All day, any day
Sketch
The soft-serve dispensed at Sketch is a 180-degree turn from Dairy Queen’s—no preservatives whatsoever and includes only the best milk and most pristine ingredients. The result is some of the silkiest, most vibrantly flavored ice cream and sorbet in the region. Look for flavors like apple, yogurt, and Earl Grey. 1809A 4th St., Berkeley, 510-665-5650
Mission Beach Cafe
Until Alan Carter ambushed San Francisco with his estimable baking skills, decent pies (and turnovers and cakes) were absent from the city’s pastryscape. But Carter’s flaky crusts and outstanding fillings, including chocolate cream, key lime, and mixed berry, are in a pie tin all their own. 198 Guerrero St., S.F., 415-861-0198
Dynamo Donut
On its opening day in July, the Mission’s new fancy-pants doughnut stand had sold out by 11 a.m. Talk about a hole in 10 dozen. Now, Dynamo’s three bakers plan accordingly, frying 30 dozen a day from the shop’s rotating roster of maple-apple-bacon, lemon-pistachio, vanilla-bean glazed, and many more. 2760 24th St., S.F., 415-920-1978
Fraîche
Frozen yogurt: yawn. But not, blessedly, at this Palo Alto shop. Yogurt here is unhindered by stabilizers and puerile toppings such as Fruity Pebbles and chopped Butterfingers. Instead, you can accompany this peerless fro-yo with a smattering of soft mochi and a cup of Blue Bottle coffee. Instant adulthood. 644 Emerson Ave., Palo Alto, 650-566-0055
Crixa Cakes
Where a Hungarian kávéház and an American bakery intersect, custard dumplings with sponge cake are granted the same counter space as Boston cream pie. Every item tastes as stunning as it looks. 2748 Adeline St., Berkeley, 510-548-0421
Chocolatier Blue
A recent transplant to the Bay Area, Chris Blue makes some of the most exquisite confections around. The chocolate is rare Amedei from Tuscany, the butter unpasteurized, and his seasonal fillings, like egg nog and peanut butter and jelly, faultless. 1964 University Ave., Berkeley, 510-705-8800
Almare
The best gelato is dense but pliable, with a pleasant chew. At Almare, the texture is spot-on, and the flavors, like lemon, stracciatella, and grapefruit, are strong and clean. 2170 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, 510-649-1888
The soft-serve dispensed at Sketch is a 180-degree turn from Dairy Queen’s—no preservatives whatsoever and includes only the best milk and most pristine ingredients. The result is some of the silkiest, most vibrantly flavored ice cream and sorbet in the region. Look for flavors like apple, yogurt, and Earl Grey. 1809A 4th St., Berkeley, 510-665-5650
Mission Beach Cafe
Until Alan Carter ambushed San Francisco with his estimable baking skills, decent pies (and turnovers and cakes) were absent from the city’s pastryscape. But Carter’s flaky crusts and outstanding fillings, including chocolate cream, key lime, and mixed berry, are in a pie tin all their own. 198 Guerrero St., S.F., 415-861-0198
Dynamo Donut
On its opening day in July, the Mission’s new fancy-pants doughnut stand had sold out by 11 a.m. Talk about a hole in 10 dozen. Now, Dynamo’s three bakers plan accordingly, frying 30 dozen a day from the shop’s rotating roster of maple-apple-bacon, lemon-pistachio, vanilla-bean glazed, and many more. 2760 24th St., S.F., 415-920-1978
Fraîche
Frozen yogurt: yawn. But not, blessedly, at this Palo Alto shop. Yogurt here is unhindered by stabilizers and puerile toppings such as Fruity Pebbles and chopped Butterfingers. Instead, you can accompany this peerless fro-yo with a smattering of soft mochi and a cup of Blue Bottle coffee. Instant adulthood. 644 Emerson Ave., Palo Alto, 650-566-0055
Crixa Cakes
Where a Hungarian kávéház and an American bakery intersect, custard dumplings with sponge cake are granted the same counter space as Boston cream pie. Every item tastes as stunning as it looks. 2748 Adeline St., Berkeley, 510-548-0421
Chocolatier Blue
A recent transplant to the Bay Area, Chris Blue makes some of the most exquisite confections around. The chocolate is rare Amedei from Tuscany, the butter unpasteurized, and his seasonal fillings, like egg nog and peanut butter and jelly, faultless. 1964 University Ave., Berkeley, 510-705-8800
Almare
The best gelato is dense but pliable, with a pleasant chew. At Almare, the texture is spot-on, and the flavors, like lemon, stracciatella, and grapefruit, are strong and clean. 2170 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, 510-649-1888
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