San Francisco’s historic waterfront marketplace is about to get, somehow, another head-turning restaurateur in its legendary halls. Restaurateur Kaïs Bouzidi — known for Sens, Barcha, and most recently very nearby Bon Délire — will take over the space left vacant by mainstay Boulettes Larder. A press release from the marketplace says the project is in the early stages of development. That said, Bouzidi confirmed this will be a full-service Mediterranean restaurant called Hayati, “my love” in Arabic.
This is just the latest splashy opening from Bouzidi. The chef was raised in Paris by a French mother and a Tunisian father, moving to the city at the age of 21. It was only in fall 2024 that Bon Délire opened on Pier 3 in the former Hard Water space, bringing thick beef patty burgers and torched French toasts to the location. Notably, both spaces are handled by the Port of San Francisco.
The location is as iconic as the Ferry Building itself, in many ways. Boulettes Larder opened from owners Amaryll Schwertner and Lori Regis in 2004, part of the marketplace’s major remodel. The two closed up shop in July 2025, with no reason provided. It was widely regarded as one of the stewards of what many call California cuisine, the farm-to-table and seasonally driven type of fare.
Now that the Ferry Building is increasingly pivoting toward nightlife — evident in ownership booting Grande Creperie for Red Bay Coffee with the latter returning to provide evening drinks and fare — it makes one think Bouzidi’s love of Parisian cocktail culture might come in handy at Hayati. Across the board, the space is becoming a major attraction for food and drink heads from morning to night once again; over Labor Day Weekend, Parachute opened on the other side of the hall, marking perhaps the biggest bakery debut in 2025.
Hayati (1 Ferry Building, #48, San Francisco) is slated to open summer 2026.
Dining and Cooking