My self-guided tour of the best bakeries in San Francisco began on an overcast and chilly summer morning. I'd only given myself a weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area (en route to Honolulu), and it didn't feel like nearly enough time once I was there.
Wondering how best to make the most of the jet lag that woke me up at 5 a.m., I decided to visit as many incredible bakeries as possible on my second and final day.
This is no small task in a city with a reputation for excellent pastries. I hope my indulgent mission for sweet treats at San Francisco's best bakeries serves you well, whether as an armchair eater or planning a trip.
Updated July 2026: I returned to San Francisco for the first time in three years and added two more bakeries to this guide: the excellent sourdough-focused Josey Baker Bread and newcomer Sol Bakery, which quickly became one of my favorite discoveries of the trip.
Table of Contents
Where To Eat Pastries in SF
Tartine Manufactory
I began my Sunday adventure with morning pastries at the renowned Tartine Manufactory in the Mission District. This 5,000-square-foot space, dedicated to breadmaking, pastries, and ice cream, is in the same building as the Heath Ceramics factory.
It opened in 2016 following the runaway success of nearby Tartine Bakery (600 Guerrero St), a joint venture by Chad Robertson (breadmaker) and his wife, Elisabeth Prueitt (pastry chef).
Unfortunately, they were only offering limited outdoor seating due to the pandemic. I, however, got lucky at my first stop as I arrived soon after they opened and managed to secure a table for breakfast without a reservation.
I ordered the ham and cheese croissant with a fried egg, mission verde, jalapeño, and a green tea to warm up. This was one decadent breakfast sandwich.
The croissant's flaky crust crumbled as I took bite after delicious bite, the pepper giving it a subtle spicy kick. For something sweet, I ordered a pain au chocolat with Valrhona chocolate.
After a six-block walk west to Dolores Park, I devoured the pastry, taking in the San Francisco skyline as I ate. It was one of the best chocolate croissants I've eaten.
Before leaving Tartine Manufactory, I quickly looked at the interior on the way to the restroom. A counter in the café is open for to-go orders, including their famous loaves of sourdough bread.
The bakery serves coffee and pastries until late afternoon, 5 p.m. 595 Alabama St, San Francisco, tartinebakery.com
Related: Cool Bars in San Francisco
Craftsman and Wolves
After dusting the pastry flakes off my pants in Dolores Park, I backtracked two blocks east (past the original Tartine Bakery, known in San Francisco for its long lines) to check out Craftsman and Wolves.
It was already 10:30 a.m., and this modern pâtisserie, bakery, and café had its share of customers filing through the doors.
Inside, the pastry counter greeted me with many tempting choices, including roasted banana bread with coconut and a croissant pudding with rhubarb, vanilla custard, and citrus zest.
The Rebel Within is baker William Werner's signature treat-a soft-cooked egg ensconced in an asiago, sausage, and green onion cake. Unaware of this, I ordered a pill-shaped pastry made of peach oolong mousse, peach confiture, vanilla sponge, and shortbread.
I was happy to sit inside with my delicate dessert and warm cappuccino and didn't mind the communal seating. 746 Valencia St, San Francisco, craftsman-wolves.com
Related: Leonard's Bakery in Honolulu
Kantine
A six-block walk north of Craftsman and Wolves brings you to Kantine, a Scandinavian-inspired bakery and café well-suited for a fika. Chef Nichole Accettola opened Kantine after spending 10 years in Copenhagen.
Readers may recall my international trip to Sweden and Denmark, where I became familiar with the morning bun and hygge.
I walked up to Kantine a little after 11 a.m. and joined the short queue to order inside. The counter was smaller than the other places I'd been to, but they had what I wanted. Cardamom buns!
There were cinnamon rolls, too (a favorite of the Swedes). But the cardamom variety won me over on that last trip across the Atlantic.
Kantine was my third bakery in San Francisco that morning, and it was starting to show. I only took a few buttery bites before placing the remainder of the bun in a brown paper bag and hightailing it back to The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel for a break. By the time I left, the line to order had grown longer.
The cardamom morning bun kept well overnight and served as a quick snack before I left for the airport to go home.
Kantine offers three-grain porridge, smørrebrød (a traditional Danish open-faced sandwich), and a build-your-own brunch option starting at $16. 1906 Market St, San Francisco, kantinesf.com
Related: Copenhagen's Best Bakeries
Arsicault Bakery
During my hotel break, the sun came out, so I headed to the Golden Gate Bridge to take pictures and burn off some calories.
A few hours later, I ordered a Lyft from the Presidio of San Francisco (a large park by the bridge) south to Arsicault Bakery, a local favorite and the best bakery for croissants.
Arsicault was named Bakery of the Year by Bon Appétit on the strength of its plain croissant alone. I've eaten a lot of croissants in my life, so I had to go.
It was now 1:45 p.m.; a 20-person line still stretched outside this unassuming little bakery. Thankfully, it moved quickly, and I soon possessed Arsicault's acclaimed pastry.
Around the corner on Clement Street, the weekly farmers market was wrapping up. Walking down the sunlit street, I tore into the croissant, flakes of dough flying everywhere.
Inside, it was oh-so-buttery. It's the kind of croissant you eat and realize that 99% of the rest you've ever eaten were tough, chewy, dry, or just disappointing by comparison.
Arsicault offers a variety of flavors:
- Chocolate croissants
- Almond croissants
- Chocolate almond croissants
- Ham and cheese croissants
There's also kouign amann, scones, and a classic chocolate chip cookie. 397 Arguello Blvd, San Francisco, arsicault-bakery.com
Related: Pasjoli, A Michelin-Star French Bistro
Cinderella Russian Bakery & Café
The Cinderella Russian Bakery & Café is a seven-block walk southwest of Arsicault (and two blocks north of Golden Gate Park). My mom's family immigrated to New York from Russia around the turn of the 20th century, though I know little about that side of my family.
So, when Cinderella came up in my research on the best bakeries in San Francisco, I felt called to check it out.
Not surprisingly, there was a line for this historic café, which opened its doors in 1953. The line moved quickly, though, as half the people were ordering food to go. Once inside the small bakery, I was overwhelmed by the options in the display cases.
There were breakfasts, bagels, borsch soup, chicken à la Kyiv, and dozens of pastries. I was tempted to order the Vatrushka sweet cheese tart or perhaps the bird's milk cake, but settled on the sour cream cake with a honey sponge, which I was assured was the most traditional Russian pastry available.
With my prize in hand, I took a small table outside. A quick photography session ensued as I carefully captured a dozen layers of cake and cream. Then I plunged the plastic fork into one corner and watched the Russian honey cake bend like a contortionist to avoid being split.
Ultimately, it gave way, and the luxurious layer cake soon disappeared. If you have a sweet tooth and curiosity about Russian baked goods, head to Cinderella Bakery. 436 Balboa St, San Francisco, cinderellabakery.com
My one-day bakery crawl in San Francisco may have ended at Cinderella, but I did another the next time I visited the city.
b. Patisserie
The French bakery, b Patisserie in Pacific Heights, was at the top of my list. Pastry chefs and owners Belinda Leong and Michel Suas won the 2018 James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker. I first encountered their breakfast pastries at Kona Coffee Purveyors in Waikiki, Honolulu.
Admission: I went three times in one week. My favorite pastry was the chocolate-banana-almond croissant. I also enjoyed a mango, coconut, and lychee pastry, a pan Suisse with cream cheese and chocolate chips, and a chocolate-passion-fruit cremeux.
Stepping into their flagship San Francisco location brought back memories. Like Kona, the pastry kitchen was open, giving a sense of transparency, and the display cases were filled with freshly baked goods.
I couldn't decide, so I got three (and a black sesame latte):
- Chocolate kouign amann
- Chocolate banana almond croissant
- Chocolate caramel toffee mousse
b Patisserie is known for its kouign amanns, and this flaky, chocolate-filled version was delicious. The almond croissant was crunchier than the one in Honolulu, so I wouldn't say I liked it as much. Maybe it was baked a bit too long?
The toffee mousse was my favorite, thanks to the silky-smooth layers and the flourless chocolate biscuit base. 2821 California St, San Francisco, CA, bpatisserie.com
Jane The Bakery
A leisurely 15-minute walk south and east of b. Patisserie will bring you to Jane The Bakery, another of San Francisco's best bakeries. It was 9:30 a.m. on a Friday, and there was a short line to order.
Dozens of varieties of bread are baked in-house daily, including sourdoughs, baguettes, and sandwich bread. Sandwiches and cookies the size of my hands were on display as I tried to take in all the options before someone asked me what I wanted.
I settled on two pastries: a cardamom lattice bun filled with custard and the personal favorite of the woman helping me, a Nutella brioche.
I took my delicacies outside, where the bakery had set out some simple wooden benches, and unpacked them. First, there was the custard-filled cardamom pastry, which was enjoyable.
However, if I had to pick favorites, the Nutella brioche was one of the most amazing pastries I've encountered in San Francisco. The light, fluffy brioche was filled with a molten Nutella center. I'm so glad the woman helping me offered to heat it in the microwave because the result was divine.
Jane The Bakery was the third location to open in founder Amanda Michael's fast-growing empire of Bay Area cafés and bakeries. 1881 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA, itsjane.com
Yasukochi's Sweet Stop
The last stop of my second bakery crawl in San Francisco was a short half-mile walk east from Jane The Bakery to Japantown.
Inside Super Mira, an unassuming Japanese grocery store, you'll find Yasukochi's Sweet Stop, a 2023 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Outstanding Bakery.
Since 1974, Hatsy and Moses Yasukochi have been making and selling their famous Coffee Crunch Cake. It comprises layers of vanilla sponge cake and whipped cream coated with handmade crunchy candies.
You can buy individual slices or an entire 8-inch or 9-inch round cake. I did the former, taking my prize pastry across the street to eat it near the Origami Fountains on Buchanan Street. 1790 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA, sweetstopsf.com
Josey Baker Bread
Josey Baker Bread is just a few blocks from Alamo Square, and it has the kind of neighborhood feel that makes it easy to lose track of time.
I stopped in at 7:30 on a Sunday morning, planning to grab a quick breakfast and coffee before moving on, but the sunny café, mellow music, and steady stream of locals picking up fresh loaves made me want to linger.
Josey Baker Bread shares its space with The Mill, so you'll find an open kitchen and espresso bar alongside racks of freshly made bread and a pastry case that often includes treats from nearby LOQUAT bakery.
I went for the V Toast, which is their take on egg-in-a-hole: thick slices of Josey's country bread, tarragon-chive butter, and a perfectly poached egg. Paired with a cappuccino from Four Barrel Coffee, it was a simple breakfast, but the bread's quality made it memorable.
Even on a gray San Francisco morning, the café was filled with natural light from the big windows, making it a comfortable spot to sit with a second cup of coffee.
If you love excellent bread, a relaxed vibe, and a glimpse of everyday San Francisco, I recommend adding Josey Baker Bread to your list. 736 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA, joseybakerbread.com
Update: I visited Josey Baker Bread during my June 2026 trip to San Francisco, just eight days before a fire forced The Mill to close for the foreseeable future. That morning ended up being one of my favorites of the trip, and I'm hoping this much-loved bakery and café will welcome customers again soon.
Sol Bakery
When I showed up at Sol Bakery at 8:40 a.m. on a Sunday, a small group was already waiting outside the tiny storefront. While we waited, I chatted with a pleasant older regular, a couple visiting from out of town, and a college-age triathlete.
Sol started as a pop-up before opening its permanent spot in early 2026, and word has spread quickly. Their signature guava tart was named one of the best desserts in America by The New York Times in 2025.
I tried three pastries: the famous guava tart, a twice-baked croissant with sunflower cream, and a chocolate chip cookie. Each one was a bit smaller than pastries at some other San Francisco bakeries, but the size seemed intentional, letting the flavors and delicate laminated dough stand out.
Inside, there's just one round table, so most people take their pastries to Panhandle Park or bring them home. I snapped a few photos on one of the café's outdoor benches as the line kept growing, then brought my box back to The Clift and enjoyed breakfast there.
Even though Sol has only been open for a short time, it already feels like an essential stop for anyone exploring San Francisco's pastry scene. 1696 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA, instagram.com/sol___bakery
