Marin Favorite Things to See and Do
Food scene
Amazing Italian restaurant with wood fired pizzas. Just a 5 mins walk down Magnolia from the cottage. Great dinner spot with plenty of outdoor seating and heat lamps for those chilly mountain evenings.
80 locals recommend
Picco Restaurant
320 Magnolia AveAmazing Italian restaurant with wood fired pizzas. Just a 5 mins walk down Magnolia from the cottage. Great dinner spot with plenty of outdoor seating and heat lamps for those chilly mountain evenings.
This is a locals favorite, and can get quite busy on the weekends. They have homemade fruit empanadas (peach, apple)… that sell out fast. Great brunch spot.
20 locals recommend
Farm House Local
25 Ward StThis is a locals favorite, and can get quite busy on the weekends. They have homemade fruit empanadas (peach, apple)… that sell out fast. Great brunch spot.
One of our favorite take out Thai places. Haven’t yet dined in but it’s a cute spot that’s less than a 5 mins drive away.
16 locals recommend
R'Noh Thai Restaurant
1000 Magnolia AveOne of our favorite take out Thai places. Haven’t yet dined in but it’s a cute spot that’s less than a 5 mins drive away.
Amazing Mediterranean food, excellent service, often busy in the evenings. We recommend making a reservation. They also have prepared food for takeout. Must try their house made focaccia and eggplant fries!
46 locals recommend
Insalata's
120 Sir Francis Drake BlvdAmazing Mediterranean food, excellent service, often busy in the evenings. We recommend making a reservation. They also have prepared food for takeout. Must try their house made focaccia and eggplant fries!
Another authentic Italian restaurant less than 10 mins walk from the cottage. Casual with indoor and outdoor seating. Great lunch or dinner spot.
7 locals recommend
Roma Antica
286 Magnolia AveAnother authentic Italian restaurant less than 10 mins walk from the cottage. Casual with indoor and outdoor seating. Great lunch or dinner spot.
Healthy juice and snack spot, great for grab ‘n go options. There’s cute outdoor seating too!
18 locals recommend
Urban Remedy
34 Miller AveHealthy juice and snack spot, great for grab ‘n go options. There’s cute outdoor seating too!
Shopping
This is an incredible one-stop-shop for all your shopping needs. There’s 40 stores nestled in this waterfront open-air mart featuring incredible brands like Jenny Kayne, The Real Real and Hero Shop. There’s wonderful dining options (casual to elegant). If you’re in need of a little self care or health boost, check out Yoga Love, Mighty Pilates, and International Orange (spa). This is a family friendly place with a farmers market on Saturday mornings and live music for the kiddos. A great place to walk around and enjoy the sunshine, and maybe take care of an errand or two. Plenty of free parking in the lots surrounding the mart.
45 locals recommend
Marin Country Mart
2257 Larkspur Landing CirThis is an incredible one-stop-shop for all your shopping needs. There’s 40 stores nestled in this waterfront open-air mart featuring incredible brands like Jenny Kayne, The Real Real and Hero Shop. There’s wonderful dining options (casual to elegant). If you’re in need of a little self care or health boost, check out Yoga Love, Mighty Pilates, and International Orange (spa). This is a family friendly place with a farmers market on Saturday mornings and live music for the kiddos. A great place to walk around and enjoy the sunshine, and maybe take care of an errand or two. Plenty of free parking in the lots surrounding the mart.
Neighborhoods
Some of our favorite towns closeby and worth checking out
Really beautiful mountain town adjacent Larkspur. If driving from town, take Magnolia Ave to Corte Madera Ave to enjoy a scenic route with views of the water and San Francisco. Watch out for wild turkeys, dear and coyotes :)
Once in Mill Valley get lost in the redwoods, grab a coffee at equator, tour the beautiful library nestled in the redwoods, hike Dawn Falls trail, and enjoy wonderful shopping and a meal at any of the restaurants there.
76 locals recommend
Mill Valley
Really beautiful mountain town adjacent Larkspur. If driving from town, take Magnolia Ave to Corte Madera Ave to enjoy a scenic route with views of the water and San Francisco. Watch out for wild turkeys, dear and coyotes :)
Once in Mill Valley get lost in the redwoods, grab a coffee at equator, tour the beautiful library nestled in the redwoods, hike Dawn Falls trail, and enjoy wonderful shopping and a meal at any of the restaurants there.
A small coastal community with a cute stretch of shops, incredible views of the Bay and San Francisco, and plenty of restaurants to keep you entertained. There’s a historic theatre we have yet to go to but have heard great things about it. We usually love cycling from our house to Tiburon, stretching out on the grass and enjoying the sun. It can get a little overcast or windy there so check the weather and dress in layers! Typically a good rule of thumb for the Bay Area in general.
53 locals recommend
Tiburon
A small coastal community with a cute stretch of shops, incredible views of the Bay and San Francisco, and plenty of restaurants to keep you entertained. There’s a historic theatre we have yet to go to but have heard great things about it. We usually love cycling from our house to Tiburon, stretching out on the grass and enjoying the sun. It can get a little overcast or windy there so check the weather and dress in layers! Typically a good rule of thumb for the Bay Area in general.
Another quaint mountain town just 10 minutes from Larkspur. There’s something for everyone here! Rent a bike across the street and cycle along the bike route though tree lined streets. San Anselmo is surrounded by different hillsides, it has great sunny weather, and a lot of hidden gems in the main shopping district. Great place to spend the day or an evening out.
31 locals recommend
San Anselmo
Another quaint mountain town just 10 minutes from Larkspur. There’s something for everyone here! Rent a bike across the street and cycle along the bike route though tree lined streets. San Anselmo is surrounded by different hillsides, it has great sunny weather, and a lot of hidden gems in the main shopping district. Great place to spend the day or an evening out.
Coffee & Bakeries
Our favorite bakeries (plus other goodies)
A Marin favorite, Equator on Magnolia is nestled under the redwoods and along a popular bicycle route. It gets busy on weekend mornings which gives it a nice bustling feel for an a otherwise quiet mountain town. Get your coffee to go and stroll into the redwoods after. (Plenty of free parking in the back)
142 locals recommend
Equator Coffees
2 Miller AveA Marin favorite, Equator on Magnolia is nestled under the redwoods and along a popular bicycle route. It gets busy on weekend mornings which gives it a nice bustling feel for an a otherwise quiet mountain town. Get your coffee to go and stroll into the redwoods after. (Plenty of free parking in the back)
A slightly longer walk but beautiful nonetheless, Rustic is a really good bakery with espresso drinks as well. They serve a great avocado toast and other more substantial items. Grab and go or enjoy outdoor seating (pretty limited but we always seem to find a spot). Their almond croissants are amazing!!
77 locals recommend
Rustic Bakery
2017 Larkspur Landing CirA slightly longer walk but beautiful nonetheless, Rustic is a really good bakery with espresso drinks as well. They serve a great avocado toast and other more substantial items. Grab and go or enjoy outdoor seating (pretty limited but we always seem to find a spot). Their almond croissants are amazing!!
If you’re looking for authentic Italian desserts this is your place! You’ll find the locals come here, sip on their cappuccinos while reading the paper. It almost feels like stepping into Italy.
28 locals recommend
Emporio Rulli
464 Magnolia AveIf you’re looking for authentic Italian desserts this is your place! You’ll find the locals come here, sip on their cappuccinos while reading the paper. It almost feels like stepping into Italy.
Family friendly, dog friendly French cafe. Great chai, baked goods and breakfast!
8 locals recommend
Le Marais Bakery
East Blithedale AvenueFamily friendly, dog friendly French cafe. Great chai, baked goods and breakfast!
Less than a 10 mins drive from the cottage (or 15 mins bike ride) this bakery is one of the best! Try their almond croissants, any of their baked goods or breakfasts. There’s outdoor dining. Lines get longer on the weekends so plan to have a nice loungy morning here.
60 locals recommend
M.H.Bread and Butter
101 San Anselmo AveLess than a 10 mins drive from the cottage (or 15 mins bike ride) this bakery is one of the best! Try their almond croissants, any of their baked goods or breakfasts. There’s outdoor dining. Lines get longer on the weekends so plan to have a nice loungy morning here.
Hikes
Our favorite hikes and nature spots close to home
If you need a breather, take a right on Madrone Ave and find yourself under endless redwoods. This also leads you to some of the most epic trails along Mt Tam.
Baltimore Canyon
If you need a breather, take a right on Madrone Ave and find yourself under endless redwoods. This also leads you to some of the most epic trails along Mt Tam.
Take Madrone Ave to access Dawn Falls trail. This is a great trail that loops and leads to a number of other Mt Tam trails with views. Bring your hiking shoes!
Dawn Falls Trailhead
Dawn Falls TrailTake Madrone Ave to access Dawn Falls trail. This is a great trail that loops and leads to a number of other Mt Tam trails with views. Bring your hiking shoes!
You can either drive to mill valley or make your way from Larkspur on foot along Blithedale Summit Trailhead to get to Dipsea, one of the most iconic trails in Mill Valley.
31 locals recommend
Dipsea Trail Head
98 Cascade WayYou can either drive to mill valley or make your way from Larkspur on foot along Blithedale Summit Trailhead to get to Dipsea, one of the most iconic trails in Mill Valley.
Walk from the neighborhood, along a fire road to access King Mountain Loop. It takes about 1 1/2 hrs to do the complete loop. Perfect for an early morning or evening mid afternoon hike. The start/end is pretty exposed so good idea to wear sunscreen. Most of the actual trail is under a canopy of redwoods. Enjoy stunning views of Tam, the Bay, San Quentin, East Bay. We’ve heard there’s poison oak so better to stay on the path.
King Mountain Loop Trail
King Mountain Loop TrailWalk from the neighborhood, along a fire road to access King Mountain Loop. It takes about 1 1/2 hrs to do the complete loop. Perfect for an early morning or evening mid afternoon hike. The start/end is pretty exposed so good idea to wear sunscreen. Most of the actual trail is under a canopy of redwoods. Enjoy stunning views of Tam, the Bay, San Quentin, East Bay. We’ve heard there’s poison oak so better to stay on the path.
Recreation
Walk across the street to the local bike shop. Rent an electric / pedal assist bike (regular or mountain) and go on an epic Marin adventure!
Larkspur Bike Shop
556 Magnolia AvenueWalk across the street to the local bike shop. Rent an electric / pedal assist bike (regular or mountain) and go on an epic Marin adventure!
A beautiful park with views of Tam, a walking/running path along Corte Madera Creek, plenty of greenery, picnic tables, and tennis courts.
7 locals recommend
Piper Park
250 Doherty DrA beautiful park with views of Tam, a walking/running path along Corte Madera Creek, plenty of greenery, picnic tables, and tennis courts.
Rent a paddle board or kayak and paddle along San Rafael Creek. Staff are super friendly and helpful. Let them know your skill level and what kind of activity and they’ll get you on the water! They also have classes (surfing, windsurfing).
8 locals recommend
101 Surf Sports San Rafael
115 3rd StRent a paddle board or kayak and paddle along San Rafael Creek. Staff are super friendly and helpful. Let them know your skill level and what kind of activity and they’ll get you on the water! They also have classes (surfing, windsurfing).
We love launching our paddle boards from here. It’s also a wonderful park with bocce courts, grassy area, small sandy beach, and close to some of our favorite Sausalito shops (Karl the Shop, Equator, Bar Bocce, Joinery)
8 locals recommend
Dunphy Park
Napa StreetWe love launching our paddle boards from here. It’s also a wonderful park with bocce courts, grassy area, small sandy beach, and close to some of our favorite Sausalito shops (Karl the Shop, Equator, Bar Bocce, Joinery)