Taste some of the city’s freshest sea food and catch some fabulous views in this waterfront neighbourhood dating back to the time of the gold rush.
This historic wharf was founded in the mid-1800s. For generations, Chinese and then Italian immigrants pulled fish and seafood from the ocean here, selling their catch in small stands along the wharf. Today, these craftsmen are long gone, but the lively atmosphere of the wharf still remains.
Fisherman’s Wharf is now a buzzing shopping and entertainment hub offering fabulous harbour views. During the day, it’s full to bursting with street performers, magicians, musicians, jugglers and fire eaters all vying to entertain. At night, the fun goes on with an offering of live music, theatre and side-splitting comedy. This perpetual spectacle extends from Ghirardelli Square at the wharf’s west end to Pier 39 at the east end, with its vocal and entertaining sea lions, who live on floating wooden platforms beside the pier for most of the year.
Enjoy some old-fashioned fun at the Musée Mécanique, an interactive collection of mechanical machines and penny arcades. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, Ripley’s Believe it or Not! museum is the place to visit with over 400 oddities and unusual exhibits to explore.
This is also a real food lover’s haven, with seafood stalls selling steaming cauldrons of tasty clam chowder, fresh Dungeness crab served piping hot and other delicacies, all accompanied by the delicious smell of freshly baking sourdough bread to tempt your taste buds. The wharf also boasts some of the world’s finest upmarket seafood restaurants. If fish isn’t your thing, you can also find an array of sumptuous Italian and Chinese restaurants and an eclectic mix of international cuisine. Many restaurants offer a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of this lively wharf, as well as beautiful views over the ocean.
The best way to get to the wharf is by public transport or on foot. There is parking available but it’s pretty expensive. Alternatively, take one of the famous cable cars on the Powell/Mason cable car line, complete with rattles and clangs, which will drop you a couple of blocks south of Fisherman’s wharf.
