Kathleen's San Rafael & Marin County Guidebook

Kathleen
Kathleen's San Rafael & Marin County Guidebook

Food Scene- Restaurants & Cafes

This is my favorite Thai restaurant in Marin, and it's just 4 minutes from my house! Excellent food and service, you can't go wrong here.
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My Thai Restaurant
1230 4th St
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This is my favorite Thai restaurant in Marin, and it's just 4 minutes from my house! Excellent food and service, you can't go wrong here.
A warm, bright, cozy place with excellent service and lots of vegan & gluten-free items! Very close by. NOTE- it can get crowded on weekend nights!
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Lotus Cuisine of India
812 4th St
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A warm, bright, cozy place with excellent service and lots of vegan & gluten-free items! Very close by. NOTE- it can get crowded on weekend nights!
One of Marin's most popular spots- always a line out the door. Yummy Puerto Rican food for under $12-22, dep. on what you order (vegan/vegetarian + meat). Share tables, vibrant, youthful, urban feel. Take out option right next door if you want to avoid the wait and eat at home. Close to the house!
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Sol Food
903 Lincoln Ave
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One of Marin's most popular spots- always a line out the door. Yummy Puerto Rican food for under $12-22, dep. on what you order (vegan/vegetarian + meat). Share tables, vibrant, youthful, urban feel. Take out option right next door if you want to avoid the wait and eat at home. Close to the house!
Best sit-down breakfast in Marin, 10 mins drive! A huge, cool converted barn with high ceilings & patio seating. Be prepared for a short wait to be seated, but it's worth it. Tofu scramble, delicious pastries.
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Half Day Cafe
848 College Ave
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Best sit-down breakfast in Marin, 10 mins drive! A huge, cool converted barn with high ceilings & patio seating. Be prepared for a short wait to be seated, but it's worth it. Tofu scramble, delicious pastries.
Il Davide is a delicious Italian restaurant with an elegant dining room and outdoor patio seating when it is warm. Find it on A Street in downtown San Rafael, minutes away!
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Il Davide
901 A St
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Il Davide is a delicious Italian restaurant with an elegant dining room and outdoor patio seating when it is warm. Find it on A Street in downtown San Rafael, minutes away!
This spacious cafe is right downtown next to the Rafael Theater- minutes away from the house! Aroma is a great place to work on your laptop or grab a simple, healthy meal. Various soups, salads & mediterranean options. Limited breakfast and dessert options.
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Aroma Cafe
1122 4th St
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This spacious cafe is right downtown next to the Rafael Theater- minutes away from the house! Aroma is a great place to work on your laptop or grab a simple, healthy meal. Various soups, salads & mediterranean options. Limited breakfast and dessert options.
Taco Janes is a yummy casual place with limited outdoor seating that makes a mean fish taco, with a delicious house-made mole sauce. A fun meal after hiking!
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Taco Jane's Restaurant & Tequila Bar
21 Tamalpais Ave
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Taco Janes is a yummy casual place with limited outdoor seating that makes a mean fish taco, with a delicious house-made mole sauce. A fun meal after hiking!
Craving a yummy latte and gluten free donuts or muffins? This neighborhood cafe has some of the best coffee in San Rafael. The owners are locals, and the locals love this place, which is about a 20-minute walk from here. The owners also opened another cafe right on the main drag in San Rafael, at the corner of 4th & A Streets!
Pink Owl Coffee
1100 Second St
Craving a yummy latte and gluten free donuts or muffins? This neighborhood cafe has some of the best coffee in San Rafael. The owners are locals, and the locals love this place, which is about a 20-minute walk from here. The owners also opened another cafe right on the main drag in San Rafael, at the corner of 4th & A Streets!
This cozy spot has delicious food, and a nice outdoor patio in front, thanks to the pandemic.
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LaVier Latin Fusion Restaurant
1025 C St
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This cozy spot has delicious food, and a nice outdoor patio in front, thanks to the pandemic.
Delicious Burmese food, with outdoor seating now because of the pandemic.
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Burmatown
18 Corte Madera Ave
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Delicious Burmese food, with outdoor seating now because of the pandemic.
Looking for a nicer Mexican restaurant with outdoor seating? Flores is the place, though it is short 12-14 minute drive to nearby Corte Madera.
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Flores
2030 Union St
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Looking for a nicer Mexican restaurant with outdoor seating? Flores is the place, though it is short 12-14 minute drive to nearby Corte Madera.
In Fairfax, about 10 minutes drive from the house- Truly yummy food, with vegan options! Casual ambiance, order at the counter and then sit outside. Very few tables are inside.
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Más Masa
31 Bolinas Rd
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In Fairfax, about 10 minutes drive from the house- Truly yummy food, with vegan options! Casual ambiance, order at the counter and then sit outside. Very few tables are inside.
Another great spot that's close by for a quick bite- lots of vegan choices. Salads, soups, wraps & smoothies. Eat in or take out. It's all good!
Café del Soul
Another great spot that's close by for a quick bite- lots of vegan choices. Salads, soups, wraps & smoothies. Eat in or take out. It's all good!
Very close by in downtown San Rafael, this is one of the best lattes in Marin County! This cute stylish cafe can be quiet and a great place to fire up the laptop, or at certain times, it can be overrun with lots of kids whose parents bring them there to play in the play area in the back. Either way, the coffee is worth it!
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Fox & Kit
1031 C St
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Very close by in downtown San Rafael, this is one of the best lattes in Marin County! This cute stylish cafe can be quiet and a great place to fire up the laptop, or at certain times, it can be overrun with lots of kids whose parents bring them there to play in the play area in the back. Either way, the coffee is worth it!
This is a very comfortable restaurant just 5 minutes from here. Pasta, pizzas, salads, apps and more, with excellent service and some outdoor seating in warmer months
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Cucina sa
510 San Anselmo Ave
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This is a very comfortable restaurant just 5 minutes from here. Pasta, pizzas, salads, apps and more, with excellent service and some outdoor seating in warmer months
Delicious acai bowls with a quieter area in the back to enjoy them, slightly removed from the traffic noise on Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Mana Bowls
1930 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Delicious acai bowls with a quieter area in the back to enjoy them, slightly removed from the traffic noise on Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
For my gluten-free and vegan guests who don't want to give up on baked goods, this place is delicious, and very close by. Just be aware that they close at 3pm most days, but they have delicious baked goods, soups and salads to go, or to eat on the bench out front on the sidewalk. Their homemade granola is phenomenal to bring home, or grab a bag at local grocery stores. The owners also have a bakery in Mill Valley.
Flour Craft Bakery
For my gluten-free and vegan guests who don't want to give up on baked goods, this place is delicious, and very close by. Just be aware that they close at 3pm most days, but they have delicious baked goods, soups and salads to go, or to eat on the bench out front on the sidewalk. Their homemade granola is phenomenal to bring home, or grab a bag at local grocery stores. The owners also have a bakery in Mill Valley.

Groceries & Healthy Food

For health conscious guests, you can shop at Whole Foods, less than 10 mins drive away. Smoothies, coffee bar, plus a salad and hot bar make this great for lunch on the run.
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Whole Foods Market
340 3rd St
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For health conscious guests, you can shop at Whole Foods, less than 10 mins drive away. Smoothies, coffee bar, plus a salad and hot bar make this great for lunch on the run.
Walk 2 short blocks to the neighborhood store! Nice outdoor seating. Get your basics here, not real vegan-friendly, but they do offer coffee, various side salads/hot items, fresh pizzas & sandwiches.
Andy's Sun Valley Market
2202 Fifth Ave
Walk 2 short blocks to the neighborhood store! Nice outdoor seating. Get your basics here, not real vegan-friendly, but they do offer coffee, various side salads/hot items, fresh pizzas & sandwiches.
This is the closest full-scale grocery store to the house- just minutes away. They have cheaper prices & a much broader selection than little Andy's neighborhood market that is just a few blocks away. They have a decent amount of quality organic produce and other grocery items.
United Markets
This is the closest full-scale grocery store to the house- just minutes away. They have cheaper prices & a much broader selection than little Andy's neighborhood market that is just a few blocks away. They have a decent amount of quality organic produce and other grocery items.
Good Earth has a fabulous hot bar and salad bar if you are looking to grab a quick and healthy meal on your way to the beaches of West Marin! Grocery shopping here is really expensive, but they do boast an all-organic store. Lots of outdoor seating, a smoothie bar, yummy vegan cheeses, etc. It is a locally-owned place similar to Whole Foods in terms of labeling (Gluten-Free and Vegan), but you will definitely pay more to shop here (though the hot and salad bars are reasonable). This store is the mecca for conscious, non-GMO, down-to-earth shoppers of the hippie persuasion!
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Good Earth Natural Foods
720 Center Blvd
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Good Earth has a fabulous hot bar and salad bar if you are looking to grab a quick and healthy meal on your way to the beaches of West Marin! Grocery shopping here is really expensive, but they do boast an all-organic store. Lots of outdoor seating, a smoothie bar, yummy vegan cheeses, etc. It is a locally-owned place similar to Whole Foods in terms of labeling (Gluten-Free and Vegan), but you will definitely pay more to shop here (though the hot and salad bars are reasonable). This store is the mecca for conscious, non-GMO, down-to-earth shoppers of the hippie persuasion!
Stop in here to pick up healthy meal shakes, delicious salads, limited soups, chia parfaits for breakfast and the like! All food is takeout!
Urban Remedy
Stop in here to pick up healthy meal shakes, delicious salads, limited soups, chia parfaits for breakfast and the like! All food is takeout!

Food scene

Possibly the best sports bar in Marin County- be sure to get there early for a table or a seat at the bar if you're planning to watch a big game. Decent menu for bar food- they even have veggie burgers and healthy salads.
Flatiron
Possibly the best sports bar in Marin County- be sure to get there early for a table or a seat at the bar if you're planning to watch a big game. Decent menu for bar food- they even have veggie burgers and healthy salads.

Sightseeing

For impeccable views of the SF Bay Area, you will want to hike up Ring Mountain from Corte Madera. Once you make the moderately steep climb up (about 10-20 mins), it is completely flat at the top and it extends for a nice long walk.
Ring Mountain Preserve
For impeccable views of the SF Bay Area, you will want to hike up Ring Mountain from Corte Madera. Once you make the moderately steep climb up (about 10-20 mins), it is completely flat at the top and it extends for a nice long walk.
Be sure to take a day to drive west to Marin County's federally protected coastline and beaches! New Yorkers tell us that these windswept, rural beaches are nothing like the east coast experience of fighting for a spot to put your blanket down, at many beaches. There is a Visitor's Station staffed by Guides that know the area inside and out, and they can offer you maps, guidance and restrooms, if needed!
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Point Reyes National Seashore
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Be sure to take a day to drive west to Marin County's federally protected coastline and beaches! New Yorkers tell us that these windswept, rural beaches are nothing like the east coast experience of fighting for a spot to put your blanket down, at many beaches. There is a Visitor's Station staffed by Guides that know the area inside and out, and they can offer you maps, guidance and restrooms, if needed!
Mount Tam- as we locals call it- is the original birthplace of the Mountain Bike! Explore its hundreds of hiking and biking trails- the mountain is full of new trails overlooking grassy hills or winding through redwood forests.
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Mount Tamalpais
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Mount Tam- as we locals call it- is the original birthplace of the Mountain Bike! Explore its hundreds of hiking and biking trails- the mountain is full of new trails overlooking grassy hills or winding through redwood forests.
If you're new to California and looking to see some large Redwood trees without venturing far from Marin or the Bay Area, look no further than Muir Woods. Just know that you need to book a parking reservation in advance, to ensure an easy experience.
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Muir Woods National Monument
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If you're new to California and looking to see some large Redwood trees without venturing far from Marin or the Bay Area, look no further than Muir Woods. Just know that you need to book a parking reservation in advance, to ensure an easy experience.
My favorite dog-friendly quiet beach. About a 45 minute drive from the house, Limantour is gem of a beach in the Point Reyes National Seashore. Dogs are allowed to the left as you drive down the main road, while the visitor center and main parking area are on the right side of the road.
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Limantour Beach
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My favorite dog-friendly quiet beach. About a 45 minute drive from the house, Limantour is gem of a beach in the Point Reyes National Seashore. Dogs are allowed to the left as you drive down the main road, while the visitor center and main parking area are on the right side of the road.
A great beach if you're interested in people-watching- this is probably Marin County's most populous beach, with beachside diners and other amenities just a short walk from the large parking lots. Stinson is a tiny town with a small store and a few restaurants.
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Stinson Beach
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A great beach if you're interested in people-watching- this is probably Marin County's most populous beach, with beachside diners and other amenities just a short walk from the large parking lots. Stinson is a tiny town with a small store and a few restaurants.
You can walk across the historic Golden Gate Bridge and shoot a selfie to prove you were there! Be sure to bring a jacket, as it can be very foggy there in the summer. While it is 85 and sunny here in my backyard, you can drive 12 miles to the GGB and watch it drop to 58 and windy! It's best to be prepared for wide-ranging microclimates here in the Bay Area and dress in layers so you are never caught off guard!
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Golden Gate-bron
Golden Gate Bridge
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You can walk across the historic Golden Gate Bridge and shoot a selfie to prove you were there! Be sure to bring a jacket, as it can be very foggy there in the summer. While it is 85 and sunny here in my backyard, you can drive 12 miles to the GGB and watch it drop to 58 and windy! It's best to be prepared for wide-ranging microclimates here in the Bay Area and dress in layers so you are never caught off guard!

Music & Nightlife

Marin County has an illustrious history as a bastion for great musicians, especially in the 70's, when Van Morrison, the Grateful Dead, Grace Slick & Jefferson Airplane, Carlos Santana, and others discovered the magic of Marin and decided to make it their home. The Sweetwater is where many of them played music then- and now. The Grateful Dead's guitarist and singer Bob Weir is a partial owner of the club, and often plays special concerts there at his hometown venue.
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Sweetwater Music Hall
19 Corte Madera Ave
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Marin County has an illustrious history as a bastion for great musicians, especially in the 70's, when Van Morrison, the Grateful Dead, Grace Slick & Jefferson Airplane, Carlos Santana, and others discovered the magic of Marin and decided to make it their home. The Sweetwater is where many of them played music then- and now. The Grateful Dead's guitarist and singer Bob Weir is a partial owner of the club, and often plays special concerts there at his hometown venue.