For almost 200 years, sourdough bread has been a staple of the Bay Area. From its gold-rush beginnings to the artisanal loaves made today, sourdough has captivated the hearts of Californians with its crunchy crust and tangy flavor. Try the following recommendations from all around the Bay!
GK Pastry
Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos
Beware: sourdough samples at the door of GK Pastry may lure innocent onlookers in! Despite each location lacking the bright signage or modern decor of other bakeries, that is not an indicator of the marvelous quality of their sourdough.
GK Pastry was founded in 2023 by Gulnoza Khaytenova, a Kazakh-American immigrant and stay-at-home mother of four. She began in the local community, selling her first breads at farmers’ markets around the South Bay.
Today, GK Pastry’s sourdough continues to shine! With a particularly crunchy crust and a fluffy, moist loaf, GK Pastry’s rustic sourdough country bread is delicious, whether used as a sandwich ingredient or a snack for midnight binge-eating. Additionally, their creative innovations, like olive-parmesan boules and jalapeño-cheese loaves, are feisty and surprisingly flavorful.
Although sourdough may be GK Pastry’s main calling, their other selections—jar cakes and fruit danishes, to name a few—are also enticing. As a cherry on top, breads are discounted up to 30% off after 6:00 PM.
Acme Bread Company
Berkeley, San Francisco, Bay Area farmers’ markets
Visiting your local farmers’ market? Check out the Acme Bread Company! With over 100 different varieties of bread, Acme Bread has a loaf for everybody. Their offerings range from rosemary-infused boules, poppy-seed rolls, and sour rye with raisins to plain, round sourdough.
Founded in 1983, Acme Bread’s roots can be traced back to Berkeley; their founders, Steve and Suzie Sullivan, began with the mission of baking high-quality loaves for wholesale. Besides their fantastic variety, Acme Bread’s loaves are approachable for the average bread consumer: their crusts strike a perfect balance between firm and flaky, and their centers are soft, spongy, and subtly flavored.
Despite only having retail locations in San Francisco and Berkeley, Acme’s loaves are must-buys at farmers’ markets across the Bay!
Backhaus
San Mateo, Burlingame
With its German-inspired loaves, Backhaus’ sourdough features immensely flaky and crackly crusts. Though not as tangy as other options, the loaves are equally soft and airy on the inside, recognizably distinct from white bread. Their intricate artisanal pastries and aromatic coffee options are also notable.
Yet Backhaus’ highlight is its style. Located in the heart of downtown San Mateo, the store is modest and modern: polished wood counters display endless shelves of bread to browse through. Sunlight streams through full-wall windows, which offer a view of the artisanal baking process. A patio offers seating and a place to enjoy Backhaus’ delights. Beware of long lines on weekends, when Backhaus’ signature chocolate-flavored sourdough loaves are sold!
