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The best restaurants in Sausalito, California for a waterfront lunch with friends, a romantic date night, or anything in between.
Sausalito, California is the charming town on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco.
With hordes of hungry tourists pouring off the ferry and jumping off bikes every day, Sausalito is accustomed to serving up sustenance with style.
And just because Sausalito looks like a town on the Italian Riviera with astonishing views of the bay from almost every bar and restaurant, don’t assume you’re walking into a tourist trap.
In Sausalito, you can enjoy the view and great quality food without compromise.
You may also assume the best food in town is seafood, due to its position overlooking the water, but again, you’d be wrong.
Sausalito restaurants cater to all palates, from quality Mexican taquerias to comforting All-American breakfast fare. Of course, the fresh seafood served from waterfront restaurants looking out to San Francisco is top-notch, too.
So, whether you’re hoping to spend a romantic evening cozying up by a fire pit, looking for a vegan wrap to fuel your Marin hike, or you’re just here for the fish tacos, this is our round-up of Sausalito’s hottest spots and local favorites.
Note: this post contains affiliate links, which help run this site at no extra cost to you so I can keep providing free travel adviceand tips.
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Table of Contents
Hamburgers
Address: 737 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone number: (415) 332-9471
Cuisine: American
Best for: Lunch
Yep, this place is simply named Hamburgers.
There are always lines out the door for this burger joint, which cooks everything to order on a giant rotary grill. The burgers are juicy and satisfying and the fries are hot and crisp.
There’s limited seating indoors, but I prefer heading across the road to the little Plaza Viña Del Mar Park or finding a bench on the waterfront to eat with a view. Just watch out for the seagulls, they’re super sneaky and also love burgers!
Hamburgers is located near the ferry terminal in downtown Sausalito, so just follow your nose to the tiny storefront. No reservations are required, just turn up and wait.
Copita Tequileria y Comida
Address: 739 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone number: (415) 331-7400
Cuisine: Mexican
Best for: Lunch
Copita Tequileria y Comida is Mexican food done right with fresh, balanced flavors. The real star of the show though is the extensive tequila menu, with over 100 different types behind the bar.
Copita Tequileria y Comida was created by celebrity chef Joanne Weir and Larry Mindel, who has enjoyed a successful 40-year career in California’s restaurant industry.
Their popular Sausalito Mexican restaurant is open daily for lunch, dinner, and brunch (on weekends).
The small plates here are ideal to pair with a few co*cktails, tapas-style. The refreshing margaritas are a welcome thirst-quencher if you’ve just cycled across the Golden Gate Bridge.
If you’re hungry, one of the slow-cooked enchiladas or carnitas is perfect on a chilly Sausalito evening. All their organic tortillas are handmade and there’s an extensive taco menu.
In addition to indoor seating, there’s a heated patio for outdoor dining or you can take a seat at the bar.
Make a reservation here, or if you prefer to get food to-go, take-out co*cktail to-go-kits are available in addition to your order. Oh, and Copita Tequileria is 100% gluten-free!
Sushi Ran
Address: 107 Caledonia Street Sausalito, CA
Phone number: (415) 332-3620
Cuisine: Japanese
Best for: Lunch and dinner
Sausalito’s top-rated Japanese-California fusion restaurant, Sushi Ran, serves delicious sushi sourced either locally or from the best Tokyo markets.
The slivers of jewel-colored fish are so beautifully presented that you’ll be whipping out your phone at every course.
Given the innovative cuisine and modern interior, you might think this is a brand new enterprise, but surprise – Sushi Ran has been one of the best places to eat in Sausalito for 33 years!
It’s also the only restaurant in Sausalito to get a mention in the Michelin Guide, and it’s regularly mentioned in round-up lists of the best sushi restaurants in California.
A sushi or sashimi plate is a good move, paired with sake from the extensive wine list, but the dumplings are pretty good too.
Currently, there’s no sitting at the sushi bar but there are a few tables indoors and more seating outside on the cozy patio.
Walk-ins are accepted, but be sure to make a reservation on a weekend night.
Bar Bocce
Address: 1250 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone number: (415) 331-0555
Cuisine: Italian
Best for: Lunch and dinner
Hang out with friends on a sunny day with a beer and a game of bocce ball at this popular waterfront restaurant in Sausalito.
Bar Bocce is located right on the beach with superb views over Richardson Bay.
Beachside benches serve as an overflow when the covered patio area gets too crowded on a weekend, or many drinkers simply find themselves a spot on the warm sand.
The Italian-inspired menu has some great small bites that go well with a cold one, like the crispy artichokes and marinated olives.
Make sure to save some space for dessert though, especially the warm vanilla bread pudding, which is perfect to ward off a chilly evening.
On the drinks menu, wine is a popular beverage but their signature sangria pairs perfectly with a sunny afternoon on the sand.
If you’re hoping to impress someone, take your date to Bar Bocce as the sun goes down and cozy up by the fire pit to watch the sunset over the harbor.
You can share a crispy sourdough pizza and watch the sailboats glide by, just try not to get too competitive on the bocce court.
Bar Bocce doesn’t take reservations, this is a first-come-first-served kind of place. And be warned, spaces by the fire pit disappear quickly on a Saturday night.
Fred’s Coffee Shop
Address: 1917 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Contact info: (415) 332-4575
Cuisine: American
Best for: Breakfast and brunch
Head to longtime locals favorite, Fred’s Coffee Shop for the best breakfast in Sausalito before your Marin County adventures. Expect delicious food, friendly service, and plenty of coffee.
Fred’s signature dishes are the deep-fried French toast, the sweet Millionaire’s bacon, and eggs benedict.
Inside the restaurant, communal tables add to the cozy family vibe or you can sit at the counter. You can also ask for outdoor seating on the street and watch the world go by.
This restaurant is primarily a breakfast spot and there are lines out the door on a weekend morning.
If you’re here for lunch, however, you should try the open-faced smoked salmon sandwich or turkey mozzarella sandwich.
And if Fred’s is too busy, try Lighthouse Café instead, which is also a local favorite and competes for the title of best brunch in Sausalito.
Scoma’s Sausalito
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Address: 588 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone number: (415) 332-9551
Cuisine: Italian, seafood
Best for: Lunch and dinner
If you’re looking for the best seafood in Sausalito, Scoma’s should be on your radar.
Scoma’s is one of the top Sausalito waterfront restaurants, with incredible food and outstanding views of Angel Island and the bay.
Scoma’s serves fresh, seasonal seafood dishes with flair. If Dungeness crab is in season, Scoma’s is the place to try this local specialty. The clam chowder is highly-rated too.
The restaurant’s Sicilian roots are apparent in many of the dishes, but the chef draws inspiration from across Pacific cuisines to create a Pacific-Mediterranean fusion.
The spectacular location and great food are a killer combination for a special occasion celebration or romantic evening. As a result, you’ll find it tough to get a table – especially one with a view – without a reservation.
Call or make a reservation on the website ahead of time to guarantee your table.
Local tip: If you’re headed there for lunch and concerned about the fog obscuring the view, check the nearby Sausalito Yacht Club webcam to see if the skies have cleared.
Lappert’s Ice Cream
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Address: 689 Bridgeway, Sausalito, California CA 94965
Phone number: (415) 331-3035
Cuisine: Dessert
Best for: Anytime
Walter Lappert always felt he could improve on the locally-made ice cream he sold in his small Sausalito shop. He also had a dream to move to Kauai, Hawaii one day.
He managed to achieve both ambitions by opening an ice cream factory in Hawaii, then importing his unique tropical flavors back to his California store.
Lappert’s Ice Cream is now famous in Hawaii, and the Sausalito store has evolved into the US mainland Lappert’s, run by the next generation and distinct from the original Hawaiian company.
Expect creative combinations and a smooth, creamy texture from the ice cream.
The classic flavors of cookies and cream and vanilla are represented, but the best scoops are still the Hawaiian-inspired ones.
Most notably, you should try Kauai Pie (coffee ice cream with chocolate fudge, coconut flakes, and macadamia nuts), Manila Mango, or Hawaiian Sea Salt Caramel.
Once you have a scoop (or two), you can stroll around downtown Sausalito with your sweet treat. If ice cream isn’t your thing, order a delicious Kona coffee instead.
Davey Jones Deli
Address: Inside the bait shop, 1 Gate 6 Rd., Sausalito 94965
Phone number: (415) 331-2282
Cuisine: Sandwiches and wraps
Best for: Lunch
Davey Jones Deli, located in a mini-mart, is the best place in Sausalito to grab a hearty sandwich for your epic mountain/forest/beach hike.
The deli sources all of its organic produce as locally as possible and makes as much as possible in-house, including roasting the meat and making sauces from scratch.
The result is that the sandwich concoctions are incredibly fresh, creative, and generous, with each half individually wrapped so you can easily share.
The mango-chipotle coleslaw with pulled pork is one of the biggest draws, but the vegan wrap has also won fans, with fresh organic berries and crunchy salad.
Whether you go for a meat or all-veggie option, these sandwiches are guaranteed to fuel all your outdoor adventures or just make for a really tasty lunch.
There’s nowhere to sit and eat here, but there are plenty of sunny spots to sit in Sausalito and beyond. If you’re in a hurry, you can phone in an order or pick up something from the grab-and-go case.
Angelino
Address: 621 Bridgeway, Sausalito, California 94965
Contact info: (415) 331-5225
Cuisine: Italian, seafood
Best for: Lunch and dinner
Angelino is an old-school Italian waterfront restaurant serving classic seafood dishes like linguine and clams, as well as slightly more exotic fare like grilled octopus salad.
Multiple generations of the Ancona family have built up the restaurant’s reputation for delicious food and a cozy atmosphere.
The menu showcases dishes from the Campania region of Italy, with handmade pasta as a specialty. The seafood dishes are excellent but the thin, crispy pizza always impresses as well if you’re not in the mood for fish.
Angelino’s is perfect for a family meal or a romantic dinner date since the casual vibe is welcoming to everyone.
And not only is the food and service excellent, but the views out to San Francisco are beautiful. Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time, as this is a popular eatery.
Check out the pop-up pastry bar at the back, the latest family endeavor, which has proved very popular with locals. Flaky croissants, buttery brioche, and fruit-filled galettes are the perfect breakfast treat or reward for your day of hiking or sightseeing.
Once the bakery closes, the pastry chef heads back to the kitchen to prepare desserts for the dinner service. This bakery is rapidly gaining a solid reputation in Sausalito, so save room for a sweet treat after your meal.
Barrel House Tavern
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Address: 660 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone number: (415) 729-9593
Cuisine: Californian
Best for: Lunch and dinner
The wall of windows and first-floor location make Barrel House Tavern one of the best restaurants in Sausalito with a view of the bay.
Despite the open feel of the restaurant, the curved ceiling clad in warm wood (like the inside of a barrel) keeps things cozy.
Barrel House Tavern is in the former historic ferry terminal, from before the Golden Gate Bridge connecting San Francisco to Sausalito was built. A recent remodel retained the traditional style while bringing a modern touch.
Walk-ins can usually be accommodated, but you can also make a reservation.
As with most Sausalito waterfront restaurants, the menu features seafood, including oysters fresh from the clear waters of nearby Tomales Bay and the ubiquitous clam chowder, but don’t sleep on the wood oven chicken sandwich or the garlic parm fries. Maybe order both to be on the safe side.
Aside from food, Barrel House Tavern has a long menu of creative co*cktails and a good wine list. Helpful bartenders can assist you in navigating the choices.
And non-drinkers have a cool option to combine several soda flavors into one drink for a unique beverage. Bacon, cherry, vanilla, anyone?
Kitti’s Place
Address: 3001 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone number: (415) 331-0390
Cuisine: Thai
Best for: Lunch
Kitti’s Place, located further away from the ferry terminal in the northern part of town, takes a little more effort to find but is well worth the trek. You’ll find a warm welcome and Thai comfort food cooked to perfection.
This neighborhood gem is a real mom-and-pop operation – Payao is the chef, her husband Kitti sources the fresh ingredients, while the daughter Lisa works front-of-house.
Kitti’s Place has been in business for 25 years, and their loyal regulars are on a first-name basis with the family.
The fresh and crispy lettuce cups are a popular order, along with the Pad Thai. Currently, Kitti’s Place is only open during the week for one of the best lunches in Sausalito, and take-out in the evenings.
Outdoor dining is available on the heated patio and no reservations are necessary.
Joinery
Address: 300 Turney St., Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone number: (415) 766-8999
Cuisine: American
Best for: Lunch
Joinery is a rotisserie and beer hall on Sausalito’s downtown waterfront.
This is a great place to meet friends (or make new ones), with a fun, convivial atmosphere. Long tables encourage socializing, as does the excellent selection of craft beers served at the bar.
The free-range, organic chicken comes as a half or a whole, with plenty of sides available. Make the healthy choice with sauteed rainbow chard, or not-so-healthy with an order of Dirty Fries, which involves garlic and pork crackling.
If you’ve cycled all the way across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, this is the spot to refuel with a hearty meal and a reviving drink or two.
Joinery embraces the spirit of al fresco dining and is totally open to the outside. This means it can get a little chilly during the winter, but Sausalito has a mild climate and most days the sunshine keeps everyone toasty.
Joinery is pet-friendly with outdoor seating and child-friendly with a kids menu. No reservations are required.
Salito’s Crab House
Address: 1200 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Contact info: (415) 331-3226
Cuisine: American
Best for: Lunch and dinner
Salito’s Crab House has undergone a few changes over the years but remains a Sausalito institution. The family-friendly surf and turf restaurant serves up great food with an expansive view over the sparkling waters of Richardson Bay.
Whole-roasted Dungeness crab is the signature dish but the menu offers plenty of choices. Choose from oysters, mussels, shrimp, and fish, or go for a juicy prime rib if you’re not feeling the seafood.
Although primarily a meat-eaters kind of place, the hearty salads are a fresh and satisfying alternative as well. In fact, some of the best items on the menu are non-meat, such as the house-made kettle bread and the sweet beignets.
Salito’s welcomes walk-ins, but make a reservation if you don’t want to wait. Dogs are allowed if you opt for outdoor seating on the sunny patio.
And unlike most other restaurants in town, there’s a free parking lot available at the front.
Seafood Peddler
Address: 303 Johnson St., Sausalito, CA
Phone number: (415) 332-1492
Cuisine: American
Best for: Lunch and dinner
Seafood Peddler is a restaurant and fish market serving seafood from near and far. The view of the bay is interrupted by the parking lot, but the pretty garden patio provides a sunny spot to enjoy outdoor dining.
For the freshest of dinners, check out the Maine lobster or Dungeness crab tanks. The menu varies depending on what’s fresh and in season, but expect Italian-influenced dishes with ethically-sourced ingredients.
Seafood Peddler also has a popular Happy Hour between 4 and 7 pm every night, which includes food if you sit at the bar. Or, you can make yourself a home-cooked meal by choosing from the selection at the fish market.
Make a reservation to guarantee a table, although walk-ins can usually be accommodated.
Murray Circle
Address: 601 Murray Circle, Fort Baker, Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone number: (415) 339-4751
Cuisine: American
Best for: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Murray Circle serves modern Northern California cuisine in an elegant dining room, with arguably the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Bay Area.
The restaurant is located in Cavallo Point, a Marin hotel that was formerly the Fort Baker barracks.
Elevated comfort food is the theme, with ingredients found locally. Seafood and steak are on the menu, but also some great vegetarian dishes that showcase the region’s fresh produce.
Inside, the dining room is warmed up by a fireplace, while the patio with outdoor seating catches the sunshine and offers incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco beyond.
Note that advance reservations are required to dine at Murray Circle.
The hotel also regularly holds cooking classes, which is a great way to work up an appetite for your meal.
Or you can make a weekend of it and stay in one of the luxurious rooms. Cavallo Point is known as a wellness retreat and has an on-site spa.
How to Get From San Francisco to Sausalito
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There are several ways to get from San Francisco to Sausalito: by ferry, car, bus, bicycle, or walking.
My preferred route is the ferry. You’ll get stunning views of both bridges, Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, and the hills of Marin as you sail across the San Francisco Bay.
Ferries depart daily from the Ferry Building on San Francisco’s Embarcadero, or Pier 39, and the crossing takes about 30 minutes.
A popular alternative is to cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge, then return on the ferry.
It’s best to cycle from San Francisco to Sausalito rather than the other way around because there is a big hill and it’s nice to get a gravity assist after all that cycling.
A super easy way to do this is to take a bicycle tour from Fisherman’s Wharf. You’ll get a bicycle, helmet, map, and a guide to take you on a leisurely ride across the bridge.
Pedestrians can also walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a long hike but with some incredible views.
Driving is also an option. There’s a toll to cross the bridge, which you’ll need to pay on the return to San Francisco. Free parking is available on many of the streets in Sausalito, just check for parking meters or “resident only” signs.
And if you’re driving, before heading to the downtown Sausalito restaurants, make a quick stop to take a photo of the bridge from the Marin side with San Francisco in the background. Take the first left onto Conzelman Rd. and pull over where you see parked cars.
If you’re on public transit, take the 130 bus from the Salesforce Transit Center in downtown San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge to the heart of Sausalito.
What Food is Sausalito Known for?
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The town is best known for seafood, but there’s much more to Sausalito than clam chowder.
Sausalito is happily located near some of the best agricultural regions of California, and as a result, restaurants are able to source many of their ingredients from local producers.
The clean, cold waters of nearby Tomales Bay produce some of the finest oysters in California, while the fog-bound pastures of Point Reyes nurture herds of content dairy cows.
The legendary vineyards of Napa Valley and Sonoma are in neighboring counties as well for top-notch wine.
If you’re stopping by Sausalito in the winter, Dungeness Crab is a famous Northern California delicacy served all over Sausalito when it’s in season.
If you’re looking for a vegetarian meal, Murray Circle has some great entrees, with everything sourced from local, organic farms.
Kitti’s Place also has a lot of good vegetarian options on the menu, with tofu as a protein option for most of the meals.
Davey Jones Deli offers a highly-rated vegan wrap if you’re after a takeout, with vegetarians and carnivores alike praising the lunchtime staple.
For a gluten-free option, try Copita Tequileria y Comida in downtown Sausalito where the menu is 100% gluten-free. This is also the restaurant to go to if you’re after the best fish tacos in Sausalito.
With such diverse offerings, it’s hard to pick a standout restaurant.
In fact, as you can probably gather from this article, the best food in Sausalito can be found all over town, from hole-in-the-wall hamburger joints to chic waterfront restaurants. You really can’t go wrong.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Sarah McDonald
Sarah McDonald is a travel writer based in the Bay Area. She writes for the national parenting website Red Tricycle and on her own family travel blog, Tiny Trailblazers. She loves exploring California’s outdoors and has a weakness for a national park gift shop.
Sarah enjoys sharing her Bay Area expertise with readers curious to try popular restaurants and off-the-beaten-path adventures in California. When she’s not writing reviews and travel guides, you’ll likely find her trying to keep up with her kids on a hiking trail or deciphering the menu at a new restaurant.
Looking for more Bay Area travel inspiration? Check out our related posts below!
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