10 Best Restaurants in The Bay Area, California

Take a short trek north on Highway 1 to the gritty mecca of Bay Area oysters—the Hog Island Marshall Oyster Farm. Here, the Boat Oyster Bar is an informal outdoor café that serves raw and grilled oysters, local snacks, and tasty beverages. Every afternoon it's open, the dining patio area feels like a carefree party with some of Northern California's greatest wines, oysters, and cheeses. Ninety-minute oyster farm tours ($40) are also available.

Rotisserie meats and veggies sourced from local farms steal the show at this former mid-20th-century truck stop and diner. It's a go-to for tri-tip and pork belly sandwiches or house-seasoned roasted chicken, best eaten with a host of sides, sips, and sweets, like crispy Parmesan Brussels sprouts, New Orleans–style cold brew coffee, and butterscotch pudding. Colorful Iris Hockenos mural art adorns the remodeled café, which has countertop dining indoors and a welcoming patio and picnic table seating outdoors.

The Station House Café has been a stalwart venue for local music and a staunch supporter of local farms and food artisans. The community-centric eatery serves a blend of modern and classic California dishes comprised of organic seasonal ingredients, sustainable hormone-free meats, and wild-caught seafood. Creative and classic cocktails are a bonus here—a great way to wind down the day after lots of hiking or kayaking.

It's oyster bliss at this very friendly daytime restaurant along Tomales Bay. There are a few indoor seats, but the in-demand spots are on the outside deck, where heaters keep guests somewhat warm even on the chilliest days. It's the restaurant wing of the Tomales Bay Oyster Company, so every table has one or more kind of oyster preparation (grilled, smoked, or raw). House-smoked fish and meats as plates or sandwiches round out the menu since it's probably best not to only eat oysters for lunch.

Sunny patio seating, hand-tossed pizza, and organic local ingredients are the selling points of this laid-back café. The semi-industrial dining room, built around a brick oven, features glazed concrete floors, warm-painted walls, and ceilings high enough to accommodate full-size market umbrellas. The outdoor patio's picnic tables are a wonderful choice for seating if the weather cooperates. 

A convivial atmosphere and local, sustainable culinary provisions make this classic Point Reyes tavern a favorite stop among locals. Refurbished and modernized since its days as a horse-and-wagon stop in the 1860s, it now has a farm-to-fork seasonal menu including American classics from burgers and brick-roasted chicken to seafood specialties like cioppino and fish-and-chips. A wonderful collection of historic photos line the walls of the relaxing, airy space. There's seating indoors, outdoors, or at the bar, which rotates local beers on tap and serves up riffs on classic cocktails alongside select regional wines.

For a true taste of local culture, this sisters-owned venture welcomes you to relax, sip some wine, and enjoy the flavors and scene Bolinas is known for, from the town's laid-back lifestyle and quirky decor to the natural beauty and the fresh coastal air. The wine bar and bistro's short but ever-changing creative and thoughtful Californian-Italian menus change daily and reflect the richness of this region's foodshed—considered one of the nation's most diverse.

An organic oasis, this deli, restaurant, and taproom offers a true taste of the Point Reyes foodshed. Classic sandwiches, breakfast bites, burritos, grilled Niman Ranch beef, wild-caught salmon, and vegan burgers are all prepared with fresh local ingredients. Rotating specials abound throughout the week, including weekend oysters and fish-and-chips. IP Market is committed to conserving the area's energy and limited water resources, as shown by the solar tube lighting, the fully compostable tableware used in the taproom, and the no-flush toilets.

Oysters shucked moments after they're taken out of Tomales Bay and French and California wines sourced from minimal-intervention small producers are the keystones of this neighborhood oyster bar. With indoor and outdoor patio seating and a creative menu, this spot makes for a welcome post-hike or post-beach indulgence. True to the spirit of the region, it's dedicated to sustainable farming, foraging, and fishing. Locals swear the oysters here are as fresh as it gets. 

A renovated hay barn off the main drag houses this collection of upscale food shops, which showcase local organic fruits and vegetables, premium packaged foods, and an international selection of exquisite cheeses. Cowgirl Creamery cheese is made on-site. Grab some before you head to Cowgirl Cantina for creative sandwiches, salads, and soups you can enjoy inside the café or in the outdoor picnic area.