Mill Valley

Join the Club

PLAY. We love the Mill Valley version of a club. We don’t play to impress; families gather, kids swim, martinis are served, but here we ditch the dress codes and white tablecloths. Basically, the difference between our clubs and the blueblood, white-gloved version back east is that while we might share the urge to say “bottoms up,” pinkies and collars are most definitely down.

1. MILL VALLEY GOLF CLUB

This nine-hole, par-33 course was created in 1919 from land donated by Ida and Hugh Boyle. Set in a residential area, the course is recognized by the Northern California Golf Association as a “two for 20” course (golf in two hours and under 20 bucks). While the course is public, being part of the club has its benefits. mvgolf.com

2. MILL VALLEY TENNIS CLUB AND SCOTT VALLEY SWIMMING AND TENNIS CLUB

Both clubs are popular destinations for competitive tennis players. They also both feature a lively pool scene on sunny Sundays and are great venues for a Friday night barbecue. mvtennisclub.com, svstc.com

3. THE CLUB AT HARBOR POINT

This Strawberry gem was founded in the late ’60s by brothers Ray and Marty Kalisky. The club has hosted major tennis tournaments for decades and recently upgraded its fitness center. harbor-point.com


Bar Bites

EAT. You want to go out, but not commit to an entire meal. Whether you want to dive into a burger while imbibing a spicy red or gobble up a plate of Oysters Bingo with a Manhattan while you watch the game, here’s a starter list for our favorite bar dining options in town.

4. BUCKEYE ROADHOUSE

15 Shoreline Hwy, 415.331.2600, buckeyeroadhouse.com

5. EL PASEO

17 Throckmorton Ave, 415.388.0741, elpaseomillvalley.com

6. MILL VALLEY BEERWORKS

173 Throckmorton Ave, 415.869.8848, millvalleybeerworks.com

7. MOLINA RESTAURANT

17 Madrona St, 415.383.4200, molinarestaurant.com

 

8. PIATTI RISTORANTE AND BAR (pictured)

625 Redwood Hwy, 415.380.2525, piatti.com

9. PIAZZA D’ANGELO

22 Miller Ave, 415.388.2000, piazzadangelo.com


10. WHERE THE STARS SHINE: 142 Throckmorton Theatre, CineArts Sequoia & Sweetwater Music Hall

PLAY. Charlie Chaplin, Peter Fonda, Robin Williams, Jared Leto, Ang Lee — all have performed or appeared in downtown Mill Valley venues. And for attracting the megawatt celebrities, we tip our hat to 142 Throckmorton Theatre, CineArts Sequoia and Sweetwater Music Hall, which originally opened in 1914, 1929 and 1972, respectively. These always-popular venues have all entertained us while keeping us guessing which big name we might see next — particularly during the Mill Valley Film Festival.


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