Parachute Bakery

Hello, dedicated pastry lovers across California! When a bakery opens in the iconic San Francisco Ferry Building with a pedigree tied to a Michelin-starred restaurant, you know it's going to be something special. That establishment is Parachute Bakery, and it has quickly become a sensation for Bay Area locals seeking an elevated, fine-dining approach to everyday indulgence. Parachute is not just another spot for a quick bite; it represents a new chapter in San Francisco's already rich pastry culture, led by a team of industry veterans.

Parachute Bakery specializes in sophisticated viennoiserie and meticulously crafted laminated pastries, all masterminded by Executive Pastry Chef Nasir Armar, a talent who has honed his skills at top-tier establishments including Michelin two-star Saison and Sorrel. This background is evident in every offering, from the perfectly layered croissants to the architecturally impressive, photo-worthy creations that have already gone viral across the state. They are taking the simple French tradition of butter, dough, and folding, and transforming it into edible art.

Located in a landmark California setting, Parachute brings ambition and technical skill to the forefront of the Ferry Building Marketplace, providing both an immediate craving fix and a full-fledged culinary experience. Lines forming outside its doors shortly after opening confirm that the hype is real, proving that Californians are eager to embrace this new level of gourmet baking. The bakery's menu is refreshingly focused, ensuring that every pastry, coffee, and savory item meets the highest standard of excellence.

This guide will introduce you to Parachute Bakery, providing the necessary details on where to find this celebrated new spot, what unique treats are worth lining up for, and how to plan your visit for the ultimate San Francisco pastry experience.

Location and Accessibility

Parachute Bakery is situated within one of California's most recognizable architectural and culinary landmarks, the Ferry Building Marketplace.

Address: 1 Ferry Building, 1st St, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA

The Ferry Building is a central hub in San Francisco, providing excellent accessibility for local commuters, Financial District workers, and visitors alike:

• The bakery faces the main hall of the Ferry Building, making it easy to find immediately upon entering the market area.
• The location is readily accessible via Muni buses, the F-Market & Wharves streetcar, and the San Francisco Bay Ferry, which docks directly at the building.
• The Ferry Building Marketplace itself is highly accommodating, with excellent infrastructure for foot traffic and mobility, suitable for all visitors.
• While the specific daily hours for Parachute Bakery may vary, the Ferry Building typically opens early, and the bakery is known to open around 8:00 AM, with popular items selling out quickly. Patrons planning a visit should aim for early arrival to ensure availability.

Services Offered

Parachute operates as an all-day cafe and dedicated bakery, with services designed to allow for efficient transactions of highly sought-after, fresh-baked goods.

• Takeaway Service: The core service model focuses on quick, grab-and-go ordering of pastries and coffee.
• Viennoiserie and Laminated Pastries: The dedicated program revolves around making flaky, buttery croissants, Danishes, and specialty laminated products fresh throughout the day.
• Artisan Coffee and Specialty Drinks: A full cafe menu is available, featuring specialty espresso drinks, matcha, cold brew, and unique house-made beverages like the Cacao Latte, Masala Chai, and Strawberry Cream Soda.
• Fresh Juices and Smoothies: Offering a healthier complement to the sweets, the menu includes fresh-pressed options such as Spicy Roots Juice (beet, ginger) and Super Greens Juice (cucumber, kale, sorrel).
• Per-Person Item Limit: Due to high demand and the artisan nature of the products, a four-item limit per person is often enforced, requiring patrons to prioritize their selections.
• Customized Coffee Blends: The bakery serves coffee from Linea Coffee, featuring specific blends tailored for Parachute’s offerings.

Features / Highlights

Parachute Bakery stands out in the crowded California culinary scene due to its Michelin-tier craftsmanship and innovative pastry concepts.

• The Parachute Chocolate Entremet: This signature pastry is a small, five-layered masterpiece of chocolate cake, chocolate crémeux, caramel, and Fleur de Sel, encased in a 72% Valrhona shell. Its unique shape, resembling a parachute, showcases Chef Armar's fine-dining pastry skills.
• The Vanilla + Passionfruit Cube: A viral sensation and a must-try. This intricately laminated, cube-shaped croissant pastry is filled with tart fresh passionfruit and a creamy white chocolate-vanilla crémeux, offering a perfect balance of texture and flavor.
• Savory Pan Suisse: Elevating the classic French pastry, Parachute offers a savory version (or pain Suisse) that changes seasonally. The filling may include ingredients like garlic béchamel, roasted oyster mushrooms, goat cheese, and sungold tomatoes, demonstrating savory innovation.
• The Everything Kouign Amann: A unique, savory twist on the traditional sweet pastry. This version is laminated with sugar and everything seasoning, filled with a scallion cream cheese mousse, offering a delightful salty-sweet experience.
• Gourmet Cookies and Cakes: The offerings include a delicious, gluten-free Brown Butter Chocolate Chip cookie and a decadent, slightly charred Basque Cheesecake (*wheat-free), ensuring options for various preferences.
• Fine-Dining Pedigree: The connection to the Michelin-starred Sorrel team assures patrons of the highest quality ingredients and meticulous execution in every single item.

Contact Information

While Parachute is a takeaway-focused operation, for any inquiries regarding their offerings or to verify current operating hours at the Ferry Building, please refer to the following information.

Address: 1 Ferry Building, 1st St, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA

Phone: Public phone contact information for the bakery is not widely published, encouraging direct visits to the Ferry Building. Customers should use online resources for the most up-to-date hours of operation.

Given its popularity, especially on weekends, an early visit is highly recommended to avoid the lines and the disappointment of items selling out, which often happens within the first hour of opening.

What is Worth Choosing

Choosing what to order at Parachute Bakery is a delightful challenge, especially with the known four-item limit. However, for the essential California pastry experience that this bakery offers, there are three items that rise to the top of the must-try list.

First, you absolutely must secure the Vanilla + Passionfruit Cube. Customers rave about its "perfectly creamy and tart" filling and its unique, laminated pull-apart texture. It is a true showcase of Chef Armar’s skill and the item that has brought Parachute its initial fame.

Second, the Parachute Chocolate Entremet is non-negotiable for chocolate aficionados. This signature pastry is a miniature work of art and provides a fine-dining dessert experience in a single serving. It’s a complex, multi-textured treat that elevates the simple pleasure of chocolate.

Finally, to balance the sweetness, the Savory Pan Suisse is worth every penny. With its crisp, layered dough and warm, decadent filling of oyster mushrooms, goat cheese, and garlic béchamel, it is described as "damn delicious" and perfect for enjoying warm. For those needing a gluten-free option, the Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie is a fantastic choice, lauded by reviewers for its delicious flavor profile. Given the high quality, while the prices might be "a bit pricey," the consensus is that the gourmet quality and flavor of Parachute's offerings—which consistently meet and exceed expectations—make the entire experience absolutely worthwhile.

Parachute Bakery

1 Ferry Building, 1st St, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA