50 Best Bakeries near El Cerrito

“The baked goods here are delicious. We get all our birthday cakes here…and sometime we just pretend we have birthday needs when we get them! I also love stopping by on a weekend morning for a freshly bake croissant or biscuit. Brought their chocolate cookies to work the other day and my colleagues were all commenting about just how good they are! All gone in minutes.“

“I love their buttermilk waffle, crisp on the outside, soft in the inside. So good. With an egg and two slices of bacon on the side and it's the perfect diner breakfast. The service the three times I've been here in the last three weeks has been so kind and thoughtful. The atmosphere is casual but warm and lovely. My only complaint is the clanging dishes which interrupt the soundscape; hanging a few flags over where they do the dishes would help to absorb that noise. I always also get some pastries to take home: cheese puffs, brownies, chocolate chip cookies and the pies are all phenomenal. I tried to only eat a bit of the brownie, but it was so good I couldn't stop inhaling it. A Berkeley/ El Cerrito treasure for those who love baked goods“

“Absolutely the best French pasteries I’ve had on this continent!“

“A very cozy place in the financial district. Even though we went on a weekend, there were still a lot of people working there. Their pour over coffee is reasonably priced and they also provide coffee beans in the shop. I like the paintings they have inside. The coffee also comes with a postcard telling us where the coffee beans come from and the history, which I think is very nice. If you like coffee, I recommend giving this place a try.“

“A delightful classic Chinatown bakery that looks like it hasn't changed in decades. They carry all the classics, though I'd recommend getting a cocktail bun (if you're lucky they'll still be warm from the oven). A few small stools and chairs inside, often with a bunch of old fellows sitting around talking. This place is great, don't change a thing ❤️“

“We were gifted our first ever Bake Sum box. After trying just one bite of a Yuzu meringue bun I knew I needed more. Ordered our second BSB last week and shared amongst the roomies, huge hit. Well baked, not too sweet, great flavor combinations. 10/10 would recommend the Bake Sum box. If you can’t grab a box, you can grab al a cart day of pick ups just to tide you over until you can get a box 😋“

“Best focaccia I’ve ever had. I make it a pilgrimage when I visit the city to get my bread there. Get there early or wait in a line potentially. I buy 5 loaves when I go. Eat one during the day and freeze the rest. $10 each as of 8/2026. Expensive but worth it. Rosemary/Garlic is the win.“

“Such a great place!!! The coffee is delicious and the pastries are honestly some of the best I’ve had in SF. Everyone was super friendly and welcoming and Patrick especially took great care of us. Really enjoyed our time here and would definitely come back. Highly recommend😍“

“sourdough croissants, the corn cherry and oat scones, sundry shortbread flavours that are always exquisite...and today, a new treat, a lil pizza" bakers special" with kale and mojo and crust texture inexplicable, beyond magic. ✨👍🏽✨“

“Jane is my favorite bakery in San Francisco!! Wide variety of delicious pastries and amazing selection of bread - try the cardamom bun, pistachio strawberry Nutella tart and purple corn bread - also fresh salads and sandwiches.“

“Highly recommended. The almond croissant at Arsicault is something truly special.“

“I’d go as far as to say this is the best egg tart I’ve had in the Bay Area.

The pastry was crisp and flaky, while the custard inside was silky, creamy, and incredibly smooth. I do wish they were served warm rather than pulled from a pre-made batch, because that fresh-out-of-the-oven warmth would’ve taken them to another level !

That said, the balance was kind of impeccable. Not overly sweet, but not so restrained that it felt bland either. Nothing about it was particularly over-the-top, it was just really well executed.

Simple, balanced, and genuinely hard to fault.“

“I loved the flavors they are unique and exciting.the flan strawberry croissant was so good. I also had coffee almond croissant and ham and cheese croissant. I must go back for the unique flavored ones. I left w crumbs on my face… i didnt realize until my
Optometry appointment. I had a great time eating pastries here!“

“Rolled up at 7:20 AM on a Saturday and found parking very easily on the street in front and practically no line. Caneles weren't available but I don't know if that was because someone had managed to clean shop in 20 minutes or they weren't ready yet. We got:

Quiche Lorraine: excellent, stood up well to microwave reheating and really appreciated the saltiness from the ham, was a full meal with some fruit and a slice of the walnut loaf on the side

Chocolate almond croissant: excellent texture and sweetness

Pain au chocolat: it was good but probably wouldn't buy again simply because I think other things taste better and are more worth the calories/money

Cardamom and walnut scone: my sleeper hit, ordered it because I saw someone else raving about it and wow wow wow so unassuming looking but maybe my favorite?

Ham and cheese cup: my husband's favorite; I had doubts about the hard boiled egg inside as I'm not generally a fan but it wasn't chalky in the slightest

Walnut bread: texture is perfect, soft yet with great body, one of the best loaves I've had in a long time

Caneles: didn't buy this time but have before and they are *chef's kiss*, perfect little hint of alcohol, burnt (but not bitter) sugar taste

Also bought Paris-Brest but that's for dessert tonight.“

“Arrived precisely for the morning launch sequence, and the doors opened promptly at 8:00 AM. As the first customer of the day, my initial inquiry was for a baseline butter croissant benchmark. The counter staff indicated they did not have any type of croissant.

Despite missing this standard lamination anchor, this artisan bakery operates at an exceptionally high technical level. The selections were packaged cleanly in a presentation box, though I noted minor structural compression on the Potato & Onion Bourek from the serving tongs. To be fair, the laminated pastry dough was so incredibly fragile, shattered, and delicate that picking it up without causing slight cosmetic damage would be an operational impossibility. Every single item tasted phenomenal and featured perfectly balanced macro textures.

Loquat is a vital, high-prestige asset in the San Francisco food scene. Whether you are seeking a high-caliber savory structure or a refined sweet profile, their menu geometry has you completely covered. The standout highlights of the audit were the savory bourek and the intricately decorated small Mahlab cake, though everything tried was excellent.

Parking: Exceptionally easy street parking directly along the Gough Street corridor during the early Sunday morning window.

Service: Professional, friendly, and welcoming employees.

Atmosphere: Clean morning ambiance with an inviting, well-lit interior layout.

An essential destination for anyone tracking the best bakeries in San Francisco.“

“Kouign-amann is one of my favorite cakes.“

“Breakfast is definitely the best thing here.“

“Traditional french cakes.“

“The olive bread was amazing, as well as the croissants and other pastries. The service was off the charts, truly exceptional! Highly recommended.“

“Such a charming old-school bakery experience at Victoria Pastry Company. The coffee was smooth and the pastry was delicious—perfect for sitting outside and enjoying the North Beach atmosphere. A lovely little San Francisco stop with lots of character. ☕🥐✨“

“Stumbled upon Uli and Squabisch while meeting a friend for lunch nearby, and I’m so glad I did. This is a true mom-and-pop gem in Berkeley — the pretzels are delicious and genuinely creative, not your average twist of dough. Love that they also run monthly pretzel-making classes and cater events. Worth a visit — you won’t be disappointed!“

“Yummy coconut custard bun! Can’t wait to go back and try more of the beautiful treats“

“One65 was an amazing discovery on our trip to San Francisco. Having spent the first half of our life in Montréal, Québec, Canada where it was hard to find a bad restaurant, we were absolutely amazed by this Bistro which looks more like a high end dining experience. The menu online & the photos attracted us to this location but we were amazed by the well timed service, the crisp white tablecloths, the table setting and the pleasant and calm atmosphere. My choices of charcuterie platter was perfectly sized; the chicken & the pork rillettes where a wonderful surprise. My husband had an onion tart with the crust as perfect as they get & which I envied. He loved his halibut, moist and tender and I raved over my grilled half lobster, so tender that I found myself munching on the shell parts as well. My bread pudding was not of overwhelming size & perfectly flavored. Don chose the Affogato (scoop of vanilla gelato « drowned » with a shot of hot espresso). We wanted to go back today but they are closed on Sundays.?“

“The pastry from this place is out of this world!! If you are passing by and this store is open, just go in and invite yourself to the best Berliner ever!!! I can’t believe what I am eating right now that I am writing this review :))) the best part? The lady who works there is super kind!“

“Good vibe and great service especially Yonos and Eric!“

“I got the butch bar, a crunchy chocolate something with peanut butter and a chocolate top. It was delicious! My wife got a m&m cookie (forget the name). Service was alright, but it was late and my wife was being her usual boisterous self so I don't blame them 😂“

“Good food, friendly service, and a comfortable space overall. I enjoyed the breakfast sandwich, the cookies, and the hot chai. I'm looking forward to going back again soon. 😊“

“😍Once I week I allow my self the indulgence of one of their amazing cookies. It's my cookie Friday treat. Soooooo good. Ya gotta try it!“

“It's rare that everything a bakery makes is extraordinary. Even more so, it's one that you simply stumble upon.

I wouldn't have even known it was there if not for their sandwich board sign a couple blocks away amid a budding food district. By contrast, Sesame is tucked away in a quiet warehouse that I've gone past many times without notice. I had already gotten a box of pastries at another bakery but...when in West Berk on a Sunday morn.

I cannot say for certain everything is extraordinary with just one visit but I hope to verify with future ones. Everything was imbued with care, detail, & delight: staff & their service, hand written & watercolor menus & signage, and each of 4 items that I'd get again.

The chocolate chip cookie was lightly salted and still gooey with crispy edges. The raspberry graham was everything you wished a linzer had but almost never do - flavorfully fruity jam and a cookie with depth & bite, honey & nuttiness there. And oh boy, the pastries! They weren't able to reheat them, which I enjoy for the crisp but they were pleasantly still crispy. The early girl tomato, herb, & gruyere was peak summer with the tomatoes slightly caramelized & juicy, while the nectarine vanilla danish had the right balance of late summer baked fruit layered on a healthy dallop of vanilla bean flecked custard with a pillowy pastry to hold it all together.

They're known for their cakes - slices, whole, & special ordered. Now that I know, I'll be back to sit down with slice and a cup of the tea in one of their stylized sets plus a box of pastries for there or to-go, pending how many friends I bring along. They have plenty of seating inside or out.“

“Our go-to spot for Chinese pastries and cakes. Been here forever, and although prices continue to go up more than I would like, we still continue to come.

Fairly convenient spot on the edge of Oakland Chinatown where parking isn't the easiest but plenty of folks double park so you won't be alone if you do. The have most baked good staples but also good cakes if you call ahead.

When in line, watch out for the grandma's that pretend they didn't see you standing there the entire time or the grandpa's sneaking in for a quick cup for coffee/tea.

Their cakes are great; not too sweet, the Asian way. We always try to order ahead but they usually have a couple just in case.“

“Best of the best. Tons of choices, exquisite French patisseries, true North African specialties… there is so much to choose from. High quality and scrumptious! We will be back!!!“

“The pizza was everything 🥹🤤🧘🏿“

“absolutely a must try! beyond delicious.“

“OMG!!! Time stopped as I bit into a donut savant cronut for the very first time. I live in N. Sacramento but I am fantasizing about the next trip to #oakland. You people are truly doing god’s work here. Carry on😋😘🙏🏿❤️“

“Great coffee and pastries.“

“I had an amazing experience with Crumble & Whisk! They catered a community event for me during the holiday season, and I can't wait to use them again! This Black-owned bakery offers the most delicious, fresh-baked treats with a perfect balance of flavor and texture. From the buttery, flaky pastries to the rich, moist cakes, every bite is a delight. The staff is warm and welcoming, making you feel like family from the moment you walk in. Their commitment to quality and community is truly inspiring. Charles is a master at his craft, and both his catering and baking will elevate anyone's event to the highest standard.“

“Not only DELICIOUS, but such a generous and community conscious company. Love love love!“

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“HERCULES is a great place to live crime rate is low compared to other cities . But it would help a lot to encourage neighborhood watch “ MODESTY ASIDE I DO . I have knocked to several houses esp when I was still working swing shift I kept my eyes open n still doing it if garages are open when I go hone from work n 1 time called the police station when 1 of the neighbor’s garage was opened n no one answered when I knocked her door . Let’s have a neighborhood watch all over “ HERCULES THIS IS OUR HOME AND WE HAVE PROTECT IT AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVES HERE . OUR CITY OFFICIALS SHOULD BE TOUGH LIKE ( MANILA PHILIPPINES ) MAYOR FRANCISCO DOMOGOSO HE MADE N MAKING MANILA A NICE PLACE TO LIVE IN . MANILA IS HOW MANY TIMES BIGGER THAN HERCULES !! HE WAS JUST A MAYOR FOR 7 MOS BUT MADE A LOT OF CHANGES NO WONDER PEOPLE LOVE HIM SO MUCH NOT ONLY IN MANILA BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD .“

“I ordered items to be shipped to our hotel in Napa. They arrived the next day! We had shortbread cookies, croissants, and pan au chocolate. They are all fantastic! The hotel kitchen warmed them up for us which made them even better! Great service. Fantastic pastry! Thank you, Mariposa! (Wife is celiac/no cc/symptomatic and had NO issues)10 out of 10“

“Thank you Third Culture for satisfying my gluten-free cravings, for your wonderful service and staff, and for your commitment to your community. Wenter and Sam rock!“

“Came over for some pineapple buns and egg tarts. A word of caution pineapple buns here do use pork fat so be careful if you have dietary restrictions. Ended up getting the egg tarts, the egg white ones tastes much richer than the egg yolk ones which is surprising. Also got the soy milk and boy was it an expensive cup lol $5.5. Each egg tart was $3. Was it good? Yes. But not to the point of the price point I would say $2 for egg tart and $3.5/4 for the drink kinda good.“

“Great selection of sweet and of savory pastries. I love the cheddar scones. And two quiches daily, one vegetarian and one not. The chocolate cream pie is superb. Good coffee. Really nice folks.“

“I ordered items to be shipped to our hotel in Napa. They arrived the next day! We had shortbread cookies, croissants, and pan au chocolate. They are all fantastic! The hotel kitchen warmed them up for us which made them even better! Great service. Fantastic pastry! Thank you, Mariposa! (Wife is celiac/no cc/symptomatic and had NO issues)10 out of 10“

“Lors de notre séjour à San Francisco nous avons découvert Le Marais Bakery. Nous avons ADORÉ, la nourriture est délicieuse et le service vraiment très chaleureux et très professionnel. L’équipe est souriante et au petit soin. N’hésitez pas à vous arrêter pour déguster les délicieuses viennoiseries et/ou les autres plats proposés, vous ne serez pas déçu(e)s!!“

“Arrived around 12:15 PM today to find a line out the door—about 20 people—but my wait was only around 15 minutes. The customer area is small - space for 5-6 people, but the two staff members were quick and efficient at keeping things moving. There was a great selection of freshly baked goods, and I thought the prices were very reasonable for the quality and freshness. A busy bakery with plenty of demand, but definitely worth a visit! There are 7 parking spaces near the entry door and additional spaces behind the building.“

“Located down a little alley, look for the line of people and expect a 20-30 minute wait. As you enter in the line, look and grab what you want. I recommend the bags of flat round fortune cookies - you can get plain, plain with matcha (green), plain with chocolate (brown). There are no fortunes, but I think they are easier to put in your carry-on suitcase- more cookies and less space and less breakage than the traditionally shaped cookies. I got a bag of traditionally shaped cookies as well but maybe half broke. They have plastic cartons which would be more protective.

I brought cash, since many reviews said they only take cash and spent about $60 for the three bags. I did see someone swiping a credit card but don't know if they charge more for that. With three bags, she also gave me two handfuls of cookies and a red shopping bag to put my purchases in addition to the one cookie free sample.

I am not a fan of the mass produced fortune cookies found in many Chinese restaurants, but these fortune cookies are lighter, slightly sweeter, and more addictive. I have eaten my two bags of the round, flat ones in a month. They also don't spike my glucose levels in spite of several handfuls. Really nice for something slightly sweet and crunchy and to cleanse your palate after a meal. I wish I had bought a lot more, since they only do in-store pick-up for orders.

Don't expect a tour or a step by step fortune cookie making process, as you get to the front of the line with your purchases, you can see a lady folding fortune cookies but that is about it.“

“Super easy to work with getting my design exactly how I wanted. Not sweet or greasy~ so cute!“

“The zongzi, taro bun, and mango mochi were spectacular! The mochi was coated w coconut flakes had fresh mango inside which was a nice surprise. Was also adorable how zongzi is described as “Chinese tamales.” California you are so special. Appreciated that there was a bathroom available, however there is a lot of foot traffic and only 3-4 tables.“