Jesse Itzler once said, “I like the concept of ‘have your cake and eat it, too.’” We have to say we agree! The best city to indulge in the most exquisitely refined and impressive cakes are of course, in the culinary capital of San Francisco. We boast an endless number of premier bakeries with famous must-try cakes, and so here is a sweet list of which ones to absolutely try.
See also: Best San Francisco Sweet Treats For Fall
On the vibrantly bustling Valencia Street is the warm and cozy nook of Craftsman & Wolves- an award-winning French-inspired pâtisserie with the most cutting-edge cakes. You will be instantly drawn to their bright glass case showcasing innovative cake designs with even more boldly inventive flavors, such as the Rose Garden Stone Petit Gateau with rose petal mousse, a lychee center, and sake pound cake with a delicate almond dentelle nest.
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436 Balboa St.; 415-751-9690 / Website
Cinderella Bakery is a legendary community landmark in the Richmond for all of the most authentic and comforting Russian treats. Since 1953, there has always been a consistent line out the door for their succulent "Medovik" Honey Cake and flaky Napoleons with rich custard cream, making for the perfect pick-me-up when in this storied neighborhood.
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600 Guerrero St.; 415-487-2600 / Website
You better plan to be in line early because the world-famous Tartine Bakery is just that amazing! This incredibly spectacular award-winning Mission hot spot can do no wrong, particularly in its highly-coveted cakes, bread pudding, and chocolate soufflé. This is the perfect stop to grab a bite of precisely made heaven to take to Dolores Park.
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446 Columbus Ave.; 415-986-2914 / Website
Stella Pastry is an absolute must-visit when in North Beach. Its glass case brimming with cheesecake slices, tarts, cookies and more is delectably mesmerizing. This is a cute and casual local favorite that’s charmingly adorable and genuinely kind, with your only worry being what to choose out of all their largely portioned creations!
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2821 California St; 415-440-1700 / Website
B. Patisserie is your cake shop choice when in Pacific Heights, elegantly boasting a sleek interior with even more intricately handcrafted pastries with incredibly detailed finesse. This is a luxuriously chic salon that has effortlessly accrued many accolades, with the Vanilla Cassis Cake with Mascarpone, Sablé Breton, and Cassis Ganache on Chiffon Cake being a consistent standout.
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521 Clement St.; 415-752-1580 / Website
As one of the oldest-running bakeries in the city, historic Schubert's Bakery has been serving up exceptional cakes since 1911. This is a brilliantly grand Richmond icon that handcrafts the best Princess Cakes, which is a cultural treat of layered cake, custard, and jam, all decadently wrapped in marzipan for a snack that's as royal as it tastes.
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3376 18th St. / Website
This Mission District favorite by chef Michelle Hernandez is all about culturally authentic French pastries with a botanical focus. Opened in 2011, her shop became instantly revered for her ingenious use of fresh and seasonal herbs, teas, and flowers to create literal masterpieces, evidenced in her natural prowess for buttercream art. Any of her handmade multi-layer cakes make for a stunningly eye-catching centerpiece for any event.
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449 Octavia St.; 415-626-6221 / Website
Your Hayes Valley choice for gorgeously irresistible cakes is unequivocally Miette. With also a location in the Ferry Building, locals can’t get enough of the cute shop’s pastel aesthetics, Parisian-style macarons, dark chocolate tomboy cakes, and curated candies. This is a wonderland of a bakery that will instantly bring out your inner child.
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690 Indiana St.; 415-805-1371 / Website
With a name like Butter&, you know you’re in for a rich treat. This is a Dogpatch delight that personally customizes your cake order exactly to your preferred dimensions with its own sophisticated flavors and masterful designs. We love their beautifully realistic marble or golden New Day aesthetics with either their complex Brown Butter & Meyer Lemon, or their bold dark chocolate 9th & Larking fillings.
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165 O’Farrell St.; 415-814-8888 / Website
One65 is a multilevel French wonderland right in the heart of downtown. Step in and be instantly taken on an exhilarating adventure through every packed floor of their culinary emporium. The first-floor patisserie will stop you in your tracks and captivate you with its endless rows of tall cakes, vivid macarons, and more, which you can walk off as you continue your journey through all their floors!
Whether you obtain these cakes for an event or all for yourself, each layer of these enchanting creations truly highlights San Francisco’s commitment to flavor creativity and impressive presentation.
Photography by: Owen Franken / Getty
