21 Best Cocktail Bars near Novato

“My wife and I were first-time visitors. As we approached the restaurant, we were somewhat apprehensive given its location in a strip shopping center. Once we entered, we were pleasantly surprised by the quaint and cozy setting. Great ambiance, service, and the food was even better. The best thing was the butter cake for dessert, which evoked strong emotions in my wife and me. It was that good.“

“Food was really good and the wait staff was very friendly and helpful. Cute place. Good idea for decorations“

“Made a lunch stop with good friends. We had the restaurant almost to ourselves. Great decor and great service. I’ll be sure to go back if I’m ever in Novato!!“

“Great drinks and food. You will not be disappointed!“

“I work nearby, and finally had the opportunity to stop by and have an early evening cocktail. That was the best French 76 I have ever had! The bartenders were friendly and engaging, the music was interesting and fun, and sparked conversation between a few of us strangers at the bar. I love the atmosphere and decor; I think I'll be making more regular stops for sure!“

“Great time with Wes and Sam. Just stopped in from Mn on vacation and were welcomed by many locals. This place is a classic and is a must stop“

“Had lunch there today. I had a French dip sandwich made of prime rib.. I had the sandwich, packed with prime rib, plus au jus. The fun was crispy, but not ready. As a side, they provided tater tots, which I happen to love. I asked if I could also have a side of coleslaw, which was delicious and was added without charge. It was about the best French dip that I’ve ever had in 67 years. The bun was crispy, but not heavy. Dipped into the au jus, it was heaven.They are good hearted people, and they should be patronized.“

“While visiting Marin County on a Thursday, local bartenders recommended Mac’s in Fairfax. They’re open pretty late and have both indoor and outdoor seating. They also have a stage where it looks like they have live music. We came later on closer to midnight and it looked like many locals go there to hang out for a drink. They have a full bar and many cocktail menus. There’s street parking and people can bring their dogs inside!“

“Above Fifth is the rooftop bar of the AC Hotel in San Rafael, CA. The hotel is part of the Marriott hotel franchise. Yes, a franchise hotel is in downtown San Rafael. Times are a changin'.

Anyways, the bar is open 4pm-11pm Wednesday-Sunday, closed on Monday - Tuesday. The hotel is about 54 feet tall so it is not particular tall, but tall enough for some awesome views of downtown, surrounding hills, and Mount Tam. The seating area, like the hotel, has modern upscale aesthetics with relaxed vibes.

The views are gorgeous. The staff are sweethearts, five star service. The drinks and tapas menu price points are of course pricey. But what was up with the stained paper menus. Eww. Anyways, the fam ordered drinks (cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks) and tapas of olives, hummus and pita, and fingerling potatoes. The olives were delicious and it was a good medley of various kinds. The fingerling potatoes were a bit boring tasting, it could use more seasonings for added zing. Not sure how the green hummus tasted, I snoozed on that one.

Overall, the drinks are good, ambiance fantastic, and the food is meh. This is a type of place I would go for special occasions and not on a regular basis, my wallet cannot sustain it.“

“Very good food and good service. Great atmosphere.“

“Everything was fabulous! So excited that Luma is open!“

“Love what they’ve done with the place ! The huevos rancheros is awesome“

“Everything was So good! There were 15 of us and we all enjoyed everything“

“I Came Here Once Cuz This Is the Spot Where All Coasties Go to Party n Vibe... I Like the Spot... Its a Mixed Crowd n I Mean Very Mixed... But Everyone Is Having a Good Time... Good Vibes... Good Music and a Dance Floor... I Vibed Out With My Peoples and Others While Everyone Being Respectful... Can Vape Or Smoke Out Back... If Your a Coastie Like Me Your Destined for a Good Time Cuz It Will Be People There Uuu Didnt Expect To See... Most Popular Spot Around I Here... I Can Understand Why...“

“Hand crafted quality you can taste. Get it while you can, this is going to go fast! Local distilling at its finest. Awesome tasting room and tour!“

“Easily one of the best restaurants in town. It's dimly lit and there's a great local vibe about. I guess I'll never not get nervous when an attractive lady sits next to me. I'm just happy that I didn't spill my drink. Maybe if she wasn't so attached to her phone I could have made eye contact. Great Chicken Sammy. The fries were a bit salty but the barkeeps were the bomb. Keep up the good works folks!“

“The view and atmosphere are fantastic here. The food is delicious and the staff are all friendly and fun. I highly recommend Ayawaska!“

“From the moment we crossed the threshold, we were folded into the kind of hospitality that feels less like service and more like being invited into someone's home—if that home happened to have a kitchen staffed by culinary magicians.
David, our server, moved through the evening with the rare combination of attentiveness and ease, reading the rhythm of our meal perfectly. Even when we didn't need him, he was a pleasure to watch—gliding through the restaurant with his own distinctive cadence, part walk, part dance, entirely his own.
But let's talk about the food. The trout and avocado dip arrived as a study in balance—savory, impossibly creamy, with neither the delicate trout nor the richness of the avocado overwhelming the other. Scooped up with their house-made chips, it was the kind of starter that sets the tone for everything to follow.
Then came the Delicata squash rings—golden halos of autumn, each one a perfect balance of sweet squash and caramelized edges.
The French onion soup deserves its own paragraph. Too often, this classic arrives as a salt bomb with rubbery onions lurking beneath a cheese raft. Not here. The base was rich but measured, letting the sweetness of perfectly cooked onions shine through—tender, never stringy or chewy. The bread and cheese on top? They melted into the broth like a dream.
The Branzino for two was revelation. Buttery flesh, skin so perfectly crisped it flaked at the touch of a fork, each bite elevated by those addictive Parker House rolls that begged to be torn apart and dragged through every last bit of butter on the plate.
And then the St. Honoré tart—crowned with three perfectly golden choux buns, each bite revealing layers of pastry and cream with caramel notes that lingered long after the last forkful disappeared.
This is the kind of meal you remember not just for what you ate, but for how it made you feel: utterly, completely satisfied. We will be coming back.“

“The atmosphere of this newly decorated restaurant is beyond what I had expected! Its classy and very modern! The food is really good and the staff are really friendly and very warm! The Spicy Pear margarita is THE BOMB!“

“an excellent place to have a good wine or a cold beer. Nice place.“

“Beautiful establishment with friendly service and a nice beverage selection. However, their food left me desiring more—their peaches weren’t ripe enough and very hard, and their Greek salad seemed more like an arugula/ onion salad with small amounts of tomato and cheese.“