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Sometimes you just need a day to play – grown-up style. With coffee in hand and the Bay glimmering at my back, I set off to eat, sip, and wander my way through one of the City’s most delicious areas for Adult Playday – San Francisco Ferry Building. Part food fest, part exercise, part nostalgia – it was fun to rediscover the charm and heritage of San Francisco one step and one bite at a time. Set up your own holiday playday this year – a perfect outing for visiting family, friends or just you, yourself and I.
Our day begins early at bustling Parachute, a new bakery with a line out back – all the time. Fuel up at Red Bay Coffee for our urban hike up the Greenwich Steps, past Coit Tower, North Beach and Lombard Street. Circling back to the Ferry Building, enjoy a well-earned lunch at Nopa Fish, afternoon snack at Gott’s, and happy hour at Alora Coastal Mediterranean. What a Food Party! All within a few walkable miles of great views and old town San Francisco.
Parachute Bakery
The latest venture from the team behind San Francisco’s Michelin-starred Sorrel, Parachute Bakery is hot! Riding BART into the City, I thought, “Another bakery—whatever.” Wrong. From early dawn, these passionate bakers craft exquisitely laminated, buttery croissants, cube-shaped creations, and chocolate sculptures that must be seen (and tasted) to be believed.
Executive Pastry Chef + co-owner Nasir Armar turns out just 1,000 pastries a day – then stops. They sell out fast, so que up early. Fall in love with a crisp pastry square filled with passion fruit or oozing banana cream, but oh my, pancreas watch out. Is this breakfast or dessert for royalty? I’ve never seen morning pastries executed with such fine-dining precision. Definitely not just another bakery. Get your City-dwelling kid a gift card for the holidays – then get one for yourself.
Red Bay Coffee
Walk down the hall to Red Bay Coffee for more than a cup of joe – you’ll sip a story of community, culture, and craft. Born in the East Bay and grounded in values of inclusion and sustainability, Red Bay brings its soulful spirit to the Ferry Building – their fifth location.
The space is warm and artistic: dark wood, brass accents, and bright, expressive paintings by Keba Konte, a renowned artist and one of the owners. Chat it up at the community tables or take your cup outside to enjoy stunning Bay views.
Out of Turmeric Latte, the Charcoal Vanilla Latte did the job – cozy, yummy, maybe a bit too sweet ($6.25). Gotta cut down on my liquid sugar. They roast creatively named blends like Slow Burn Espresso and the Holiday Blend is out. How about a My Favorite Things Coltrane Blend stocking stuffer? This place has soul – you can feel it.
Red Bay likes to keep learning. They host free Tasting Thursdays – specialty classes where your inner barista gets to explore the art and science behind the brew. How does a French Press richness contrast with the clarity of Chemex? Click here to stay connected, inspired, and caffeinated.
Hike North Beach, Greenwich Steps, Coit Tower
After a morning worth talking about, time for some exercise and sightseeing on this classic San Francisco walk. I hadn’t done this nostalgic loop in nearly a decade, and it felt like returning home for the holidays.
From the Ferry Building, stroll out to the Embarcadero. If it’s Tuesday or Saturday, the FoodWise farmers market sprawls outside – Saturday’s market is one of the best in the Bay. Head north along the Embarcadero, through Levi’s Plaza, and up the Greenwich Steps.
Have you hiked this route? A San Francisco must-do. The climb winds through a charming neighborhood of lush gardens and tucked-away stairways, leading to postcard views of the Bay, Alcatraz and Coit Tower. Wander into North Beach and hit a few classics: City Lights Books, Vesuvio Café, and Caffe Trieste – pillars of the area’s literary and Beat history – all still there. Washington Square Park and the stunning Saints Peter and Paul Church are part of the highlights. 115 year old Liguria Bakery stills bakes it’s famous focaccia. Even the girly places live on including Larry Flint’s Hustler Club. Build your own route or check out San Francisco City Guides for free walks in the area.
North Beach also hosts First Fridays.
All that roaming worked up an appetite, and I remembered I had one last treat from Parachute in my backpack: a dark-chocolate, horn-shaped beauty called an entrement. Not knowing what to expect and having no fork, I just bit in.
I thought boy, at $18, better be special, and WOW—was it. A world of wonder dripped out: crisp flakes at the base, delicate cocoa crust, oozing chocolate mousse. Now I know entremets are chilled, multi-layered French dessert all about different textures. The guy on a nearby bench just stared as my face turned into a chocolate painting. With no napkin or choice but to finish before the sun melted it away, I sunk my fingers into the shell, then scraped myself clean with the box lid.
My first entremet—unforgettable. Pricey, but worth it.
Lunch at Nopa Fish
Walking back to the Ferry Building via crooked Lombard Street, the hike was 2 hours and 3.75 miles. And oh darn, it’s time for lunch. We head to a lively seafood market and fast-casual dining spot that believes in responsibly-sourced West Coast fish sold fresh or turned into deliciousness like Smoked Albacore Melts ($20) and House-Smoked Trout Latkes ($8) Communal tables and handcrafted details fill this bustling place. Sit right out in the hall—great people watching place.
Owners Holly Rhodes and Laurence Jossel (of Nopa at Hayes and Divisadero) felt there was “a void [left] in the heart of San Francisco” in 2020 when the original fish market closed. Their answer: Nopa Fish, a modern, exciting market and eatery.
We started with Turmeric Pickled Vegetables ($6) and Smoked Fish and Corn Chowder ($12/$16) – a dish I usually avoid, yet this version won me over with Yukon Gold potatoes, cream, and pimentón; interesting flavors and not overly thick. Tomato Caesar Salad followed ($15) and surprisingly, one of the best tofu sandwiches I’ve eaten in a while – Crispy Tofu Sandwich ($18). Plant-forward girl had no expectation finding this gem at a fish shop. Packed with cucumber-ginger-mint-cilantro-jalapeno cabbage slaw slathered over a soft Acme Milk Bread bun, it’s a keeper.
Wines by the glass and handcrafted drinks round out the menu.
Afternoon Snack at Gott’s
Just down from Nopa Fish, catch dessert at Gott’s new cookies-and-milk counter. The team bakes thick, chewy rounds in flavors like classic chocolate chip, rainbow sprinkle, and ginger snap, served alongside a glass of organic whole, chocolate or strawberry milk. Kind of feels like being a kid and a grown-up all at once. Follow your nose and the aroma of freshly baking cookies to the counter located behind Gott’s main restaurant.
There’s no shortage of things to enjoy outside the Ferry Building. After lunch, wander south along the waterfront – an easy walk with more great people-watching. Pause at a few of the public art installations and debate among yourselves which piece truly earns the title of “art”: the iconic bow-and-arrow sculpture, Cupid’s Span, or R-Evolution, the striking 45-foot metal figure installed April, 2025.
Happy Hour at Alora Coastal Mediterranean
When happy hour calls, stroll four minutes north of the Ferry Building to Pier 3 and a hidden stretch of the Embarcadero that’s easy to miss and even easier to love. Offering seasonal foods and old-world cooking techniques, Alora’s menu is meant for sharing. Happy Hour is early, 3–5PM, but hey—you’re on holiday. Eat inside with the late-day sun, or outside for bay front dining without the crowds. We shared the sweeping view with couples holding hands, Chinese fishermen, and two Italian businessmen laughing over drinks. The breeze off the water picked up in the afternoon, but the heaters kept everything comfortable.
Chef Aline Bueno offers terrific deals on the happy hour menu. Try their rich, silky hummus with warm house-made pita for just $10. Happy hour cocktails are $10 too (try Turkish Tea Delight). Mine came with a metal straw.
We were already full but couldn’t skip one more showstopper: Alora’s signature lasagna ($35), a vegetarian stunner with homemade pasta stacked on its side and served with a creamy corn velouté. A rosemary-basil aroma rose dramatically from a glass dome when the dish was revealed. What a nice show – eater-tainment at its finest. You gotta check out the video here.
Ah Alora…please do not miss. The service is lovely, the fall menu is out, and the location is a hidden gem. It’s officially my new spot to bring friends and family – almost like a private club along the water. Open for weekend brunch.
So there you have it: a Ferry Building – Adult Playday. Go solo, bring a friend, or make it a family outing. Part exercise, part nostalgia, part new trends – this is an easy way to rediscover San Francisco’s charm one step, one view, and one bite at a time.
- photos by LSIC
