9 Best Restaurants in Mill Valley, The Bay Area

The lines can get long at this hole-in-the-wall, no-frills kitchen, where Indian curries are served burrito-style while you wait. Punjabi burritos (in whole-wheat wraps) or rice plates come with savory lamb, chicken, salmon, rock shrimp, vegetarian, and vegan ingredients flavored with seasonal fruit chutneys, tamarind sauce, and aromatic blends. A few tables allow for inside or sidewalk dining, but most people take their burritos to go.

House-smoked meats, wood-grilled steaks, classic salads, and decadent desserts bring locals and visitors back again and again to this 1937 lodge–style roadhouse. Enjoy a Roadhouse martini at the cozy bar or sip local wine beside the river-rock fireplace. Outdoor dining now extends to a heated garden patio. The Buckeye Joe coffee kiosk offers drive-by java and pastries on weekday mornings.

A open, well-lit space inside with plant-printed wallpaper and a comforting fireplace sets the scene at this lively eatery. The menu features flavor inspirations from all across the globe, from shrimp and grits, to barramundi (a fish) in miso broth. Diners enjoy their meals in the sleek modern-meets-retro dining room with tufted leather booths or the covered outside patio.

This is the prime spot for a pick-me-up over a picturesque view of downtown Mill Valley and Mt. Tam. The owners are as serious about coffee as they are about social responsibility, from their fair-trade single-origin beans and organic loose teas down to the locally reclaimed redwood in the decor. With all this plus delicious gluten-free waffles, shakeratos (a cold espresso drink), wine, and beer, it's easy to see why locals go out of their way to make this a regular part of the day.

In business since 1964, La Ginestra—named for the flowers that grow on Mt. Vesuvius, in the owners' homeland—is a Mill Valley institution renowned for its no-pretense Italian meals and impressive wine list. Given that Naples is a primary inspiration for the menu, the handful of Neapolitan-style pizzas are certainly a highlight of any visit, as are the homemade tiramisu, spritzes, and barrel-aged Negroni cocktails.

In a cozy setting down a quiet alley with a beautiful brick-walled courtyard, peak seasonal ingredients are highlighted on the concise, well-composed menu that balances between being comforting and ambitious. Start with one of the beautifully fresh salads or local halibut ceviche before continuing on to a rustic yet refined main like duck breast with sweet potato hash and blackberry gastrique.

Busy D'Angelo's is known for its standout house-made pastas; there are even gluten-free options. Another draw is the scene, especially in the side bar area, which hosts a lively cocktail hour in the contemporary trattoria space. The restaurant encompasses a bright, main room with hardwood floors and white tablecloths and an inviting heated garden patio in the back.

Modern Mexican farm-to-table creations and inspired cocktails are the focus of this festive indoor-outdoor space that's popular for its firepit, made-to-order masa station, and happy hour. An open kitchen serves up locally sourced, organic, and sustainable dishes like ceviche, grilled fresh fish tacos, enchiladas with mole sauce, and braised pork quesadillas. 

A colorful, quirky lounge loaded with Latino tchotchkes, chatty patrons, agave margaritas, and bottles of hot sauce, Joe's is a fun place to go for cheap Mexican eats and a dive-bar-meets-living-room feel. A sizable street-food-influenced menu includes tacos, burritos, Mexican pizzas, and selections for kids of all ages.