Why I Love Something You Hate: Ghirardelli Square

If you ’re from San Francisco – or have lived here long enough – there ’s a good chance you scoff at visitingGhirardelli Squarefor many of the same reasons you roll your eyes when tourist supporter drag you to Fisherman ’s Wharf . Butjust like Fisherman ’s Wharf , there are in reality a whole lot of reason Ghirardelli Square is really pretty cool and up - and - coming ( again ) . Of course , nostalgia play a part here , but even that could n’t win over me to visit in recent days , as more and more shops closed their threshold , and there just was n’t much going on . Lately , however , that ’s been changing , which is why I felt it was my duty as a San Franciscan to tell you that Ghirardelli Square is denounce a comeback : here are eleven reasons you should plausibly make a plan to visit .

This wine tasting room

You probably know all aboutBluxome Street Wineryin SOMA , but they also have a tasting room and vino workshop in the Lower Plaza of the Woolen Mill Building where you’re able to sip and buy the Russian River Valley pinot noir , sauvignon blanc , and chardonnay grape by the deoxyephedrine , flight , and bottle . The outer space is beautiful – lots of scupper original brick , position of the water ( if you ride in the right place ) , an atrium , and outside seating , make it the sodding place to string up with a friend or a chemical group while sip wine and enjoying bite . Plus , they have a weekday well-chosen hr with discount wine and cheese , and Wednesday is “ Locals ’ Night ” : they roll out the ruddy carpet just for folks from the orbit ( like me ! And you ! ) with special wine-coloured pairings and tasty bite . monition : you will almost surely leave with either a bunch of feeding bottle or a wine-coloured baseball club membership . mayhap both .

… andthiswine tasting room

I love almost every wine-colored from Alexander Valley vineyards , andWattle Creek Vineyardis no exception , but I rarely want to go all the path to Sonoma to do a tasting . Good news : the Wattle Creek taste room is in the Plaza Building at Ghirardelli Square . Sidle up to the bar ( which is manned by super - friendly and knowledgeable staff ) and try out current sacking or reserve savour flight , then clean up a bottle ( or three ) to take home with you .

These pastries

Le Marais Bakeryon Chestnut St became notable almost the minute it open , thanks to its classic Parisian techniques , farm - to - table doctrine , and bomb - ass pastries ( though in all probability mostly ‘ reason of the latter ) . To our delight , the bakery is now opening up a 5,000sqft eating house in Ghirardelli Square calledLe Marais Bistro , which will be open for breakfast , luncheon , and dinner party . They ’re also going to have a full prevention , so yay . It ’s not open yet – construction is slat for this saltation – but in the lag , there ’s a Le Marais kiosk where you may get your filling of almond croissants and fruit bawd .

This awesome happy hour deal and killer view

There ’s no dubiousness that the view fromMcCormick & Kuleto ’s Seafood & Steaksis one of the good in town – you may take in the Bay , Aquatic Park , and Alcatraz – but what I really love is that they mate that view with a killer whale weekday happy 60 minutes : buck oysters , pretty good booze deal , and the sub : $ 5 cheeseburger and fries . Yeah , that ’s the Leontyne Price for a cheeseburgerandfries . In San Francisco . With a view . Bam .

This kitschy ‘50s-style diner

You may have been toLori ’s Dinerat SFO , but they also have a location in Ghirardelli Square , and this one comes with Bay persuasion and outdoor dining , plus all the diner classic . Once in awhile , I think it ’s fun to forego fancy SF cuisine and just enjoy someplace that does n’t take itself too seriously . jump the sundae ( you ’re getting that elsewhere ) and any dish that sense like it ’s try out too hard ; opt instead for the French goner or a classic grill cheese – it ’s pretty much out of the question to go wrong with either .

This pub

If you ’re wandering around the main piazza , you might missThe Pub at Ghirardelli Square(it ’s below the square , across from Aquatic Park ) , but that is a major fault , because this isthespot for mansion - smoked barbecue and southerly comfort food for thought . It ’s also the best place in the area to catch the game , as there are seven flat - screen TV located throughout the comfy space . What I really make out , however , is that The Pub has an awesome belated nighttime computer menu with all of the food you crave after a few drinks : burgers , chili mac and cheese , Buffalo wings , PBLT ( the PB stand for porc stomach ) … the list goes on . And the kitchen stays overt until 1:30am . Get after it .

This sundae

The trueness is , you may reasonably much get hold Ghirardelli chocolate everywhere , so there ’s no need to corrupt any while you ’re at Ghirardelli Square – although you will desire to snag a free sample distribution of burnt umber made that sidereal day , which is obviously well worth doing . What youcan’tget everywhere is Ghirardelli ’s macrocosm - famous hot fudge ice-cream sundae , served in a waffle bowl ( it ’s like a waffle cone shape , but … you get it ) . So , yeah : get one of those . Pro tip : cut the wait at theOriginal Chocolate Manufactorylocation by the outpouring and or else , walk back to theChocolate Marketplacewhere there ’s a Sundae Bar – which seldom has a line . Yes , you could give thanks me afterwards .

The new restaurant from Jonathan Waxman

Waxman’swill be Jonathan Waxman ’s first - ever restaurant in California , and while I clearly have n’t had the fortune to eat there yet ( it ’s typeset to open up before long ) , I can pretty much guarantee that it ’s go to be good because , hi : Jonathan Waxman . The space is ginormous , arranged to accommodate two concepts – both formal Italian dining and a casual pizzeria . Tell me you ’re not into both of them . I dare you .

This view

Now seems like a good time to cite that whole “ a picture ’s worth a thousand words ” affair that threaten to make my job nonmeaningful on a daily base .

This fountain

I made so many wishes and sacrificed so many centime to this natural spring when I was a Kyd . It seems a lot smaller now , but for anyone who mature up in SF , it ’s a place where nostalgia runs rearing . Plus , wish are only a penny . It ’s like the one thing splashiness has n’t ruin .

And last but not least… this juice shop

Because , hail on , after all of those burgers , wine tastings , and sundaes , the antidote is clearly a cold - pressed juice from the Juice Shop . Even what I really desire is another sundae .

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Ghirardelli Square