Guidebook for San Rafael

Autumn
Guidebook for San Rafael

Food Scene

Great nightclub with primarily excellent local talent and cover bands. Great food. Their happy hour in the front bar is the best
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Fenix Restaurant and Bar
919 4th St
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Great nightclub with primarily excellent local talent and cover bands. Great food. Their happy hour in the front bar is the best
Foodie burgers and chicken sandwiches. Very high quality. They even let grown ups buy a kid milk shake!
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Super Duper Burgers
721 Market St
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Foodie burgers and chicken sandwiches. Very high quality. They even let grown ups buy a kid milk shake!
I think it is the best burger in the area, although the ambience is as casual as it gets. Get the Bordenave's half pound burger with sautéed mushrooms and cheese and a side of fries to share!
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Phyllis' Giant Burgers
2202 4th St
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I think it is the best burger in the area, although the ambience is as casual as it gets. Get the Bordenave's half pound burger with sautéed mushrooms and cheese and a side of fries to share!
Best burrito north of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is in Montecito Plaza, very casual. Family owned and operated.
Puentez Taqueria
243 3rd St
Best burrito north of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is in Montecito Plaza, very casual. Family owned and operated.
My favorite upscale restaurant in Marin, close to Golden Gate Bridge and easy access to 101. Mind you, I am a steak and martini kind of gal, so vegans beware.
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Buckeye Roadhouse
15 Shoreline Hwy
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My favorite upscale restaurant in Marin, close to Golden Gate Bridge and easy access to 101. Mind you, I am a steak and martini kind of gal, so vegans beware.
Well, there are Joe's and then there are Joe's. This one has been in business for many generations and does a great job across the board.
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Marin Joe's
1585 Casa Buena Dr
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Well, there are Joe's and then there are Joe's. This one has been in business for many generations and does a great job across the board.
Fun cowboy bar and restaurant. They get great bands, and have a wonderful outdoor space for weekend brunch and events. Barbecued Oysters and outdoor concerts summer weekends. Close to my place (20 minutes, about) and feels out in the country.
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Rancho Nicasio, Bar, Restaurant, Live Music and Wedding Event Venue
1 Old Rancheria Rd
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Fun cowboy bar and restaurant. They get great bands, and have a wonderful outdoor space for weekend brunch and events. Barbecued Oysters and outdoor concerts summer weekends. Close to my place (20 minutes, about) and feels out in the country.
Strictly speaking, it is an English style pub. Good place for a beer and a bite near Muir Beach.
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Pelican Inn
10 Pacific Way
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Strictly speaking, it is an English style pub. Good place for a beer and a bite near Muir Beach.
This is the closest thing to an authentic Irish pub in Marin, in my opinion. Not your tourist idea of an Irish pub, but the real thing. That is to say, of course they have excellent fish and chips and burgers, but the hidden value is in their dinners. They serve up a lovely plate for dinner, multiple choices and just like you would get in a pub in Ireland. Right around $20 for a full meal. Otherwise, it is a hang out for people of all ages, including the younger crowd. Trivia night, etc. If you are in Marin on the fourth of July, go to the parade on Grant Avenue. Starts around ten and after the parade you are likely to find the San Francisco Irish Pipers in the pub playing a brief gig and downing Guinness.
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Finnegan's Marin Restaurant & Bar
877 Grant Ave
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This is the closest thing to an authentic Irish pub in Marin, in my opinion. Not your tourist idea of an Irish pub, but the real thing. That is to say, of course they have excellent fish and chips and burgers, but the hidden value is in their dinners. They serve up a lovely plate for dinner, multiple choices and just like you would get in a pub in Ireland. Right around $20 for a full meal. Otherwise, it is a hang out for people of all ages, including the younger crowd. Trivia night, etc. If you are in Marin on the fourth of July, go to the parade on Grant Avenue. Starts around ten and after the parade you are likely to find the San Francisco Irish Pipers in the pub playing a brief gig and downing Guinness.

Drinks & Nightlife

Funky canal side dive bar with great restaurant in the back. Terrific seafood, pasta and fish and chips.
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Pier 15
15 Harbor St
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Funky canal side dive bar with great restaurant in the back. Terrific seafood, pasta and fish and chips.

Everything Else

This is one of those magical places on the face of the earth where plate tectonics have created a spot where one side of the San Andreas Fault heads north and the other south. Check out the website.
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Point Reyes National Seashore
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This is one of those magical places on the face of the earth where plate tectonics have created a spot where one side of the San Andreas Fault heads north and the other south. Check out the website.
Larkspur is one of Marin's quaint small towns with plenty of pricey shops and restaurants.
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Larkspur
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Larkspur is one of Marin's quaint small towns with plenty of pricey shops and restaurants.

Sightseeing

The missions are key element of California History, of course.
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Church of Saint Raphael
1104 Fifth Ave
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The missions are key element of California History, of course.
Iconic Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture. Nice gift shop and cafeteria open to public. Duck pond.
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County of Marin
3501 Civic Center Dr
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Iconic Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture. Nice gift shop and cafeteria open to public. Duck pond.
San Anselmo is a delightful hamlet with a seminary that looks like a castle on the hill. Imagination Park is the site of the birth of the George Lucas empire and he has been kind enough to buy the site of his original office building and turn it into a charming pocket park. Great for eating and ice cream in the afternoon or taking in the twinkling lights at night. You will not likely miss the fountain with its life size statues of Indiana Jones and Yoda. There are lots of little shops and restaurants up and down San Anselmo Avenue.
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Imagination Park
541 4th St
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San Anselmo is a delightful hamlet with a seminary that looks like a castle on the hill. Imagination Park is the site of the birth of the George Lucas empire and he has been kind enough to buy the site of his original office building and turn it into a charming pocket park. Great for eating and ice cream in the afternoon or taking in the twinkling lights at night. You will not likely miss the fountain with its life size statues of Indiana Jones and Yoda. There are lots of little shops and restaurants up and down San Anselmo Avenue.

Arts & Culture

This is the site of the Victorian mansion built by the Dollar Steamship Magnate. Galleries open to the public and it is a popular event site, weddings and so forth. Call ahead or check website before heading over.
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Falkirk Cultural Center
1408 Mission Ave
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This is the site of the Victorian mansion built by the Dollar Steamship Magnate. Galleries open to the public and it is a popular event site, weddings and so forth. Call ahead or check website before heading over.
The Lamplighters are a pre-eminent Gilbert and Sullivan company, so this recommendation is for the anglophiles among us. The location is their rehearsal space, so don't drop by there. Instead, search for Lamplighters Music Theater on Google and go to their website for upcoming shows. (I'll know, anyway.) Venues include San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Mountain Vies
Lamplighters Music Theatre
469 Bryant St
The Lamplighters are a pre-eminent Gilbert and Sullivan company, so this recommendation is for the anglophiles among us. The location is their rehearsal space, so don't drop by there. Instead, search for Lamplighters Music Theater on Google and go to their website for upcoming shows. (I'll know, anyway.) Venues include San Francisco, Walnut Creek, Mountain Vies

Parks & Nature

Great view from the ridge of Sleepy Hollow and San Domenico.
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Terra Linda-Sleepy Hollow Divide Northern Preserve
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Great view from the ridge of Sleepy Hollow and San Domenico.
Access to Bay Area Ridge Trail. Plus, really near Skywalker Ranch although that property is by invitation only. Very close to my place.
Big Rock Ridge
Access to Bay Area Ridge Trail. Plus, really near Skywalker Ranch although that property is by invitation only. Very close to my place.
See that bay? That is where the San Andreas Fault, the one that slipped in the San Francisco 1906 earthquake marks the place where two tectonic plates come together. You can take the easy earthquake trail near Bear Valley visitor center and see the offset caused by that quake. Then go to the visitor center to help you decide how to spend your day. Options too numerous to mention as the ecosystem includes ocean and bay beaches, marshes, meadows, esteros. All kinds of animals, and if you are here in the winter months you can watch for whales from the light house. Plan a full day and you'll still want to come back for more if you are nature lover. 45 minutes from my place.
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Point Reyes National Seashore
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See that bay? That is where the San Andreas Fault, the one that slipped in the San Francisco 1906 earthquake marks the place where two tectonic plates come together. You can take the easy earthquake trail near Bear Valley visitor center and see the offset caused by that quake. Then go to the visitor center to help you decide how to spend your day. Options too numerous to mention as the ecosystem includes ocean and bay beaches, marshes, meadows, esteros. All kinds of animals, and if you are here in the winter months you can watch for whales from the light house. Plan a full day and you'll still want to come back for more if you are nature lover. 45 minutes from my place.
You can get a great view of the Golden Gate bridge, and if you are adventurous, a huge park to explore.
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Marin Headlands
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You can get a great view of the Golden Gate bridge, and if you are adventurous, a huge park to explore.
Mount Tam is our iconic mountain, also known as the Sleeping Lady. Muir Woods is on Mt. Tam and you can reach Muir Beach via Highway 1. Be prepared for narrow twisty roads if you go all the way to the coast.
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Mount Tamalpais State Park
3801 Panoramic Highway
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Mount Tam is our iconic mountain, also known as the Sleeping Lady. Muir Woods is on Mt. Tam and you can reach Muir Beach via Highway 1. Be prepared for narrow twisty roads if you go all the way to the coast.
Heart's Desire Beach for family swimming. Also good kayaking site with Indian Village remains to see.
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Tomales Bay
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Heart's Desire Beach for family swimming. Also good kayaking site with Indian Village remains to see.
Aside from the hiking trails which we in Marin take for granted China Camp has the relics of a Chinese fishing village. The Chines have been in California since Gold Rush days.
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China Camp State Park
101 Peacock Gap Trail
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Aside from the hiking trails which we in Marin take for granted China Camp has the relics of a Chinese fishing village. The Chines have been in California since Gold Rush days.
One of the world's most breathtaking places. Best to plan for at least one night in the area as it is quite a drive. Do not miss this if you have any affinity for nature at all. A trip to San Francisco spending money at Pier 39 is an absolute travesty if you do not refresh your soul with a day in the mountains. If you have more time, the Gold Country is on the way, and if you are traveling east, you can exit California via Mono Lake and be wowed in an entirely different way.
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Yosemite National Park
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One of the world's most breathtaking places. Best to plan for at least one night in the area as it is quite a drive. Do not miss this if you have any affinity for nature at all. A trip to San Francisco spending money at Pier 39 is an absolute travesty if you do not refresh your soul with a day in the mountains. If you have more time, the Gold Country is on the way, and if you are traveling east, you can exit California via Mono Lake and be wowed in an entirely different way.

Essentials

High end groceries and decent deli. Nearest market of any size.
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Marinwood Market
155 Marinwood Ave
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High end groceries and decent deli. Nearest market of any size.
Humongous and new safeway. Nearest one north of my place. Take Lucas Valley road east to 101 and take the Nave Drive exit which is a frontage road. You'll see Safeway just past the Courtyard by Marriott. Lots of other shops and restaurants. Open 24/7
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Safeway
5720 Nave Dr
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Humongous and new safeway. Nearest one north of my place. Take Lucas Valley road east to 101 and take the Nave Drive exit which is a frontage road. You'll see Safeway just past the Courtyard by Marriott. Lots of other shops and restaurants. Open 24/7