Best road-trip restaurants in California

$ · Redwood National and State Parks

Cozy pie shop and local cider bar doing savory pot pies, hand pies, and sweet slices — with real vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Hand pies travel perfectly into the parks.

$$ · Pacific Coast Highway

A Big Sur morning or early-dinner anchor: baked goods, wood-fired comfort, and a much calmer alternative to rushing the coastline hungry.

$$ · Pacific Coast Highway

Family farm-to-table institution on Main Street famous for comfort food and its legendary olallieberry pie made from local berries.

$$ · Napa & Sonoma wine country

Healdsburg institution since 1923 serving 24-to-48-hour breads, fruit tarts, eclairs, and made-to-order bistro breakfast and lunch.

$$ · Napa & Sonoma wine country

NYT-acclaimed, James Beard-nominated bakery known for long-fermented sourdough, laminated pastries, and a California-produce breakfast menu.

$ · Yosemite & Sequoia

Beloved little bakery and roaster with scratch-made pies, pastries, and espresso drinks, a favorite on the way to Yosemite.

$$ · Napa & Sonoma wine country

Family-owned downtown bakery and cafe that put Petaluma on the map in 1995, famed for Meyer-lemon rosemary bread and scrambles.

$$ · Napa & Sonoma wine country

Historic Napa Valley bakery famous for its griddled English muffins and rustic breads, a longtime downtown St. Helena staple.

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Pioneering artisan bakery at the Ferry Building supplying the region's finest naturally leavened sourdough and baguettes since 1983.

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Lower Pacific Heights French patisserie renowned for its kouign-amann and delicate pastries from pastry chef Belinda Leong.

$$ · Lincoln Highway

A sourdough landmark near the Pacific end of the Lincoln Highway and a natural final-city food marker.

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Mission bakery that set the national gold standard for sourdough, with blistered country loaves, morning buns, and legendary pastries.

$$ · Napa & Sonoma wine country

Thomas Keller's beloved bakery next to the bistro, famed for macarons, TKOs, and buttery croissants served daily to a steady line.