# Fairfax (California)

Fairfax is a cute little town nestled in the hills of Marin County in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Though small, it's surprisingly lively and has kept its historic charm.

## Get in

Fairfax is accessible by bus, automobile, and bicycle.
If you're coming from the west side (towns like Inverness or Lagunitas), the West Marin Stagecoach runs several times a day.
From the east side (San Anselmo and San Rafael), Marin Transit runs regular bus service, with connections from all over the Bay Area.

## Get around

Downtown is small enough, only a few blocks, that you can easily walk end-to-end.
If you're a cycling enthusiast, Fairfax is a gateway to a lot of really great road and off-road biking. From the famed "Repack" mountain bike trail to the single-track at Camp Tamarancho, to the wide-shouldered roads of West Marin County, Fairfax makes a great starting or ending point for two wheeled exercise.

## See

Fairfax is a town with a population of only a little over 7400 people, but it has a couple of venues that have live music seven nights a week, and several others that have live music slightly less often. Some of the groups you'll see perform here are up-and-comers that you'll recognize later on the radio, others are older more seasoned bands that performers you've heard of come to listen to. See the Drink section below for the venues.
* 37.9879-122.58971 Marin Museum of Bicycling, 1966 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, ☏ +1-415-450-8000. Th–Su 11AM–5PM. Adults $10, seniors/military/disabled $8, youths 12–17 and students $5, children 6–11 $3, children 5 and under free.

## Do

During the daytime the mountain biking, road biking and hiking are all spectacular. If you get tired out in the woods and trails around the town, sitting and chatting at Fairfax Coffee Roasters or the Fairfix Cafe makes a reasonable interlude.
At night the live music venues or the theater are open.
* Fairfax Theater, 9 Broadway, ☏ +1 415 453-8505 (guest services), +1 415 453-5444 (showtimes). Plays both first run movies and the occasional art-house flick.

## Buy

Fairfax has an active business district, with several bicycle shops, a book store, a music store, and various other clothing and esoterica vendors. On Wednesday nights in season it also has a farmer's market in the park off Bolinas Avenue.
* 37.986963-122.5892981 Fairfax Variety, 61 Broadway. Various products including Fairfax T-shirts, toys, local books, and other souvenirs. Good for gifts. (updated Jan 2025)
* 37.986789-122.5891672 R9, 14 Bolinas Rd. Eclectic, quirky shop with lots of things that will make you chuckle. Toys, games, stationery, T-shirts, novelty mugs, etc. (updated Jan 2025)

## Eat

* 37.987026-122.5895481 Fairfax Scoop, 63 Broadway Blvd, ☏ +1 (415) 453-3130. Local hole-in-the-wall shop for organic ice cream and sorbet, with flavors like vanilla honey lavender. $2.75 / $3.75 / $4.75 (cash only). (updated Jan 2025)
* Lord Fairfix Cafe, 33 Broadway, ☏ +1 415-459-6404. Mediterranean
* Cafe Sorella. Italian
* M&G Burger.
* 37.98598-122.583992 HenHouse Brewing Company West County Pub, 765 Center Blvd, ☏ +1 415-465-1706. Brewery, bar, and grill
* 37.98743-122.588233 Barefoot Cafe, 1900 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, ☏ +1 415-460-2160. Brunch (updated Nov 2016)

## Drink

During prohibition, Fairfax was the last town on the commuter rail from San Francisco, and the closest town to Bolinas out on the coast, and the tradition of liquor and nightlife still survives. Fairfax is home to a brew pub and several bars with lots of live music.
* 37.98678-122.590151 19 Broadway, 17 Broadway Blvd, ☏ +1 415-459-0293. Full bar with tiki lounge, lots of hard rock (although on some Sunday afternoons Dori & Dave have an open mic with lots of hip jazz favorites). (updated Nov 2016)
* 37.98684-122.588592 Peri's, 29 Broadway. Live music, often ends up being a little more country. (updated Nov 2016)
* Nave's. Occasional live music

## Sleep

* Fairfax Inn, 15 Broadway, ☏ +1 415 455-8702. The only hotel in Fairfax. A little pricey, but comfortable and equipped with a jacuzzi in each room.

## Go next

* 37.98-122.5680561 San Anselmo
* 37.973333-122.5308332 San Rafael
* 37.925556-122.52753 Larkspur and Corte Madera
* 37.906111-122.5454 Mill Valley
* 37.9006-122.6445 Stinson Beach
* 37.909444-122.6863896 Bolinas