San Francisco’s Sweet Shops Guide

We were asked by the Style editors of the SF Chronicle to co-curate a selection of our favorite places where a big kid might find tasty treats for Halloween. We were game–and narrowed down our favorites which are featured in Sunday’s Chronicle. Click here to read the story.

Halloween may be over but the artisan chocolatiers, bakers, and dessert makers and shops we discovered for the San Francisco Chronicle are treat for visitors and locals to visit year round. Here’s the skinny:

Cow Hollow: American Cupcake 1919 Union Street

This is the only sweets cafe we can think of that really celebrates Halloween. They’ll have candied and caramel apples; pumpkin beer and pumpkin cupcake pairing for happy hour; candied corn cocktails and candy milk shakes. If you’d like a savory dish, try the blood-red fried chicken coated in red velvet cupcake crumbs. This is the place to come in your costume and take a photo in the photobooth too. Devon makes her inventive candy corn cocktail, which we gamely sipped at 11am during the photo shoot.

Ghirardelli Square: Crown and Crumpet. 900 North Point at Ghirardelli Square

This retro tea room is very San Francisco, with views of the Bay and tea pastries and sandwiches all made in-house. Amy Dean is a long time friend, and at Halloween she celebrates by packaging stylish treat bags, filled with hand-picked delights including their housemade caramels and custom Halloween shaped chocolates “witches kisses” and English licorice.

Pacific Heights: Fillmore Bakeshop. 1890 Fillmore Street, San Francisco

This is Laiko’s neighborhood bakery, and they are mad for Halloween and the holidays. They’ve cooked up witches fingers cookies, chocolate pumpkins and even a princess cake shaped like a pumpkin. We also love Au Couer des Chocolats which they are partners with.

Russian Hill: Candy Store. 1507 Vallejo Street.

A store for the well-heeled candy lover, with a huge assortment available by the handful or pound; with many we’ve never seen anywhere else. We’re going to stop by for their Halloween party on the 31st from 3-6pm, where they have a darling candy cart out in front of the store, and adults and kids come and can assemble a free trick or treat bag of candies. There’s lots to choose from including pumpkin spice caramels, gummy candy corn, pumpkin malt balls, tangerine flavored gummy pumpkins and Sour Skulls from Sweden.

Financial District: Fog City News. 455 Market Street

Extra extra, Halloween candy, all locally made! Fog City News will have dark and milk chocolate solid mini pumpkins and skulls from Michael Mischer and Ginger Elizabeth, some studded with a little sea salt. Fabulous sets of pumpkin spice truffles from Chocolate Visions of Scott’s Valley are DOUBLY-local because they make their candy at their Scott’s Valley storefront using Guittard Chocolate from Burlingame.

Financial District: See’s Candies. 542 Market St.

Our all time favorite chocolates are made by the historic Sees Candy. For Halloween they are introducing a new pumpkin lollipop and re-introducing the orange and chocolate wafer with the same great taste we’ve loved for years and years.

Ferry Building: Trick or Treating. 1 Ferry Building.

Claire Squares

Swing by La Cocina’s stand to discover seasonal treats you won’t find anywhere else. Can you say “Lucha Libre cupcakes?”

Miette

Their pumpkin princess cake is gorgeous, and they have so many treats we love, including the candies in the jar as well as their ice cream sandwiches.

Michael Recchutti

Michael Recchutti makes some of our favorite confections. For Halloween he’s surprised us with a new Halloween box of delectable treats. Also caramel apples DIY style. We’re crazy for them, so we pick up Recchutti’s Burnt Caramel Sauce and pair them with tart apple slices which we’ll get at the Apple Farm Stand and other local apple growers at the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market for a quick treat.

Embarcadero: TCHO Chocolate

Local chocolate maker TCHO is where we tell our Epicurators to go to learn about chocolate making and a great tour and tasting. And for the spooky holiday they’ve done something new – a box of “so scary some like it hot” chocolates. We’re not scared at all.

Mission: 18 Reasons. 3674 18th Street

We love their mission and the inspired classes they offer. One of which is how to make Sugared Skulls, one of the treats of Dia de los Muertos. If you didn’t get to take the class, on October 20th (see details) you can pick up some sugared skulls at La Victoria Bakery.

Mission: La Victoria Bakery 2937 24th St.

This is the HQ for the sweet side of Dia de los Muertos Day of the Dead festival and parade on 24th Street, celebrated this year on November 2nd. La Victoria offers the traditional sugar skulls (which the owner makes in Mexico), pan de muertos and pumpkin empanada.

Dog Patch: Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous. 699 22nd Street

We love a treat on a cone at Dog Patches newest ice cream parlor. Head on over for a scoop of their carmel corn ice cream and Pumpkin Seed Brittle, or their Warty Caramel Apples.

Noe: Chocolate Covered. 4069 24th Street

Susie’s pick of dark chocolate gold leaf skull lollipops from tasty and scary Vice Chocolates in Oakland featured in this treat filled Noe Valley candy shop.