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Ayawaska Hilltop

4.3 (797 reviews)
ModeratePeruvian, Bars, Seafood
Closed • 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

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Order Ayawaska Hilltop Takeout or Delivery

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interior
Shaayla S.

absolutely cannot recommend this place enough! on a weekend trip, i decided to stop by and check out ayawaska for dinner. i was a little worried about the parking situation when we pulled up, but was delighted to learn that they offer a free valet service! definitely worth it to not have to worry about parking. i made a reservation about a month in advance and requested for a table by the windows if possible. i was seated immediately at a window table, and out hostess was the nicest lady! we ordered their empanadas de lomo, filled with beef and tomato. i've had many empanadas, but i liked ayawaska's pastry the best. the dough seemed to be a little shorter than other empanadas i've had, resulting in a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth experience. we also couldn't get enough of the aioli, it provided the perfect little kick of heat. to share, we got their tallarines verdes, a pesto linguine with filet mignon. i loved how fresh the pesto was, you can really taste the quality of the ingredients. the filet mignon was cooked perfectly with a great charred flavor and not chewy at all. it came topped with a little parmesan and i could've gone for a tad more! overall really lovely service and amazing views from the hilltop. the interior was stunning, and i liked that the restaurant ambiance wasn't too loud. they have a beautiful outdoor space with heaters as well. i would definitely come back if i'm ever around!

Risotto de aji amarillo y medallones
Rachel S.

The food was good! :) Service was also very nice! The ambiance was cool!! I never had anything like this in the best way. I would love to come back again.

Aji de gallina - shredded chicken in creamy sauce, 5/5
Lynn S.

5/5 great food and service. Great views, good for a special occasion or nice meal out! Lomo saltado was the best one I've ever had, highly recommend!

Sangria
Camela S.

The views here are beautiful, perfect for date night or a family dinner. I've visited several times and this time the food wasn't as good as I remembered but it was okay. I ordered lomo saltado and sangria and based on this experience alone, I wouldn't come back. Service was slow and the restaurant wasn't busy on a Wednesday night at 5:30.

Lomo saltado
Anthony W.

I had no idea Novato had such a beautiful gem. Nothing against the city but I live in Benicia. The only time I come to Novato is to go through Novato. Theres hiking trails or places where we go to get to the Ocean. In order to go to them, we have to drive through Novato to get there. But whenever we are out in Marin, we usually just defeat to eating a Sol Food(If you know you know...). Recently we wanted to try something different. Ayawaska is about the experience. A very bold name but from the moment you walk in, to the moment you start eating your food you will quickly understand why they chose that name. All the workers are professional but also very friendly. Their cocktails are all delicious. Theres something about taking a sip and peering out the windows and seeing the view. For a minute it really feels like we are in another world. They really chose such a cool location for a restaurant. For food, I saw the Paella adjacent dish on the menu and I immediately knew what I was ordering. Arroz con Mariscos. We did order some Empanadas. I hate mushrooms but I had a bite of the Empanada Veggie. It's all mushrooms dude...alllll mushrooms...but it was good. My favorite was the Empanada de Lomo. But both Empanadas were delicious. They had a nice flaky crust but had really generous fillings. The flavors were so dang good. But with the Arroz con Mariscos I loved all the fixings it came with and how it was decorated. All kinds of onions and bell peppers everywhere. The rice itself wasn't overcooked or undercooked. And most of all there were giant shrimps along with calamari and clams. Altogether this was a symphony of Seafood and rice. This probably could be shared between two people. Unless you are just really hungry. So long story short, I highly recommend this place. Sometimes you go to fancy places like this and they got the nice decor. Sure. They got a nice view. Cool. But at the end of the day, the meal and the overall experience is what matters right? Ayawaska is the full package. If you live in the area and haven't tried this place yet, you are definitely missing out.

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 !

I can appreciate a beautiful restroom
Lynn V.

What a gem amongst the hills. The restaurant is beautiful with a large outdoor terrace and large windows with sweeping views of the hills. We enjoyed a dinner during sunset and there was nothing negative to say. Food was delicious and service was great. I especially enjoyed the ceviche and churros here.

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!

Linh S.

We ate here as a family and really enjoyed our time. The grounds are beautiful, the restaurant is situated on the hill and there was parking around the restaurant. I could tell the restaurant really cared about the details when designing the space outside and inside - from the flowers along the entrance to the wallpaper and finally the decor inside. They did offer kids menus and crayons. I enjoyed the tequenos, my husband loved the ceviche and seco de carne. My family loved the chica morada - vert sweet! Service was very attentive! I noticed they had set up fairy lights on the drive up, would love to come back one day for an evening dinner date!

Daniel K.

This place has been awarded enough awards. Especially recently, and for good reason. The food, the cocktails and over all vibe were perfect.

Keita S.

This restaurant is located on a hill and offers amazing views. Someone I was dining with recommended it, so we decided to check it out. The service was attentive, and the food was delicious! It's also conveniently located near the freeway. Most of all, I loved the spacious outdoor patio and the fresh air. It was such a wonderful atmosphere.

Seco de Carne...Short ribs with a bean stew and white rice
Kym B.

...these emoji's say it all. This was my first time at Ayawaska Hilltop this evening and I am still thinking about the food. There are the whole package!! The food was super delicious. The ambience was really nice...the entire experience will be remembered forever! If ever in the Novato area...you MUST check this place out. The chicken empanadas were unbelieveable. Their crust is amazing! I had the short ribs with a bean stew that was so good Find any excuse to experience Ayawaska Hilltop. They do not disappoint!!

Sabri J.

Carlos is the man, it took me a while to go there living in Novato for years , but I made it this Saturday and already book a brunch reservation to bring my whole family back, worth trying, amazing people ,amazing view .

Calamari

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1 month ago

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1 month ago

Phil the server was polite, professional and always catered to our needs. If I were his boss, I would give him a fat raise and a bonus.

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2 months ago

Great food and atmosphere and a good place to go for groups or special events. A regular Go-To when people come into the county.

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21 days ago

I had the adobo. It was soooo good. Drinks were great. Pulpo was great. I recommend it.

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Ayawaska Hilltop Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Ayawaska Hilltop

Casual or formal?

Hi! I took my wife there in June. It was the second time I had gone. Both times have seemed very… 

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 11 Questions

Sazon Peruvian Cuisine & Deli - Bistek a lo pobre (grilled NY steak with chumichurri sauce)

Sazon Peruvian Cuisine & Deli

4.3(1.2k reviews)
24.3 mi
•$$

Sazon is such a hidden gem!!! We've been going here for over a decade. We used to come a lot , like…read moreonce a month and then we had kids (IYKYK) and it's been a couple years since we've been. Well, a few weeks ago, we got a very rare date night and we decided to come to sazon since it's been so long !!! It hasn't changed and it's just as amazing as we remembered!!! They also now have the big space and deli next door (They do have night life and DJ events there regularly as well!) My favorite food ever is ceviche so of course we had to get that for appetizer. I got a steak entree, I forget what it was called, but it was absolutely amazing. My husband got the lomo saltado which is one of his favorite Peruvian dishes and he cleaned his plate! Everything was phenomenal and so delicious. The owner served us and he's just such a nice guy. This is one of our favorite restaurants and we're so glad we got to revisit it. Highly recommend! Can't wait to come back!

It has been over ten years since I last ate here due to moving out of the area. I came for a late…read morelunch. From the last time I visited Sazon expanded and took over the deli next door. So now the place has plenty of seating inside and out. I was immediately greeted and seated in the new area. The server was friendly and professional. I ordered a diet Inca cola, Papa a la Huancaina, Aji de Guilliana and Alfajores. I was not disappointed on how good the place still is. I'm a son of Peruvian immigrants and the authentic flavors are on target. I also noticed that the same chef was style cooking too. I highly recommend Sazon because the flavors are authentic and you will come out totally satisfied. Check them out!

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Sazon Peruvian Cuisine & Deli
Sazon Peruvian Cuisine & Deli - Lomo Saltado Beef

Lomo Saltado Beef

Sazon Peruvian Cuisine & Deli - Toasted corn

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Toasted corn

Quinua A Taste Of Peru

Quinua A Taste Of Peru

4.1(28 reviews)
10.2 mi

Sorry but this place appears to be vacant and closed no sign of it has relocated. Too bad.read more

Four of us went here last night; a great little restaurant that it seems Santa Rosans have yet to…read morefall in love with as there were only three tables out of perhaps twenty occupied at Friday Night dinner. A bright and clean space with understated decor. Portions are good so you might want to skip appetizers though we tried the Calamari which was good and the Yuca Frita was sublime. Small wine list with good choices from South America and if you order by the glass you will be amazed at the size of the pours; double what one would normally get! Two of us had the Paella which was very good, a third ordered the excellent Lamb Shank and the fourth had the top notch Pork Rib platter which completely disappeared very quickly. Perhaps next time we'll try the Ceviche as we will return if they can remain in business with such little traffic. While not inexpensive the value is solid as you would pay far more in any other good Sonoma County restaurants for similar dishes. Polite if a bit shy service but man did she light up when we went head over heels over her family home made hot sauces which are a "must try" if you have an appropriate appetizer. Ask for them as they bring you tasty but not too spicy standard condiments. Oh, and very clean restrooms and well paced food serving times. Keep this place open, try it sooner vs later.

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Quinua A Taste Of Peru
Quinua A Taste Of Peru
Quinua A Taste Of Peru

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Inca's Peruvian Cuisine - Mix ceviche

Inca's Peruvian Cuisine

4.7(135 reviews)
24.4 mi
•$$

Unsure why the website says permanent closed. Ate lunch there 6/27/26 @ 11:30am…read more Everything was wonderful!!! Axel and his mom are fantastic. They made sure we were taken care of. He even shared his experience as an authentic Peruvian. Love the Peruvian art he had on his walls also. Just overall great hidden gem. Food portions were abundant! I was so excited to dig in and I was not disappointed!! Empanadas, Peruanas, Lomo Saltado and Sudado de Pescado and Adobe de Chancho fresh cut French fries - Yummy

It's in a shopping mall, right before Gravenstein Highway splits. We went here for a 'date lunch'…read moreon a Wednesday. There was one other party. Ambience is ok, they have some Peruvian decor. Nice tables and silverware and plates. They have a good sized menu. Food was the surprise. I expected it to be different but it was quite tasty. We shared the empanadas 1 each - beef, chicken, pork. We also had the sweet plantains and the mango habanero ceviche. The empanadas were a little on the small side but they were delicious. The mango habanero ceviche was really just cooked shrimp with a mango habanero sauce and pickled red onions. There was also a dried plantain chip on top. Though I was expecting a more traditional ceviche, it was really tasty. The sweet plantains were excellent, just what you expect with more onions and a sour cream type sauce. The service was quick but not intrusive. Would definitely come back.

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Inca's Peruvian Cuisine - Empanadas - delicious

Empanadas - delicious

Inca's Peruvian Cuisine - Chicken stew with potatoes, sliced egg and walnuts, side of jasmine rice

Chicken stew with potatoes, sliced egg and walnuts, side of jasmine rice

Inca's Peruvian Cuisine - Causa De Santa Rosa- Peruvian Beet salad

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Causa De Santa Rosa- Peruvian Beet salad

Sol Food - Bisteak sandwich

Sol Food

4.2(6k reviews)
9.3 mi
•$$

Wow, loved! I ordered the Pollo Al Horno with Sweet Plantains & Pinto Beans & it was delicious! I…read morehaven't had Puerto Rican food in years & it really hit the spot. The chicken was so flavorful & moist, the plantains were great as expected, & the beans were good too with a surprise piece of potato inside. It also came with a mixed green salad, it was a great value for price compared with the portion. The service was very friendly, I also ordered to the wrong location in Mill Valley but was able to call to cancel the order without charge. I picked up my order from the store/to-go section so I didn't see the restaurant space but just looking at the space I was in, it was so cute. They have some items for sale as well & a cute set up of their beverages. I love the use of colors on the building & space. I'm looking forward to coming back again soon! There are so many other items on the menu I would like to try especially the sandwiches!

Everyone raves about the food here so of course I had to stop by and try it…read more The menu is overwhelming but there was a person at the door who explained that the combinaciones are their most popular items, so I ordered pollo al horno which is baked boneless skinless chicken thighs served with organic salad, white rice, black or pinto beans, and plantain or P.R. fries. The food is good but I don't think I would order this meal again. What I will rave about is their house made hot pepper sauce. It's delicious, mild, sweet and tangy. The seating is family style or community seating where sitting with others at their table is encouraged. Service is fast and the restaurant is usually busy. It's a unique experience and I'm sure I'll go back to try another menu item.

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Sol Food - Interior

Interior

Sol Food - Bistec Sandwich

Bistec Sandwich

Sol Food - Chicken, rice, beans. Plantains and salad

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Chicken, rice, beans. Plantains and salad

Warike Restobar - Opening day October 7th

Warike Restobar

4.5(261 reviews)
24.7 mi
•$$

The food here is really good! We ordered the pulpo anticuchero, a ceviche with pulpo, and the arroz…read morecon mariscos. All three dishes had perfectly cooked seafood and were seasoned well. The arroz (rice) was especially delicious with a perfect amount of spice. We also got a couple of drinks, which were strong but balanced and tasted how they were described in the menu. We sat outside and enjoyed live music from the band next door on a Friday night. The inside of the restaurant is large and trendy. The service was very kind and helpful when we had questions about the menu. The bathroom was in the back corner behind the kitchen, and it had a coded lock (be sure to ask for the code before walking all the way back there). Overall we had a great experience and loved everything we ordered.

We had a reservation here for dinner on 31DEC25, but we ended up seating ourselves in an empty…read moretable next to the window overlooking La Rosa. Restaurant was busy, with just the right amount of patrons. Prices at Warike seemed steep in comparison to La Rosa, but everything was worth every dime. Everything we ordered there was flavorful & delicately prepared and delicious, 10/10. Everything was perfect with excellent ambience and customer service. A definite recommendation for all to try: I ordered LOMO SALTADO CLÁSICO (GFA) $28 and this was a 10/10: Traditional Peruvian style beef tenderloin, red onion, tomatoes, cilantro, garlic, soy, lomo sauce and oyster sauce, french fries & rice. We also ordered TAGLIATELLE AL ROCOTO $25 and this was a 9/10 for me: Fried prawns & tagliatelle pasta, served with roasted peppers, fresh peas, and house rocoto lemon sauce. And lastly we ordered empanadas and these were a hit, lightly fried on the exterior, 10/10: EMPANADAS DEL LOMO $16 Crispy pastry filled with beef tenderloin, red onion, tomato, cilantro, served with rocoto aoili. EMPANADAS DE POLLO $15 Crispy pastry filled with our traditional Aji de Gallina, served with parsley aioli.

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Warike Restobar - Inside

Inside

Warike Restobar - 2nd floor

2nd floor

Warike Restobar - Logo

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Logo

Ayawaska Hilltop - peruvian - Updated October 2026

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