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Author: Barry Pickard
With so much to see in the San Francisco, you need to keep your energy levels up... at least that was our excuse for sampling the delicious desserts to be had throughout the city. Read on to find out our favourite ice cream parlours, bakeries and donut shops.
Don’t forget that Tailor-Made Itineraries delights in creating bespoke self-guided tours. So, if visiting any of these bakeries and ice cream parlours appeals to you, reach out to me by email. I would be more than happy to design a self-guided tour around your requirements incorporating the yummy desserts of San Francisco, or indeed, a general tour of the city.
Bob's Donuts
Bob's Donuts opened in 1960 as a family owned and operated establishment and still make their donuts and pastries from scratch. As if that was enough, Bob’s Donuts are also open 24 hours a day!
Tailor-Made Top Tip: If you are looking for a challenge, try The Big Donut. If you can finish it in 2 minutes, you will get your money back, a free drink, a t-shirt, and your name listed on their hall of fame!
AA Bakery & Café
AA Bakery & Café offers a variety of Chinese cakes and other confections. A must visit when in Chinatown.
Tailor-Made Top Tip: We heard that the egg tarts, walnut cookies and Chinese steamed buns at the AA Bakery were popular, so we had to try all three and make our own minds up!
Powder Shaved Snow
Powder is a petite sweet shop serving Taiwanese shaved ice with organic ingredients & creative toppings. Absolutely perfect on the hot May day that we visited.
Tailor-Made Top Tip: I tried a 'Valencia' (Horchata flavoured shaved ice, with cinnamon sugar, sweet milk glaze, sliced almonds & tcho chocolate), with Ythan and my Mum being a little less adventurous, choosing the Mango and Strawberry flavours!
Ghirardelli
The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company was founded by Italian chocolatier Domenico Ghirardelli in 1852 and is the third-oldest chocolate company in the US. Ghirardelli is one of the few chocolate companies in the United States to control every aspect of its chocolate manufacturing process.
Tailor-Made Top Tip: Based in Ghirardelli Square, near Fisherman’s Wharf, there are actually two stores to choose from.
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Smitten Ice Cream – Mission
Every single batch of ice cream at Smitten Ice Cream is made to order using their patented mixer called a Brrr machine. Using liquid nitrogen to cool the mixture rapidly, the whole process takes about 90 seconds and the process creates smaller ice crystals than normal ice cream, giving it a smoother, more luscious texture.
Tailor-Made Top Tip: We tried the Classic Vanilla, Brookies 'N Cream (brownies & cookies), and Cookie Dough flavours. THIS WAS THE BEST ICE CREAM WE HAVE EVER TASTED!
SF Hometown Creamery
San Francisco's Hometown Creamery offers classic & creative flavours of house made ice cream in a rustic shop lined with neighbourhood murals. This ice cream parlour is just minutes away from the California Academy of Sciences and the Botanical Gardens, so a great stop for families visiting the Golden Gate Park.
Tailor-Made Top Tip: A close second to the best ice cream tasted ever was from the Hometown Creamery, with the Horchata, Chocolate Sorbet, Madagascar Vanilla and Peanut Butter & Chocolate Fudge flavours getting devoured.
Tartine Inner Sunset
Located just a couple of doors down from the Creamery, Tartine Inner Sunset is part of a small chain of excellent bakeries through San Francisco. An equally good stop for lunch or just a snack, this bakery has a dedicated following of customers.
Tailor-Made Top Tip: We tried the Croissants, Pain au Chocolat and Almond Lemon Tea Cake.
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Ben & Jerrys (Pier 41)
This ever-popular ice cream seller was handily located just outside Pier 41, the departure point for the Sausalito ferry, making a great way to fill in ten minutes or so while waiting for the boat to come in.
Tailor-Made Top Tip: So what B&J ice cream flavour do you have to try in San Francisco? The Cherry Garcia flavour of course! B&J's celebration of the Grateful Dead guitarist, a band so connected with the city.
Donut World
Take your pick from an amazing range of donuts and pastries.
Tailor-Made Top Tip: Donut World is another favourite that is close to the museums and gardens of the Golden Gate Park, so we took our mini dessert picnic to the Shakespeare Garden.
Read on to find out more great dessert delights.
b.patisserie
b.patisserie specialises in Parisian & Viennese-style pastries, sandwiches & coffee served in modern space with an open kitchen. You will easily spot the store – it will be the one with the queue of salivating devotees on the sidewalk.
Tailor-Made Top Tip: Mum tried the Bostock, which was excellent, but I had heard that the Kouign Amann (pronounced Queen Aman) was b.patisserie's speciality, so I plumped for that pastry. The Kouign Amann was possibly THE TASTIEST THING I HAVE EVER EATEN!
Little Swan Bakery Café
The Little Swan is another great bakery to try out in Chinatown while you are walking around, taking in the areas electric atmosphere.
Tailor-Made Top Tip: Try the bakery’s crepe cakes (I tried the matcha flavoured one). Those layers are truly tasty.
Baked Bear
The Baked Bear is an open-air café dishing up custom-made ice cream sandwiches, cookie bowls, cones, sundaes & floats.
Tailor-Made Top Tip: I spoiled myself by having a Bear Batter Ice Cream sandwiched between Cookie Monster and Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies. Wow!
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Belly Good Cafe & Crepes
Located in the Japan Center Malls, Belly Good Café and Crepes is a very popular stop for shoppers in the mall. Pick your cute crepe recipe and watch it being made in front of you.
Tailor-Made Top Tip: Anyone else fancy one of these cute Banana & Chocolate Sauce Crepes?
Lappert's Ice Cream (Sausalito)
Lappert's Ice Cream is a Hawaiian chain of cafes offering coffee & ice cream in tropical flavours. Strictly speaking Lappert's is not a San Franciscan ice cream parlour, since it is located across the bay in Sausalito, but the trip over to this laid-back resort is a very popular day trip for many visitors to San Francisco.
Tailor-Made Top Tip: Can't remember the flavours we tried, but safe to say that, judging by the queue, you won't go wrong whichever your choose.
Where to Stay in San Francisco
As befits a world-famous destination, San Francisco has a wide range of hotels to cater for all tastes and needs. Travellers should note, however, that hotels here tend to be more expensive than other US cities. There are some budget hotels in the Tenderloin area, but I would advise against staying there.
Luxury Icons: For travellers seeking opulence, there are plenty of grand establishments that blend historic charm with modern amenities. Although I didn’t have the opportunity to stay the night, I enjoyed a lovely lunch Fairmont San Francisco and a drink in their iconic Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar.
Other excellent hotel options would be Hotel Adagio, Autograph Collection and the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA.
Boutique Gems: San Francisco boasts a variety of boutique hotels, such as the historic Victorian charm of Queen Anne, or the modern quirkiness of the Staypineapple.
Family Fun: As for families, they are also well catered for, especially around Fisherman’s Wharf, with the likes of the Hotel Zephyr and the Argonaut.
Conclusion
From classic flavors to unique and innovative creations, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Don't be afraid to try new things, be adventurous and try something new! No matter what your taste, you are sure to find an ice cream parlor or bakery in San Francisco that you will love. So next time you are in the city, be sure to save some room for dessert!
Related Blog Posts
If you are interested in finding out more about San Francisco, please view the Tailor-Made Itineraries posts below:
Comment below and let us know what your favourite San Franciscan dessert was.
Don’t forget that Tailor-Made Itineraries delights in creating bespoke self-guided tours. So, if visiting any of these bakeries and ice cream parlours appeals to you, reach out to me by email. I would be more than happy to design a self-guided tour around your requirements incorporating the yummy desserts of San Francisco, or indeed, a general tour of the city.
Join me next time as I guide you through my favourite San Franciscan restaurants. Tailor-Made Itineraries posts every two weeks, and you can subscribe to the latest blog and newsletter here. Until then, happy reading and safe travels.
Barry
Contact Me: tailoritineraries@gmail.com
Tailor-Made Itineraries creates one-of-a-kind bespoke self-guided travel itineraries for adventurous and curious travellers.
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