b. patisserie

b. patisserie describes itself as a refined yet modern salon de thé with an open pastry kitchen. It was created by pastry chef Belinda Leong with Michel Suas, and the San Francisco Chronicle has described it as a bit of Paris on California Street. The shop is on California Street at the corner of Divisadero Street, and the open kitchen means you can watch the pastry team at work while you decide what to order.

The focus is on modern French pastries. The best known is the kouign amann, a Breton pastry that the Chronicle likened to a cross between a morning bun and a croissant, and the bakery has also been praised for croissants such as almond and chocolate banana. Its specialties have long drawn queues. Savoury items have included tartines and other open sandwiches, though the range changes, so ask what is on the counter that day. It is worth arriving earlier if there is something particular you want, and asking the staff for recommendations. Pastries pair well with coffee or tea, and the salon de thé setting makes it a place to sit for a while rather than simply grab something to go. For celebrations, cakes and larger orders can be arranged through the shop's special orders service.

Opening hours are limited, so plan ahead. The shop opens from 8am to 4pm Wednesday to Friday and from 8am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, and it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. With only five opening days a week, plan your visit around Wednesday to Sunday, and allow time for a queue at weekends.

b. patisserie suits pastry lovers, couples looking for a weekend treat, and anyone exploring the streets around California and Divisadero. Its sister restaurant is just across the street at 2794 California Street, so you can turn a morning pastry into lunch nearby. For questions or orders, the shop can be contacted by phone or by email at the address on its website.

The shop is easy to reach by taxi or ride-hailing from downtown, and a pastry here makes a good start to a walk through the surrounding streets.