SF Landmark ‘Waterfront Restaurant’ Closes After 56 Years
San Francisco’s Waterfront Restaurant on the Embarcadero served its last meal on New Year’s Eve after more than 50 years of fresh seafood and Bay views. The Pier 7 spot first opened in 1969 and survived a fire in 1973, the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, and decades of loyal diners, including Tony Bennett, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.
The restaurant earned a spot on San Francisco’s Legacy Business Registry in late 2025, recognizing its importance as a longtime city institution.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit hard, with earnings dropping 55% between 2019 and 2025. Now the iconic space is available for a new restaurateur, one of the most visible locations on the waterfront, right between the Ferry Building and the Exploratorium. This is the first time in decades the site is up for lease, offering a chance to reimagine a landmark property in a prime location.
Read more at SF Gate
