West Marin is literally over the hill, its towns — Stinson Beach and Bolinas near the Bolinas Lagoon, Lagunitas, Woodacre and Nicasio to Fairfax’s west, and the many hamlets and towns like Point Reyes Station, Inverness and Dillon Beach that stretch along Tomales Bay — spread across a vast area. The drive is worth it, though, for both the scenery and the bounty of farm fresh cuisine and markets, bakeries and cafés, and, of course, oyster bars. Why not make a day of it?
Be sure to check each restaurant’s website or social pages to confirm its most current hours of operation and services.
Bakery | Bar | Burger | Indian | Pizza | Sandwiches | Seafood
This symbol indicates a Best of the County Readers’ Choice recipient.
Check out our partners:
Bakery
Bovine Bakery
Point Reyes
A sprinkling of gluten-free fare such as a chocolate cherry almond cookies or blueberry banana muffins are regularly available, but the downtown Point Reyes Station bakery is beloved for its gluten-full raspberry almond marzipan tart and peanut butter blondies as well as for its savory croissants (chevre, spinach and mushroom is oh-so Marin).
2023 Best of the County for Bakeries.
Kid-friendly | Meal under $20
11315 Shoreline Hwy, Point Reyes Station, 415.663.9420
Brickmaiden Breads
Point Reyes
The daily bread list includes country white sourdough and ficelle rolls but people often shop by day of the week for apricot hazelnut scones and lemon poppyseed poundcake. Thursday brings baker’s choice whole grain bread while Saturday means half or whole Khorasan miche — a French country-style sourdough made with ancient kamut — is available.
2023 Best of the County for Bakeries.
Meal under $20 | Grab ‘n Go | Date Spot
40 Fourth St, Point Reyes Station, 415.663.1203
Route One Bakery & Kitchen
Tomales
The San Francisco Chronicle recently lauded Tomales’ popular bakery as one of the best bakeries in the Bay Area and we couldn’t agree more. Be sure to stop by during the morning for a breakfast biscuit sandwich stuffed with egg and cheese, an iced pecan roll or a ham and cheese croissant — the bakery transitions to a Roman-style pizzeria and sub shop at 11 a.m.
2023 Best of the County for Bakeries.
Brunch | Date Spot | Outdoor Seating | Worth the Hype
2700 CA-1, Tomales, 707.879.2022
Bar
Papermill Creek Saloon
Lagunitas-Forest Knolls
Opened in 1907 as a general store and was eventually named for the paper mill (the first on the West Coast) that was then operating at what is now Samuel P. Taylor State Park, this dive bar is an old-standing classic Marin Watering hole.
2023 Best of the County for Dive Bar.
Date Spot | Full Bar | Meal Under $20
1 Castro St, Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, 415.488.9235
Smiley’s Saloon
Bolinas
The self-proclaimed oldest saloon on the West Coast and best party in town is a must for the house margarita, best enjoyed on the sunny patio, or one of the 11 local beers on tap. The menu at Smiley’s Cantina leans Mexican-American with dishes rich pozole verde, warming vegan tortilla soup, house made guacamole, and filling, flavorful burritos, tacos, nachos and more. Look for menu specials @smileyssaloon.
2023 Best of the County for Dive Bar.
Full Bar | Kid-friendly | Outdoor seating | Dogs Welcome | Watch the Game | Meal under $20
41 Wharf Rd, Bolinas, 415.663.0303
Burger
Parkside Cafe
Stinson Beach
Enjoy a sit-down alfresco meal at one of the shaded tables in the garden or grab a sourdough crust pizza, burger, or sandwich to enjoy on the beach at an all-day cafe with a takeout window, market . If you’re on the go, check out the market and bakery and its array of organic locally grown produce, artisan meats, and wild seafood.
2023 Best of the County for Bakeries and Burger.
Kid-friendly | Outdoor seating | Private party room | Brunch | Grab ‘n Go | Worth the Hype | Dogs Welcome | Date Spot
43 Arenal Ave, Stinson, 415.868.1272
Point Reyes Roadhouse
Point Reyes
There are plans for a bakery program and a backyard beer garden at Executive chef Christofer Gutierrez cool all-day spot on the southern edge of Point Reyes Station. For now, look for California cuisine with Latin American flair for three meals a day (Heart’s Desire mussels, Chimney Rock ribeye) and lighter options (Miwok veggie hash, vegan udon, Olema halibut), wine and beer, while sitting on one of the cozy, sheepskin-draped chairs inside or at a picnic table out front.
Kid-friendly | Outdoor seating | Dogs Welcome | Date Spot | Watch the Game | Meal under $20
10905 State Route One, Point Reyes Station
Rancho Nicasio
Nicasio
Known for live music and an extensive menu featuring everything from crispy calamari to braised lamb shanks, Rancho Nicasio is open seven days a week, including brunch. Whatever you choose, a newly reconfigured outdoor space welcomes all with plenty of shade and space between tables.
Kid-friendly | Outdoor seating | Brunch | Dogs Welcome | Meal under $20
1 Old Rancheria Road, Nicasio, 415.662.2219
Station House Cafe
Point Reyes
Meet the Team
A multi-year retrofit created three dining areas — at the bar, in the sunny, original dining room and in a new room for dining and live music. Yes, the popovers are still here, on their own or in a basket with cornbread, as is the flank steak salad and other classics. Executive chef Aaron Wright’s new dishes (shrimp lettuce cups, market vegetable pasta, rock cod sandwich with pickled vegetable slaw) lean into the way we eat now with the same commitment to supporting local.
Full Bar | Brunch | Private Party Room
11285 Highway 1, Point Reyes Station, 415.663.1515
Indian
Arti Cafe
Lagunitas
We love the mozzarella-topped quesadilla/pizza/naan cultural mashup that emerges from the tandoor fragrant with fenugreek, chaat masala and fresh coriander leaves and the lamb wrap infused with masala and tamarind chutney, a plentiful repast to be enjoyed on the sunny patio. The gluten-free onion fritters are a must for first-timers, while experienced eaters will savor the mushroom makhani and malai kofta —they’re mild and slightly sweet.
2023 Best of the County for Indian Food.
Outdoor seating | Date Spot | Meal under $20
7282 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Lagunitas, 415.488.4700
Pizza
Cafe Reyes
Point Reyes
Though there’s no oyster pizza on the menu, a short menu of bivalves and Neapolitan-style pies at this cozy spot means the brick oven is a hub of activity. Margherita with hand-crushed San Marzano tomatoes is a classic but the Farallon with crimini mushrooms and pepperoni is equally popular. On sunny days, sit outside at one of the large, shaded picnic tables.
Kid-friendly | Outdoor seating | Dogs Welcome | Meal under $20
11101 California One, Point Reyes Station, 415.663.9493
Sandwiches
West Marin Culture Shop
Point Reyes Station
After years of hawking organic probiotic fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchee and beet kvass at the San Rafael Farmers’ Market and online, Maggie Levinger and Luke Regalbuto’s Wild West Ferments opened a shop in Point Reyes Station dedicated to their craft. Like previous tenant Cowgirl Creamery, the “shops within shops” concept includes dedicated space for Wild West’s production facility. A market hall features a cheese counter curated by a former Cowgirl cheesemonger, products from Mill Valley Pasta Company, Dooryard Provisions, Shared Cultures and Brickmaiden Breads. Canteen Meats and Laurie Sawyer’s Flowerbed Florals have stands, too. The Farmer’s Wife, a.k.a Kendra Kolling, who has been using Wild West’s products in her sandwiches and salads for years, is running the kitchen (Fri, Sat, Sun only). “We also want it to be a pop-up space for budding chefs and exciting new things,” says Regalbuto. Though plans are in the works for education and tasting programs, a fermented beverage bar where you can get Double 8 Dairy’s soft serve ice cream swirled with seasonal flavor, rounds out the current offerings.
Kid-friendly | Worth the Hype
80 4th St, Point Reyes Station
Due West at Olema House
Olema
The dark blue walls accented with recessed golden light give the refreshed restaurant-cum-saloon at Olema House a modern feel. The menu, including a burger, linguini and clams, and a chopped salad, skews all-day casual and speaks to the inn and restaurant’s crossroads locale. The market next door offers grab and go sandwiches and outdoor tables to enjoy it all.
Full Bar | Kid-friendly | Outdoor seating | Grab ‘n Go | Dogs Welcome | Date Spot | Watch the Game
10005 Highway 1, Olema, 415.663.1264
Seafood
Dillon Beach Coastal Kitchen
Californian
Inspired by Marin’s foodshed, Dillon Beach Resort, located west of Tomales, offers seasonal coastal cuisine on the weekend like local line-caught fish and chips, classic clam chowder and a Stemple Creek burger. The accompanying Dillon Beach General Store also features Double 8 Dairy soft serve ice cream and a local selection of wines and beers to enjoy at one of the picnic tables facing the beach.
Kid-friendly | Outdoor seating | Dogs Welcome
1 Beach Ave, Dillon Beach, 707.878.3030
Giaco’s Roadhouse
San Geronimo
Guided by a family ethos for locally sourced and ethically produced food, owners Andrew and Susi Giacomini and chef Alejandro Cano serve food and cocktails all day at a restaurant and bar near downtown Woodacre just off Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. That means Stemple Creek eggs in a breakfast dish of steak and eggs and Pt. Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company toma on a lunch order of grilled cheese. Dinner is served three nights a week in a spacious room with a fireplace or on the shaded back patio.
Full Bar | Kid-friendly | Outdoor seating | Private party room | Brunch | Dogs Welcome
625 San Geronimo Valley Drive, San Geronimo
Hog Island Oysters
Marshall
This full-service outdoor cafe at the Hog Island Oyster Farm serves some of the best and most fresh seafood in Marin. Try their seasonal menu of raw and BBQ oysters, salads, and seafood specials like this soft shell crab sandwich.
2023 Best of the County for Sandwiches.
Date Spot | Dogs Welcome | Outdoor Seating | Worth the Hype
20215 Shoreline Highway, Marshall, 415.663.9218
Nick’s Cove
Marshall
Top Chef Masters winner Chris Cosentino (Cockscomb, Incanto, Acacia House) is in the house, reimagining the shellfish and seafood-focused menu. While many classic Nick’s dishes remain (Nick’s BBQ oysters, Nick’s Cove Louis), East Coast dishes — lobster roll, mussels with sausage — have been added and Bay Area flavors have been boosted. Look for steak frites with Point Reyes blue cheese butter and order the burger Hangtown style (with a fried egg and fried oysters).
Full Bar | Kid-friendly | Outdoor seating | Grab ‘n Go | Worth the Hype | Dogs Welcome | Date Spot | Watch the Game
23240 Highway 1, Marshall, 415.663.1033
Saltwater Oyster Depot
Inverness
A seat at the room-length bar or on the patio at this snug spot on Tomales Bay’s west shore can be tough to snag on a busy summer weekend but oysters pulled straight from the bay moments before, served broiled and on the half shell, are worth the wait. Locally-sourced ingredients get equal billing in dishes like halibut crudo and a lamb burger.
Outdoor seating | Dogs Welcome | Date Spot
12781 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Inverness, 415.669.1244
Side Street Kitchen
Point Reyes
Meet the Team
Known for their hot apple fritters and sourdough French toast, an all-day café with a 1950’s vibe leans into farm-to-table. We love the pork belly eggs Benedict with red onion jam and hollandaise but the rotisserie chicken, on its own or over a Little Gem or quinoa salad, is a must. Order at the counter, then look for a seat on the shaded patio. There’s even gluten-free beers and butterscotch pudding.
Kid-friendly | Meal Under $20 | Dogs Welcome | Outdoor Seating
60 Fourth St, Point Reyes Station, 415.663.0303
Tony’s Seafood
Marshall
The crowds still come on sunny weekends for the barbecue oysters and amazing views of Tomales Bay but the restaurant’s purchase by the Hog Island Oyster Co team meant a refresh of the interior and a spiffed-up menu of salads and seafood pulled from the bay’s waters. Michelin noticed and awarded Tony’s a Bib Gourmand for 2021.
2023 Best of the County for Seafood.
Worth the Hype | Date Spot | Brunch | Outdoor seating
18863 Shoreline Hwy, Marshall, 415.663.1107
