Marin reaaaaally likes bread and pastries. With more shops, farm stands, home bakeries and pop-ups in Marin to partake of yeasty sweet and savory treats, the only question is: which town boasts the best croissant or batard? Picks see below.
Cibo Bakery at Angelino Restaurant
Sausalito
Pastry chef Tera Ancona set up a pastry bar inside her family’s Sausalito waterfront restaurant during Covid and never looked back. Open Wednesday–Sunday for pre-order and to-go, Angelino’s bar now features tea breads, tartes, traditional Genovese focaccia, quiche and Ancona’s renowned croissants.
Sausalito Bakery & Café
Sausalito
Its waterfront location is a magnet for tourists who can enjoy an omelet with a view, but this may be one of the only places left in Marin that makes its own apple strudel and baklava.
571 Bridgeway, Sausalito, 415.331.9552
Bob’s Donuts
Mill Valley
Established in the 1960s, Bob’s Donuts and Pastries has become a staple for donut lovers in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area, with their latest shop opened in Mill Valley. Famous for their apple fritters, giant donuts ( a must-see to believe), and quality baked goods, stop by for a sweet treat.
252 Almonte Blvd, Mill Valley, 415.322.6278
Mill Valley Baking Company
Mill Valley
Karen Fong’s seasonally-inspired kouign-amanns are filled with lemon curd, apple pie filling or Nutella. Or try the focaccia studded with seasonal vegetables. House made cinnamon buns are made of croissant dough and the sourdough baguettes with seeds and cranberries will tempt the incorruptible. Look for lavender scented scones with blueberries and lemon as the weather cools.
17 E. Blithedale, Mill Valley; 415.885.9862
Le Marais Bakery
Mill Valley
Breton-style crêpes and an assortment of French favorites like cinnamon buns, butter croissants, and kouign-amann attract the crowds at breakfast while flans et gâteaux and berry lemon danish honor no specific part of the day.
250 E. Blithedale, Mill Valley; 415.888.3695
Waldscraft Bakery
Mill Valley
Stacey Waldspurger’s pandemic pivot into a cottage bakery business quickly developed a booming following for her veggie-topped focaccia, frangipane tarts, blueberry cream muffins, chocolate cookies and other Euro-American treats.
31 Sunnyside, Mill Valley
Jane Marin
Tiburon
The legendary Sweet Things bakery is now part of Jane. Even though it is tucked into a corner of The Cove shopping center, lovers of Hungarian coffee cake, apple cheese tart and raspberry-apricot rugelach line up every day for all-day, cake and coffee cafe.
1 Blackfield Dr, Tiburon; 415.388.8583
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Corte Madera
Their unique shape is said to be inspired by the Germanic cake known as a Gugelhopf, but there is no need to “hopf” in-between its distinctive pointy ridges. Choose little bundlets or a regular size in a range of flavors from lemon and confetti to red velvet and, yes, pumpkin spice.
47 Tamal Vista Blvd, Ste G, Corte Madera; 415.924.2500
Boudin
Corte Madera
San Francisco’s original sourdough is available at its Corte Madera outpost as rounds and longer loafs. Hand-stretched sourdough crust also forms the base for the restaurant’s San Francisco-style pizzas.
The Village at Corte Madera, 1734 Redwood Highway, Corte Madera; 415.737.1849
Rustic Bakery
Larkspur
The location on the western end of Magnolia Ave is less well-known (except to Larkspur’s pastry denizens) than the location at the Marin Country Mart, but the focaccia and pain de mie, poached pear croissants and apple cinnamon scones are a treat no matter where you eat them.
1139 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur; 415.925.1556 and 2017 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur; 415.461.9900. (additional locations in Novato and Tiburon)
Emporio Rulli
Larkspur
During the holiday season, panettone Milanese is a highlight of a bakery dedicated to the Italian pastry cannon. The rest of the year, you’ll just have to settle for tartufo, tiramisu, apricot almond torta and pastries like sfogliatelle and cassata siciliana.
464 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur; 415.924.7478
Flour Craft Bakery & Café
San Anselmo
Though perhaps best known for their granola, Heather Hardcastle’s gluten-free bakery is equally known for the fluffy brioche loaves and walnut sourdough and a not-to-be-missed lemon drizzle cake. Luckily, there is a second location in Mill Valley where all items are available.
702 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo; 415.453.3100
Amelie Café
Fairfax
Though better known for its evening personality as a wine bar, the French café serves up fresh viennoiserie, pain au raisin, croissants and coffee in the morning.
71 Broadway Blvd, Fairfax; 628.253.5161
Victoria Bakery
Greenbrae
Strawberry shortcake is just one of the heritage (and seasonal) desserts perfected by the century-old bakery at Bon Air Center. Look for raspberry ricotta cheesecake wrapped in a croissant and princess cake among the many treats in the wide case.
292 Bon Air Center, Greenbrae; 415.461.3099
SusieCakes
Greenbrae
Marble cake and vanilla cupcakes topped with pink or blue icing are just a few of the classic American treats on hand. There is also a gender reveal cupcake with a pink or blue center, visible only after the cupcake is sliced apart.
310 Bon Air Center, Greenbrae; 415.461.2253
Ponsford’s Place Bakery & Innovation Center
San Rafael
Open one day (Saturday), Craig Ponsford’s shop is a self-proclaimed “eccentric place, where things change all the time.” Ponsford’s style leans into traditional European breads and viennoiserie, with a focus on locally milled flours from Petaluma’s Central Milling, Community Grains in Oakland and Marin’s Honoré Farm and Mill. Chocolate coins (mendiants), savory pumpkin pie, sour rye, pumpernickel, and a baguette with a crisp crust and tender crumb said to be “the best” by the French (Ponsford’s team won the baguette category in the 1996 Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie) are wintery items that you should be able to find when you stop in.
117 Shaver Street, San Rafael.
Arizmendi
San Rafael
The za’atar seasoned sourdough focaccia round is flavor-packed with sesame seeds, sumac, and thyme, but many guests return over and over for the cornmeal cherry scones and the Chocolate Thing — house made brioche dough studded with dark chocolate chunks.
1002 Fourth St, San Rafael; 415.456.4093
Bordanaves Bakery
San Rafael
Well-known for their bread at many Bay Area restaurants, the brand also runs a storefront in San Rafael’s West End where you can buy the same dinner rolls, strawberry cheese croissants and Dutch crunch “longie” baguettes as everyone else.
1512 Fourth St, San Rafael; 415.453.2957
Woodbine Bakery
San Rafael
No walk-ins, just pre-orders available for a bakery run by head baker Emilee Bernas whose focus is custom-designed cakes
625 Du Bois St, San Rafael, 415.306.7617
Creekside Bakery
Novato
House made levain toast, quiche (smoked ham and Marin French brie is forever) and sandwiches on griddled ciabatta are part of the appeal of this long-running bakery and café but it’s the large assortment of cakes — from carrot and coffee crunch to St. Honoré and Black Forest — that have a dedicated following.
1719 Grant Ave, Novato; 415.892.7655
Flour Chylde
Novato
The 100% gluten-free bakery makes seasonal treats like soft pretzels for Oktoberfest and s’mores for Fourth of July. Many items, like the gooey cinnamon roll, snickerdoodles and multi-grain bread, are vegan, too.
850 Grant Ave, Novato; 415.893.7700
