Lately, I’ve been inching closer to becoming a regular biker. (Okay, fine, an e-biker, but that still counts!) And as I’ve gotten more comfortable on two wheels, I’ve started craving longer rides and new destinations beyond my usual Peet’s Coffee loop or neighborhood park paths.
That’s when the idea hit: what if I combined two of my favorite things – pastries and planning – into a bakery biking tour?
I decided to map out a 17-mile ride through some of the cutest towns in the lower Bay Area Peninsula, stopping at four local bakeries along the way. At each stop, I’ll be taste-testing two pastries: one classic croissant to establish a baseline, and one staff-recommended specialty item unique to that shop. Call it a tour de pâte feuilletée.
I’ll be rating each stop with a very official and completely subjective pastry rubric (see below), and reporting back on which bakery is worth a second visit.
Check back in July for the full results, photos, pastry reviews, and which place is worth biking 17 miles for, and which one… isn’t. See you back here soon!
The Plan
Start Time: 8:00 AM
Distance: 17 miles
Stops: 4 bakeries, with an optional post-tour brewery celebration
The idea is simple: ride through the south Peninsula and visit four different bakeries, stopping at each to sample two pastries:
- A basic croissant (the baseline),
- One specialty item unique to that bakery (as recommended by the staff).
The Route
Here’s the map for the ride: Google Maps Route
I’ll be heading north through some of the most charming parts of the Peninsula. The entire route is around 17 miles — manageable, scenic, and (thanks to the magic of e-bikes) relatively sweat-free.
Stops:
- Mountain View, CA: The Midwife and The Baker
- Palo Alto, CA: Mademoiselle Colette
- Redwood City, CA: The Baker Next Door
- San Mateo, CA: Lolita Artisanal Bakery & Cafe
- OPTIONAL: Fieldwork Brewing Company
- Return to Mountain View via Hillsdale Caltrain Station
The Results
Come back soon for a full review and photos!
Croissant Ranking
| Bakery | Price ($) | Flakiness(1 = doughy, 5 = crisp & shattery) | Butteriness(1 = bland, 5 = rich & deeply flavorful) | Moisture Level(1 = dry/sawdust, 5 = soft & tender inside) | Total Score (15 max) |
| Midwife & the Baker | |||||
| Mademoiselle Colette | |||||
| The Baker Next Door | |||||
| Lolita Artisanal Bakery |
Speciality Item Ranking
| Bakery | Item Name | Price ($) | Uniqueness 1 = boring, 5 = bold & inspired | Balance of Flavor1 = one-note, 5 = layered & harmonious | Execution 1 = messy or underdone, 5 = pro bakery perfection | Total Score 15 max |
| Midwife & the Baker | ||||||
| Mademoiselle Colette | ||||||
| The Baker Next Door | ||||||
| Lolita Artisanal Bakery |
The Dagmar Perspective 
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