Tartine Bakery

One of San Francisco’s best bakeries, Tartine also happens to be its most crowded. The small tables are always packed and there’s usually a line that slowly snakes by the bakery case, even on a Monday afternoon (when I stopped in). It’s the only day of the week when they don’t have freshly baked bread ready to go after 5PM. They did, however, have the best shortbread I’ve ever experienced, stunning cakes and teacakes, breakfast pastries, cocoa nib rochers (like meringues) and elaborately gingerbread that was way too pretty to eat. 600 Guerrero St., 415.487.2600