Let’s be real… there’s nothing better than a big bowl of pasta and glass of red wine after a long day. From fine dining to your local pizza joint, Italian cuisine has become a common favorite of diners everywhere and luckily in Marin we have our fair share of Italian restaurants.
The 2025 readers’ choice Best of the County winner is Poggio Trattoria (pictured above). For the rest of the Marin Magazine‘s Best of Marin County Italian food picks see below.
Our 2025 Dining category sponsor is Rodney Strong. View the rest of the Dining category here.
We’ve broken it down by region: Southern, Central and Northern Marin.
Southern
Mill Valley – Sausalito – Tiburon
Central
Fairfax – San Anselmo – San Rafael
Northern
Novato
Southern Marin
Angelino Restaurant
Sausalito
Multiple generations of the Ancona family have created an authentic Italian restaurant featuring dishes such as authentic pizza Napoletana (pictured above), handmade pasta and seasonal antipasti which have represented the cuisine of the Campania region for over 40 years.
621 Bridgeway, Sausalito, 415.331.5225
La Ginestra
Mill Valley
House made Neapolitan cuisine, a familiar wait staff, and warm hospitality have made this restaurant a family favorite since 1964. While this old-school eatery is known for traditional pastas and pizzas, a daily menu of seasonal favorites attracts a hip crowd. The adjourning Sorrento Bar serves up cocktails, amari and a selection of fine Italian wines.
127 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley, 415.388.0224
Piazza D’Angelo
Mill Valley
Family owned for over 35 years, Piazza D’Angelo evokes a traditional trattoria dining experience. Enjoy a variety of house-made pastas, meat and seafood dishes, wood-fired pizzas and gluten-free offerings with organic and locally sourced ingredients. A back patio and newer front patio provide ample outdoor dining space.
22 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, 415.388.2000
Poggio Trattoria
Sausalito
Frequent flier to Readers’ Choice, Sausalito-based Poggio has earned best Italian yet again this year. Executive Chef Benjamin Balesteri has been at the helm for over 10 years, and has a loyal local following because of his dedication to detail. Pro tip: Start your meal with their famous negroni, opt for an outdoor table and enjoy.
777 Bridgeway, Sausalito, 415.332.7771
Servino Ristorante (Trattoria Servino)
Tiburon
Established in 1977, Servino Ristorante is a family-owned Italian restaurant located in downtown Tiburon. Offering authentic Italian cuisine, it’s a popular spot for both locals and visitors.
114 Main St, Tiburon, 415.435.2676
Via Piccola Trattoria
Tiburon
A family-owned Italian restaurant serving authentic cuisine in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Dishes are made with the freshest ingredients, offering a taste of traditional Italian flavors in the heart of Tiburon.
1 Blackfield Dr Ste 11, Tiburon, 415.388.9100
Central Marin
Cucina sa
San Anselmo
Open for lunch, weekend brunch, and dinner six nights a week for the house’s famous homemade pastas, seasonal salads and wood-fired pizzas that strike a balance between southern Italy and northern California. Full bar and cocktails are available to go or enjoy a tipple on premise at the heated parklet or inside.
510 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, 415.454.2942
Fradelizio’s
Fairfax
Locally raised chef-owner Paul Fradelizio has served inspired Northern Italian fare (homemade gnocchi, wild boar cannelloni, Monterey Bay calamari, tiramisu) for more than 25 years. A perennial neighborhood gem winner, the cozy space welcomes all with daily specials (salmon, line-caught in Bolinas, with a golden beet and arugula salad, house made Meyer lemon fettuccine with salmon and asparagus) and a wine by the barrel program, sourced from Napa and Sonoma.
35 Broadway, Fairfax, 415.459.1618
Il Davide
San Rafael
The large selection of innovative and classic Tuscan dishes and house-made pasta has kept locals coming back for years. Ingredients are organic and locally sourced where possible, and there’s a vast selection of both Italian and California wines by the glass.
901 A St, San Rafael, 415.454.8080
La Gastronomia di Porchetta
Fairfax
Like the town it’s situated in, La Gastronomia in Fairfax is a lively and cozy restaurant best known for its authentic cuisine and warm atmosphere. Originally from a coastal town in Italy, Elena and her husband Gustavo opened their restaurant following support in local farmers markets (where they now source the ingredients for their dishes). Enjoy a meal on their outdoor patio and experience a taste of the Italian coast in the Californian sun.
123 Bolinas Rd, Fairfax, 415.419.5465
La Toscana
San Rafael
Family owned and operated since 1985, La Toscana completed an extensive interior and exterior renovation, transforming an already popular San Rafael gathering spot into a place for any occasion. The menu features daily specials and classics like gnocchi and carbonara and an ample selection of wine.
3751 Redwood Hwy, San Rafael, 415.492.9100
Piatti
Mill Valley
Piatti is a warm and inviting Italian restaurant featuring housemade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and seasonal market-driven dishes. Piatti also offers a market where guests can take home fresh ingredients and prepared foods.
625 Redwood Hwy, Mill Valley, 415.380.2525
Red Rooster Brick Oven
San Rafael
Red Rooster Brick Oven is a longtime San Rafael dining spot. Known for its welcoming atmosphere and quality food, the restaurant offers both lunch and dinner with a focus on classic, memorable dishes.
901 B St, San Rafael, 415.234.8414
Sorella Caffé
Fairfax
Run by sisters Sonia and Soyara, Sorella, which means “sister” in Italian, serves fresh Italian with a northern influence. Customer favorites include the cioppino, butternut squash ravioli, and pollo alla Sorella, others insist on returning just for the garlic bread.
107 Bolinas Rd, Fairfax, 415.258.4520
Valenti & Co
San Anselmo
The bright yet cozy indoor space and warmly lit back patio are ideal environments for authentic Italian dishes made with local ingredients. The menu changes daily but look for the carpaccio of beef, the pan-seared Pekin duck and chef Valenti’s famous tower of triple chocolate love at dessert. A seat at the chef’s table gives a prime view of the open kitchen.
337 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, 415.454.7800
Northern Marin
Chianti Cucina
Novato
A family-owned Italian restaurant in Novato serving classic dishes with fresh, seasonal ingredients. The rustic dining room features a floor-to-ceiling wine rack and community tables with favorites including house-made ravioli, veal saltimbocca, and tiramis.
7416 Redwood Blvd, Novato, 415.878.0314
Dining Sponsor
Rodney Strong
Rodney Strong was an acknowledged visionary who understood the potential that Sonoma County’s soil and climate held for producing world-class wines and was one of the first to plant Pinot Noir in Russian River Valley and the first to produce a Chalk Hill appellation Chardonnay.
Rodney Strong | Healdsburg | 707.431.1533 | rodneystrong.com
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