Local honorees include Branded, Buckeye Roadhouse, Dipsea Race, Dolls & Dandy Nail Salon, Friends of Mt. Tam, Famous4, Good Earth, Margaret O'Leary, MilVali Salon, Once Around, Shoreline Coffee Shop, Sweetwater Music Hall, Terrestra, UKO – and the burgeoning Mill Valley Design District.
Marin Magazine has been publishing its own 'Best Of' Marin issue in August for the past eight years. For the 2016 edition, its editors dove deeper into focusing on each winner instead of choosing 101 winners across its categories, a traditional "nod to our famous freeway... This year we are simply honing in on the top people, shops, restaurants, services, activities and gatherings that make Marin so outstanding. Instead of focusing on each town and finding the best burger or kids’ dance class there, we wanted to go deeper and explain why we think a particular pick is worthy of your time and attention."
Despite the smaller number of total winners than usual, Mill Valley-based businesses and organizations abound. Here they are:
Despite the smaller number of total winners than usual, Mill Valley-based businesses and organizations abound. Here they are:
 The secret has long been out on the Shoreline Coffee Shop, but Marin Magazine says, "For those late to the avocado toast trend, the good news is that it has been perfected at Shoreline Coffee Shop in Mill Valley in the form of Tennessee Valley Toast. Food Winners. |  Calling the Buckeye Roadhouse "a true classic," the magazine says "a martini tastes best when prepared by a classic bartender (read: clad in vest with tie) in a classic gin joint (read: clad in oak wood paneling). So, once again, we choose Mill Valley’s Buckeye Roadhouse bar for high honors. Score a seat at one of the six red-leather booths, and the taste improves exponentially. Drink winners. |
Community | Shopping |
 While the venerable Sweetwater Music Hall books great acts several nights a week, Marin Magazine highlights the community-oriented open mic night hosted most Monday nights by local legend Austin de Lone. Contact the venue before 4 p.m. to sign up. The magazine also laments the closure of Julie Stanton's Once Around, giving "Stanton and her crew a well-deserved standing ovation for helping the community of Mill Valley (and beyond) to make Pinterest-worthy crafts for nearly a decade. Community Winners. |  We've long known that Mill Valley has some of the best shopping in the North Bay, and Marin Magazine shone its spotlight on Terrestra, Branded, Famous4, Margaret O'Leary, Poet and/the Bench, the new Good Earth in Tam Valley and UKO. The mag also hailed the burgeoning Mill Valley Design District, a collective of like-minded shops along Miller and Locust avenues: "In no other place in the county could you design your kitchen and bath, then walk next door and try on some equestrian-inspired fashion. Shopping Winners. |
Recreation At the foot of Mt. Tam, recreational opportunities are ubiquitous in the 94941. The magazine agrees: "With seven state parks and about 18,500 acres of open space, the opportunities to explore in Marin seem endless, possibly overwhelming. But there’s a good guided resource for at least one locale: the Friends of Mt. Tam hold hikes for all levels on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with weekly themes and a special Saturday moonlight hike that occurs, you guessed it, under a full moon. Recreation Winners. | Health & Beauty Mill Valley has some of the best salons in the county, and Marin Magazine highlights two of the best in Milvali and Dolls and Dandy Nail Salon. "Modern life is complicated," the mag writes, noting that the day-to-day requires lots of personal maintenance. "Fortunately, Milvali salon ... does a good job of simplifying that process. Here myriad beauty needs are met: hair styling and waxing, facial and lash treatments, tanning and makeup application. Operating for more than a decade, Milvali has also amassed numerous awards (including this one), most notably for hair extensions. Truly a full-service spot for a complete tune-up. Health & Beauty Winners. |
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