Named for Lord Charles Snowden Fairfax, who settled in the area in 1855, famous for his lavish parties and serving as Daniel Showalter and Charles W. Piercy lunch just before the two men engaged in the last political duel in the state in 1961. Fairfax became an incorporated town in 1931. In the 1890s, the former Fairfax home became Pastori’s, a hotel and restaurant where Irving Berlin once played on the tree platform in the outdoor dining area.
Long appreciated for its natural beauty, the Fairfax area was also the setting for several Broncho Billy Westerns shot in the early 20th century. In the ’60s and ’70s, Fairfax became known for its music scene, as well as its sustainability-minded ethos (Good Earth Natural Foods was founded here in 1969).
Today, hot spots like Village Sake, serving up izakaya fare by Sushi Ran chef Scott Whitman, and a new outpost from HenHouse Brewing Co. beckon food and drink lovers, while bike enthusiasts head to the area’s numerous trails or take in a bit of history at the Marin Museum of Bicycling, the home of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame — apropos as mountain biking originated right here in Marin County.
Eat | Stay | Do
Community
What it Takes to Make Change Happen: How a Small Group in Fairfax Used a Hate Incident to Create Real Change
The passing of law AB 2282 shows the power of individual actions in fighting for what’s right.
Fairfax Scientist Larry Serpa’s Life Work — a Collection of Aquatic Invertebrate Specimens — Finds a New Home at the California Academy of Sciences
The local scientist, who passed away last year, spent 46 years collecting specimens throughout California.
Homes
A Minimalist Fairfax Home Close to Friends and Family
A near down-to-the-studs renovation project with a focus on improving the flow between the home’s public spaces.
Marin Single Father Finds Smaller Fairfax Home the Perfect Fit
A move to a smaller home for this single father means a more adult setting, a view and now, even love.
History
A Minimalist Fairfax Home Close to Friends and Family
A near down-to-the-studs renovation project with a focus on improving the flow between the home’s public spaces.
Marin Single Father Finds Smaller Fairfax Home the Perfect Fit
A move to a smaller home for this single father means a more adult setting, a view and now, even love.
