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Deli & market · Santa Rosa, Sonoma County

Criminal Cafe & Bakery

Seating on site$$

The short answer

Criminal Cafe & Bakery is a place to stock your picnic — all-day breakfast and lunch, two cases of pastries and savory grab-and-go items, smoothies and coffee, and take-and-bake sweet and savory pies, with many gluten-free and vegan options. YES — Criminal's catering side makes boxed lunches: sandwich on house focaccia or a salad ($20) or a savory galette ($16), each with a side salad and a small dessert; order by email (criminalbaker@gmail.com) or phone (707) 395-5395 with at least 5 full days' notice. It also has its own seating where you can eat.

Checked September 2026 from criminalbakingcompany.comStated on the venue's own website

Details

Fee
Boxed lunches $16–$20 each
What they sell
All-day breakfast and lunch, two cases of pastries and savory grab-and-go items, smoothies and coffee, and take-and-bake sweet and savory pies, with many gluten-free and vegan options. YES — Criminal's catering side makes boxed lunches: sandwich on house focaccia or a salad ($20) or a savory galette ($16), each with a side salad and a small dessert; order by email (criminalbaker@gmail.com) or phone (707) 395-5395 with at least 5 full days' notice.
Groups
Boxed lunches are geared to groups of about six or more (no strict minimum) and need at least 5 full days' notice.
Hours
Daily 7:30am–3pm
House rules
Since April 2025 the café (bought by Irma and her family) and the catering/special-order business (Criminal Pie & Pantry, 327 South A St, Fri–Sun 10am–4pm) run separately — place boxed-lunch orders with the catering side, not the café.

What to expect

Casual indoor dining room hung with local art plus a front porch; the West End dog park is across the street.

  • Deli or market

Good for: Groups

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About Criminal Cafe & Bakery

A quirky bakery-café founded in 2012 in Santa Rosa's historic West End, just northwest of Railroad Square, known for creative baking with plenty of gluten-free and vegan choices. Its catering arm, now run separately by the founder, turns out boxed lunches for groups — one of the few advance picnic-lunch options in Santa Rosa.

  • Boxed lunches $16–$20 with side salad and dessert (5 days' notice)
  • Front porch and indoor seating; open daily 7:30am–3pm
  • Many gluten-free and vegan options
  • In the historic West End, just northwest of Railroad Square

Make a day of it

Stock up at a deli nearby, then picnic close by — a short, easy loop.

  1. Criminal Cafe & Bakery (this deli & market)

    Deli & market · Santa Rosa

  2. Juilliard Park

    Park · Santa Rosa · about 0.9 mi away

  3. Luther Burbank Home & Gardens

    Park · Santa Rosa · about 1.0 mi away

Where to eat it: picnic spots nearby

Park

Juilliard Park

Santa Rosa· 0.7 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationNo alcoholDogs OK

One of Santa Rosa's oldest parks, Juilliard occupies the former homestead of 19th-century winemaker Charles Juilliard, directly across the street from the Luther Burbank Home & Gardens. It is a handy free lunch stop downtown with lawn, tables and a playground, but it is alcohol-free unless you hold a permit.

Juilliard Park

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
no
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
Yes
Fee
Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Criminal Cafe & Bakery · 0.7 mi

Details: Juilliard Park
Lawn and flowering garden beds beside Luther Burbank's white house and glass greenhouse in Santa Rosa
Park

Luther Burbank Home & Gardens

Santa Rosa· 0.7 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationNo alcohol

The home and gardens of pioneering plant breeder Luther Burbank are now a free, city-owned garden and museum in downtown Santa Rosa. A bench or one of the two small tables makes a pleasant spot for a quick lunch, but this is no place for a wine picnic: city ordinance bans both alcohol and glass on the grounds.

Luther Burbank Home & Gardens

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
no
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
No
Fee
Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Criminal Cafe & Bakery · 0.7 mi

Details: Luther Burbank Home & Gardens
Park

Finley Community Park

Santa Rosa· 1 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservation

A central, well-equipped Santa Rosa park with a gazebo picnic site, barbecues and a playground next to the Finley Community Center. It's a practical group-picnic option on West College Avenue.

Finley Community Park

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
not confirmed
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
not confirmed
Fee
Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Oliver's Market · 0.8 mi

Details: Finley Community Park
Park

Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve

Santa Rosa· 2 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK

A 1,100-acre preserve on Santa Rosa's southeast edge with about 15 miles of trails, including a long switchbacking climb toward the summit, plus an 18-hole disc golf course. Picnickers do best at the natural play area by the south entrance, while hikers are rewarded with big views across the Santa Rosa Plain.

Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
yes
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
Yes
Fee
$8/vehicle

Nearest picnic food: Criminal Cafe & Bakery · 2.4 mi

Details: Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve

Frequently asked questions

What picnic food can you get at Criminal Cafe & Bakery?

All-day breakfast and lunch, two cases of pastries and savory grab-and-go items, smoothies and coffee, and take-and-bake sweet and savory pies, with many gluten-free and vegan options. YES — Criminal's catering side makes boxed lunches: sandwich on house focaccia or a salad ($20) or a savory galette ($16), each with a side salad and a small dessert; order by email (criminalbaker@gmail.com) or phone (707) 395-5395 with at least 5 full days' notice.

Sources & accuracy

We last checked this listing in September 2026 (freshest source: Official site (Pie Club first pickup Sept 25, 2026; ownership change April 2025)). Policies change — especially for groups and holidays — so confirm with Criminal Cafe & Bakery before you go. How we verify.

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