Arizmendi Bakery

Welcome to a true San Francisco gem: Arizmendi Bakery. Located in the vibrant Inner Sunset neighborhood, Arizmendi is more than just a place to grab a morning pastry or a fresh loaf of bread—it's an institution rooted in community and a unique business model. For Bay Area locals seeking out quality, handcrafted baked goods with a social conscience, Arizmendi Bakery stands out as a must-visit destination.

This popular spot, often marked by a friendly line of patrons, is a proud worker-owned cooperative. This distinctive structure means that every person baking, selling, and managing is also an owner, fostering a deep commitment to the quality of the product and the health of the workplace. Inspired by the success of the Cheese Board Collective in Berkeley and named after the Basque priest and labor organizer José María Arizmendiarrieta, the San Francisco location opened in October 2000, continuing a rich tradition of democratically run businesses in the California food landscape.

The core of Arizmendi's reputation lies in its exceptional artisan breads, its rotating selection of pastries, and, perhaps most famously, its daily gourmet vegetarian pizza. Whether you're a neighborhood regular or visiting after a morning stroll through Golden Gate Park, Arizmendi offers a rewarding and flavorful experience.

Location and Accessibility

The primary location of Arizmendi Bakery is nestled in a prime area of San Francisco, making it highly accessible for both local residents and visitors exploring the city's unique neighborhoods.

Address: 1331 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA

The bakery is conveniently situated in the Inner Sunset district, right between the busy thoroughfares of Irving and Judah. Its location is especially ideal as it’s only a couple of blocks from the eastern edge of Golden Gate Park, making it a perfect spot to pick up provisions for a picnic or a quick bite before heading into the park. The lively surrounding area of the Inner Sunset offers a classic San Francisco experience, with a mix of shops and eateries.

For those traveling by car, parking options include free street parking in certain zones, as well as paid street parking and access to a paid parking lot nearby. As with many popular San Francisco destinations, patience may be required to find a spot. For accessibility, the bakery offers a wheelchair accessible entrance, ensuring all members of the community can enjoy their offerings. The service style caters to a quick visit, with efficient in-store shopping and takeout options to keep the line moving, particularly during peak hours when local enthusiasm for their daily specials is at its highest.

Services Offered

Arizmendi Bakery’s range of services and products extends far beyond a typical corner bakery, classifying it as a multi-faceted food destination. It operates as a: Bakery, Coffee shop, Cookie shop, Pizza restaurant, and a general Restaurant/Takeout establishment.

The key offerings include:

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LI Bakery and Pastry Selection: A wide variety of handcrafted goods, many of which are self-serve, allowing patrons to fill their own bags.

LI Daily Gourmet Vegetarian Pizza: A standout feature, with a single, unique vegetarian topping combination offered each day of the week. Available by the slice (hot) or as a half or whole pie (hot or lite-baked for home reheating).

LI Artisan Breads: A rotating selection of rustic and sourdough loaves, including specialties like Challah, Multi-seeded Sourdough, and Fig-Fennel Sourdough.

LI Coffee and Beverages: A full offering of coffee to complement their morning pastries and baked goods.

LI Savory Baked Goods: Specialties like Focaccia, Cheese Rolls, Bialys, and Bread Sticks, perfect for a light lunch or snack.

LI Sweet Treats: Includes favorites like the Scone of the Day, Pecan Rolls, Cookies (such as the highly-rated Mint Chocolate Chip), Muffins, and Chocolate Fudge Cake.

LI Takeout and In-Store Options: Offering in-store pickup, in-store shopping, and general takeout services for convenience.

LI Special Holiday Breads: Seasonal offerings like Crown Challah for the high holidays, often available for pre-order.

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Features / Highlights

Arizmendi Bakery’s unique qualities are what have cemented its place as a beloved community establishment and a regional standout.

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LI Worker-Owned Cooperative Model: This is the defining feature. The bakery is owned and democratically controlled by its employees. This model aligns with a mission to foster a sustainable, supportive, and democratically organized workplace, ensuring every worker-owner has agency in the co-op.

LI Daily Vegetarian Pizza Specialization: Unlike a traditional pizzeria, Arizmendi offers one new, gourmet, vegetarian pizza flavor each day on its thin, organic sourdough crust, topped with whole-milk mozzarella and fresh seasonal vegetables. This rotating menu keeps the offerings fresh and excites regulars.

LI High-Quality Artisan Bread: They are celebrated for their wide variety of exceptional artisan breads, with a different specialty bread highlighted each day of the week. Examples include:

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LI Tuesday: Irish Soda Bread, Multi-grain Bread, and Provolone-olive Bread.

LI Wednesday: Corn-cheddar Bread and Kalamata Olive Sourdough.

LI Thursday: Pumpernickel and Walnut Sourdough.

LI Friday: Challah, Fig-Fennel Sourdough, and Light-rye Bread.

LI Saturday: Coffee Cake and Apple-Sage Sourdough.

LI Sunday: Chocolate-Cherry Sourdough and Cheese Scones.

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LI Inspired by the Cheese Board Collective: Arizmendi is an offshoot of the famed Berkeley Cheese Board, inheriting a legacy of successful cooperative business practices and beloved recipes.

LI Local Ingredients Focus: The bakery often utilizes locally sourced ingredients, connecting their success to other small businesses and farmers in the Bay Area, for example, using local dried fruits in their seasonal fruitcake.

LI Variety of Baked Goods: They are known for a wide self-serve selection of savory rolls (like the Tomato Cheese Roll) and sweet treats (like the Pecan Roll and daily Scone), providing options for every time of day.

LI Convenient Payment Options: Accepting Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and NFC mobile payments for a quick and easy checkout process.

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Contact Information

For those planning a visit to the Inner Sunset location of Arizmendi Bakery, here is the essential contact information:

Address: 1331 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA

Phone: (415) 566-3117

This location is positioned on 9th Avenue, near the intersection with Irving Street, making it a prominent and easily identifiable stop in the neighborhood.

What is worth choosing

Choosing Arizmendi Bakery means supporting a unique model of business while enjoying high-quality, handcrafted food. The main draw is the combination of their daily changing menu and their commitment to cooperative values.

For first-time visitors or loyal patrons, the daily gourmet vegetarian pizza is undoubtedly worth choosing. The sourdough crust, which is organic, thin, and chewy, serves as a fantastic foundation for a rotating cast of imaginative, fresh toppings. Since the flavor changes every day, regulars often plan their visits around their favorite combinations, such as a pesto-based pizza or one featuring shiitake mushrooms, caramelized onions, and gruyere cheese. Available by the slice for a quick, affordable lunch, it represents an excellent value for a gourmet, freshly prepared meal in a major city.

Beyond the pizza, the artisan breads are a hallmark. The various sourdough loaves and specialty breads like the Corn-cheddar Bread and Rolls or the Fig-Fennel Sourdough are perfect for taking home to elevate any meal. Many of the sweet pastries, particularly the daily Scone of the Day, receive high praise for their moist interiors and crunchy exteriors, providing a comforting and satisfying treat. The "pick-and-mix" style for smaller pastries and rolls also encourages exploration of their diverse offerings, like the savory cheese rolls or the sweet Pecan Rolls.

However, the most compelling reason to choose Arizmendi is the mission behind the menu. As a worker-owned cooperative, you are directly supporting a democratic workplace where worker-owners have an equal voice and share in the business's success. This principle fosters a pride in their work that translates into friendly service and an undeniable dedication to quality and freshness. By choosing Arizmendi, you are participating in a local economic ecosystem that prioritizes people and community alongside profit, making every purchase feel like a positive investment in the local California economy and a more equitable way of doing business. The combination of social justice, neighborhood loyalty, and incredibly delicious bread makes Arizmendi Bakery a truly worthwhile choice for any Bay Area local.

In summary, Arizmendi Bakery is a cornerstone of the Inner Sunset's food scene, offering a delightful mix of artisan breads, tempting pastries, and a famously inventive daily pizza. Its cooperative spirit and focus on fresh, organic ingredients make it a unique and respected institution within the larger network of cooperative businesses across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Arizmendi Bakery

1331 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122, USA