"There's a reason Ten Belles’ sourdough has replaced baguettes on the tables of many top restaurants in town. Their signature loaf’s treacly crust and airy interior will impress even the proudest San Franciscan, and is the ideal base for the smoky bacon-cheddar toastie. Pair it with a flat white made with house coffee roasted just outside the city, and save space for a seasonal fruit tart on a croissant dough base. You should also grab a special loaf to go, like quinoa paired with sesame or buckwheat bread laced with white and black pepper. This minimalist, high-ceilinged bakery in the 11th is more spacious than the locations in the 10th and 6th, and the secret terrace out back—plus the buttery smells from the kitchen—make it our favorite of the three." - Emily Monaco