Guidebook for San Rafael

Laura
Guidebook for San Rafael

Food Scene

Marinitas has good margaritas and good upscale Mexican food in fun atmosphere. Family-friendly and can get noisy. TVs in the bar area & some people can't take their eyes off them. If you don't drink and like classic Mexican food, go to Mi Pueblo, right nextdoor to Marinitas.
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Marinitas
218 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
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Marinitas has good margaritas and good upscale Mexican food in fun atmosphere. Family-friendly and can get noisy. TVs in the bar area & some people can't take their eyes off them. If you don't drink and like classic Mexican food, go to Mi Pueblo, right nextdoor to Marinitas.
Taco Jane's is quieter and more intimate than Marinitas, and just a couple of blocks away. It has some great Mezcal drinks and the people who work there are nice.
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Taco Jane's Restaurant & Tequila Bar
21 Tamalpais Ave
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Taco Jane's is quieter and more intimate than Marinitas, and just a couple of blocks away. It has some great Mezcal drinks and the people who work there are nice.
Cascabel has happy hours on weeknights and in addition to bar food, offers the full (salad, crepes, omelets) menu from Crepevine, which is next door, until Crepevine closes. They have a Mezcal and pineapple drink that is usually delicious, though I'm not sure all the bartenders do an equally good job of it. The pulled pork sandwich is good.
Cascabel
1131 4th St
Cascabel has happy hours on weeknights and in addition to bar food, offers the full (salad, crepes, omelets) menu from Crepevine, which is next door, until Crepevine closes. They have a Mezcal and pineapple drink that is usually delicious, though I'm not sure all the bartenders do an equally good job of it. The pulled pork sandwich is good.
Very good, traditional Italian food and a bar. Not cheap, not cutting edge, but reliable, high-quality Italian food. Reserve ahead.
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Il Davide
901 A St
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Very good, traditional Italian food and a bar. Not cheap, not cutting edge, but reliable, high-quality Italian food. Reserve ahead.
Wonderful, cozy atmosphere and very good Italian food. You can sit outside with your dog, too. Great Negronis.
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Poggio Trattoria
777 Bridgeway
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Wonderful, cozy atmosphere and very good Italian food. You can sit outside with your dog, too. Great Negronis.
Super expensive, extraordinary sushi, for a special-occasion splurge. Make a reservation.
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Sushi Ran
107 Caledonia St
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Super expensive, extraordinary sushi, for a special-occasion splurge. Make a reservation.
High-energy and fun atmosphere. More healthful and updated Italian food, wonderful owners. Some outdoor seating and sometimes they open the roof.
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Piazza D'Angelo
22 Miller Ave
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High-energy and fun atmosphere. More healthful and updated Italian food, wonderful owners. Some outdoor seating and sometimes they open the roof.
A real "foodie" destination.
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Picco Restaurant
320 Magnolia Ave
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A real "foodie" destination.
Many kinds of beer to try and excellent pub food, lively atmosphere, some outdoor seating with great people-watching.
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The State Room
1132 4th St
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Many kinds of beer to try and excellent pub food, lively atmosphere, some outdoor seating with great people-watching.
Delicious Mediterranean menu and a bar. Very fresh and healthful food in a very pleasant main dining room, plus darker room off to the side. Groups, couples, foodies. Menu does not change much, though.
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Insalata's
120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
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Delicious Mediterranean menu and a bar. Very fresh and healthful food in a very pleasant main dining room, plus darker room off to the side. Groups, couples, foodies. Menu does not change much, though.
Love this place, outdoor seating in the one in Marin Country Mart where you can people-watch and I used to bring my dog. Great sandwiches, really good coffee, even good quiche. Soups, salads. Arnold Palmers. Loud inside, though, and can be hectic. Pastries and good coffee in the morning.
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Rustic Bakery
2017 Larkspur Landing Cir
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Love this place, outdoor seating in the one in Marin Country Mart where you can people-watch and I used to bring my dog. Great sandwiches, really good coffee, even good quiche. Soups, salads. Arnold Palmers. Loud inside, though, and can be hectic. Pastries and good coffee in the morning.
Fun and you can have wine or beer with your burger, so yay! Then walk around the Country Mart and see the ferry terminal, book store, kids at play, etc.
Shake Shack
1401 Larkspur Landing Cir
Fun and you can have wine or beer with your burger, so yay! Then walk around the Country Mart and see the ferry terminal, book store, kids at play, etc.
Very authentic family-owned Italian bakery offering pastries and gelato, interesting wine selection and wonderful coffee drinks. Beautiful selection of cookies and tarts and gorgeous cakes. Wonderful paintings on the walls. Quite pricey but worth it. Lots of seating, inside and out. Some sandwiches at lunch and you can have them heated on the press. They are even known in Italy!
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Emporio Rulli
464 Magnolia Ave
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Very authentic family-owned Italian bakery offering pastries and gelato, interesting wine selection and wonderful coffee drinks. Beautiful selection of cookies and tarts and gorgeous cakes. Wonderful paintings on the walls. Quite pricey but worth it. Lots of seating, inside and out. Some sandwiches at lunch and you can have them heated on the press. They are even known in Italy!
One of the few places in Marin where people are willing to wait outside for the food. Very delicious! Tiny little place and crowded, but upbeat and fun. A young crowd. Very casual. Surprisingly good wine list including Trefethen.
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Burmatown
18 Corte Madera Ave
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One of the few places in Marin where people are willing to wait outside for the food. Very delicious! Tiny little place and crowded, but upbeat and fun. A young crowd. Very casual. Surprisingly good wine list including Trefethen.
Delicious Indian fare. Fancier atmosphere and better food than the buffet place down the street.
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Lotus Cuisine of India
812 4th St
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Delicious Indian fare. Fancier atmosphere and better food than the buffet place down the street.
Wonderful French restaurant in the charming little town of Ross. Outdoor patio is lovely place to sit in warmer months. Can be a good romantic spot for a couple.
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MARCHE AUX FLEURS
23 Ross Common
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Wonderful French restaurant in the charming little town of Ross. Outdoor patio is lovely place to sit in warmer months. Can be a good romantic spot for a couple.

Neighborhoods

My favorite city in Marin County -- and I'm fond of many cities here. Dolliver Park (aka Dark Park) is in the redwoods and a creek runs through it during the wet months. That street is a great one for oogling houses. The main street, Magnolia Ave, has Rulli bakery, a thrift shop, boutiques, movie theater, Left Bank restaurant, and other things to explore, and the bike path can be a quiet place to walk or pick blackberries. Oh, and Coquelicot has wonderful items they select on trips and import from France.
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Larkspur
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My favorite city in Marin County -- and I'm fond of many cities here. Dolliver Park (aka Dark Park) is in the redwoods and a creek runs through it during the wet months. That street is a great one for oogling houses. The main street, Magnolia Ave, has Rulli bakery, a thrift shop, boutiques, movie theater, Left Bank restaurant, and other things to explore, and the bike path can be a quiet place to walk or pick blackberries. Oh, and Coquelicot has wonderful items they select on trips and import from France.
Fun place to stroll, good restaurants, interesting shops.
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Point Reyes Station
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Fun place to stroll, good restaurants, interesting shops.
Off the highly touristy main drag of Sausalito, with some good ethnic restaurants addition to the amazing Sushi Ran, the library, and other local places to discover.
Caledonia Street
Caledonia Street
Off the highly touristy main drag of Sausalito, with some good ethnic restaurants addition to the amazing Sushi Ran, the library, and other local places to discover.
Cute little high-end town. Fun for riding bikes, walking, picnic.
Ross Common
Ross Common
Cute little high-end town. Fun for riding bikes, walking, picnic.

Sightseeing

This theater shows the most interesting films and is beautiful, too.
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Smith Rafael Film Center
1118 4th St
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This theater shows the most interesting films and is beautiful, too.
Very interesting art, and Donna Seager is the nicest, least snobby gallery owner!
Seager Gray Gallery
108 Throckmorton Ave
Very interesting art, and Donna Seager is the nicest, least snobby gallery owner!
Lovely place to walk around and see special plants and trees. At the moments it's being remodeled, but normally there's a wonderful antique consignment shop open Tues-Sat. and a community theater.
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Marin Art & Garden Center
30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
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Lovely place to walk around and see special plants and trees. At the moments it's being remodeled, but normally there's a wonderful antique consignment shop open Tues-Sat. and a community theater.
Great place to wander around, sometimes there are really interesting shows. Great gift shop and restaurant on site.
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Marin Museum of Contemporary Art
500 Palm Dr
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Great place to wander around, sometimes there are really interesting shows. Great gift shop and restaurant on site.
George Lucas donated this fun little park featuring statues of Indiana Jones and Yoda to the lovely town of San Anselmo.
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Imagination Park
541 4th St
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George Lucas donated this fun little park featuring statues of Indiana Jones and Yoda to the lovely town of San Anselmo.
Fun place to walk around and explore, smell the ocean and take in gorgeous views of the bay and Angel Island. Here's where you catch the Angel Island ferry. The little shops have been hard-hit by the Covid-caused dearth of tourists and the cute little theater recently closed down, but the views are not going away. Can be a romantic spot.
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Tiburon
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Fun place to walk around and explore, smell the ocean and take in gorgeous views of the bay and Angel Island. Here's where you catch the Angel Island ferry. The little shops have been hard-hit by the Covid-caused dearth of tourists and the cute little theater recently closed down, but the views are not going away. Can be a romantic spot.
Interesting and unusual town, not too many corporate-owned places. Bicycle museum. Wonderful ice cream at the Scoop. Often there's fun music at night. The movie theater fills up fast so beware. And parking can be difficult, especially at night.
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Fairfax
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Interesting and unusual town, not too many corporate-owned places. Bicycle museum. Wonderful ice cream at the Scoop. Often there's fun music at night. The movie theater fills up fast so beware. And parking can be difficult, especially at night.
Take the ferry from Tiburon to Angel Island on a sunny day. Wear layers anyway. Fantastic views from this place. You can walk all the way around, hike to the top, sit in the cove and picnic (bring your own food), or visit the immigration sites. If the weather is with you, this is a great day trip. I think there is still some overnight camping, for which you will need reservations.
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에인절아일랜드주립공원
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Take the ferry from Tiburon to Angel Island on a sunny day. Wear layers anyway. Fantastic views from this place. You can walk all the way around, hike to the top, sit in the cove and picnic (bring your own food), or visit the immigration sites. If the weather is with you, this is a great day trip. I think there is still some overnight camping, for which you will need reservations.
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차이나 캠프 주립 공원
101 Peacock Gap Trail
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Mount Tamalpais Watershed
49 Sky Oaks Rd