Embarcadero

Embarcadero refers to a waterfront district and promenade along the eastern edge of downtown San Francisco, California. The name comes from the Spanish palabra embarcadero, meaning a dock or place to board ships. Historically a hub of shipping and transit, the area has been transformed into a mixed-use district with offices, retail, hotels, and public spaces.

Key features and landmarks include the Ferry Building, a landmark terminal opened in 1898 that now houses a public market and food hall; and the Embarcadero Center, a large office and retail complex built in the 1970s and 1980s. The Embarcadero promenade provides views of the San Francisco Bay and the Bay Bridge, with various piers, parks, and pedestrian areas that connect the financial district with the waterfront. The district has undergone extensive redevelopment since the late 20th century, balancing commercial activity with public access and tourism.

Transportation and access are integral to the Embarcadero. The area is served by regional transit networks, including the San Francisco Bay Ferry, Muni Metro light rail, and BART at nearby stations. A former elevated highway, the Embarcadero Freeway, was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and subsequently demolished in the early 1990s, with the shoreline reconfigured into a street-level boulevard and expanded public space.

The Embarcadero remains a defining element of San Francisco’s waterfront identity, hosting markets, restaurants, cultural events, and scenic views. The term itself is also used in broader contexts to describe similar dockside districts in Spanish-speaking regions, though the San Francisco Embarcadero is the best-known American reference.