Ghirardelli Square

Jammed in with Fisherman’s Wharf [1] and Pier 39 [2], Ghirardelli Square (900 North Point St., www.ghirardellisq.com [3], pronounced “geer-ah-del-ee”) has recently reinvented itself as an upscale shopping, dining, and living area. Its namesake, the famous Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory (415/474-3938, www.ghirardelli.com [4], Sun.–Thurs. 9 a.m.–11 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 9 a.m.–midnight) sits at the corner of the square. Here you can take a tour of the factory, getting a mouth-watering view of how chocolate is made.

Afterward, you can browse the rambling shop and pick up truffles, wafers, candies, and sauces for all your friends back home. Finally, get in line at the ice cream counter to order a hot-fudge sundae. These don’t travel well, so you’ll have to enjoy it all yourself.

Once you’ve finished gorging on chocolate, you can wander out into the square to enjoy more shopping (there’s even a cupcake shop if your teeth haven’t dissolved yet) and the sight of an unbelievably swank condo complex overlooking the Bay.