A great local spot! Dive bar ish vibes but slightly more elevated, big space, and delicious drinks!…read moreThe executive gin and tonic is a favorite, great bartenders and nice outdoor (dog friendly) area

While visiting Marin County on a Thursday, local bartenders recommended Mac's in Fairfax. They're…read moreopen pretty late and have both indoor and outdoor seating. They also have a stage where it looks like they have live music. We came later on closer to midnight and it looked like many locals go there to hang out for a drink. They have a full bar and many cocktail menus. There's street parking and people can bring their dogs inside!

WOW. Just WOW. **California Gold in San Rafael** is an absolute gem, and our experience was taken…read moreto the *next level* thanks to the incredible bartender **Víctor**. From start to finish, he was beyond amazing--warm, welcoming, insanely knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about his craft. Every single drink was PERFECT. Not one miss. We enjoyed **all** the drinks, and each cocktail somehow got better than the last. On top of that, Víctor is just an awesome human being who makes you feel genuinely taken care of. The **location is beautiful**, the atmosphere is fun, vibrant, and incredibly enjoyable--one of those places where you instantly feel relaxed and excited to be there at the same time. Great vibes, great energy, great people. This place is a MUST, and Víctor is the reason we'll be coming back again and again. Do yourself a favor: sit at the bar, trust his recommendations, and enjoy an unforgettable night.

Service was terrible. Ordered a drink asked for an adjustment due to food allergies. Was told it…read morewould be well balanced. Bartender was annoyed and was rude. Had a food reaction and I asked if I could choose a replacement. They told me no and wanted me to pay for another drink. A patron offered me a replacement drink and he shouldn't have to do that. Was excited to check this place out from out of town. The entire drink was left at the bar and I left the establishment. The bartenders had terrible customer service skills.

Great foods, quality cocktails, tasty bites. Is GI would…read morerecommend anyone who's in Marin or passing through Marin to stop by and enjoy the views.

Above Fifth is the rooftop bar of the AC Hotel in San Rafael, CA. The hotel is part of the Marriott…read morehotel franchise. Yes, a franchise hotel is in downtown San Rafael. Times are a changin'. Anyways, the bar is open 4pm-11pm Wednesday-Sunday, closed on Monday - Tuesday. The hotel is about 54 feet tall so it is not particular tall, but tall enough for some awesome views of downtown, surrounding hills, and Mount Tam. The seating area ,like the hotel, has modern upscale aesthetics with relaxed vibes. The views are gorgeous. The staff are sweethearts, five star service. The drinks and tapas menu price points are of course pricey. But what was up with the stained paper menus. Eww. Anyways, the fam ordered drinks (cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks) and tapas of olives, hummus and pita, and fingerling potatoes. The olives were delicious and it was a good medley of various kinds. The fingerling potatoes were a bit boring tasting, it could use more seasonings for added zing. Not sure how the green hummus tasted, I snoozed on that one. Overall, the drinks are good, ambiance fantastic, and the food is meh. This is a type of place I would go for special occasions and not on a regular basis, my wallet cannot sustain it.

I cannot believe this sweet bar has been here almost 28 years and I, a lifelong Marin resident,…read morenever came across it. Wandered in as we parked to grab some Mex food on the next block and wound up staying to watch the World Series. Great selection of beers on tap, especially loved the District 10 Shadows of Prague Black Lager. What an unusually delicious beer with the best aftertaste. Sadly, the very friendly and informative bartender said the brewery has gone under and we were drinking the last keg of this beer. (Note to self, some back soon to drain this keg!) Only reason I didn't give 5 stars is the cigarette smoke that seems to waft in as we were sitting at the bar. Yuck. Otherwise, what a fun experience. Check them out!

As "San Rafael" as a place gets. This spot has been a gathering place literally for generations…read more The best rotating selection of beers in Marin, wine for everyone's taste, pool and music in an intimate place with fun art. Cool side note, when the juke box isn't playing, it's vinyl classics on a legit tube amp! Many memories, friends and good times have been made and had here. They even throw kick ass street party concerts during late summer and fall.

Our favorite neighborhood spot for the best al pastor tacos North of Mexico City. The staff is…read moreattentive, the outdoor patio is alive and family/dog friendly, but most importantly the flavor shines. The brings truly authentic Mexican depth of flavor to every dish. Highly recommend stopping by after your next hike or bike ride through Fairfax.

Anna has a beautiful location, great food, and nice vibes with a killer kindness that makes me want…read moreto drive all the way back from Oakland for another round of those sweet potato quesadillas! I loved our time here on the patio, the joy, and the fun! Thank you Anna!

The food was absolutely amazing, the service was fast even though it was a hopping Saturday night,…read moreand the chefs were zipping through orders. Tye, our server, was friendly and kind and on top of refilling waters, offering drink suggestions, and grabbing to-go boxes before we even asked for them! I had the chicken parmigiana, which was light and flavorful, and the steamed spinach that went with it was delicious (and I HATE cooked spinach, but gave it a try and actually enjoyed it for the first time ever!) The andouille sausage that was served with the pesto risotto was smoked and you could really taste it, and the spicyness was just perfect. The pesto sauce was heavy on the pine nuts in the best way. It wasn't oily or heavy on the basil or garlic like a lot of pesto sauces can be, and that left the risotto so light and almost citrusy. My cousin had the harvest garden dish, and they were stunned by how delicious it was. As a vegetarian, they are particular about their veggies, but everything was 'perfectly cooked'. At the end of the meal we were surprised by the panna cotta with the fruit remoulade, which we devoured in like three minutes haha! We really enjoyed all of the food, the service, and the ambiance. We only wish we lived closer, but might make the 90+ mile trip from Sacramento just for the amazing food now and then.

stopped by for a quick bite after a long day of hiking and taking our doggies for an adventure. I…read moreordered the pesto fettuccine & had plenty of leftovers for me to take home. We sat outside the restaurant on the patio with plenty of shade. The service & staff were awesome, patient, and brought our dogs water unprompted. Such a thoughtful gesture. We also tried some corn bread at the time which was devoured by my husband, he was a big fan. Also ordered a margarita, was delicious, balanced, & crisp/refreshing. the bathrooms were clean, the dinner crowd was coming in as we were leaving & it looked lively. hoping to stop by again for future trips. 5 stars from me & the doggo

We so seldom come to Marin County, mostly because of the dreaded traffic through SF and then of…read morecourse the dreaded GGB traffic, but we were here for a birthday party in Larkspur and picked the Guesthouse after a little research. What a find! We loved everything about it. Here's how we dined: Skinny Marinny ( a nightly special and I don't remember what was in it, but it was good and not too sweet): 3.5 stars $16 EASY MONEY gin | basil | lime | grapefruit : Very tasty 4.5 stars $15.5 Oysters; 1Beau Soleil, 1 St. Simon: incredible fresh and briny, loved the cucumber granite. Special Tomato Salad: 4.5 stars $18 A very scant name for a delicious combo of rich and creamy buratta, heirloom tomatoes and a pesto dressing. Not really the best time of year to make tomatoes the star, but the combo brought out their best. Wood Grilled Duck: 5+ stars $47 I was a little worried that wood grilling might dry out the duck, but this was probably the best duck I've ever had. The leg was tender with crispy skin and the breast was wonderfully juicy, without being too rare. the fig compote on top was very earthy and not too sweet. I even liked the roasted carrots, and I rarely like cooked carrots. Wood Grilled Sword Fish: 5 stars $41 T ordered this it was roasted perfectly. the accompanying butterbeans with roasted tomatoes and shisito peppers was not at all over powering. The service was absolutely perfect! I wasn't exactly sure who did which job, because all the servers seemed to do everything. No one said that's not my table or not my job. Now that we know it's only a little over an hour away (if it's not rush hour), I think it might become a destination meal for us every so often. Food: 37/40 Service: 20/20 Atmosphere/intangibles: 18/20 Value: 18/20 Overall: 93/100

Underwhelming experience. Not sure why it's this packed (full house on a Saturday night) for the…read moretaste and value. It's definitely advertised as more high end American. My new york steak was $51.5. My husband got duck $46.5. Taste-wise, nothing was bad per se. Everything was just quite bland and unremarkable. Fries (that came with my steak) were pretty good. We also ordered separate truffle fries, which was good for sharing. They had a 'tonight's specials' menu. We tried the Kampachi crudo, which was very underwhelming. Pretty bland, small portion for $24 (4 small pieces). I don't feel like the seating set-up is super optimal for groups larger than 4. We had a group of 5 and we were put in a booth, it was pretty cramped and hard to hear (as it was pretty loud). Our servers were great, though. Good service throughout.

What a great way to spend a mid-week afternoon. Amazing views - great vibe / music - comfy sitting,…read morewith a laid back elegant ambiance. Our waiter was attentive - when asked he gave his favorites - and they did not disappoint. He was "Spot On"! We started our food journey with the Crab Empanadas - followed with one of the best Sea Bass entrées we've ever had. (The fish melts in your mouth w/ a sweet Asian fusion taste). The Chocolate cake was the perfect way to end our night. A must try when you go to Tiburon! P.s. after our meal we took a stroll and enjoyed the bay views. You may want to plan that in :)

Came for Mother's Day lunch with a party of 10 and was seated upstairs in the sunroom area. It was…read morea really nice room, especially with the sun shining and the SF skyline outside of the window. Service was fairly attentive - there was only one slight hiccup with one entree not coming out until around 5 minutes after everyone's dish so we had to wait. Pretty good selection of signature cocktails. The Liquid Gold was refreshing and not that strong. As for the food, we got the tartare, crab empanada, bungalow Benedict, and the phyllo crusted pork chop. The tartare was fresh and not fishy at all, but was missing some salt. Crab empanada was great. The cilantro avocado puree and aioli complemented the crab well. Eggs Benedict was standard. It was nice that it came with a model bakery English muffin, but nothing stood out. Pork chop was fried very well. Crispy exterior but soft inside. It was a pretty hefty cut as well. I expected more from the taverna fries but it seemed like standard frozen fries. The chimichurri sauce was good but had an aioli texture, which was weird but still good taste wise. To end, the butterscotch budino was fairly light and had a good sweetness. All in all, the lunch was still enjoyable especially with the view. I do wish there was that wow factor in some of the dishes to better match the price.

Amazing Italian spot. We both had great meals, awesome service, and overall great cozy experience…read more You likely need a reservation as it can be busy, but worth planning for it!

First it feels cozy and elegant at the same time. The kitchen is visible from the dining room. Chef…read moreDuilio is masterful at creating delicious dishes. I have gone three times recently and every time there is what feels like a special occasion to try an amazing special or dessert. Do not skip dessert. These are worth it in every way. Our servers were both excellent and attentive in the right way. My favorite dish is the pappardelle. I had the sea bass the last time which is my favorite dish. This is one of my favorite places to eat. Highly recommend.

Amélie Fairfax is such a gem in the neighborhood. The food is consistently excellent,. from the…read moreperfectly crispy frites and rich French onion soup to the fresh bread and thoughtfully curated wine list. Everything feels authentic and made with care. But what really sets this place apart is the people. The team is warm, welcoming, and genuinely makes you feel at home every time. It's my go-to for dinners with friends, special occasions or just when I want a solo night with my book. So lucky to have this spot nearby!

Only half-jokingly I used to say that Marin excels in ethnic restaurants from developed nations…read more If asked for specifics my response was France and Italy. Whatever we lacked in Korean or Ethiopian fare we made up for with an abundance of restaurants specializing in food from France and Italy. Amelie Cafe and Wine Bar continues the tradition and I'm not mad about it. With outposts in both San Francisco and New York City, Amelie sports a nice pedigree. The Fairfax location is dialed down a bit - perfect for the neighborhood it serves - and makes for a comfortable place to enjoy any meal however you might happen to appear that day. It's a simple cafe and, though not inexpensive, certainly less so than a trip to Paris. Two of us recently dined here, late afternoon on a weekend, sharing a burger ($23; comes with fries and a salad), a lager ($8; they have no IPA), and boquerones, the latter of which I fully regretted having to share. Whenever I see boquerones ($12) on a menu I cannot look away and in Marin, finding such an offering is a unicorn. Delicious; I might sneak back over solo just to enjoy them again. The burger and fries were also good, with a profile a bit different than what one would get at a non-French-centric spot. Amelie is a good place to drop in before or after a movie or a show in Fairfax and equally wonderful to pop into for a morning coffee drink or an afternoon glass of wine. It's a casual and a perfect fit for Fairfax.