Guidebook for Mill Valley
Food Scene
Outstanding Japanese Izakaya that doesn't break the bank. Everything on the menu is great, the standouts are actually not the sushi and sashimi dishes (although those are very good). Our favorites for sharing are the okonomiyaki, hamachi kama, curried spaghetti squash, and kimchee brussel sprouts. They don't take reservations so the surest way to get in is to go at 4:45 and stand in line for when they open at 5 pm.
48 locals recommend
Village Sake - Japanese Pub
19 Bolinas Rd Outstanding Japanese Izakaya that doesn't break the bank. Everything on the menu is great, the standouts are actually not the sushi and sashimi dishes (although those are very good). Our favorites for sharing are the okonomiyaki, hamachi kama, curried spaghetti squash, and kimchee brussel sprouts. They don't take reservations so the surest way to get in is to go at 4:45 and stand in line for when they open at 5 pm.
Cash only restaurant that is known for its family friendly menu of fresh fish dishes (there's something for everyone - from pasta lovers to salad lovers) and chowder. Order at the counter and find a seat on the patio.
126 locals recommend
Fish.
350 Harbor Dr Cash only restaurant that is known for its family friendly menu of fresh fish dishes (there's something for everyone - from pasta lovers to salad lovers) and chowder. Order at the counter and find a seat on the patio.
Great spot for fresh tacos and salads made with homemade corn tortillas and local ingredients. Everything you want and nothing you don't from a taco shop. Clean, casual, good value for money. Indoor and patio seating.
35 locals recommend
Más Masa
31 Bolinas Rd Great spot for fresh tacos and salads made with homemade corn tortillas and local ingredients. Everything you want and nothing you don't from a taco shop. Clean, casual, good value for money. Indoor and patio seating.
Marketplace along with water with outposts of many iconic Bay Area restaurants and shops including Cowgirl Creamery, and Heath Ceramics.. There is also a farmers market two days a week. (Check website) Our favorite things to eat are onigiri from Delica and Humphrey Slocombe ice cream (the secret breakfast flavor is excellent, as is the vietnamese blue bottle coffee ice cream). Accessible by ferry, both the Larkspur ferry and Sausalito ferry go direct to the Ferry building.
679 locals recommend
Ferry Building Marketplace
Marketplace along with water with outposts of many iconic Bay Area restaurants and shops including Cowgirl Creamery, and Heath Ceramics.. There is also a farmers market two days a week. (Check website) Our favorite things to eat are onigiri from Delica and Humphrey Slocombe ice cream (the secret breakfast flavor is excellent, as is the vietnamese blue bottle coffee ice cream). Accessible by ferry, both the Larkspur ferry and Sausalito ferry go direct to the Ferry building.
Very casual spot for healthy-ish indian style burritos or bowls. Pick up on the way to Old Mill Park for a picnic under the redwood trees.
37 locals recommend
Avatar's Punjabi Burritos
15 Madrona St Very casual spot for healthy-ish indian style burritos or bowls. Pick up on the way to Old Mill Park for a picnic under the redwood trees.
The buzziest coffee shop in town, located right in the heart of Downtown Mill Valley where you can get take in the downtown scene over a solid cup of coffee.
142 locals recommend
Equator Coffees
2 Miller AveThe buzziest coffee shop in town, located right in the heart of Downtown Mill Valley where you can get take in the downtown scene over a solid cup of coffee.
Mill Valley Beerworks
173 Throckmorton Ave Solid restaurant with fresh local food and good beer.
Amazing bread bakery with delicious salads, sandwiches and egg based breakfast dishes. Run by former Tartine bakers who have built a Marin following in their own right.
60 locals recommend
M.H.Bread and Butter
101 San Anselmo Ave Amazing bread bakery with delicious salads, sandwiches and egg based breakfast dishes. Run by former Tartine bakers who have built a Marin following in their own right.
Upscale Mexican food and drink in a fun, lively atmosphere with patio.
80 locals recommend
Playa Mill Valley
41 Throckmorton Ave Upscale Mexican food and drink in a fun, lively atmosphere with patio.
Beautiful bakery / restaurant / home goods and gardening store all in one. You'll want to eat and buy everything.
37 locals recommend
Healdsburg Taproom
105A W North St Beautiful bakery / restaurant / home goods and gardening store all in one. You'll want to eat and buy everything.
3rd largest outdoor farmers market, with delicious food, produce, artisanal food, local music, unique local crafts. Open from 8am-2pm. Best to go early.
Our favorite stands include:
– Tru Gourmet Dim Sum is excellent if you want fresh dim sum made with local ingredients)
– Rodriguez farms Organic Strawberries
– Tortillas de la Tierra homemade corn tortillas
– Pasture 52 eggs and olive oil
– Massa Organics dry roasted almonds and almond butter
37 locals recommend
The Sunday Marin Farmers Market
3501 Civic Center Dr3rd largest outdoor farmers market, with delicious food, produce, artisanal food, local music, unique local crafts. Open from 8am-2pm. Best to go early.
Our favorite stands include:
– Tru Gourmet Dim Sum is excellent if you want fresh dim sum made with local ingredients)
– Rodriguez farms Organic Strawberries
– Tortillas de la Tierra homemade corn tortillas
– Pasture 52 eggs and olive oil
– Massa Organics dry roasted almonds and almond butter
Delicious Indian food, thoughtfully prepared, made with fresh ingredients.
33 locals recommend
Lotus Cuisine of India
812 4th StDelicious Indian food, thoughtfully prepared, made with fresh ingredients.
best pizza in marin. thin, chewy crust and fresh ingredients. you can call and take out or eat in the restaurant (small, with a bar and patio). you can't really go wrong with any of their pizzas, and the straus soft serve is a nice way to end the meal.
24 locals recommend
Pizzeria Picco
316 Magnolia Avebest pizza in marin. thin, chewy crust and fresh ingredients. you can call and take out or eat in the restaurant (small, with a bar and patio). you can't really go wrong with any of their pizzas, and the straus soft serve is a nice way to end the meal.
Butcher shop and restaurant that makes amazing burgers. Get any burger and pair it with fries and brussel sprouts (they fry them in the fat from the beef). A great stop en-route to, or on the way back from Point Reyes. You can eat indoors our outside at one of their picnic tables.
10 locals recommend
Marin Sun Farms
10905 Shoreline HwyButcher shop and restaurant that makes amazing burgers. Get any burger and pair it with fries and brussel sprouts (they fry them in the fat from the beef). A great stop en-route to, or on the way back from Point Reyes. You can eat indoors our outside at one of their picnic tables.
Parks & Nature
Reservations are needed so please check the website. Amazing national park with majestic redwood trees.
660 locals recommend
Muir Woods National Monument
Reservations are needed so please check the website. Amazing national park with majestic redwood trees.
Tennessee Valley Trailhead is the startpoint for a system of beautiful trails. The main trail, tennessee valley trail, is a family friendly trail that takes you to Tennessee Valley Beach.
103 locals recommend
Tennessee Valley Trailhead
591 Tennessee Valley RoadTennessee Valley Trailhead is the startpoint for a system of beautiful trails. The main trail, tennessee valley trail, is a family friendly trail that takes you to Tennessee Valley Beach.
Mountain that serves as the anchor of Mill Valley. Lots of trails to enjoy.
226 locals recommend
Mount Tamalpais
Mountain that serves as the anchor of Mill Valley. Lots of trails to enjoy.
Iconic park in San Francisco where people go to meet and hangout with friends. Get picnic food from Bi-Rite, a gourmet grocery store (the roast beef sandwich is excellent). Bi-Rite makes excellent ice cream too.
1244 locals recommend
Mission Dolores Park
19th Street Iconic park in San Francisco where people go to meet and hangout with friends. Get picnic food from Bi-Rite, a gourmet grocery store (the roast beef sandwich is excellent). Bi-Rite makes excellent ice cream too.
Popular beach for San Franciscans seeking the sun. Gets busy on weekends so go early for best parking.
363 locals recommend
Stinson Beach
Popular beach for San Franciscans seeking the sun. Gets busy on weekends so go early for best parking.
Quiet local beach, limited parking so best to go early or expect a wait.
170 locals recommend
Muir Beach
Quiet local beach, limited parking so best to go early or expect a wait.
A car-free island made for biking and hiking, off the coast of Tiburon. Take the ferry from Tiburon.
107 locals recommend
Angel Island Café
Main Street A car-free island made for biking and hiking, off the coast of Tiburon. Take the ferry from Tiburon.
Great place for kids or a grown-up picnic amongst the redwood trees in Downtown Mill Valley. Super quaint, quiet and peaceful.
30 locals recommend
Old Mill Park
64 Cascade Dr Great place for kids or a grown-up picnic amongst the redwood trees in Downtown Mill Valley. Super quaint, quiet and peaceful.
Sightseeing
Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate BridgeHaven't actually done this but heard that the Alcatraz audio tour is excellent.
49 locals recommend
Alcatraz Cruises station
Haven't actually done this but heard that the Alcatraz audio tour is excellent.
Arts & Culture
Great museum for kids under the age of 5. Lots of tactile things for them to play with.
85 locals recommend
Bay Area Discovery Museum
557 McReynolds RdGreat museum for kids under the age of 5. Lots of tactile things for them to play with.
Nice downtown plaza area for walking, shopping and wine tasting. We often go eat at SHED and then walk around the downtown area. There are other restaurants in Healdsburg that get good reviews but we haven't tried them.
154 locals recommend
Healdsburg
Nice downtown plaza area for walking, shopping and wine tasting. We often go eat at SHED and then walk around the downtown area. There are other restaurants in Healdsburg that get good reviews but we haven't tried them.
Great for kids of all ages. Along the embarcadero, so could be combined with trip to Ferry Market Building.
432 locals recommend
Exploratorium
Green Street Great for kids of all ages. Along the embarcadero, so could be combined with trip to Ferry Market Building.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 3rd StYerba Buena Center for the Arts
701 Mission StCity Arts and Lectures
275 Hayes StDrinks & Nightlife
Sweetwater Music Hall
19 Corte Madera AveShopping
Independent, locally owned store for high-end women's and children clothes, beautifully made wooden toys, and unique home decor pieces by designers such as MQuan.
9 locals recommend
Mint
167 Throckmorton AveIndependent, locally owned store for high-end women's and children clothes, beautifully made wooden toys, and unique home decor pieces by designers such as MQuan.
The original location of the famous pottery studio. They sell their own designs as well as a collection of beautiful home goods made by other craftspeople. At this location, you can often get "seconds" at a discount.
107 locals recommend
Heath Ceramics
2900 18th StThe original location of the famous pottery studio. They sell their own designs as well as a collection of beautiful home goods made by other craftspeople. At this location, you can often get "seconds" at a discount.
Mix of high-end boutiques such as James Perse, Erica Tanov, and Poppy, and family friendly restaurants such as Belcampo, Rustic Bakery and Farmshop. There is a great bookstore, Diestel. Also home to boutique fitness spots such as soulcycle and yoga works. On Saturday, there is a well-curated famers market.
45 locals recommend
Marin Country Mart
2257 Larkspur Landing CirMix of high-end boutiques such as James Perse, Erica Tanov, and Poppy, and family friendly restaurants such as Belcampo, Rustic Bakery and Farmshop. There is a great bookstore, Diestel. Also home to boutique fitness spots such as soulcycle and yoga works. On Saturday, there is a well-curated famers market.
Coyuchi sells beautiful, organic textiles for the home. At this location you can get regular priced as well as discounted products (either seconds or discontinued designs).
Coyuchi at Point Reyes Station
11101 CA-1Coyuchi sells beautiful, organic textiles for the home. At this location you can get regular priced as well as discounted products (either seconds or discontinued designs).
Local surf shop with major California vibes. Great for cool beach clothes, sandals, t-shirt, wetsuits, towels.
29 locals recommend
Proof Lab Surf Shop
244 Shoreline HwyLocal surf shop with major California vibes. Great for cool beach clothes, sandals, t-shirt, wetsuits, towels.
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
731 E Blithedale AveGrocery store in downtown Mill Valley with pretty good prepared foods.
73 locals recommend
Mill Valley Market
12 Corte Madera AveGrocery store in downtown Mill Valley with pretty good prepared foods.
Beautiful grocery store and market that has delicious prepared foods and a great selection of dried fruits, nuts, cereals in the bulk section. A great place for picnic food and groceries.
192 locals recommend
Good Earth Natural Foods
720 Center Blvd Beautiful grocery store and market that has delicious prepared foods and a great selection of dried fruits, nuts, cereals in the bulk section. A great place for picnic food and groceries.
Walgreens
227 Shoreline Hwy