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Ayawaska Hilltop

4.3 (759 reviews)
ModeratePeruvian, Bars, Seafood
Closed 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

Ayawaska Hilltop Reservations

Order Ayawaska Hilltop Takeout or Delivery

Ayawaska Hilltop Photos

AYAWASKA HILLTOP ATMOSPHERE

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Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Intimate

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Recommended Reviews - Ayawaska Hilltop

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Octopus
Sharon H.

We had a lovely dinner here. The restaurant is situated on top of a hill near downtown Novato. Indoor seating bar seating and an outdoor patio. You can see the beautiful hilly landscape from the restaurant. Cute colorful and chic decor inside. Food was excellent service was fine. They also provide free valet service Really fun, Pisco and cocktail menu, but we had a beer and wine, which were both good . My husband enjoyed his draft beer and I thought my Tempranillo wine was good . We started with the chicken empanadas, which came with three crispy empanadas filled with creamy chicken. I'm pretty sure they used the same chicken from our main course but that's fine. we also had the octopus appetizer. I'm glad the server clarified which octopus appetizer was cold in, which was grilled since we wanted the latter (pulpo antichichero) . The corn purée that it came on top of delicious octopus was very smooth . For the entrées we had in an arroz con mariscos - it had a slight spice kick with some Parmesan flavor and had a generous amount of shrimp and calamari. I feel like I almost always get Aji de Gallina at a Peruvian restaurant, and what's not to like about creamy shredded chicken. Overall fun dinner spot with lovely views !

La Duquesa salad

One of the best places I've been. The location, ambience, food, drinks, dessert and service are consistently fabulous . I've eaten there so many times and I have never been disappointed! Can you say empanadas????? OMG ! Shout out to Raquel- she's the best!

Pato a la norteña
Annie L.

My friend found Ayawaska via social media and we decided to come by to check it out. A winding road bought us up to this Hilltop restaurant and we wondered if we were underdressed (it's casual). We stepped into an oasis of plants, greenery (Costa Rica vibes) with modern touches. Unfortunately, they were short staff with only 1 server for the whole restaurant and they had a private party that night. So service was slow and they closed down early to prepare. The wait for the food was also slow. However, we were pleasantly surprised by how good the food so despite slow service and kitchen, Ayawaska ended with 5 stars. We ordered the calamari, fried shrimp won ton, Ahi Tuna Nikkei, beef and chicken empanadas, Lomo Saltado, Arroz Con Mariscos, Pato A La Nortena (duck dish). For dessert, we had the chocolate cake and churros. All dishes are sharable, huge portions, flavorful and fresh especially the seafood! So to make up for the slow service, we had the bartender? (guy with glasses, from Peru) come by to clear our dishes and poured us a glass of Chicha morada (purple corn)..oh so delicious! The food is amazing here, great hilltop views. I hope they ramp us their service especially on the weekends and get more servers here! Otherwise, we enjoyed it so much..we will check out their Petaluma location next time!

Mick A.

Came across this gem with beautiful scenery and great ambiance and don't forget the service and food cannot fault it in any way a must and a romantic place highly recommended but got to book in advance don't be sitting on this one book early n

Yucca frites
LaChaya M.

Delicious food with beautiful views. Nice clean restaurant with quick and friendly service. Arrived 30 mins before our reservation and we were promptly seated. 10/10 will definitely return.

Veggie lentils - soooo good
Te-see B.

2/9/25 While visiting my cousins in Northern Cali, they took me to one of their favorite Peruvian restaurants for lunch. Having never had Peruvian food, I didn't know what to expect but was blown away by the flavorful items we ordered. Located on a hill, the view was incredible and gave Burbank's "Castaway" vibes! Katrina was our server and recommended a few dishes and cocktails. We shared the chicken empanadas which were out of this world! For my main dish I went with the lentils served with rice. The lentils were incredibly flavorful and absolutely delicious! It was a pretty big serving so I took what I couldn't finish home. The drinks were presented like a stage performance! We oohed & awed! *The have an outdoor patio perfect for warmer days & nights *Huge bar area with TV's *Plenty of parking in the lot

Afshin A.

Peruvian Comfort on a Novato Hilltop Ayawaska Hilltop is a Peruvian restaurant in Novato, California, located in a historic building that has been a local landmark since 1892. We had been curious to try their food for over two years. Finally, we had a chance to stop by and have a late lunch/early dinner there on a gorgeous afternoon. We sat outside to peek over a short wall beside our table and enjoy the fantastic view. As the name indicates, the building is on top of a hill. Over the years, it has housed various restaurants and businesses, and Ayawaska opened its doors at this location in mid-June 2021. The restaurant is the second for the owners, who found success with their first location in Petaluma. They continue to offer authentic Peruvian cuisine with a modern twist. The food at Ayawaska Hilltop shows Peru's rich culinary history. It mixes indigenous, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and French cooking flavors. The menu features a variety of popular dishes. Ceviche is a classic Peruvian dish where fresh fish is cured in a citrus-based marinade called "leche de tigre. " It's typically served with sweet potato and Peruvian corn. We started with a ceviche clasico, and I had a Pisco Sour to help me relax and enjoy the food and the view. For those who may not be familiar with it, pisco sour is a famous cocktail made with pisco (a type of brandy), lime juice, egg white, and bitters. This particular version was just a bit sweeter than I prefer, but I addressed that problem with a few ice cubes! I should add that the table service was flawless. We enjoyed all our interactions with the crew, who promptly answered our questions and delivered everything we asked for throughout our stay. The space is very large and beautiful. The bar section is designed really well and would make an ideal space for large groups having drinks and a good meal. For a heartier meal, we ordered their Lomo Saltado, a traditional stir-fry with marinated beef tenderloin, onions, tomatoes, and cilantro served alongside French fries and rice. The meat was high quality and cooked just right. Everything else on the plate was fresh and masterfully prepared. We closed the deal with a Tres Leches, which means "three milks," and is a classic Latin American sponge cake. The cake is soaked in three different milks: sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and heavy cream, making it incredibly moist and rich. It is traditionally topped with a layer of whipped cream or meringue. The Ayawaska version was excellent. It was not too sweet or too soft and spongy. In short, Ayawaska Hilltop is absolutely worth the detour. It offers excellent food, gracious service, and a view that does half the relaxing. If you go, aim for patio seating around golden hour, start with the ceviche, share the Lomo Saltado, or another heartier plate, but save room for the Tres Leches. We'll be back.

Rio and Doha cocktails with Pulpo anticuchero
Elena D.

A hidden gem as you drive thru a residential neighborhood. As you enter the restaurant it has a beautiful interior with a relaxing atmosphere that has a hilltop view pretty much like being in Peru. We got seated right away since it wasn't busy during the time we got in. We Ordered the pulpo anticuchero a grilled octopus, it was tender and smoky just cooked perfectly. The classic ceviche comes with ceviche halibut that was drizzled in lime cream sauce, the calamari had a crispy and soft texture, and the fried yuka fries is definitely one of my favorite. Another dish was the baked duck with the risotto rice in an iron cast plate. The duck was tender and went well with the risotto rice that had a full flavor. The Doha and Rio cocktails were refreshing especially on a hot day. Gotta have the homemade churros with the chocolate dip, a slightly crispy and moist as you bite into it, almost like a donut with a crisp. A Great experience. Will definitely come back again.

Salmon con crema de poro

Food & drinks were amazing. The service was great very nice staff and were able to recommend the best dishes.

Tacu Tacu
Kathy D.

The food was delicious, well seasoned. We ordered the classic ceviche, empanadas de logo, the Tacu Tacu, and the Arroz con Mariscos. The service was friendly and efficient. We arrived around 1.30pm on Sunday. Not too busy. The ambience of the location is beautiful. The weather was sunny and warm. We tried to sit outside, but there were other very loud guests out there, so we found another spot inside by the windows with a good view. The price is an average of $35 per person. It's a beautiful place to celebrate special occasions.

Aji de gallina
Donna F.

Wonderful view, friendly service and didn't feel rushed during lunch. Food & drinks came out quite quickly after we ordered as well. Our group of three were playing catch up since it had been awhile & they did not rush us. Quiet location to have a good conversation.

Pasta
Stacie B.

While visiting a friend this spot was a must visit I was told, so after a hike we stopped in. Their ambience is friendly and colorful but also reserved and casual. It was immediately welcoming! On a warmer day I would suggest sitting outside, but this was a bit chilly so we sat at a long table which still had excellent views. We he menu is varied and has a lot of amazing options to try. My favorite was the empanadas and pesto pasta. The drinks are also delicious! It was a delightful and delicious meal and I would go back to try some of their other options. Can highly recommend this venue for those in the area.

Ayawaska Bar
Chet D.

We love the unique Peruvian dishes coupled with exotic cocktails at Ayawaska Hilltop restaurant. We had dinner again last night with cocktails and desert. We almost always order their Empanadas - you get 3 freshly cooked Empanadas, veggie, chicken or beef. Our favorite is the beef with tender cubes of beef tenderloin in a delicious sauce. We've ordered several different cocktails here over several visits - tonight I went with the Ayawaska Blood, a take on Sangria which was full of fruity flavors (and not too sweet). My wife had the Picso Sour, apparently a popular Peruvian cocktail. We both enjoyed our drinks. For our entrees we ordered two to share - the Lomo Saltado Clasico, tender chunks of Filet Mignon with red onion, tomato and herbs in a rich sauce and the Aji de Gallina, shredded chicken in creamy sauce that is so flavorful! Actually both dishes were full of flavor and served with white rice (the Lomo Saltado also comes with potato fries. We were full but the desert menu was calling and we gave in to the Chocolate Volcan - a small cake covered in "molten" chocolate. But the twist here is that instead of "just" chocolate inside it was melty caramel, served with a side of creamy vanilla ice cream and a sampling of fresh fruit. Another great meal - we'll definitely be back!

View from our table

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1 month ago

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1 month ago

Food was not great but the ambiance was good. The service was fine. Maybe next time will try other dishes.

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Diego D.

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14 days ago

Always a beautiful place to be with interesting and quality food. Perticularly love the beef shortribs and have had good service.

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Ayawaska Hilltop Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Ayawaska Hilltop

Are you open on Easter Sunday?

Yes we will open at 10 for brunch and close dinner at 9pm

What are the happy hour times/days?

Monday to Thursday from 3pm to 5pm Thanks and hope to see you soon

Can I get a gift certificate?

We have e-gift certificate. We need your phone number and we will call you to create one for you

Does anyone know if they have a private room? I'm not seeing any pictures of it but they claimed they do when I inquired about it.

We have a private room. Just confirm day and at what time and we can see if it’s available

Are dogs allowed on the outdoor/patio area?

Yes dogs are allowed.

Do they have high chairs available?

We have high chairs available y 3 different of our tables. What is that for?

Are there happy hour specials? If so, what are the times and specials?

There were not the last time we were there. Did not deter the crowd though, the bar was packed at 5:30.

Do they have outdoor dining available?

Yes! They have a lovely patio for outdoor dining.

Can you order takeout?

Yes

View All 10 Questions

Vinny G's Pizza and Cocktails - NY style pepperoni pizza

Vinny G's Pizza and Cocktails

3.7(28 reviews)
0.4 mi
$$

We had dinner here on Wednesday night. This place is large. I've never been in this space before…read more Based on the entrance, I assumed it was a smaller place. When you enter, they have a small arcade on the left with a pinball machine and assorted video games. I was not expecting that. They also have a large full bar. This place has the (partial) feel of an old Italian restaurant. Some of the decor doesn't quite fit the old Italian restaurant motif. I ordered the chicken piccata, which came with sauteed spinach and penne pasta. I liked having an abundance of capers on my chicken and pasta. Yummy. I would give it 4.5 stars. I would get it again. My first dining partner ordered the Penne Bolognese which I tried and liked also. 4 stars. My other dining partner ordered the pesto chicken pizza. He liked it and gave it 3.5 stars. This is a solid choice for Italian food (mainly pizza). I will probably be back one day.

What a nice little find in the middle of our drive from the Point Reyes Seashore back to Vallejo…read more My family and I took a last minute and poorly planned trip to the coast this morning. We were so hungry in the way home and found Vinny G's in a "best pizza in Novato" google search. We never would have come across this place if we had stuck to the directions and it was worth the minute or so detour. It's tucked away unassumingly in a little shoping center with plenty of parking (at least in the middle of the afternoon). I appreciated the variety of crusts. We went with a NY style, classic pepperoni. While nothing truly compares to NY NY pizza, it was nice and thin but sturdy and very tasty. We didn't try any of the cocktails, but the selection was tempting. Service was quick and friendly.

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Vinny G's Pizza and Cocktails
Vinny G's Pizza and Cocktails - Double cheeseburger + fried snd artichoke single pizza.

Double cheeseburger + fried snd artichoke single pizza.

Vinny G's Pizza and Cocktails - Arcade games

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Arcade games

HopMonk Tavern - Novato

HopMonk Tavern - Novato

3.6(883 reviews)
1.2 mi
$$

I've always passed by here since it's a great shopping center. And I finally stopped in! I went in…read moreon a Monday afternoon with my sister, mom and our little ones who are too young for kids menus. We had a great experience with our waiter. He was super kind, patient, and welcoming. The entire staff were very sweet & we had a beautiful time. We tried the Juno mocktail. It was delicious. Usually they can be too sweet but it wasn't! It was so good! And a Shirley temple to keep it light which was also very delicious. We decided to go with the onion rings and egg roll appetizers. The onion rings were fried perfectly, salted just right and not oily at all. The egg rolls had enough spice to pair with the aoili sauce they gave us. Would order again! My mom is usually a picky eater.. and she LOVED the fish & chips. They looked really good, I would've snatched one off her plate but I don't think she would've shared this one lol My sister and I both had the Nashville chicken sandwiches. Soo good. Only side not I have, the lettuce it came with, could've done without. The chicken spoke for itself with the Caesar salad or fries. Spot on perfect. And if you like pickles.. those pickles were crunchy & delicious! 100/10! Would go again :)

When you want good pub food, this is the place!…read more My family enjoyed calamari,fish tacos, Reuben sandwich and burger. I enjoyed not having to cook while everyone ate what they wanted. It's the little things in life.

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HopMonk Tavern - Novato - Cracker

Cracker

HopMonk Tavern - Novato - Calamari Fritto

Calamari Fritto

HopMonk Tavern - Novato - Lost +Found

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Lost +Found

El Rey Mexican Bar and Grill - Fixings for my fajitas

El Rey Mexican Bar and Grill

3.9(227 reviews)
0.7 mi
$$

Well, how things evolve over time. My dad was JONESING for menudo Sunday morning, and it was too…read moreearly to visit any of his usual weekend Mexican haunts. My wife called around to find that El Rey was open - and had menudo. What we didn't realize was that there was a full-on buffet-style brunch going on every Sunday from 9-2. First, the aromas were intoxicating. Second, there was a HUGE buffet line with Pozole, Menudo, rice & beans, chilaquiles, sausage or eggs with chorizo, veggies, potatoes, huevos ranchero, birria, quesabirria tacos, EVEN American brunch favorites like scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and pancakes (but why eat those when there is AMAZING Mexican buffet to choose from?). Coffee/soda also included, and desserts including fruits and custards. I figured for sure it was upwards of $30 a head for the buffet, but the bill comes and it's like $68 for the three of us! What a value! BTW, everything I had was delish. Fresh. Hot. Tasty. And the fact that 90% of the people dining at the restaurant were Latinx tells you all you need to know. Highly recommend this brunch, Novato!

Over a week ago, we were driving south to San Francisco through Novato when we decided to have…read moredinner, and Mexican food won the majority vote! We chose to try a new place, and El Rey caught our attention. We arrived around 7:30, and the restaurant wasn't busy since it was a Sunday evening. Looking at the menu, I was drawn to their ceviche. We decided to start with guacamole and chips, share a ceviche, and have a Quesadilla con Carne Asada. The guacamole was fresh and well-made, the ceviche was exceptionally delicious, and the quesadilla was very well prepared and tasty. Our server was very friendly and helpful with our questions, and we even shared a few good laughs. The service was excellent. El Rey has been a local spot in Novato for many years, family-owned and known for serving traditional Mexican dishes in a welcoming setting. It has built a reputation in the community as a reliable place for a hearty meal, and many locals have been coming here for decades. The restaurant is a standalone building in a shopping center and offers a large seating area. They also have an outdoor seating area, which I imagine would be especially nice on a warm evening. As a first-time visitor, I left impressed. The food, service, and relaxed atmosphere made for a very enjoyable stop on our drive. We would definitely come back again the next time we're in Novato.

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El Rey Mexican Bar and Grill
El Rey Mexican Bar and Grill - Cantarito?

Cantarito?

El Rey Mexican Bar and Grill

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The Keg Stand Brewing Co - Biscoff Cookie Stout

The Keg Stand Brewing Co

5.0(7 reviews)
0.4 mi

What a hidden gem! My bf and I have been here a few times now and it's now one of our favorite…read moreplaces to go! We always saw it when riding the smart train and knew we needed to stop in. The atmosphere is great! The staff is so friendly! They offer popcorn and have food trucks some days (check their Instagram)! If they don't have a food truck, there are several local restaurants you can bring food from (we got food from Whole Foods and ate there). The beer is great with several options! They have three TVs and I'm hopeful they'll continue to keep a game or even three on to enjoy! We will continue to visit and are really glad we found this place!

A Must-Visit: The Perfect Community Spot! THE KEG STAND…read morebrewing company is the definition of a hidden gem! It truly is a very warm and welcoming place where everyone can relax. I was instantly struck by the genuine, homey atmosphere--it's perfect for friends gathering after work, families bringing the kids out, and even pet owners looking for a friendly patio spot. It makes a difference knowing this establishment is family-owned and run, alongside a few great, dedicated employees. That personal touch shines through in the service. The essentials are covered perfectly: the beer is reliably ice-cold, and the atmosphere is consistently warm and inviting. You truly can't go wrong making this your go-to spot. They also keep things interesting by hosting great local food trucks almost daily, guaranteeing you delicious food options to pair with your cold refreshment. Highly recommend stopping by!

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The Keg Stand Brewing Co - Beer Flight

Beer Flight

The Keg Stand Brewing Co - Märzen

Märzen

The Keg Stand Brewing Co - Luke the man.

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Luke the man.

Ayawaska Hilltop - peruvian - Updated May 2026

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