50 Best Bakeries near Kensington

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

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

“Note - not a restaurant: it brings back memories, tastes, smells & joy from the 1970's as a child with family & Nonna when we shopped for Focaccia bread. Loved my return In 2023 & wish I'd lived closer to the bakery & SFO. I pray they never close! 🙏🏻😍“

“This is one of the best bakeries I’ve been to anywhere, including Paris. I pop in every time I’m in the area, even though I live on the east coast. They use wonderful ingredients and it shows in every bite, but especially shines in the laminated pastries like croissants. Pick just about anything, savory or sweet; it’s all delicious. I must have tried a quarter of the menu (which changes a bit seasonally) by now.

My only recommendation is that they produce a detailed cookbook so I might try to replicate some of their recipes when I’m not nearby.“

“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 😋“

“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. ✨👍🏽✨“

“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😍“

“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😋😘🙏🏿❤️“

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

“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!“

“Truely amazing Baklava.. Cant beat fresh all day. Flavors are all on point“

“I pray they keep the marble cake and hamantash cookies on the menu permanently. Both are absolutely to die for.

So are the chocolate cake and crumble cake.

NOT the poppyseed roll. Super disappointing. Too much dough and not even poppyseed filling smh.“

“The pizza was everything 🥹🤤🧘🏿“

“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.“

“Breakfast is definitely the best thing here.“

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

“Ok ok ok Ok Ok Ok Ok Ok Ok“

“In fond of the lava lemonade. And the bagels are delish.“

“Traditional french cakes.“

“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.?“

“Unique Special Order Cakes. Made my granddaughter's 16th heart shaped Birthday cake and she was totally pleased with the results. It matched her wishes exactly. Cupcakes were super delish! Thank you Rosanna for all your help!“

“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!“

“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. ☕🥐✨“

“Excellent hummus and olive bread. It was still warm when we got it so it was only right to eat the whole thing in the parking lot.
We also had a raspberry + dark chocolate pastry and a madeleine. They were so good too.
Left Acme on a bread high. Can’t wait to come back again!“

“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!“

“A new contender for the best kalamata olive bread (4/5 Green Stars). It’s Day 3 of Shelterfest, sponsored by Coronavirus, and I was feeling kinda satisfied (i.e., less guilty than yesterday) after making an earnest attempt to work remotely. So I took myself off for an afternoon stroll and, landing in the vicinity of College and Alcatraz Ave, decided to pick up some bread if there was any to be had. La Farine was quiet and there was plenty of bread left, even at 4 pm. (So pop in to support them if you’re in the area!) I usually get their rustic baguette but this time bought a loaf of olive bread. The servers were super friendly and one asked me if I wanted some free pastries. Ya-ha I did! I scuttled home with my bag of goodies and heated up one of the freebies – a chocolate croissant (toaster oven, bake for 3-5 min). The croissant doesn’t look that amazing, I have to admit, but it tasted wonderful. Buttery, flakey pastry and just the right amount of good quality chocolate. Later I had the bread – I’m a big fan of Semifreddi’s Kalamata olive bread so the bar was pretty high. I have to say that it was up there with my favorite bread – it was a little fuller than the Semifreddi’s loaf, but that wasn’t a bad thing as I sometimes feel that I’m eating a lot of air with the latter. In summary, I can’t believe I’ve never reviewed La Farine before because I’ve gone there many a time. I recommend the three things mentioned above and also their Irish soda bread is really good and pretty authentic. I just found out that La Farine started out in this location in 1977 – almost as old as I am, said Bilbo. I'm also giving La Farine 4/5 "green stars" for social and environmental impact, based on these reasons: • It seems that they use conventional white flour and organic whole wheat flour. • Their website is lacking on information on ingredient sourcing (compared to, say Acme). I’d like to know more about their flour, eggs, butter, chocolate, etc. • La Farine donates leftover products to area food banks and senior centers • They also support Bay Area schools and other local causes • Their bags are made from post-consumer recycled paper and printed with water-based inks. • Most of the menu is vegetarian and some of the breads are vegan. Interested in writing green star reviews? If so, contact me!“

“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 😂“

“😍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!“

“Best little fresh production factory small store, line ok, go fast, pre packed, fresh everyday, very Chinese! Go by... Sample is free.. walking distance from Hilton Hotel San Francisco, Chinatown area. In small alley, use your map app... It's fun ! Other nearby shops too. Hilly type terrain. So handicap please prepare. Old streets n shop s, old style have stairs up and down. Adjust as you shop. I been here since the 60,s so Chinatown is old, and still has a many shops around . Happy hunting !“

“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.“

“absolutely a must try! beyond delicious.“

“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!!!“

“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.“

“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. 😊“

“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“

“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“

“Great coffee and pastries.“

“Eastern Bakery is the oldest operating Chinese bakery in San Francisco’s Chinatown. It has national fame for mass-producing traditional autumn mooncakes filled with lotus seed and red bean paste. I think they still do them all by hand!

Today, it remains a local landmark famous for its authentic pastries like egg tarts and sesame balls. I saw it on a YouTube video so felt compelled to buy some moon cakes from the old owner as we walked by.

They were warm, soft, and yumm! But you're gonna pay the tourist mark-up at $8 for one. See pics.“

“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.“

“I buy bread here pretty often, and my most common order is the sweet baguette. (It's just a regular baguette, they name it sweet to distinguish it from the sourdoughs)

Most of the time, this is a wonderful baguette that is fresh, soft, with a beautiful crust. But then once in a while, it's tough and feels like it's day-old. They've assured me that all the bread they sell is made the same day, so I am mystified by this phenomenon.“

“Just picked up my chicken soup this afternoon,my granddaughter wanted to go to the park,I ordered it over the phone and they said 10 minutes but we stayed at the park for. 45 minutes the soup and croissant was still hot not warm but hot my granddaughter loved the bread man lol“

“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 .“

“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!!“

“Excellent cookies and friendly customers service would recommend to everyone locally and visitors. A gem we have in Hayward!“