Tartine Bakery

Tartine Bakery opened on Guerrero Street in the Mission in 2002, with the aim, in its own words, of bringing bread with an old soul into the lives of friends and family in California. It has since grown into a group with several locations, and its book Tartine Bread, by Chad Robertson and Elisabeth Prueitt, was published in 2010. The Guerrero Street shop remains the original bakery, and a press quote on its website sums up its reputation: years after opening, there is still a line.

The counter is filled with pastries, savoury items and bread. Croissants and morning buns are the items the bakery highlights, and the Tartine Country Loaf is the company's signature bread. Baguettes and sandwiches, such as ham and cheese, also feature, and the coffee comes from Coffee Manufactory. The menus posted on the website are samples only, so check the online ordering page for what is actually available on the day you visit.

The system is simple: you order and pay at the register, then find a seat in the café. It is a good stop for breakfast before a day in the Mission, or for an afternoon coffee and pastry. Queues are part of the experience at busy times, especially at weekends, so going early on a weekday gives you a calmer visit. To skip the wait, you can order online for pick-up at the Guerrero Street shop.

The bakery is open every day from 7.30am to 6pm and closes only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. For celebrations, special-event cakes can be ordered but need seven days' notice, and cakes, tarts and holiday pastries and pies can be pre-ordered at the relevant times of year. Gift cards work at all Tartine locations, and national shipping is offered through Goldbelly if you want to send something home.

Tartine suits food lovers, families and anyone who enjoys a proper bakery. The shop is at 600 Guerrero Street in the Mission District, so it combines easily with a walk through the neighbourhood. Bring a bag for any bread you buy to take away, and if you plan to picnic later, a loaf and a few pastries make a good start.