Stop and smell the flowers in this Mill Valley, California neighborhood

Welcome to the Neighborhood, A Series About San Francisco Neighborhoods
About the author. Dianne Admire is the co-owner of San Francisco company Carried Away. Carried Away offers private, custom, experiential tours of San Francisco and the Bay Area for up to 4 people. Dianne and her business partner Vikki Garrod (a.k.a. The Ladies of Carried Away) are known for their insider’s knowledge of the Bay Area, especially San Francisco and Marin. To book one of their sights, food, wine, or shopping outings you can contact them at www.CarriedAwaySF.com. If you want to explore Marin, ask for the ”Northern Exposure” outing.

Mill Valley
In our fourth installment of the “Welcome to the Neighborhood” series, we’re heading North over the Golden Gate Bridge to one of Marin County’s iconic towns – Mill Valley. While technically not a San Francisco neighborhood, we believe the bridge is just a mental barrier that once overcome, opens up another neighborhood – and world –  for visitors and locals alike.
And that other world is just right there.  According to google maps, the drive time between the Marina in San Francisco and the center of downtown Mill Valley is less than 20 minutes. To put that in perspective, that’s the same amount of time it takes to get to the Mission from the same spot.
The close proximity of Marin County to San Francisco adds a perfect counterpoint to the “city” experience. We like to think of them as a package deal – each strengthening the appeal of the other.  It’s wonderful that these two places exist side-by-side, offering a bounty of city and natural pleasures; next time you’re visiting San Francisco, extend your footprint by just a smidge and you’ll be richly rewarded.
With that, here are our insider tips for things to do in Mill Valley, a straight-out-of-central-casting town that is watched over by the 2,751 foot Mt. Tamalpais.

Old Mill Park is a true hidden gem in this Mill Valley neighborhood

EXPLORE
To start your Mill Valley exploration, we recommend checking out a couple of the natural attractions, followed by putting yourself in the center of the action:
Old Mill Park. Don’t want to go all the way to Muir Woods to see Redwoods, or just want a more intimate experience? Old Mill Park is for you! Just a few blocks from the center of downtown, Old Mill Park is a true hidden gem. Located on an historic mill site, there are towering trees, picnic facilities, play structures, and a creek. Plus, the added bonus of some spectacular homes to be seen from a level walk beyond the park area.
Outdoor Art Club. Visit this historic Bernard Maybeck building in the heart of Mill Valley to get a sense of how the town has always treasured its natural setting. The Outdoor Art Club was founded in 1902 by wives of Bohemian club members who wanted to preserve the beauty of Mill Valley, and Maybeck designed the building shortly thereafter. The club is a private women’s organization of diverse membership, but there are tours and events available to the public. Check the calendar before you go.
The Depot Bookstore and Cafe. Drink in the local scene at this bookstore/cafe. Get a seat outdoors so that you can watch the town going about its business in Depot Plaza. Sitting in that spot, you’ll have no problem imagining the former train depot, whose tracks connected Mill Valley to the ferries.

Maison Reve is the perfect Mill Valley neighborhood shop to fill your dream home

SHOP
Once you’ve had your hit of nature, there’s plenty of shopping to be had. Whether you’re a home chef, an oenophile, or a francophile, you can fill a few hours with browsing. Here are a few of our favorites:
Maison Reve.  If you “dream in French”, then this is the perfect place to source items for your dream home. The furniture, objet d’art, architectural pieces are either from France or look like they are. And we’re not talking Louis IV France, more like farmhouse France. Yasmin, the shop owner, holds events in the store and also puts on a “French Flea Market” from time to time, so you might want to plan your visit around that.

Since Tyler Florence moved to Marin, he has been making his mark in the Bay Area. Visit his store in Mill Valley.

Tyler Florence is in the neighborhood

Since Tyler Florence moved to Marin, he has been making his mark on the Bay Area. His shop in Mill Valley was a great addition to the town. You’ll find new and vintage culinary and decorating items for the heart of your home, as well as fantastic cook books. The reading room in the back of the store – with comfy chairs and a fireplace – may grab you and never let you go.
Vintage Wine & Spirits. We just love a wine shop that carries everything from an $18 Prosecco to a $900 Cab (just browsing, naturellement). Wine lovers will happily get lost in this shop, but if you need guidance, the staff is knowledgable and super helpful regardless of your budget.

EAT
It’s best to go casual in Mill Valley, and to eat in restos that take advantage of the local, organic, healthy(ish) ethos that Marin is known for:
Small Shed Flatbreads. What wouldn’t we order on the menu here? All of the flatbreads are delicious. We like the Shhhh! but if you don’t like clams, there are over 10 flatbreads to choose from. Order up a few, plus a salad (we like The Wedge and the Bolinas Beat) and you are set for a Mill Valley-style meal you’ll want to come back for.
Charlie Hong Kong. “Organic Asian Street Cuisine”. When we heard this, we were one of the first to line up, and we weren’t disappointed. There’s a tiny dine-in space; if it is a nice day order your meal to go and enjoy your Gado Gado in Depot Plaza or Old Mill Park.
Joe’s Taco Lounge. It might be fair to call this a Mill Valley institution. We’ve been going here for 20 years, usually after a little jaunt around the trails of Mt. Tam. Joe’s is situated on Miller, outside of the downtown area, making a good stop on your way into or out of Mill Valley. Grab a seat at the counter, and order the fish or crab tacos. There may be a wait, but the staff handles the crowd perfectly.

Beer is brewed on site at Mill Valley Beerworks

Drink
If you want to cap off your day of exploring in Mill Valley with a little happy hour, here are two of our favorite places to unwind:
Piazza D’Angelo. Everyone shows up here – old people from the Redwoods retirement village down the street, young couples with babies, singles looking to mingle, you name it. Sit in the bar area at the front of the restaurant with a glass of Prosecco and watch the foot traffic go by and ponder your next trip to Mill Valley.
Mill Valley Beerworks. We don’t know what took so long for a place like this to open in Mill Valley. It is just perfectly “Marin” – from the interior to the crowd (lots of bicyclers) to the menu. Beer is brewed onsite, plus there’s a huge selection of imported beers. For something different, we love their brewed-on-site Botanical Series (made with juniper berries and bay leaf) and their barley wine. Both are great with the fresh and interesting small plates and boards.

What is your favorite neighborhood in Marin? What are your favorite things to do in Mill Valley, California?

Related Post:

Things to Do in San Francisco, California

Mill Valley

Tags: beer, California, Carried Away, golden gate bridge, insider tips, marin county, mill valley, Mt. Tamalpais, muir woods, nancy d. brown, redwoods, San Francisco, things to do, Tyler Florence