My Favorite Cafes in Marin County
From fresh croissants, seasonal quiches + carefully curated coffees, these are the cafes that rank at the top of my list for when you are wanting to enjoy the best Marin has to offer.
With so many charming towns in Marin, we are blessed to have many locally-owned cafes to choose from. Whether it’s to enjoy an early morning coffee or a late lunch, it’s important to know where to go for fresh ingredients & a cozy environment. Checkout my list below of the best cafes in Marin and let them know that Megan from The Spoonlist sent you!
1. Creekside Bakery
Novato
There is a reason that Creekside Bakery has been in business for over 40 years. This family owned bakery + cafe on Grant Avenue in Novato has a menu that truly will have you drooling. Their focus on local + seasonal ingredients, along with their attention to quality is what sets them a part in my opinion.
Not only do they offer a tasty assortment of freshly made pastries, they even have an ENTIRE cake menu. So you know they are the real deal.
And while I absolutely love their weekend Cinnamon Roll special and beloved Princess Cake, something savory on the menu is probably my #1 must-order item here. The Breakfast Sandwich. I might even say that this is the best breakfast sandwich that I’ve ever had. The soft scramble eggs, ripe avocado + Point Reyes Toma Cheese on a grilled milk bun is something that just melts in your mouth. But make sure to add their bacon or homemade sage pork sausage if you want to say “wow” after your first bite.
I have such great memories of coming here with my mom after the library across the creek & savoring every last bite of a sprinkle butter cookie. It’s so fun being able to come back 30+ years later and create the same memories with my family!
2. Le Marais Bakery
Marin Country Mart (Larkspur)+ Mill Valley
You know those places that just teleport you right back to that feeling from a favorite trip? That is how I feel about my visits to Paris every time I walk into a Le Marais Bakery, either at their Marin Country Mart or Mill Valley location. The intoxicating smell of fresh croissants, authentically French interior design & tastefully curated menus makes this restaurant concept one of most special in the county.
The owners, Patrick & Joanna Ascaso, have paid a true homage to Patrick’s childhood boulangerie. You can tell in both the taste and the presentations that this culinary team is leveraging classic, French culinary techniques. Their plain & chocolate croissants are absolutely my favorite in the entire county. Pair either of these with a coffee from their barista to complete this morning treat.
When heading to Le Marais Bakery for lunch, I usually am deciding between their French Onion Soup, Bistro Board (pick 5 items to create a custom breakfast board), Crepe (Marin Country Mart location), or the Spicy Crab Benedict.
You can even order their Chocolate Croissants or Plain Croissants from Williams Sonoma to keep in your freezer at home. Imagine taking these out to welcome special guests in the morning - what a treat!
They don’t take reservations, so just ensure to give yourself enough time on the weekends - as those days tend to be busier.
3. Comforts
San Anselmo
When you close your eyes and think of Marin County, downtown San Anselmo is probably one of the first places that comes to mind. With its’ charming main street of San Anselmo Avenue lined with local restaurants, shops & cafes, this town is easy to lose track of time in.
And if you are a local to Marin, there is a 9.9/10 chance that you have enjoyed the infamous Chinese Chicken Salad or Chicken Okasan from Comfort’s Cafe. (local’s tip: if you order the salad vs one of their grab-and-go options, swap out the regular chicken for Chicken Okasan. You will thank me later) To me, this salad is one of the meals that represents Marin - fresh, nutritious and comforting. When it comes to the best cafes in Marin County, Comforts is always at the top of the list and with almost 40 years under their belt - clearly they’ve figured it out!
They recently went through a full renovation of both their sit-down cafe and marketplace. The new design is such a fresh & modern taken on an everyday cafe. I highly recommend trying to stop by on a warm, sunny day after hiking at Phoenix Lake so you can enjoy your meal in their umbrella covered parklet.
4. Kitchen Novato
Novato
If you follow me on my instagram @thespoonlist, then you’ve probably picked up that I like to use the word ‘gem’ to describe a special place. Well, Kitchen Novato is truly the ‘gem’ of Novato. And so is its’ owner, Debbi Keith, who has been in the food industry for too many years to count.
Tucked away in the “hangers” at Hamilton Landing in Novato, you will find this homey-European style cafe in the middle of an office park. When you visit here, you will always get a warm welcome and smile by the staff. You’ll also start to notice how many regulars come in for their daily coffee + pastry, or to pickup their lunch to bring back to their office just across the parking lot.
Some of my favorite items to order are: The Tri-Tip Sandwich, Pupusa Benedict & their seasonal Egg Bites.
If you really love their food, you actually can hire Kitchen for catering a special event! Debbie has been in the catering business for years in the Bay Area, and truly loves working with her team + clients to bring your event to life through her food. Be it a catered office lunch, graduation party or birthday party - this is your one stop shop.
5. M&H Butter
San Anselmo
Last but certainly not least is M&H Butter, also located in downtown San Anselmo. Only a couple blocks off of the main area of San Anselmo Avenue, you will find this deliciously high quality & extremely cozy cafe. If I told you that the owner, Nathan Yanko, was previously a master baker at Tartine Bakery in San Francisco, is there really anything more that I need to say??
This menu is always one of the hardest for me to order from because everything always sounds so freaking GOOD. The chefs lean into each season to bring their customers new dishes to explore, along with keeping their ‘tried and true’ options.
Between the Shakshuka or one of their many ‘Toasts’ to choose from, this is a go-to place to bring visitors to give them an authentic Marin experience.
So, which cafe in Marin County will you go to the next time you are wanting to grab breakfast, brunch or just a “because-I-deserve-it’ scone?