By: Sam MacKinnon, Celia Konstantellou and Pati Navalta Poblete By: Sam MacKinnon, Celia Konstantellou and Pati Navalta Poblete | January 16, 2024 | Food & Drink, Guides,
Whether they have an unbeatable croissant, stellar bread or a sandwich that is to die for, these are the definitive best bakeries in San Francisco.
248 Church St.; 415-558-0690 / Website
A standout bakery in the city for its variety of croissant flavors, Thorough Bread and Pastry offers some of the most unique takes on baked goods in the market. Flavors like raspberry almond and chocolate banana are standouts on the menu; you will be hard-pressed to find flavors like these anywhere else. It also offers a wide range of breads and sandwiches, all made from scratch.
160 Jefferson St.; 415-928-1849 / Website
As the oldest continuously operating business in San Francisco, Boudin Bakery and its sourdoughs are as iconic to the city as San Francisco’s famous landmarks. These are the folks who created the Original San Francisco Sourdough and have been making it fresh every day since 1849. When crafting a list of the best bakeries the city has to offer, including Boudin is essential.
710 Montgomery St.; 415-359-1000 / Website
French-inspired market and cafe Maison Nico specializes in the traditional French culinary arts of pate en croûte, brioche feuilletée, terrines, seasonal tarts and many other Parisian-style treats. “Growing up in France, you can find incredible épiceries everywhere and tiny artisanal shops with perfect pates and some of the best brioche and pastries you’ve ever tasted,” says Michelin-starred chef Nicolas Delaroque.
Multiple locations / Website
A Bay Area cult classic, Tartine has four different locations all over San Francisco and has been putting out some of the best bread the city offers since its opening. Founders Chad Robinson and Elizabeth Prueitt created all of their signature bread and pastry recipes to bring intricate, handcrafted baked goods to the West Coast.
2821 California St.; 415-440-1700 / Website
Founded by the former pastry chef of the two-Michelin-starred Manresa Restaurant, this bakery brings opulence and French pastry to the city. The 10-Hour Apple Tart is to die for, and the macarons, available only on weekends, are a stellar gluten-free option for those with dietary restrictions.
Multiple locations / Website
This one-of-a-kind spot calls itself a “contemporary San Francisco bakery and patisserie,” and with the menu offered, it lives up to its modern inspirations. The most famous pastry, The Rebel Within, is a delectable savory muffin with a soft-boiled egg inside of it; as you bite into the pastry, the egg yolk runs down the side to create a beautiful eating experience.
397 Arguello Blvd.; 415-750-9460 / Website
Named by Bon Appetit in 2016 as the Best Bakery of the Year, this tiny bakery in Richmond still lives up to the hype. Its best offering is the croissant, which comes in plain, chocolate, almond, ham and cheese, and chocolate almond form. The layers of the pastry melt in your mouth in a way that is almost unparalleled. If you are a fanatic for the classics, this is the best option in all of San Francisco.
2123 Fillmore St.; 415-931-5263 / Website
If bread is what you seek, Jane the Bakery’s cult following proves it can do no wrong. One of the more accessible options on this list, Jane the Bakery offers a great variety of gluten-free choices, with a standout being the Nutty Bird Bread. Additionally, the paninis are some of the best in the city; a particular favorite is the Natural Duroc Ham.
2343 3rd St.; 415-814-2544 / Website
Three words give you the best description of this Dogpatch bakery: twice-baked croissants. If you have never experienced the pastry-fueled heaven of this dish, you have to go and try it at Neighbor Bakehouse ASAP. They come in various flavors like pumpkin pecan praline and pistachio blackberry, utilizing unique flavor palettes with a baking style like you’ve never had before.
3876 Noriega St.; 415-683-5533 / Website
This bakery near the beaches of San Francisco quite literally has the best breakfast sandwich you will ever eat. They offer a plain version and a special version, and the special is where the true flavor comes out. Two scrambled eggs, pepper jack cheese, applewood smoked bacon or sausage, avocado and a signature lemon-garlic aioli (the star of the dish) are all seated on a made-from-scratch biscuit.
436 Balboa St.; 415-751-9690 / Website
Another highlight on the list is Cinderella Bakery, an Eastern European confectionary that achieved fame for its thousand-layer honey cake. The menu features an enormous variety of Russian baked goods, with pirogis and piroshkis that live up to all the acclaim they receive. The outdoor seating provides a wonderful ambiance to this little spot on Balboa Street. Sit back and enjoy a vatrushka at this iconic place. It won’t disappoint.
700 Filbert St.; 415-781-2015 / Website
This quaint, street-corner bakery has been a favorite for San Franciscans since 1914. For over 100 years, the pastry shop has been mixing up Italian cakes, cookies and pastries, along with some freshly roasted coffee. Colorful murals along the exteriors of the shop demonstrate the appreciation the community has for this spot, and vice versa. Locals absolutely love the cakes, like the princess cake, but the tiramisu and cannolis get rave reviews as well.
521 Clement St.; 415-752-1580 / Website
Since 1911, Schubert’s Bakery has served San Francisco by providing some of the tastiest and most beautiful cakes and pastries. Among the most popular dishes are the mango and tiramisu mousses, the fresh fruit tart, the chocolate truffle torte and the Swedish princess cake. The rest of the menu is just as delicious, with a wide selection of whipped cream cakes, mousse cakes, chocolate cakes and cheesecakes.
Looking for even more baked delights in the city? Try something from one of our favorite cake shops, or pick something sweet from one of San Francisco’s best gourmet chocolatiers.
Photography by: ISTOCK
