Shaken, Not Stirred
Once called “the only American invention as perfect as a sonnet” by
journalist H. L. Mencken, the martini is a slow-drinking classic made
for personalization: vodka or gin, dirty or dry, shaken or stirred.
BUCKE YE ROADHOUSE 15 Shoreline Highway, Sausalito. 415.331.2600,
buckeyeroadhouse.com
BUNGALOW 44 44 E Blithedale Ave, Mill Valley. 415.381.2500, bungalow44.com
FARLE Y BAR 602 Murray Circle, Sausalito. 415.339.4750, cavallopoint.com
FARMSHOP 2233 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur. 415.755.6700, farmshopca.com
LEF T BANK BRASSERIE 507 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur. 415.927.3331, leftbank.com
PIAT TI 625 Redwood Highway, Mill Valley. 415.380.2525, piatti.com
SAM’S ANCHOR CAFE 27 Main St, Tiburon. 415.435.4527, samscafe.com
WILDFOX 225 Alameda del Prado, Novato. 415.883.9125, wildfoxrestaurant.com
SILVER PESO This well-
known establishment
centers on a square-shaped
wraparound bar that fosters
interaction, as well as pool
tables, additional seating and
more. (Larkspur) 415.924.3448
SMI T T Y’S BAR Stop by
for a game of darts or pool
at this no-nonsense dive,
and be sure to sample
one of Nancy’s famous
bloody marys. (Sausalito)
smittysbar.com
SMILE Y’S SCHOONER
SALOON AND HOTEL In
business well over a century —
successfully eluding Prohibition
laws — the local landmark is a
great spot for a post-surf drink.
(Bolinas) smileyssaloon.com
PE TE’S 881 CLUB Won with a
lucky hand in 1951, the family-owned watering hole is more
sports bar than dive, offering the
only legal gambling in the county,
along with late-night eats. (San
Rafael) petes881club.com
Margaritaville
Whether you prefer yours tart, fruity, blended
or on the rocks with salt, a margarita is a fitting
way to welcome a warm-weather weekend —
or mentally transport yourself to a far-flung
sandy beach. Here, local barkeeps and owners
describe what puts their libations over the top.
COPITA TEQUILERIA Y COMIDA “Simplicity.
We try to feature the tequila itself (Herradura
Blanco). So smooth, you’ll want five or six.” —
Jesse Bennet, manager and beverage director.
(Sausalito) copitarestaurant.com
EL PASEO “Sammy’s new Santo Mezquila, the fresh
ingredients, love and joy.” —Steve Gizzi, bar manager. (Mill Valley) elpaseomillvalley.com
MARINITAS “We use fresh lime juice and
syrup made from raw sugar daily. We also use
Cointreau, which adds a distinct flavor to make a
great margarita.” —David Hancock, bar manager.
(San Anselmo) marinitas.net
PLAYA “Quality of ingredients, unwavering proportions and the manner in which it is prepared:
with the knowledge that you’re getting this
party started.” —Vanessa Higgins, owner. (Mill
Valley) playamv.com
TACO JANE'S “Our quality-driven ingredients. For
our house, we use el Jimador tequila, lime juice and
organic agave nectar. Equally important is the execution and the love that consistently delivers.” Matteo
Boussina, owner. (San Anselmo) tacojanes.com
TAMAL “Our recipe is unique, as we use 100 percent blue agave, orange-infused agave syrup and
organic lime juice. Consistency is key: we mix our
margaritas like chemists.” —Matias Marini, bartender. (Fairfax) tamalfairfax.com
Stop and Sip
Classy and cozy, a wine bar is
the ultimate alternative to a
glass of pinot in your pajamas.
Marin’s favorite spots will
make you want to hit the town.
123 Bolinas This wine
bar with a friendly and
hospitable atmosphere has
evolved into a vine-minded
hub for shareable eats and
carefully culled bottles.
(Fairfax) 123bolinas.com
Beso Bistro and Wine Bar
In the heart of Novato, Beso
has patio seating ideal for
an alfresco sip. (Novato)
besobistro.com
Tiburon Wine Proprietor Jerry
Horn — aka Dr. Champagne —
invites you to wet your whistle
in a relaxed setting enhanced
with expert viticulture advice.
(Tiburon) tiburonwine.net
Zinz Wine Bar This space
has been a wine bar for nearly
25 years, and the latest rendition moonlights as an art
gallery. (Corte Madera)
zinzwinebar.com
Main Squeeze
Those on the go
would do well to visit
one of the county’s
many one-stop juice
shops, which transform produce into
drinkable blends that
make healthier living
a mobile option.
➺ BAYSIDE CAFE This
breakfast spot houses a
secret: a full-scale juice bar.
Seasonal fruits and veggies
converge in Bayside’s menu
of juices and smoothies.
(Sausalito) baysidecafe
sausalito.com
➺ JUICE ALLE Y With juice
crafted nightly from seasonal
ingredients, the place is a cult
favorite, with equal parts
flavor and local flair. (Various
locations) juicealley.com
➺ JUICE GIRL From nut
milks to tonics, cold-pressed
juices to breakfast bo wls, this
favorite spot makes healthier
living an easy endeavor. (Mill
Valley) juicegirlmv.com
➺ THE PLANT CAFE
ORGANIC Conveniently
located in Strawberry
Village, a perfect stop
for organic juices and
smoothies. (Mill Valley)
theplantcafe.com
➺ URBAN REMEDY
Founded by Neka
Pasquale, this spot is a
lifestyle booster, offering
juice cleanses, plant-based
snacks, meal plans and
more. (Various locations)
urbanremedy.com
➺ WHOLE FOODS MARKET
For on-the-go appeal, the
juice section here can’t be
beat. (Various locations)
wholefoodsmarket.com
CUPPA JOE Waking up
is hard to do, but coffee
certainly helps.
Cable Car Coffee This drive-through
coffee joint fills your cup with convenience and is a favorite of commuters
and busy locals alike. (Mill Valley)
415.883.8594
Emporio Rulli Italian Caffe Artisan
Bakery Family owned and operated,
this is a great place to meet up over
an espresso and Italian-made cookies — or wine if you’re so inclined.
(Larkspur) rulli.com
Equator Coffees & Teas What
started out as two women roast-
ing coffee in a garage is now a Marin
mainstay and a Certified B Corp — all
fair trade, all the time. (Various loca-
tions) equatorcoffees.com
Marin Coffee Roasters Community
hubs all, Marin Coffee Roasters’ trio
of cafes serve up java and a friendly,
hometown vibe. (Various locations)
marincoffeeroasters.net
Red Whale Coffee The beans are
cooked rather than roasted at this
wholly California company; founder
Sean Boyd has his equipment specially
made. (San Rafael) redwhalecoffee.com
Red Whale Coffee