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California Gold

4.8 (182 reviews)
Closed 4:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
Updated 2 weeks ago

California Gold Photos

CALIFORNIA GOLD ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - California Gold

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Yummy Pina
Elvira A.

Tastiest frozen pina colada I've had. So glad the hubby and I came back. Happy Love day!! speakeasy vibes and tasty rum cocktails!

Becky V.

Excellent bar! The themed decor reminds me of the fascinating inside of a pirate ship, also adorned with gold rush memorabilia, and themes of tiki bar sprinkled around. Classy and fun vibe. Drinks- -the jungle bird: a tiki classic. Rums, pineapple and lime. fruity, fresh, sweet and slightly bitter note. Delicious -English scotch sour: 5 year old scotch shaken and topped off with egg white foam. Like a pisco sour but made with scotch. Delightful taste. Lemon peel to top it off, gives the drink a fresh sweet lemon aroma. Incredible Service was so friendly and welcoming! Choose anywhere to sit. Back area you will feel more immersed, away from the windows where you can see the sunshine outside and cars driving by. Though at the front you get to sit in the pirate ship booths, which is fun too take your time to slowly sip on a drink and forget everything from the outside world, if just for an hour.

Bar seating
Princess V.

We went on a Saturday night for our 1st time here and we had a good time. They check IDs in the front. Plenty of street parking. They don't serve food here only drinks. Chill vibes inside. Very spacious and you don't feel so cramped up like you're bumping into people. Bartenders were cool and the drinks were delicious! Would like to come back next time and try other drinks!

Joey S.

This place is super chill if you're going on a date. But, not social. Drinks are really great.

Saturday, April 29th, 2023 - Cocktails
Elena N.

Date: Saturday, April 29th, 2023 Time: around 6pm Party of: 4 *Voodoo Western ($15) *Lion's Tale ($15) *House Boulevardier: Elijah Creek ($16) *Singapore Sling ($15) *El Diablo ($15) *Bennet ($15) *EB Scotch Sour ($15) *Gold Rush ($15) On the way back to SF from wine country, my group decided to make a cocktail stop. I looked around and found California Gold. We walked in and easily found a table. If memory serves, there was no table service. We went up to the bar to get drinks. I adore a good cocktail. And these are so pretty! We were here for a good 2.5 hours and had two rounds. I can't recall which cocktails I ordered, but I'm pretty sure I did the scotch sour. I love a good scotch and pisco sour, so this was a good combo of the two. What a great find! If you like your cocktail bars, I highly recommend this spot. REVIEW #3551 Part I *for some reason my review count did not update on my next review

Pei Ting L.

My partner took me here on my birthday weekend to celebrate and I was pleasantly surprised at how good everything was here. I didn't catch our bartender's name but he was the kindest and friendliest bartender I ever met. He was really knowledgeable with his drinks and knew how everything blended and paired with one another. They also have a happy hour/golden hour every day! We both got 2 drinks each and I don't recall which ones but I really enjoyed the slushy drink. I prefer sweeter drinks and that was just perfect. My partner also really enjoyed his drinks. We were also surprised that they had Singapore Sling on their menu! We had tried the drink on our trip to Singapore and haven't really seen a bar in the Bay Area have this drink. We didn't get to try it this time, but we both will definitely return to give their other drinks a try when we are in the area.

Menu
Liann A.

Very nice cocktail bar located in San Rafael. They don't serve food here but they allow you to bring outside food. Very festive bar with great bartenders that help you figure out what drink you're looking for. They have booths, tables, and couch seating. I opted for the seasonal hot toddy, my friends got an espresso martini and the bartenders choice/whiskey. Parking is fairly easy as there is street parking but can get busy. It was pretty busy for a Thursday night when we came by. They also have good drafts too. Would recommend if you're looking for a nice drink while in San Rafael. The workers were super friendly and recommended other bars in the area too.

Shanghai Buck
Kristine K.

Best cocktails in Marin, I go there every month with a friend before dinner and enjoy trying different drinks from the Golden Hour menu each time. The drinks are complex works of art! My go tos are the Jungle Bird and the piña colada. The staff are excellent and the environment is sophisticated yet chill on a weeknight before dinner.

Rebecca C.

Downtown San Rafael has a gem. You can't tell from the outside, but once you step inside California Gold it feels like you're stepping back into time. It is one of my friend's favorite bars. She first introduced me to this establishment a few years ago and we've grabbed a drink several times before getting dinner. They have a long menu of different cocktails. The bartenders do a great job making each cocktail that I've ordered. It doesn't hurt they're pretty too! I've had the Singapore Sling, Tropical Daiquiri, and the Pina Colada. They recently came out with a non alcoholic menu. The next time you're in San Rafael, stop by and grab a drink. They also have happy hour. There's a parking garage directly across the street as well as street parking.

Ramona H.

This is the place to go for your cocktail fix. Kevin was entertaining to watch as he Crafted each cocktail to perfection. Nothing Pretentious about this place. It's home town hospitality. You get greeted upon entering, given awesome Beverage menus and their ice selection for your cocktail needs is definitely addressed. No dilution here. Give it a go you won't be disappointed.

Hanging out with some friends! Modelo time.

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5 months ago

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4 months ago

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9 months ago

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13 days ago

Lucky night at California Gold. Shark Alley Hobos played! Best St. Patrick's NIGHT, ever.

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3 months ago

best cocktail bar north of GGB by far ... just pick a spirit and let the bar tenders just make you what they like. can't go wrong.

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1 year ago

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9 months ago

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10 months ago

First time visiting. Quality cocktails and great vibe. They have a very descriptive menu of cocktails which makes it interesting.

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2 months ago

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4 years ago

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9 months ago

This is a great place to get an afterwords cocktail. Drinks are amazing. Ambiance is cool and fun. Happy pricing too!

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California Gold Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - California Gold

Do they serve food?

No, not when we went back in June. Drinks only.

Can I buy a gift card for a friend?

Yes, but we don’t send it out. It would have to be picked up. It’s a physical card.

Are dogs allowed in your outdoor seating area?

Yes, please feel free to bring your dogs. We usually have a few dog treats too.

Can I bring a kiddo while you guys are still serving outdoors?

We are technically a restaurant for the time being so yes, please feel free to bring little ones. To compliment our libations we offer a full dinner menu with our food partners at Revel & Roost.… Read more

Can you bring outside food in?

Please bring in outside food, just clean up after yourself.

Do they have wi-fi?

We don’t currently have Wi-Fi for public use

Is there a happy hour?

4-7pm

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State Room  - State Room Brewery (coming soon)

State Room

4.2(734 reviews)
0.1 mi
$$

This place was such a fun surprise. The location is really accessible, with street parking…read moreavailable, which made getting there easy. I honestly didn't realize how much I'd enjoy playing pinball until coming here--there aren't many spots that have that kind of unique feature anymore, and it really added to the experience. I went for a Yelp Elite event, and it was great. The owner was there and super welcoming, and his staff were genuinely nice and attentive. We were given bracelets that gave us access to two drinks, which was a fun self-pour experience. That said, it would've been helpful to get a quick tip on pouring (like tilting your glass) beforehand--foam can sneak up on you fast , especially with so many people around. Because it was busy, we were also given a card that allowed unlimited access to the games, which was awesome and made the night even better. I definitely enjoyed my time here. The owner also mentioned that you can rent individual tables or even the whole venue for events, which is something I'd absolutely consider in the future. I'll definitely be back.

Visited a friend in San Rafael and her first recommendation was State Room! Nothing like an ice…read morecold hazy IPA on a hot summer day. Staff was friendly and reservations were easy to make. They had huge tvs playing sports which entertained the kiddo quite a bit. Breakfast Bravas ($19): The crispy potato coins + pork + runny egg + avocado + chipotle cream = elite combo!!! Stateroom Burger ($20): Cheese is not included and is an extra $2 (???). It was stacked though and hubby could only eat half before he was stuffed! I will absolutely be back for the bottomless mimosas ($25) and I'm curious about the dirty iced chi tea ($14). My daughter also loved all the magnets on the fence in their mini play area :)

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State Room
State Room  - The new bar

The new bar

State Room  - Beer menu

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Beer menu

Pixels Arcade & Taproom - Mario party!

Pixels Arcade & Taproom

4.6(34 reviews)
0.1 mi

My family of four really enjoyed our Sunday spent at Pixels. We've also been to the pinball museum…read morein Alameda so I figured this would be a similar experience. In comparison to the pinball museum, Pixels had more video games and I think it fit our interests more. We each got a drink from the place, the kids picked out soft drink / juice, and the husband and I each got an alcohol beverage. I like that there were many local brews they are serving. I like the idea of supporting local businesses. My son was a little shy to go play the video game station set up with gaming chairs. But we pretty much tried all the other free games. There are a few machines not included in the package cost, they are clearly labeled and close to the entrance, you will need cash coins to play those, if you want to play them. The bathroom was clean. There were so many bottles of anti-bacterial solutions lining up near the entrance and inside the facility. I'm a bit of a clean freak after the Covid-19 pandemic, so seeing this made me happy that the owner cares about protecting people. We spent about 3 hours here. I saw some lady some in with a bunch of kids. It was kind of interesting to watch them because she was working on her laptop while the kids ran around and played games. It's like a cheap daycare! I wish the had one of these arcades closer to where I live, I can just let my kids loose while I do my own thing for a couple hours!

This review is for booking a table for a kid's birthday party... I first attended a Yelp event at…read morePixels and had such a great time, I thought it would be great to host my son's birthday party there! Booking was easy to do online, and the owner Rob answered questions that I asked via email. Last Saturday, I showed up with 8 boys to celebrate my son's birthday, and the group had a blast. The party was mid-morning, and I appreciated how quiet the venue was. Some arcades have music that is blasting and so many lights flashing, and that can be overly stimulating. There are plenty of machines for guests to spread out. In the back, there are 4 controllers for Nintendo Switch, and the staff did have to come help change games for the kiddos but if you know what you're doing, you might be able to navigate on your own. Ordering pizza from Red Rooster was really easy, and the staff at Pixels even walked over to pick up the pizza for the party. So thoughtful! Throughout the 2 hours there, there were other families who came in to enjoy the arcade, as well as adults. 2 hours goes by so quickly! All the parents whose kids attended said their kiddos had a blast. Great place for a birthday party, young and old :) The dads are now talking about gathering again without the kids! Quick logistics: A single use bathroom is at the back of the space. Bring cash for tips or you can tip with card payment. Parking in the lot is free on weekends, otherwise pay for metered street marking Monday - Saturday.

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Pixels Arcade & Taproom - Players ready

Players ready

Pixels Arcade & Taproom
Pixels Arcade & Taproom

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The Monk's Kettle Terra Linda - lamb burger w/kale salad

The Monk's Kettle Terra Linda

3.9(191 reviews)
3.3 mi
$$

Monk's Kettle is well known in the Bay Area and beyond, but since their SF location has…read moreunfortunately closed, I did not have a chance to try it out. This location in greater San Rafael is a bit out of my way, but a recent trip to Marin was an opportunity to make up for the lost. Located in a business center, parking here is not an issue and they were not particularly busy on a Sunday night. We were seated immediately, noticing how clean and modern the two-story gastropub looks. The food menu is more or less pub food, executed well. Mango-habanero wings were crispy and came with two dipping sauces, both delicious. We also tired the pretzel, which is on a smaller size, so next time I'll take our server's suggestion and order two. It also came with mustard and cheese for dipping. All their burgers are more or less a la carte: no fries, but chips and house pickle on the side. The burgers were fine though, with smash being smaller, but a bit tastier than their signature Monk's burger. Simplicity is sometimes the best. The beer list is expertly curated with focus on other styles besides IPA, but I assume that Russian River's Pliny the Elder and Blind Pig are always on the menu, in addition to ultra-local options. For pub fare, Monk's Kettle is a bit pricy, which is not totally unexpected in today's economy-especially knowing the area. However, elevated food, drinks, and service quality usually comes with the elevated price tag. We might not be back next time in Marin, but this was surely not the last visit to Monk's.

This was my first time at The Monk's Kettle, and the service was excellent!…read more Let me stay by saying that I don't know what the menu title is for what my friend ordered. I'm allergic to seafood, so my mind just goes blank. I can tell you that the meal was enjoyed. I tried the Club Wrap which was delightful, and added a side of brussel sprouts that were savory and a tad too salty, but good. They offer outdoor dining, bar service and an area upstairs as well. It's a fairly large restaurant with great menu options. There are two huge televisions which thankfully didn't have the volume up on. The server was very attentive but not overly bothersome which was a bonus.

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The Monk's Kettle Terra Linda
The Monk's Kettle Terra Linda - Lamb burger

Lamb burger

The Monk's Kettle Terra Linda - New favorite place

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New favorite place

Flatiron - The Bulgogi tacos were even better than delicious

Flatiron

3.9(445 reviews)
0.1 mi
$$

Straight up real deal: nice vibe, great service... (Please note that there are new owners and…read morerecently took over in the last few months. Therefore, pricing here could be inaccurate.) Excellent spot for watching the Warriors. Elevated bar food with great pricing. Me likes the Grilled Broccolini in black truffle salsa verde. Doesn't everybody love tater tot's? Nice tap beer selection and full bar. Best hang in Downtown San Rafael... Gets better with each visit ! Bombdigity! Love this joint!!!!

We really enjoyed this place. We found it while visiting and wanted to watch games. It's a small…read morebar in size but the excitement was electrifying in there. The main entrance room has a bar with seating, some side high top tables, some lower tables, and a high communal table. The next room has lower tables, 5 higher tables seating 4 people each, a larger table that had chairs and a booth side, lower large table. Lots of TVs around the entire place. The food is pretty good. We enjoyed a couple appetizers (bulgogi fries and chili lime cauliflower) and then their wings. Friends ordered nachos, but didn't finish them...the cheese was a cheese sauce so the chips were soggy. Our server was fantastic. She was very friendly, helpful, and very attentive despite having so many tables and it being packed. I'd go back here again, but I'd go earlier just to ensure a table.

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Flatiron - Inside at bar

Inside at bar

Flatiron - Absolutely delicious cauliflower appetizer

Absolutely delicious cauliflower appetizer

Flatiron - Francisco saying farewell!  Great waiter!!

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Francisco saying farewell! Great waiter!!

Creekside Pizza & Taproom

Creekside Pizza & Taproom

4.4(323 reviews)
1.8 mi
$$
Family-owned & operated
Eco-friendly

We are the exception to the fan club, but we picked up two pizzas and two salads to go and our…read moreguests and we were barely able to eat the salads and had to throw out the pizzas. The tomato and basil pizza was burnt so badly that it was inedible. It was beyond horrible. Yet, it was boxed and sealed and we were charged for it. The meat one was charred on one side and raw on the other. It wasn't edible. The wedge salad was whole and mostly iceberg lettuce with some tomato and one tub of ranch dressing. The house salad had onions, which we specifically asked be omitted when we ordered. The dressing was supposed to be on the side, but had spilled out. Things they couldn't control but didn't help: cars were parked in the loading area. There was no other parking and we had to park three blocks away and walk there and back. Since there's no way to check the order there, by the time I walked with the food knowing that house guests were waiting, and my husband was very ill, I just drove home. I could have walked back, waited another hour and hoped for less horrible food?

Food 5/5 Tried the pizza and loved it, it had plenty of…read moretoppings, tons of flavor, and a perfectly crispy crust. We enjoyed this spot so much that we visited twice in one week! We did half Hawaiian and half pepperoni with jalapeños. Customer Service 5/5 The staff was always friendly to us, which we truly appreciated, especially when visiting small towns when we are not from the area. We felt so welcomed. Ambience 5/5 The ambience was lovely, we especially loved the large windows with great views, and the booths were very comfortable. They also have a bar ! Cleanliness 5/5 We noticed the staff thoroughly cleaning the tables, very clean! Wait Time 5/5 Fair wait time ! Cost 4/5 It was a bit on the pricier side for a pizza shop, maybe because we ordered half and half on one pizza. For the size and portion, one pizza felt a little more costly, but the quality and taste were definitely worth it overall! Drinks 5/5 We loved their selection of beer and really enjoyed our drinks!

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Creekside Pizza & Taproom
Creekside Pizza & Taproom
Creekside Pizza & Taproom - Table with fine wines

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Table with fine wines

California Gold - beerbar - Updated May 2026

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