The Solo Scale:
By now, Ghirardelli is something of a household name. Their chocolates are sold everywhere. It’s to the point that I’ve had people in my life picking them up at duty-free on trips to bring home as souvenirs. You can even buy the delectable ice cream treats at multiple locations across the country. However, what San Francisco has that no one else does is the privilege of having Ghirardelli Square itself.
This area has two levels. The bottom has the small shop where you can purchase Ghirardelli chocolates. This is also where you can get the sweet sundaes that could substitute for a whole meal. Because it’s so busy, they have laminated menus. These are distributed to the people in line (even at the very back). That way, when you make it to the counter, you already have a good idea of what you want.
In the store, you can purchase the bags of chocolate that are pretty ubiquitous by now. There’s also a place to pick up coffee. You can get coffee at multiple places, though. Really, if you’re at the Ghirardelli Square, the big draw are the ice cream Ghirardelli sundaes made on the spot.
When I visited, I got the Ocean Beach Sea Salt Caramel Sundae, because I loved the idea of layering in caramel and rich chocolate fudge. Your choice of sundae also impacts what kind of chocolate square goes into your treat.
Now, keep in mind that San Francisco is still very chilly by the water, even in the summer. I visited in early July, but by the bay, people were clad in souvenir sweatshirts (an indication that they hadn’t planned for the chilly weather). That does mean that a cold ice cream sundae may be the last thing on your list. However, it is so delicious and rich that it’s a great alternate to a lunch or just an amazing treat on your vacation.
Plus, who can deny the thrill of checking this off your bucket list to be able to say that you had Ghirardelli in San Francisco in Ghirardelli Square itself?
Want to plan your trip and what you might get? Check out the San Francisco location’s menu to decide what sweet treat you’ll pick out.
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