Guidebook for San Rafael
Essentials
This is no 7-11: it has nice produce, quality food and a good butcher, plus tasty prepared foods.
8 locals recommend
Santa Venetia Market
71 San Pablo AveThis is no 7-11: it has nice produce, quality food and a good butcher, plus tasty prepared foods.
United States Postal Service
4083 24th StA few minutes walk from our house.
Food Scene
Coffee shop with a Mediterranean-leaning lunch menu. Comfortable place to hang out or absorb yourself in the wifi.
18 locals recommend
Aroma Cafe
1122 4th StCoffee shop with a Mediterranean-leaning lunch menu. Comfortable place to hang out or absorb yourself in the wifi.
Puerto Rican cuisine; everything is tasty and the atmosphere is warm, communal and casual.
226 locals recommend
Sol Food
903 Lincoln AvePuerto Rican cuisine; everything is tasty and the atmosphere is warm, communal and casual.
Bogie's Too
1335 4th StOur quirky neighborhood restaurant; breakfast and lunch; American cuisine.
Homey, family run, neighborhood Basque restaurant. Lunch and dinner.
8 locals recommend
Le Chalet Basque Restaurant
405 N San Pedro RdHomey, family run, neighborhood Basque restaurant. Lunch and dinner.
Gaspare's Pizzeria Ristorante
200 Merrydale RdGood Italian food and bar; dinner.
Thursday Marin Farmers' Market
5800 Ave of the FlagsAmazing food sold by friendly farmers and vendors.
Amazing food sold by friendly farmers and vendors.
37 locals recommend
The Sunday Marin Farmers Market
3501 Civic Center DrAmazing food sold by friendly farmers and vendors.
Drinks & Nightlife
Bar, music venue and restaurant-- together or separately: the bar has additional seating away from the music, so that you can audit the music while talking with your companion(s). It's a great place.
18 locals recommend
Fenix Restaurant and Bar
919 4th StBar, music venue and restaurant-- together or separately: the bar has additional seating away from the music, so that you can audit the music while talking with your companion(s). It's a great place.
Arts & Culture
Civic Center Library
3501 Civic Center DrA few minutes walk from our house, in the Marin Civic Center.
Entertainment & Activities
Art house, Art Deco inspired, independent repertory film theater.
38 locals recommend
Smith Rafael Film Center
1118 4th StArt house, Art Deco inspired, independent repertory film theater.
Parks & Nature
The Civic Center features a huge man-made pond, inhabited by ducks, geese and other waterfowl, a lovely park, a pétanque court, a children's playground and the historic, Frank Lloyd Wright designed Civic Center.
24 locals recommend
County of Marin
3501 Civic Center DrThe Civic Center features a huge man-made pond, inhabited by ducks, geese and other waterfowl, a lovely park, a pétanque court, a children's playground and the historic, Frank Lloyd Wright designed Civic Center.
On the other side of San Pedro Mountain, on the shore of San Pablo Bay. It includes a historic Chinese American shrimp-fishing village and a salt marsh. It has wonderful hiking and mountain biking trails, scenic views, and open spaces.
87 locals recommend
China Camp State Park
101 Peacock Gap TrailOn the other side of San Pedro Mountain, on the shore of San Pablo Bay. It includes a historic Chinese American shrimp-fishing village and a salt marsh. It has wonderful hiking and mountain biking trails, scenic views, and open spaces.
Behind our neighborhood; trails lead to the ridge, which offers expansive views of forests & eagles.
San Pedro Mountain Open Space Preserve
Behind our neighborhood; trails lead to the ridge, which offers expansive views of forests & eagles.
Shopping
Copperfield's Books
1200 4th StBookstore and coffee shop.
A large shopping mall with a movie theater: shopatnorthgate.com. Two other, smaller malls are adjacent, which include a grocery store, restaurants, etc. Together, they feature most stores that you might need.
26 locals recommend
Northgate
5800 Northgate DrA large shopping mall with a movie theater: shopatnorthgate.com. Two other, smaller malls are adjacent, which include a grocery store, restaurants, etc. Together, they feature most stores that you might need.