Build a Perfect Picnic at the San Francisco Ferry Building

Going out to Angel Island or Alcatraz for the day? Planning an all-day walk-around of Fisherman’s Wharf and the Embarcadero? Pick up a picnic in the gourmet wonderland that is the Ferry Building. Here’s how:

Start at Acme Bread Company, the legendary all-organic bakery begun in Berkeley. The classic baguettes will transport you as close to Paris as it’s possible to get from the West Coast of the United States. For a fancier San Francisco experience, grab a slab of olive rosemary bread. Be sure to bring cash—Acme doesn't accept credit cards.

For something to spread on your bread, stop in at the Cowgirl Creamery’s Artisan Cheese Shop. The Marin cheese makers use the milk of happy California cows to create their delectable blues and bries. The shop also offers artisan cheeses from around the world, with a special focus on farmstead cheeses from Europe.

If it’s Tuesday or Saturday, you won’t be able to miss the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market going on all around you. Pick up some fresh fruits and veggies—fresh sliced apples spread with blue cheese taste like the feet of the Divine.

Give your picnic a vinous finish at the Ferry Building Wine Merchant. Pick up a vintage from Napa or Sonoma to round out a completely Californian feast.

It’s easy to find your way to the Ferry Building on foot from the Financial District, especially if you’re staying at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Le Meridien, or the Mandarin Oriental.

--Liz Hamill Scott of eatswritesandleaves.com and travelswithpain.com