Marin’s Top Bakeries: The Best Places to Get Your Carb Fix

If there is one surefire takeaway from the madness of recent years, 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? The 2024 readers’ choice Best of the County winner is Emporio Rulli (pictured above). For the rest of the Marin Magazine‘s Best of Marin County bakery picks see below.

Our 2024 Dining category sponsor is Rodney Strong. View the rest of the Dining category here.

Because there are so many great ones, we’ve broken it down by region: Southern, Central, Northern and Western Marin.

Southern | Central | Northern | Western

Southern Marin

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, including at their shop in Mill Valley. Famous for their apple fritters, giant donuts (see it to believe it), and quality baked goods, Bob’s Donuts should be your next stop 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 Ave, Mill Valley; 415.885.9862

Upside    

Mill Valley

In the heart of Mill Valley’s Tam Junction, you can find the crossroads of community and coffee at Upside. Partnered with San Francisco coffee roasters Lady Falcon Coffee Club, Upside brings delicious coffee while cultivating a gathering place for people and experiences. Sip a cappuccino while enjoying some of Upside’s events like Doggy Days, one regular event where patrons are invited to bring their pups to the cafe.

215 Shoreline Hwy, 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

Central Marin

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, Suite G, Corte Madera; 415.924.2500

Rustic Bakery

Larkspur

The location on the western end of Magnolia Avenue 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

Cookies by Shannon  

Kentfield

In 2023, a self-taught cookie artist opened a home bakery in Kentfield, and Cookies By Shannon was born. With her specialty for in custom-decorated sugar cookies for any occasion, as well as Paint-Your-Own cookies and holiday presale cookies for all major holidays, you can find the perfect baked good for any occasion. Cookies by Shannon has developed a strong reputation over the last year, and now has a strong following with the Marin community that placed her among the Best of County.

952.486.3778

M.H. Bread & Butter

San Anselmo

Eclairs, chile relleno croissants and cheddar pimento scones are just a few of the standouts on an extensive menu of French and American fare. Look for Parker House rolls around the holidays, brioche French toast, and cinnamon sugar toast on house made country bread, among the many offerings.

101 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo; 415.755.4575

Red Hill Cake and Pastry

San Anselmo

All-American classics like chocolate chunk cookies, lemon bars and hot dog rolls share a pastry case with savory Chinese pastries like a barbecue pork bun (char siu bao) and shrimp rolls, and even Cornish “pasties” — savory hand pies and pot pies like beef or sun-dried tomato quiche.

Red Hill Center, 908 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo. 415.457.3632

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

Baked Blooms

San Rafael   

If you are in need of a beautiful centerpiece, a tasty dessert or both, then you should browse Baked Blooms’ beautiful bouCAKEs! Decorated as extremely realistic bouquets of flowers, Baked Blooms’ small-batched, exquisitely arranged cupcakes never fail to impress. You can create a custom batch, or choose from one of their prearranged bouCAKEs. If you are having any doubts, just ask the judges of Cupcake Wars!

2100 4th St Suite A, San Rafael, 415.419.2646

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. 

Bordenaves 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

Northern Marin

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

Western Marin

Parkside Bakery 

Stinson Beach

Stone fruit pies, fruit galettes and baguettes are just a few of the items pulled from the hearth on the other side of the building that also houses the namesake restaurant. The breakfast menu serves up brioche French toast, too.

43 Arenal Ave, Stinson Beach; 415.868.1272

Brickmaiden Breads

Point Reyes

The daily bread list includes country white sourdough and ficelle rolls but people often shop by day of the week for apricot hazelnut scones and lemon poppyseed poundcake. Thursday brings baker’s choice whole grain bread while Saturday means half or whole Khorasan miche — a French country-style sourdough made with ancient kamut — is available.

40 Fourth St, Point Reyes Station; 415.663.1203

Pop-ups

Waldscraft Bakery

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.

Pop-ups around Marin.

Fire Swamp Provisions

Fire Swamp Provisions originated with chef and owner Alex, who contributed his passion of cooking toward donating bread and bagels to anti-racism fundraisers during the pandemic. These donations developed into a Facebook page where Alex sold baked goods, which has since become a business. Fire Swamps Provisions strives to use fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and in turn produces delicious desserts with a local flair.

Pop-ups around Marin.

Portside Bakery

Starting with experimental breadmaking in a Sausalito houseboat to selling out at local farmers markets, Portside Bakery has become quite the hit among Marin residents, and for many, an important trip in their weekly routine. The flavorful, fan-favorite olive bread, a decadent, flaky, seasonal croissant or simply just the welcoming environment of this quintessential family business will leave you wanting to come back for more. 

Pop-ups around the Bay Area.