The Original Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop

Finally got to experience the Guiradelli Chocolate Square. Plenty of shops and cafés to explore. Interesting history to learn and be standing on it. It’s a happy place to indulge along with the Fam Bam

Ghirardelli Square ice cream is one of those touristy place that you just have to visit! I had the World famous hot fudge sundae; scoops of vanilla ice cream topped with dark chocolate hot fudge, whipped cream, cherry and almond nuts — Delicious! Each cost about $ 9.95, pricey, but they gave you generous helpings of ice cream and toppings. Lovely ice cream shop and I would definitely be back to try more of their decadent concoctions.

I mean, can you go to SF without going to Ghiradeli square and see the original shop? But beware, it’s hard going there just to look… But then is that really why you went? If so, bad idea. So the Sunday menu is a thing of beauty, pricey tho so just keep in Ming you will be paying a round $ 11 – 15 or even $ 18? Depending on what you get. Totally worth it so don’t grimace till you try it. And if there are no seats inside, don’t worry they will find your number outside. Which I would suggest if the weather allows because it is pretty outside.

The original Ghiradelli chocolate location = tourists galore and super crowded. There was a line extending out the door and down the block when we arrived on a Sunday afternoon, and it was super packed inside. Thankfully, the line moved quickly.
There are a variety of sundaes and banana or brownie sundaes to choose from, all over $ 10 and named after famous locations in and around SF. We decided to split the «Muir Woods», which is a Black Forest cherry sundae with black cherry vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, chocolate bits and topped with a cherry ($ 11.95). If you check in on Unilocal and show it to the cashier, you get a dollar off the sundae!
The sundae itself was delicious. I really liked the flavor of the ice cream. It was a bit on the expensive side, but it was nice to experience and to say that you have eaten at the original chocolate factory location!

This was a definite «When in San Fran…» moment of weakness.
Line is always out the door, but moves pretty quickly. We ordered the Treasure Island (classic hot fudge sundae + warm brownie) and the sundae with cookies & cream ice cream, whip cream & warm chocolate chip cookie bits. They were $ 12 & $ 13, and while you do get a ton of ice creamy goodness, it still seems overpriced for tourists.
Super crowded inside, but many steps/​ledges outside for makeshift seating.
Overall the desserts were good but nothing too special. I’m sure the city has many more delicious dessert gems if you venture outside the tourist bubble.

This destination is a true tourist spot. Being from Denver, I’ve been told to check-​out the Ghiradelli Ice Cream Shop when traveling to San Francisco. Having been there now, I can say that it’s a nice little shop. But, it’s a little bit expensive. And there doesn’t seem to be anything spectacularly special about it. Maybe I’m just one of those girls who likes a little bit of uniqueness in the touristy places I go, but I didn’t find this shop to be too exciting.
When we walked past this shop on my first trip to the piers, I saw that it was super crowded. Both at the downstairs and upstairs location. Although I don’t mind crowds, I do mind rude people. And tourists tend to be rude in general. But, I thought I’d brave the hordes and venture in to get the ice cream I was craving. Right before the doors to the upstairs entrance, there was a basic menu. And OMG, the prices were a little steep. Not wanting anything fancy anyway, I opted for just a sugar cone and a scoop of ice cream.
Upon entrance, we were greeted by some employees. They offered a free sample for one of their limited edition chocolates. It was a dark chocolate with some blueberry filling inside. While it tasted fine, it wasn’t my cup of tea. So, I ate a bite and gave the rest to my friend. While waiting in line, I had already chosen the ice cream scoop I wanted, the black cherry vanilla. When I got to the register, I was super disheartened to hear that they had run out of that for the day. While this does happen to every busy business, I was still a little bit disappointed. In the end, I just opted to get a cookie dough scoop.
As it came time for my ice cream to be put out, I watched in amusement as the servers were scooping my ice cream onto the cone. The guy literally broke 3 cones trying to put a massive scoop on the cone. This was pretty pleasing because I knew that I was at least getting a giant scoop. I felt at least a little bit relieved that my money went a little further than usual on this scoop.
While the scoop tasted fine and like a usual scoop of cookie dough, it wasn’t that exciting. The ice cream tastes like any other ice cream. Their flavors weren’t spectacular in the least (in general). And this place is pretty average. If you do go, I recommend going through the service at the top floor. The downstairs is really busy compared to the upper floor. And be expected to pay high prices for ice cream you could literally get anywhere else, in my opinion.

Lines are insane!!! Wanted to wait to order upstairs (wasn’t open yet) but the manager said the line downstairs will take only 5 to 8 mins. Liar =p. While I stayed upstairs to save seats, friends went down and ordered… I waited about half an hour!!! Apparently, shortly after they went down, the upstairs cashier opened up –_​-​. Anyway. It was my own damn fault for insisting on coming to the original shop. Drinks were fab, but the wait kind of ruined the whole experience. I could have gotten the same drink at the Westfield in Union Square. Still had fun though :)

Overpriced ice cream sundaes, but I had to do my touristy thing and get the «world famous» hot fudge sundae. You can get the exact same thing with MUCH less of a wait for tables at the location further inside Ghiradelli Square, though this one does have the little display that shows you how chocolate is made.

When in the are, especially towing always hungry teens, one must visit the Ghirardelli parlor to experience on of their massive sundaes. First ‘treat’ is being greeted by a spunky youngster handing our Ghirardellia chocolates to get your chocolate pump primed.
We dove into a banana split — we had a partially full tank from our recent dinner at Roam Artisan burger, so we thought it important to pace ourselves. Ample size, the banana split lasted about (or it seemed) 2 minutes before all but the cherry stem and plastic bowl remained. I guess we liked it!

I am a man who loves chocolate. I’ve loved chocolate and have been eating chocolate as my dessert of choice since I was… really young or something. Basically, I have eaten a lot of chocolate in my day. Ghirardelli’s signature sundae did not disappoint. Side note: check-​in ahead of time for the $ 1 off Unilocal coupon. I did not do this. Amateur mistake, and I had to ugh… save my coupon for later. The worst.
Anyway, of course I switched my sundae from vanilla to chocolate. No brainer. Almonds on the side because they remind me of healthiness. Then I dove into two scoops of excellent milk chocolate with lakes of hot chocolate on the sides which kind of morphed into the melted ice cream for extreme bites of pure sugar. The whipped cream was of sufficient substance so held firm deep into the sundae. As opposed to cheap whipped cream which falls apart and then leaves behind that trail of melted white stuff.
It was the stuff dreams are made of. And when I had eaten almost every bite my greedy spoon could reach, I drank the dregs like a champ. It was wonderful.
Other noteworthy things about the shop. Nice atmosphere with a high-​end old time feel. They have a few stools at their sundae bar where you can watch these baristas at work. Plenty of seats with great views of the bay.
Staff was friendly. Someone gave me a piece of chocolate when I walked in. There is nothing else to say. I liked it a chocolot. If you cannot be happy here, you belong on Alcatraz.

It was my 30^th Birthday and I had just arrived in San Francisco that evening after an airy salt-​water drive up the coastal highway from Big Sur. A fan of sweets of any kind… I was looking for something to mark the occasion. And boy! Did the original Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop fit that bill!
Let me start off by saying… I LOVE ice cream. I also LOVE chocolate. So how can you really go wrong with this place. If this was a review of just the consumables… this place would be hands-​down, five stars. I ordered a 2 scoop cup of ice cream (1 scoop of Ghirardelli chocolate and another of cookies & cream) topped with caramel and whipped cream. The dark chocolate fudge topping was calling to me but… I decided to draw the line just before going there. There is nothing bad I can say about my dessert, it was fantastic.
As an obvious tourist attraction, this place does really well to keep the long lines moving. Paper menus are passed out to those waiting in line so you can order right away when you approach one of the several cashiers inside. You can either get it to eat there or to go. I opted to take it with me as it was clear there were already a number of people crammed into the small seating section found inside. I was directed where to pick up my order then tried desperately to find a place to stand to wait. Each time I found somewhere to stand that was out of the way of the hustle and bustle of the staff moving around inside, I was told that I couldn’t be there and had to move again. There is just really no space for those to wait who are taking their orders to go.
There is an interesting moving display inside that walks you through the chocolate making process. It was pretty neat to check that out. Try to take your time soaking in the interior of this place with its original tile floors, etc. With the craziness of the atmosphere inside, it is easy to lose touch with the history its walls exude.
In my opinion… a must stop if visiting San Francisco.

The picture menu of all the ice cream sundaes is sinful. I had a really hard time choosing how much chocolate I wanted to stuff my face with, but I eventually picked the Mint Bliss which is a tall sundae that is one of the 3 Pink Ladies sundaes. My husband went all out and got the Warm Brownie sundae.
I wanted to try his but could barely finish mine and I would say I got one of the smaller sundaes! It was so good, minty with plenty of whipped cream, a ghirardelli square on top and the bottom was a good two inches of pure chocolate sauce. I mean… heaven. My husband’s was basically the same but bigger, with vanilla ice cream, and a big brownie instead of the Ghirardelli square.
This place was packed, even on a rainy day! We thought we had it all figured out and would be the only ones there on a gloomy day. Plan ahead people; I can’t imagine the crowds on a nice day! Definitely a must see destination because chocolate and ice cream are just so good, but be ready for crowds! Though the staff are very efficient at clearing tables and getting the desserts out.

My thoughts before I bought and ate the Land’s End Sundae from Ghirardelli: ‘Am I really going to pay 14.50 $ for one ice cream sundae… I must be cray cray!’
My thoughts after I ate the Land’s End Sundae from Ghirardelli: ‘Yes, I would pay 14.50 $ for this ice cream over and over again… um, when do you want to come back for another?‘
My favorite sundaes are hot fudge brownie sundaes; this one did not disappoint. Not joking, this sundae had some of the best brownies I’ve ever tasted – they were moist and bi-​layered. I even asked if I could buy some to-​go. #firstworldproblems right? So, the Land’s End (i.e., the Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae) – It comes with two scoops of ice cream, hot fudge, caramel, and sea salt. This is not the first time I have had Ghirardelli, but it is the first time I tried this particular sundae.
Share this sundae with someone you really like and they will like you more. I promise.

I love coming to Ghiradelli!
The area look a lot better after the construction.
Easy to walk to from Fisherman’s Wharf.
The chocolate shop is full of different Ghiradelli varieties and gift sets. They also hand out samples when you walk in! Score!
The ice cream shop is like walking into an old school ice cream parlor. You see and smell the history of the building.
There is a ton of choices and flavors so pick your poison. Portions are huge! I always have to share.
Ocean Beach — $ 10.95 — Creamy vanilla ice cream topped with caramel and hot fudge. My teeth hurt thinking about it! Sea salt help cut the sweetness.
Pricey for ice cream but I do enjoy myself every time.

How could we come to Ghirardelli square without stopping at the ice cream and chocolate shop?! We came on our very first day in the city, but since it was a little later in the evening and quite chilly out, so we opted out of getting a sundae, and chose to have their signature hot cocoa instead. We ordered the original and the sea salt ones, which were absolutely delicious and decadent and everything you hope for in a hot chocolate! The only thing that was a little disappointing was that the hot chocolate was lukewarm by the time it got to us, but I forgive them because it is always crazy busy in there!
We came back a few days later on the last day of our trip so we can try their sundaes and ohmygod, I’m still not over it. Pretty sure I’ll be having dreams about Ghirardelli ice cream sundaes for weeks! We had the Golden Gate banana split and the Lands End salted brownie sundae! We shared both sundaes among 5 people, and although we all agreed we could have gotten away with ordering just one, we definitely didn’t regret ordering two!
The banana split was everything I love in a sundae and more. The classic Neapolitan flavors were creamy, rich and absolutely amazing covered in whipped cream and chocolate sauce, and the bananas were fresh and sweet. The salted brownie sundae was just devine. Words cannot describe the types of feelings I was having while eating it. It was an experience all on its own. I wish I had another stomach just so I could have fit more ice cream into my belly!
I can’t wait to come back! If you ever find yourself in Ghirardelli Square or nearby at the Fisherman’s wharf, do yourself a favor and #treatyoself to something sweet at Ghirardelli’s. I know it’s such a touristy spot, but we’re all human and we all deserve good ice cream!

A famous tourist attraction in San Francisco. Ghirardelli makes really good chocolate, but I have to say their ice cream are mediocre, slightly pricy, and quite sweet. I got a little sick of the sweetness after the eating the whole serving. But I have to say, their chocolates are bomb!
Favorites:
CRISSY FIELD ($ 11.45) — Vanilla & cookies’n cream ice cream with hot fudge. Topped with whipped cream, Ghirardelli Chocolate Chip Cookie crumbles and Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel minis.

Originally I thought that I didn’t want to come here since I have ghiradelli chocolate back home in New Jersey. But I never had their ice cream.
Well worth the visit! I came In a group of four and we ordered two ice cream sundaes. We were so full afterward but very satisfied. Definitely order a few sundaes and share so you can try each one.
My only downer is that the brownie in the brownie sundae was not soft and warm. It was still delicious because ghiradelli brownies and chocolates are amazing!

Best ice cream and hot fudge in the city! I have been visiting Ghirardelli since I was little and when they only had 1 location. Now, you can find 4 locations in Ghirardelli square. The original location which is easier to find and see from the main road is usually busy with tourists so expect long lines and unavailable tables. I would definitely recommend walking inside ghirardelli square towards the back to their other location which is a lot bigger and offers more selections of chocolate and gift baskets.
If it is your first time here, I would definitely recommend the original hot fudge sundae. What makes Ghirardelli so good is the combination of the not too sweet vanilla ice cream with their rich dark hot chocolate fudge. Best thing ever.

I LOVED the fudge sundae we tried. It was truly huge, so I’m glad my mom was willing to split it with me. The fudge on the ice cream was some of the best I have ever had. The vanilla ice cream was also wonderful. I didn’t like how crowded the store was though. Because of the crowd it was hard to find a seat and it took a little while for our sundae to get to us. Other than that, I highly recommend trying!

If you’re in search for something sweet don’t look any further. You’ve got to come here! We came in for some ice cream scoops and had the Ghirardelli Chocolate, cookie doh and classic vanilla.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE GHIRARDELLI CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM. It’s a wonderful melted chocolate lovers dream!
Unfortunately I don’t have a picture to go alongside my review… RIP to the picture I could have taken.
The location is a little walk up the hill but it’s San Francisco. The store is always busy with lots of hustle and bustle but the cashier was friendly.
You must come here– that’s all.

First of all, this is a MASSIVE tourist spot in SF, so if you choose to go here, prepare for large crowds, long lines, and overpriced ice cream and chocolate.
If you go into this place with that mindset, you will greatly increase your chances of enjoying your experience. There’s not much you can do about large crowds except for trying to go during a weekday. The staff here does a good job at keeping the long line moving quickly. I’ve never had to wait more than 15 minutes after ordering to get my ice cream.
The ice cream is good! Although, I love anything sweet, and I always drench my ice cream in hot fudge – so take from that what you will.
Again, it is a tourist spot, so yes, it’s overpriced – big surprise. If you’re not willing to pay 9 bucks for an ice cream, then this isn’t the place for you. However, if you are visiting SF and you love chocolate and/​or ice cream, then definitely check it out. Plus, there are some good views just down the block and there are a couple of restaurants in the area as well.

This place is really silly. I love it. Every time you go in, you get this ridiculously giant piece of chocolate for free.
But they are smart, they know what they’re doing. Nobody goes expecting to buy chocolate, everybody leaves buying chocolate.
As you walk in the store, thinking you got the better end because you got a free piece of chocolate. The chocolate melts in your mouth. And you start looking around. And there’s a lot of chocolate. And it all looks good.
And as the chocolate melts in your mouth, you just happen to grab a couple candy bars that also look good. And they are tiny… The little tiny squares like the ones that were free at the door. They are the same. If they are giving them away, they can not be that much.
And you’re thinking how much could these tiny little guys be? So you grab a couple. Then he grabbed three. And if you are with a friend they also grab three. And maybe while you’re in line you also grab a big candy bar.
This place is like a snowball mouse trap. Where the further down the rabbit hole you get, the more chocolate you leave with.
This might be the smartest business plan I’ve ever seen. Hardly anybody ever, ever goes in expecting to buy chocolate. But everybody ends up buying chocolate. All because they give away a little piece of squares for free. And as the person walks through the store, the chocolate melts in their mouth. Reminding them chocolate is delicious.
The only reason my girlfriend and I went into the chocolate shop, was to get a free piece of chocolate. But we end of leaving buying like eight or ten dollars worth of chocolate! How did that happen!
Enjoy your free piece of chocolate. Suckers! Oh my god it’s so good, I’m eating one right now!

Chocolate chocolate everywhere and sooo much of it to eat and drink please don’t be that person who needs to get taken out on a wheelbarrow!
Straight up I love Ghirardelli their chocolate is some of the best you can find anywhere as it’s just soo flavorful and delicious with the ever so many varieties to choose from you’ll end up in a chocolate coma hence the wheelbarrow statement before!
Coming here i knew to expect greatness but what I found was what beyond that as this was the best Ghirardelli shop I’ve been to as they had twice as much chocolate as well as this awesome serve yourself area that was overflowing with different chocolate concoctions!
The serve your self area was a chocolate lovers paradise as they had many different varieties of chocolate covered goodies like almonds, Cranberries, Blueberries, Pretzel Balls, in dark and milk chocolate variations as well as a bunch of other goodies that I got overwhelmed with!
The best part of the serve your self area is that they were running a special where you get ½ pound free when you buy a ½ pound now that’s just awesome and needless to say I still have some chocolate left a few days later!
They also have all the ice cream Sunday’s and chocolate drinks you can find at any of the Ghirardelli stores around of these my favorite to get is always the Nob Hill Chill as it’s just soo delicious with that thick gooey chocolate that runs down the inside of the cup that’s mixed with the ice cream and those yummy little chocolate chips!
On this particular morning I wasn’t really feeling anything too cold so we decided to get some of the dark hot chocolate wile it was super good on it’s own my lady and I both found it to be a bit rich and hard to drink because of this but need no fear we asked the baristas if they could add some milk to it so that the drink would even out a little bit and sure enough after they did this for us the dark hot chocolate was just so so so good and totally warmed us up on this cold February morning in the bay!
Without a doubt I’ll be back to another Ghirardelli soon as they always have what’s good in chocolate form!

Every Time I’m in San Francisco i have to go get my cup of hot chocolate! You don’t know hot chocolate and you absolutely cannot say you have had the best until your try it here! I get the sea salted Carmel hot chocolate and it comes with a piece of dark chocolate on a plate. I love to put the chocolate inside my hot chocolate! No matter how stuffed I am I somehow manage to down this cup of love!

É um dos chocolates mais famosos dos EUA e o café te leva uma experiência de como era produzido na antiga fábrica! Não precisa dizer que a comida foi incrível e as bebidas com o doce sabor do chocolates evidentemente maravilhosas!
Prepare-​se: é capaz de haver filas, que podem não ser muito grandes, mas chegam a sair da loja! Estão fazendo uma reforma que acredito melhorará esse ponto e oxalá inclua banheiros, que ficam localizados no pátio do centro comercial anexo e é bem chatinho de ir até lá, especialmente no frio que estava quando fui! Esse inclusive é o motivo do local não ter a 5ª estrela!
Ah, quando eu fui tinha um descontinho para Unilocalers!!!

This is definitely a sweet stop for anyone visiting or living in SF. Save room for dessert at their ice cream shop. Try their signature classic sundae with dark hot fudge without the chocolate covered waffle bowl unless you don’t mind getting your hands dirty as you indulge and dive into the decadence.
My favorite combo to get is dark chocolate, sea salt, and roasted almonds. Whether it’s a bag of small pieces or a slab to munch on, you’ll be delighted by the rich. sweet and savory flavor with a crunchy texture.
The lines can get long, so try going during off-​peak hours. Service is friendly and fast, so hopefully that makes up for it. Don’t forget to check out the process and equipment on the side regarding the origin of the shop and how they make one o the yummiest and high-​quality chocolates!

A Ghirardelli Gift Certificate! The best gift to help celebrate every birthday.
…It’s become a family tradition.

I have to try really hard to separate sentimental attachment to this location from the review of it as an actual eatery. I have had ice cream from this spot since I was a tiny tot and honestly, at this point coming here for a sundae is essentially grabbing some ice cream with family present and departed. If you have that kind of attachment, this is still a great place to go!
As for the food, the ice cream is good, but not phenomenal. Definitely have had better, and it isn’t worth going out of the way for it. The toppings do help out quite a bit… especially the hot fudge. That is some premo stuff :)
It is a pricey spot, so be prepared for that. I don’t think I really got $ 13 worth of sundae, but it is certainly a tourist spot which explains the price. That brings me to service and atmosphere…
The line is almost always out the door, down the sidewalk, across the little fountain plaza, and sometimes wrapped back on itself… seriously. Plan on waiting at least an hour for this experience. The process is fairly straightforward — wait in line, order when you get inside the doors. If you are dining in — try to find a table (good luck). If you are doing takeout, send the rest of your group outside and try to distract yourself from the crowd by looking at replicas of original chocolate making equipment while you wait another 20 or so minutes.
The whole process is like a sausage factory of tourists, but it is still a little slice of history… and you end up with ice cream, so it could be worse :)

I stepped my way through the chocolate shop, looking for a no-​sugar-​added option as a gift for a diabetic friend. While they do have a spectrum of 10 – 12 different flavors of chocolate, there aren’t any here that you can’t find in your local supermarket. Prices didn’t seem to be all that great. The exception were the gift baskets and variety packs, but again, it’s the same chocolate that you get anywhere else.
And this is absolutely one of the «must do» things if you’re being a tourist!
I did not manage to find a no-​sugar variety. The gal working the register said that they did not stock one.

Beware, you may leave about 10 lbs heavier than when you walked in, but soooo worth it! In my opinion a SF staple and adorable place to visit. If you have kids they will love the area where you can see the chocolate being melted and and swirled around.
The whole square is a great place to walk around and explore the other shops and restaurants and listen to any street performers that may be there. If you go into the actual chocolate shop to the right of the restaurant/​café side you will almost always get a free sample!
I’ve never tried their hot chocolate or drinks, but their ice creams and sundaes are delicious. Not the best I’ve ever had, but the atmosphere makes it a great experience. I love taking friends here that are visiting from out of town! Definitely a tourist spot with oftentimes long lines but regardless a great spot!

This is the biggest sundae I’ve ever seen. Look, the plate is as wide as my shoulder !!
First time for me to try the Earthquake Sundae: 8 huge scoops of ice cream, 8 delicious topings, finished with fresh bananas, whipped cream, chopped almonds, decadent chocolate chips and cherries. I went there with my family and friends, there were 7 of us who ate this sundae. If you come here with your family or friends, you should try and share this sundae.

What else can be said about this timeless San Francisco classic? Ghirardelli chocolate store and café are a must whenever I come into the city. Between the free chocolate sample you receive at the door to the store or the fragrant aromas that bathe you when you’re approaching Ghirardelli square — a must for every local and tourist alike.
The prices are a little steep but it’s Ghirardelli … Worth every cent. I personally love their indulgent beverages: from their classic hot cocoa to their coffee drinks, you feel like you’re sipping heaven.
Crowded in the summer, I love coming to Ghirardelli in the «off season» or on an off day. My boyfriend and I came by Ghirardelli yesterday when it was pouring rain and the café had plenty of open seats for us to enjoy our hot cocoa. Fast, friendly service, Ghirardelli knows chocolate and knows the way to this girls heart.

Came to the Ghirardelli Square because of google. Yes I googled things to do in San Fran and Ghirardelli square showed up. Went inside the square and noticed the Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop. Ok please do not laugh. I am from Canada. So… I have no idea how famous Ghirardelli Sundae are.
My friends told me that their Sundaes are a must try. So you have to go and order and pay for the Sundae first and they will bring it to you.
I went and ordered their Ghirardelli Square Sundae. I was amazed at their Sundae. I don’t know how they do it. The ice cream is cold but the chocolate is warm. The chocolate is very thick. I am guessing when they make it, they don’t dilute it with too much milk. I love that thick gooey texture and best of all the sweetness goes perfect with the vanilla ice cream. I wish they have more peanuts sprinkles on the top. I love nut sprinkles. They also add in a cherry to make it look nice.
The portion is huge. Its actually enough to share for 2 or even 3 people. But because I am a big fan of ice cream, its better off you go get your own ice cream! I am serious. I did manage to finish it all and because it was so good, I actually want to order another one.
As I am typing away I am craving for their Sundae.
The Sundae cost $ 10.95 and I have to say it is priced at the higher end. But for the taste, you really have to try it. Its so good. I can say best Sundae I have ever tasted.

Location is amazing and the dessert choices are to die for. The actual desserts are not too sweet and the price is sufficient! The reason why I’m giving it three stars versus four is because of the following.
1. The lady who greets and gives out samples was not helpful at all when I asked for assistance and she ignored me twice.
2. The cashier was not to friendly and had a little snobby attitude.
3. Tried to get a water cup and the water pressure was beyond low, it took five minutes to fill the cup half way!

Very nice ice cream shop with lots of history, but this is where all the tourists go. I went there with some family friends, about 12 of us, and we told the person at the front what we were going to order and then we sat down.
Sitting down was rather difficult, as this place is made for mainly gouprs of 2 or four, not 12. We basically had to work to get our tables together, but we finally got to sit together.
After we ordered, and eight of us ordered the Carmel sundae, we were waiting about 30 minutes for our ice cream. This is what really dissapionted me about this place. I have been here several times before and they have never been this late. I really wanted to give them three stars, but couldn’t because of the size of our group. They also havld given us a free shake afterwards.
Our Carmel sundaes were beyond delicious and I recommend them to everyone. They even came with a little piece of chocolate from Ghiridelli Square covered in Carmel. I felt completely satisfied by the time I finished it. Unfortunately you can’t take any home
I recommend it for small litlle date nights and groups and its right next to the pier !!

Its my last night in San Francisco so i wnet for a late night drive with a friend and stopped by this place at about 11pm.
Heard the chocolate is reallg nice af Ghirardelli
I ordered a root beer float, golden gate banana split and a brownie fudge ice cream.
3 stars for the amazing tasting fudge and brownie and also scoffed down a sea salt and caramel chocolate block, very tasty !!
No stars for the cream and ice cream. both were very average!
Would go back for the chocolate but nothing else!
Maybe they should think of getting another ice cream providor or use gelato instead !!

Midnight reverie: delicious. Cones are probably more worth than the cups, since they tend to be very generous with portions. Cones = ½ price of cups.
Place itself: a touristic mess.
Suggestion: go to the other locations to get the same stuff, without the hassle of having to deal with thousands of obnoxious tourists.

This place is my childhood. Came back recently and it doesn’t seem as magical as I remembered.
Anyway, came for hot fudge sundae. Yum! They put the right amount of the fudge and the chocolate on my waffle cone was so good. The ice cream wasn’t anything special. It also is kinda pricey for a sundae but still good.
Wouldn’t go out of my way for this place though.

This is really a three star place, but just for sentimental reasons (I have been coming here all my life) bumps it up to four stars.
Let’s face it Ghirardelli is pretty much a tourist trap. As in everyone there is wearing an alcatraz T-​shirt, or some San Francisco logo Adorned Hoodie.
But the look of a little kids face when they see the chocolate being made is very cool.
Their sundaes are pretty much meh. Crystallized Ice cream… as in it was allowed to heat up and then refrozen. Fudge that is pretty mediocre. Phony whip cream… Wait didn’t we pass Swensen’s on the cable care ride down (that’s the real deal folks… hint hint).
If you live here and have never been go and be done with it. If you’re taking friends from out of town… well your really great friends for biting the bullet!

I went there over the weekend and thought there will be a lot of people but there wasn’t. I wish their chocolates was a little cheaper or give a discount to sf natives. They have little sales like 3 boxes of minis for $ 27… but you go in, someone will greet you and give you a piece of chocolate, individually wrapped, as a sample.
You walk around until you get to the next section, the ice cream ordering… there were 4 of us, one coke float, root beer float, hot coco, and a Caffè mocha. My coke float was delicious. The ice cream was fresh, you will know the difference.
The wait wasn’t long at all and they do have sundaes and other stuff, but it was 10am, so a float will do.
Parking is ok, lots of meters… if you know the area well enough, there’s non meters in the area. Fishermans wharf is nearby, walkable distance!

If you’re a tourist, it’s a great place to come to for desert. If you’re a local, it’s a nice place to bring out of towners as the area is nice. If you’re nostalgic, then it’s a great way to spend time if you grew up visiting the Cannery and Wharf area. If you’re simply craving something sweet and desert, then there’s a couple of factors you have to consider… parking (in the heart of SF!) and prices (avg $ 10 per person for a decadent yet not super sized, ‘tho good satisfying portion, not sharing sized).
Parking has gotten easier if you know SF and the way to have forced karma through knowledge and education of how to work the meters and zones as well as the surrounding nooks and crannies of the area, especially right now when it’s in the fall/​winter when it’s darker faster and colder outside of tourist season.
Pricing, as mentioned is on the above average higher end, yet the quality is good not necessarily uniquely great, but good, and A-​OKAY. There’s many other local places for deserts and ice cream, but this place does have nice seating inside.
If you go through the chocolate candy area, the odds are you’ll also get treated and greeted by staff handing out a free square of chocolate too.

Some people say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but I don’t know. Chocolate might be better. Is Ghiradelli touristy? You bet it is, but it is a fun experience.
When you walk in, a greeter will offer you chocolate sample. If only that was how every business was — I would be in heaven!
Experience every flavor of chocolate and take some home for your friends in family… or just for you.
Don’t miss the ice cream show there, too! Their sundaes are GIANT — I would suggest sharing this with another person.
Eat your treats in the shop café or take them outside to their beautiful patio and watch boats cruise on the ocean and beachgoers splash in the water.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for… Ghirardelli Hot Fudge Sundaes!!!
This place is a must try if your in the area. The waffle cones are freshly made if you want a chocolate waffle cone they are freshly dipped. For first timers I recommend the world famous hot fudge Sundae. You cant go wrong. Just thinking about it makes me want to go back, like right Now.
Last time I was there I ordered Strike it ritch which has butterscotch and I really enjoyed it, and I dont like butterscotch LOL. I’m pretty confident now that anything I order will be just as good as any other item.
Ghirardelli has really improved the upstairs seating area, I remember when it was just a little room with a few seats, now it has a chocolate shop, booths, and a street entry. Also there are now more cashiers so the line goes by really fast.
The only down side is the seating area, during peak times available seating is non existent and other customers can and will stand at your table waiting for you to finish. Other than that just GO to Ghirardelli. yeah.

Yes, it’s a tourist trap.
Yes, it’ll probably be crowded.
Yes, there are two shops, the original and the less crowded new shop.
Yes, this is more like a Disney experience than an authentic piece of real SF history.
Yes, the chocolate and the Sundaes are very good.
Yes, they are WAY over-​priced.
Yes, the people are very friendly.
Yes, there’s plenty of parking.
No, you can not tour the factory, you can only buy chocolate and other treats. Deal with it.
No, this is not a must see, there are better things to do in San Francisco — MUCH BETTER THINGS TO DO.
Yes, I live in the Bay area and am glad I took my kids there. HA!

When I was in college, I’d visit San Francisco every year at Christmas. During my visit, we’d always stop by Ghirardelli Square to see that wonderful Christmas tree. I haven’t been here in over 15 years, but I really wanted my son to get some yummy chocolate at the Original Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop during our recent vacation.
We were so surprised by how long the lines were here. After waiting an hour in line, we decided that we just couldn’t wait any longer. When we mentioned to an employee that we just wanted to buy some chocolate (the line was apparently just for ordering sundaes), she mentioned that the other door led directly to the store.
This was very, very crowded as well, but it was nice to pick up some items and go directly to cashier. They also gave samples of chocolate as we walked in the door. The customer service was good, but not necessarily great. Because it was so crowded, the staff seemed completely overwhelmed. It was impossible to move through the crowds of people in the store without bumping into everyone in sight.
Although we’re not sure if they still put up a Christmas tree in Ghirardelli Square around the holidays, we’d love to come back to get some of their delicious ice cream and see the lights at Christmas. Hopefully, the lines won’t be as long when we’re back the next time.

This is such a heavenly place. One is brought back in time with their red bricked walls and traditional ice cream parlor server hats.
I love the idea that they gave free mini Ghirardelli squares as you enter the door.
We had their sundae served on a chocolate dipped waffle cone and topped with a generous serving of whipped cream and two squares. Yum!

Since we were in San Francisco we wanted to try all the popular tourist places, and this was definitely on the list!
The line was huge which made us even more intrigued– long lines means it must be good right?!
After maybe half and hour of waiting, we made it inside and stared at the menu. How the heck do you pick one thing off this thing? Everything sounds amazing and so tempting!!! We ordered the world famous sundaes and eagerly waited.
We got our chocolate creations and dug in– goodness. Let me tell you this place is so worth the line! The ice cream and caramel and brownie pieces and everything else served to give you an amazing and decadent dessert! I ate way too many calories but every single calorie was worth it: p
I can see why this place is a popular tourist attraction– it is too good!

Recomendo o Girardelli Square.
Melhor sorvete que já experimentei!!!

Haben eine gute Auswahl. Aber ansonsten nichts Besonderes.
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