Book Passage is a charming independently-owned bookstore on the Bay side of the Ferry Building. In addition to contemporary fiction and non-fiction, The book selection emphasizes local travel, boating on the Bay, food, cooking, sustainable agriculture and ecology, and photo and gift books about the Bay Area. The store hosts author events, including many well-known names. With a van shuttling books from Corte Madera to San Francisco, commuters can order a book in the morning and pick it up on their way home.

The name Book Passage is already familiar to many since the original store in Marin County has been a literary cornerstone since 1976. Owners Bill and Elaine Petrocelli say the store’s slogan "The Bay Area's Liveliest Bookstore" has never been challenged. Book lovers can learn about a full schedule of events through online and print newsletters. There are monthly literary salons and regular seminars on topics such as cookbook writing and children¹s book writing. Book Passage hosts three annual summer writing conferences. The Mystery Writers Conference and the Children's Writers & Illustrators Conference have both launched several writing careers. The exciting and prestigious travel writing conference has now been recast as the Travel, Food, & Photography Conference.