East of Union Square, this area, bordered by the Embarcadero and by Market, Third, Kearny, and Washington streets, is the city’s business district and the stamping grounds for many major corporations. The pointy TransAmerica Pyramid, at Montgomery and Clay streets, is one of the district’s most conspicuous architectural features. To its east sprawls the Embarcadero Center, an 8 1/2-acre complex housing offices, shops, and restaurants. Farther east still is the old Ferry Building, the city’s prebridge transportation hub. Ferries to Sausalito and Larkspur still leave from this point. However, in 2003, the building became an attraction in itself when it was completely renovated, jam-packed with outstanding restaurants and gourmet food- and wine-related shops, and surrounded by a farmers' market a few days a week, making it one of San Francisco residents’ favorite places to stock their kitchens.

There is no lack of terrific dining options in this business district. In fact, the Financial District is home to San Francisco’s finest seafood restaurant, dazzling customers with a bewildering juxtaposition of earth and sea. Aqua’s (www.aqua-sf.com) artfully composed dishes are delicately decadent: the ahi tartare with fresh herbs, Moroccan spices, and lemon confit is divine and one of the best ever consumed. Steep prices prevent most people from making a regular appearance, but Aqua is highly recommended. The nearby One Market (www.onemarket.com) does make a case for two top seafood eateries in the district. Whatever you choose from the incredible menu, you’re bound to find a perfectly accompanying wine from the “cellar,” which has over 500 selections of American vintages.

To walk off your great meals, there are some interesting attractions within a few blocks to fill the interlude time between meals. Two prominent pieces of San Francisco’s skyline are in the Financial District. The Transamerica Pyramid, 600 Montgomery St., between Clay and Washington streets, is one of the tallest structures in San Francisco. This corporate headquarters was completed in 1972, stands 48 stories tall, and is capped by a 212-foot spire. The former Bank of America World Headquarters, 555 California St., was designed by Wurster, Bernardi, and Emmons with Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill. This carnelian-marble-covered building dates from 1969. Its 52 stories are topped by a panoramic restaurant and bar, the Carnelian Room. The focal point of the building’s formal plaza is an abstract black granite sculpture, known locally as the “Banker’s Heart,” designed by Japanese architect Masayuki Nagare.

Wells Fargo, one of California’s largest banks, got its start in the Wild West and has put its history on display at the Wells Fargo History Museum (www.wellsfargohistory.com). Its history museum, at the bank’s head office, houses hundreds of genuine relics from the company’s whip-and-six-shooter days, including pistols, photographs, early banking articles, posters, a stagecoach, and mining equipment.