A Self-Guided Audio Tour of San Francisco’s Chocolate Story

San Francisco, USA
Duration1h 30m - 2h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Join this self-guided audio tour of San Francisco and go far beyond the tech city to discover the port transformed by the American artisan chocolate revolution. On this walking tour, you'll explore how Gold Rush prospectors, Swiss immigrants, and modern bean-to-bar pioneers built a chocolate capital from the ashes of earthquakes and buried ships. Beginning at the iconic Ferry Building, you'll stroll up historic Market Street, stop at celebrated chocolatiers like Dandelion and Teuscher, and walk over the hulls of a Gold Rush fleet buried beneath your feet. Learn the professional "Melt" technique to taste chocolate like an expert, hear the real story behind Mary See's chocolate empire, and sample the world's first Champagne Truffle. Bring your walking shoes and your sweet tooth and by the end, you'll never look at a truffle the same way again.

What's included

  • Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
  • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
  • App for Android and iOS
  • Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
  • Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
  • Smartphone and headphones
  • Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
  • Food and drink
  • Transportation

What to expect

  1. Pass by
    Marvel at this iconic 1898 landmark that stood defiant against the Great Earthquake, marking the starting point of your chocolate journey. You'll discover how this historic port was transformed by the American artisan chocolate revolution.
  2. Pass by
    Stroll up historic Market Street, crossing "The Slot" — the old class divide that once separated San Francisco's worlds. Along the way, you'll walk directly over the hulls of a Gold Rush fleet buried beneath your feet.
  3. Lotta's Fountain
    Pass by
    Pass Lotta's Fountain, where opera stars once performed for thousands and families searched desperately for the missing after the great fire. This beloved landmark brings to life the city's resilience in the wake of the 1906 earthquake.
  4. Pass by
    Explore one of San Francisco's celebrated bean-to-bar chocolatiers, where modern pioneers have helped build a chocolate capital from the ground up. You'll learn the professional "Melt" technique here, revealing hidden flavor notes in every bean.
  5. Union Square
    Pass by
    Walk through the heart of the city and discover the evolution of Maiden Lane, from a notorious brothel row to a hub of luxury retail. You'll also peek inside San Francisco's only Frank Lloyd Wright building — a spiral ramp prototype for New York's Guggenheim Museum.
  6. Pass by
    Enjoy the story behind Domenico Ghirardelli's ingenious chocolate-making techniques, which turned chocolate into a durable survival ration for miners in the gold fields. You'll hear how Gold Rush prospectors, Swiss immigrants, and modern pioneers shaped this beloved San Francisco institution.
  7. Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland
    Pass by
    Discover the world's first Champagne Truffle, crafted with Dom Pérignon and traditional Swiss mastery, at one of the city's most celebrated chocolatiers. You'll sample the flavors that have made Teuscher a cornerstone of San Francisco's chocolate story.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

This tour starts at the San Francisco Ferry Building. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

End point

The tour ends outside See's Candies, at the intersection of Market and Sutter Street.

Additional information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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$11.99 per person
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  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
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