircase where the steps are painted black and white to resemble piano keys. And guess what? When you walk up or down the stairs, you'll hear musical notes corresponding to your footsteps. Our kiddies sure loved that! We visited the House of Mirrors, the pinball machine museum, a few gift shops (I bought a SF sweatshirt in one because I was unprepared for the chilly weather), had a nice cappuccino, and spent a good half hour watching the sea lions clowning around and bellowing like crazy. Just an excellent attraction!!

    Missing a lock?
    EJ F.

    My memory of this place was not a great one. I recall the sea lions were the most interesting attraction, and that may still be true, but I was pleasantly surprised that there was a lot more here. While it is pricey, that's to be expected as it is mainly geared toward tourists. We walked down to Union Square from our Airbnb in Nob Hill, bought a day pass for the cable car and rode that all the way to fisherman's wharf. Lots of walking but we took our time, visited some shops, had lunch, did the mirror maze, and enjoyed the sea lions the most! No Chonkers but the few that were present were very cute and entertaining to watch.

    Fisherman's Grotto
    James M.

    There are SO MANY THINGS to see and smell between piers 39 and 45. It is 96% tourists and that is perfectly fine. The place is legendary, so enjoy. There are loads of gift shops, food options, coffee, and ice cream. You can see the sea lions from here, get a view of Alcatraz, and visit the mechanical game museum among other great attractions. Street performers everywhere, so it is lots of fun. There are a few amusement rides for you and the kids to enjoy as well. It is always a lot of fun.

    Rick R.

    When you're visiting the San Francisco Bay Area, be sure to check out Pier 39 as it is a must-stop place! As a NorCal and long time Bay Area resident, Pier 39 has been a regular spot and visited many times, and continue to do so. From walks at the pier, top-tier restaurants, local ice cream parlors to boat rides, etc, there are plenty of activities. Parking is convenient as well, there is a paid parking garage across the street. Some restaurants and merchants also validate parking for at least the first hour. Fun spot to visit!!!

    Fish
    Madison N.

    Had a great lunch at Pier 39! Was in the area and used yelp for a quick reservation. So glad we were able to, we got in right away and there was a line. Our server was super sweet and helpful. I have a gluten allergy and I ordered the fish. It was delicious, filling and I felt safe eating it, I love that it came out with an allergy tag. My partner had the clam chowder bowl, he LOVED it. Almost ate the full bread bowl. All the food was wonderful. Downside was the bathroom, it's unisex but it was super filthy. It was a Sunday, so it was busy. Can't wait to come back!

    Michelle F.

    Pier 39 is one of those places that is part amusement center surrounded by some "cool" shops and great places to eat. The wooden dock area had a variety of restaurants serving everything from the infamous clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl to tacos and then the usual amusements center foods. When you walk to the end of the pier, there is a great view of Alcatraz island and down below is floating docks with sea lions and seals. This is the type of place that you could stop in for a great meal or stay and play the day away.

    Sea lions from second level
    Alyssa G.

    My daughter and I went to San Francisco, which of course meant we had to visit Pier 39! It's one of the most iconic places in the city, and it was definitely worth stopping by. We started our visit with a small boat ride that took us underneath the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz. After the boat ride, we went back to Pier 39 and spent some time walking around and taking everything in. There are tons of places to eat and plenty of souvenir shops, so there's something for just about everyone. I especially liked that there were little designated spots that said to stop and take a photo. It made it easy to capture some great pictures and remember exactly where we were. Of course, the absolute highlight for us was the sea lions! We could have watched them forever. Most of them were completely content to lay around and sleep, but there were a few especially playful ones that kept trying to push each other off the docks. It was hilarious and surprisingly entertaining to watch! If you're visiting, I definitely recommend going up to the second level to watch the sea lions. It was much less crowded up there, and we had a better view without having to fight through a huge crowd of people. We also looked for the famous musical stairs. I had seen videos of them online and expected them to be a bigger experience than they actually were. In person, they were honestly underwhelming. We walked past them two or three times before we even realized exactly what we were looking at!

    Wiepout
    Peter X.

    I came to Pier 39 with my wife and her family while we came to visit San Francisco. I parked in the public 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.

    Annie T.

    Having lived in San Francisco for numerous years, I've been to Pier 39 many times -- sometimes to show 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!

    Kathleen D.

    Pier 39 is a must-stop for first-time visitors to San Francisco. My mom and I walked over from our hotel the morning after our arrival in the city and enjoyed the sights, had a tasty breakfast at Eagle Cafe, shopped in many of the retail stores, and visited the aquarium. To top it off, we stopped to view the seals. The earlier in the day to visit seems to be the better, as by midday, the pier was bopping. It never felt overly crowded to claustrophobic levels, but it did give off a strong "boardwalk" vibe.

    Alyssa A.

    Popular stop for anyone's visit to San Francisco, we stop by here on each visit to seal the seals. Walk to the back of the pier, enjoy the bay, take a look at Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance, and take a look at (and listen to) all the seals lazing around. One of my favorite stops in SF. There's also a bunch of shops and restaurants on the pier. I've tried a few of the restaurants, and they're good - definitely overpriced as the pier is a tourist destination. But they have good views of the bay. So dependent on what you're looking for. Good spot to look for souvenirs. So many different shop options to pick from. Centrally located to so many different SF destinations. Easy walk from the Ferry Building, Ghirardelli Square, and the Embarcadero. It gets BUSY during high tourist season, so just be aware. Parking is expensive here. We just ubered to the area and then walked around to all the nearby areas from there to avoid having to park our car. Good stop to get in some of the classic SF vibes.

    Boat taxi looking at Alcatraz

    See all

    2 months ago

    There was a Scottish guy named Josh who made everything much better. Working the entire time and making a better time for everyone

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joe C.
    2818
    1661
    833

    11 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Roy A.
    397
    675
    8112

    19 days ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 0
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 2
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of EJ F.
    640
    678
    4117

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alyssa G.
    139
    135
    900

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 4
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0
    Photo of jlhodak
    2
    50
    29

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    4 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Michael L.
    1626
    1211
    5429

    10 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 3
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    Page 1 of 42

    PIER 39 Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - PIER 39

    Ci sono parcheggi sicuri dove lasciare l'auto per una giornata?

    Non ho parcheggiato personalmente lì, ma in base alle recensioni sembra che il garage principale del Pier 39, che si trova direttamente dall'altra parte della strada rispetto al Pier 39 tra l'Embarcadero e Beach Street, sia sicuro e le persone… 

    Is there a Nordstrom store in Pier 39?

    No!

    What stores are there?

    Many stores & shops of all types. There are many signs throughout Pier 39 listing location and store type. Pier 39 is also a great lookout spot at various locations: LOOK for the PHOTO-SPOT signs! In the Spring, the street flower beds are blooming… 

    Is there a Bath and Body works?

    There is no Bath and Body works

    What places on the pier are dog friendly?

    The public sidewalks perpendicular of the pier would be acceptable. There is still plenty to see and do with a pooch. However, --… 

    Is parking available?

    We were just there, parking cost about $15/hr some places will validate up to 3hr depending on how much you spend at there location. parking is very limited and its not easy to move from one place to another. For $5 ($12 if you include cable… 

    Is it possible to buy a replica "Van Ness Ave" Street sign at a gift shop?

    No, there isn't anything like that available at Pier 39. San Francisco Street signs aren't for sale at any shop in the City.

    Is the pier 39 attraction pass valid only for one day?

    It's a free place no need for pass if you have a car for parking you to pay or might be free parking is available.

    What time does it open? Or can you just go see the seals early in the am?

    Is open when the animals are

    View All 10 Questions

    Review Highlights - PIER 39

    “Much to my surprise, you can see Alcatraz at the end of the pier without having to pay for a cruise trip.”

    Mentioned in 253 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Embarcadero Center - Embarcadero

    Embarcadero Center

    3.6(98 reviews)
    1.2 mi•Financial District
    •$$

    Came for a few hours for a meeting. Flew in from out of town. Very minimal instructions were given…read moreto me to get here. Luckily it's all pretty straight forward when you arrive. If you're walking. That's easy. Just pop it into your GPS. If you're taking a cab then I would suggest putting as your destination "Devil Teeth Baking" as getting dropped off at other locations around the area is pretty chaotic (I mean it's already pretty chaotic as it is since you're in the financial district of San Fran). There are many businesses in here. But I came for a business meeting. So if youre going for something like that, you'll want to enter the cement building (no doors just opened entry) and go up one flight of stairs / escalators and head to the lobby. From there, you let them know that you have a meeting and on what floor and give them your name. They'll check in the database for it and then let you into the elevators. You hit the button and off you go. Some of my colleagues found parking around the area but they live here so much more familiar. They suggested to me to not have a car. The meeting space I was in was on the 12th floor and it was a few large meeting spots and some smaller offices that are rented out to different businesses. There's a wellness room and a business center with stationeries. I'm assuming every floor is different. Mine had some color to it. Plants, paintings, art etc. It felt a bit homier than what a generic office would look like. The people were chill too. Good spot. Decent value. Would host a meeting here again!

    Based upon these criteria, I give this event 5 stars based upon :…read more- the ability to meetup & network , - service (mobile bar &Happy Hour) , - site/location (Embarcadero Center) , - value Embarcadero Center Presents Summer Happy Hour Wednesday, July 31 | 4-6pm Urban Patio, Three Embarcadero Center 1) https://embarcaderocenter.com/bar-car-at-embarcadero-center/ 2) https://dothebay.com/events/2024/7/31/summer-happy-hour-at-embarcadero-center-tickets-7-31?fbclid=IwY2xjawEXbtBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQgCExw7wiM5iKRdS0l0itlSr2cAOUW1NDf1kh8GpXP6fZO-iJtpKmDRcA_aem_Rzn27kTXStVBBRFJUEJoLQ

    Photos
    Embarcadero Center - Embarcadero

    Embarcadero

    Embarcadero Center
    Embarcadero Center - Where's the elevator

    See all

    Where's the elevator

    San Francisco Centre - Psychedelic escalators

    San Francisco Centre

    3.7(1.1k reviews)
    1.7 mi•Union 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

    See all

    (c) SFGate

    Union Square - Union Square

    Union Square

    4.2(88 reviews)
    1.4 mi•Union Square
    •$

    I've been coming to Union square for years, and it never seems to get old. Right in the middle of…read moredowntown surrounded by big stores and busy streets, Union square just feels like a peaceful little spot where you can put a pause on the chaos of the city. The lawn is always green and beautiful, perfect for letting my fur baby run around and play (potty too) and you will always see people enjoying the space, stretched out reading or talking with friends or just soaking up the peaceful space. One of my favorite things about Union square is the art. The giant hearts are iconic in San Francisco and they're always being repainted and reimagined by different artists. So no matter how many times you come here, you will always see something new. I've seen so many versions over the years but I still stop to look at them every time I'm here because there is always something new to. The hearts the statues, the occasional pop-up installations or performances, the square always feels peaceful but alive. There is also always something going on. On my last visit here there were ping pong tables set up everywhere with people playing. I saw juggling classes being offered and arts programs for kids with people gathered around having a good time. There was a reading area and books brought in on carts. They even still had up there holiday backdrop that looks like it was put there just for people to use for the perfect insta shot. There are plenty of tables and benches scattered around so it's easy to grab a seat and stay a while. Even if you're just passing through and you need to rest your dogs for a few minutes, this is the perfect spot. I spent more than a few afternoons here people watching or enjoying a snack from the little stand nearby. It's really a great place to spend some time and a must do if you are in San Francisco. On the weekends you will find people trying to usher you onto bus tours or maybe sell you souvenirs, but you might also witness an event or see straight performers so you never really know what you're going to get. This is a place for visitors and locals with nice surroundings where you can really get a feel for and just to take in the city.

    This is one of my favorite parts of San Francisco; the shopping is high-end. There is so much here…read moreto do and lots of restaurants to choose from. We always stay at St. Francis, a beautiful, perfect location. In winter, they have an ice skating rink and the big Christmas tree, a great holiday spot to get your Christmas celebrations started. As I said, the shopping is fierce! Cheers, my friends SYOY 04/01/26

    Photos
    Union Square - Union Square {4/29/2025}

    Union Square {4/29/2025}

    Union Square - The 2024 Macy's Christmas tree is going up! 11/3/24

    The 2024 Macy's Christmas tree is going up! 11/3/24

    Union Square - San Francisco Union Square

    See all

    San Francisco Union Square

    Metreon - Well marked & clean

    Metreon

    3.4(213 reviews)
    1.7 mi•SoMa, Financial District
    •$$

    This is a review for the IMAX theater at the Metreon. We…read morehave been coming to the Metreon since it was built eons ago, but i have to say i appreciate its awesomeness more now when we went to see the Odyssey. This movie used 77mm film and it was totally awesome on this huge imax screen!! Of course the theater was at full capacity for this movie. The ripples of water in the oceans when they were calm, or during the storm were just so vivid!!! The sceneries, the rocks, etc... everything just popped out in front of you. I read somewhere there are only about 40 IMAX theaters capable of showing the 70 mm films, and one is in San Francisco. Totally appreciate it.

    Bait-and-switch pricing. Misleading AMC advertising offers…read more "50% off Tickets on Tuesdays & Wednesdays" with free AMC Stubs. They even mis-state "The 50% off tickets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays benefit is available anywhere AMC tickets are sold." The AMC Metreon theater doesn't participate. Fine print says "Valid at participating AMC Theatres locations only." Prices are deeply hidden, so much so AI can't find them or misquotes 'em. Similarly, "AMC Stubs A-List Classic" is not valid at this theatre. So the cheapest monthly plan isn't $14.99 as advertised, or $19.99 as advertised, or really even $29.99! It's a minimum of $90, for 3 months, auto-renewing. Also, the AMC cards at Costco are also a bait-and-switch rip-off.

    Photos
    Metreon
    Metreon - A favorite!

    A favorite!

    Metreon - Fancy

    See all

    Fancy

    Japan Center - Cherryblossom Season

    Japan Center

    4.2(180 reviews)
    2.0 mi•Japantown, Lower Pacific Heights
    •$$

    Yep... another reason to LOVE SF. Culture, community, and somehow... magically clean?! Like I don't…read moreknow what spell they cast over Japantown but the usual city "aroma" is nowhere to be found lol. Just good vibes, music, anime, cosplay sightings, and me absolutely losing it over a Japanese vintage shop like it was a life event. Gifts everywhere, manga on manga on manga... I blinked and suddenly I needed everything. You can literally watch fresh udon being made, bounce between ramen spots, sip tea like you have your life together, and yes... plenty of veggie and vegan friendly options so we're all thriving. And the history? Not just cute... it's legit. This is the OLDEST Japantown in the U.S. and one of only three left, built after the 1906 earthquake when Japanese communities relocated here and made it their cultural home (Japantown Cultural District⁠). It was once a booming hub with hundreds of businesses before WWII internment basically wiped it out, and the community had to rebuild from scratch after . So yeah... what you're walking through now is resilience with really good snacks. Hit the mall, the Peace Pagoda, the paper stores (origami, stationery, art... obsessed), and all the Ghibli love. Cute AND historic... we love a neighborhood with depth.

    Just learned that Japan Center is isn't going to house KOHO anymore. JC needed an organization like…read morethat to give it heart & soul. The whole place felt different with KOHO there, better. When I first moved to the SF area over 20 years ago, I felt that JC had a lot of potential. It had some good shops & restaurants, but needed to be reinvigorated. It's improved to a certain degree over the years, in certain ways, but has also lost some good anchor stores that gave it a more authentic Japanese feeling, like Genji Antiques, the Kotobuki ceramics shop, and Sain Saine traditional anma massage. There are so many shops, ideas, and products that could have been brought over from Japan over the years; it made me wonder if any of the JC decision makers have ever been back to the mother country! KOHO gave JC a cultural base, with creative people, which, over time, could have positively influenced the development of the entire mall. I'll be attending KOHO's Obon event in Golden Gate Park next weekend. Having a large space to organize from in the heart of Japantown has made important events like that possible. Before KOHO moved in, there was just another dollar store there. Then it was empty for a long time. I imagine it will be empty for a while after KOHO moves out, so the rent money JC is seeking won't be coming right away. And who will move in? Another uninspiring shop w/ a weak connection to Japan and its culture? Or another Korean cosmetics store? (I'm not against Korean cosmetics, but there are so many interesting Japanese products and brands that could be promoted via JC.) Anyway, money wins out over heart & soul yet again. It's sad.

    Photos
    Japan Center - Yama-chan

    Yama-chan

    Japan Center - Peace Plaza

    Peace Plaza

    Japan Center - Anime, CD and Manga

    See all

    Anime, CD and Manga

    Wharf Central - USA is my favorite country

    Wharf Central

    3.2(25 reviews)
    0.3 mi•Fisherman'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 - 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
    Wharf Central

    See all

    Kintetsu Mall

    Kintetsu Mall

    4.2(57 reviews)
    1.9 mi•Japantown, Lower Pacific Heights
    •$$

    My first time ever visiting Japantown and also coming to this mall today. It was a really fun but…read morevery crowded experience. Went here for my BIL and his friends birthday for a scavenger hunt around the mall and it was really fun! I would definitely come back here again to try all the wide variety of food!

    #4/2016 Not in the…read moreBrutalist style but the equally charmless 1960s box architecture of the same era squarely situated in the heart of Japantown where you'll find the Kinokuniya and Kintetsu Malls otherwise known as the Japantown Center. Inside, there are scores of stores selling everything from Japanese wood sculptures to kimonos, dolls, trinkets, anime and salons and plenty of restaurants. Japantown Center offers an eclectic array of goods and is ideal for strolling and waiting for inspiration to strike- or if you're like me, being very directional and making a beeline for a favorite kimono store that's "on the bridge" connecting the two malls. The mall itself is slightly rundown. There's no music, no decorations, shabby floors and scuffed up stairwells. It's best described as "utilitarian." Teenagers roam in happy, harmless packs (there's at least one math learning center at the mall) and moms with strollers suddenly stop mid-course as the world's sloppiest security guard ambles by with his shirt askew. This is the perfect place to go on a rainy day especially to grab steaming hot bowls of ramen at any one of the 15+ restaurants inside the Kintetsu mall. If the weather's pleasant, head outdoors to Peace Plaza and meditate on this slightly melancholy space that feels world's away from the bustle of the City. Before 6pm, metered street parking's fairly easy to find and even better, there's inexpensive ($2/hour) parking under the Center and most businesses validate, too. If you're heading home, stop across the street at Soko Hardware for Japanese cook/dishware or grab some groceries or a Bento box at Nijiya Market on the corner of Post & Webster.

    Photos
    Kintetsu Mall - Japantown

    Japantown

    Kintetsu Mall - Trying out the Japanese photo booths

    Trying out the Japanese photo booths

    Kintetsu Mall

    See all

    PIER 39 - shoppingcenters - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...