Congratulations to The Marshall Store on Tomales Bay in Marin!

The New York Times is as enamored with The Marshall Store on Tomales Bay as we at Marin Hotels are! In their America’s Favorite Restaurants: Where We’re Most Excited to Eat at This Year they say of our favorite spot:

At the briny western end of the county, on a timeworn deck overlooking Tomales Bay just 50 miles north of San Francisco, you can slurp down raw Pacific oysters while looking out over the very beds where they were grown. Some may say the grilled oysters Kilpatrick — topped with garlic butter, Worcestershire sauce, bacon and parsley — are a bivalve too far, but don’t listen. There’s no reason not to have a dozen of each. — BRIAN GALLAGHER

What we like about The Marshall Store is it’s easy, authentic, and outdoors. After you order at the counter and find a spot at one of the communal tables lining the bay, you’ll enjoy a remarkable view of Tomales Bay while the staff shucks your oysters.

Getting There. Here are directions from Acqua Hotel, Mill Valley Inn, Waters Edge Hotel. You’ll enjoy a beautiful drive through redwoods, rolling hills, and then you’ll skirt Tomales Bay on Hwy 1. When you see the signs for oysters on the right of the road, look for parking on your left along the bay.

Pro Tip. Go early. Our favorite time is at opening at 10am. It’s peaceful and calm, and by the way oysters and garlic bread = excellent brunch. At around noon, the crowd gets pretty thick and parking a bit more challenging. But if you like the buzz and camaraderie of dozens of people happily eating oysters together, plan your visit for the afternoon.

Pro Tip 2. If it’s Dungeness Crab season, you want to order that. And we mentioned the garlic bread, right? p.s. for the non-oyster eaters, there’s a deli menu with sandwiches, salads, and fish tacos.

On the way. You go through Point Reyes Station, a classic Northern California town worth a wander. And just outside of Pt. Reyes Station, you’ll pass Heidrun Meadery.

See you out there!