Popular Santa Rosa Bakery Brings Its French Treats to Petaluma

Sarmentine Bakery recently opened its third location on Petaluma Boulevard North. Check out its lineup of delectable French baked goods.


As a line snakes out the door of the recently-opened Sarmentine Bakery in Petaluma — its third location now in the county — it’s easy to forget that co-owner Alexandra Zandvliet began her baking career as a pandemic hobby in her home kitchen.

In 2021, the Santa Rosa bakery (52 Mission Circle) quickly became a beacon for the croissant and cafe au lait-set with an ever-expanding lineup of cream puffs, éclairs, butter and ham baguettes, croissants, olive bread and dozens of other sweet and savory treats. A bakery at the Barlow in Sebastopol followed in 2023 and now the Petaluma Boulevard North location expands the floury empire.

Santa Rosa's Sarmentine Bakery in Petaluma
Paris Brest and a creamy canele at Sarmentine Bakery in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)

The spacious new location is populated by a drool-worthy collection of bakery cases piled with cream-filled desserts like Paris Brest (pate a choux filled with praline cream) and Mille-Feuille, chocolate croissants, brioche buns, fruit tarts (the passion fruit is a favorite) and Madeleines. Tiny caneles have a sticky, crunchy crust and custardy center that buckle my knees with happiness.

The block seems to be a draw for French cuisine, with the recently-opened Brigitte Bistro across the street. A weekend brunch is in the works and there may be a few more surprises under Sarmentine’s beret. Petaluma’s hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

840 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, 707-623-9595, sarmentine.com