Location: Mendocino
Top Restaurants in Mendocino
Most Popular Restaurants in Mendocino
Shop, eat, and enjoy the feeling of going back in time to a simpler era as you groove to the vibes of downtown Mendocino’s hippy past and quaint New England style architecture. Find a secluded bluff, and listen to seals splashing and barking. Visit the Mendocino Art Center, started by San Francisco artists in the 1950s. Enjoy a Mendocino Theater Company performance. Stop in historic Ford House, which doubles as city museum and Mendocino Headlands State Park visitors center. Mendocino Headlands State Park winds around Mendocino Bay, and is a wildlife corridor linking coast and inland areas. Savor the spring wildflowers. In July the Headlands and city are home to the Mendocino Music Festival. Groove to the ocean views, blowholes, wave tunnels, sea arches, grottos, and tide pools as you hike the beaches and cliff trails. Along the Mendocino Headlands Trail, watch for old cross-ties from the oxen-powered railway that dumped lumber to ships below the bluff. Drive 2 miles north of Mendocino to Russian Gulch State Park for rock fishing, swimming, skin diving, tide pools, bicycling, a 36-foot high waterfall, and a Devil's Punch Bowl of churning water. Savor spring rhododendron blooms at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Take the family on the half-day Skunk Train roundtrip from Fort Bragg to inland Northspur. Bird watch at Cleone Lake, a tidal lagoon in MacKerricher State Park, 3 miles north of Fort Bragg. Enjoy MacKerricher’s wheelchair accessible nature trail, Ten Mile beach, fishing, hiking, jogging, horseback riding, and bicycling. Take the kids to Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park. Tee off at the 5,458-yard, 9-hole coastal golf course at Little River Inn, which also offers llama treks. Take the family to Little River State Park and Van Damme Beach State Park, which are near Little River Airport (KLLR). Kids love the recently renovated Point Arena Lighthouse, because they can climb to the top.
Things to do in Mendocino
1. Goodlife Cafe and Bakery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 406 reviews
Established in 2012, the GoodLife Cafe & Bakery offers delicious, organic, whole food, fine French pastry and baked goods, as well as Mendocino's best coffee drinks! Everything we offer is made in house, from scratch. We strive to use local produce, products and organic ingredients whenever possible. We offer an extensive menu of Gluten Free items including Mac & Cheese, Enchiladas, Deli Salads, Soups and Baked Goods! Our deck is sunny and dog friendly and our dining room is cozy and cheery. Stop by for a taste of the GoodLife! Open daily, 8am - 4-ish.
Reviewed By worldseeker2014 - San Francisco, California
We had lunch at this cafe twice and enjoyed both lunches. Be prepared to wait in line. Locally sourced and organic produce was fresh and delicious; along with vegan options. Staff friendly and helpful. The vegan chocolate almond torte was excellent!
2. Frankie's Pizza and Ice Cream Parlor
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 293 reviews
Reviewed By 190Daniel - Suffolk, United Kingdom
There's really not much more to say, other than what I've put in the title, but I'm required to type another 22 characters (oh, made it!)
3. Moody's Organic Coffee Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 179 reviews
Reviewed By Adventurer2day - Antigua and Barbuda
Very good pastries - and coffee. Friendly staff and you will find something here for everyone in the morning!
4. Circa '62 at the Inn at Schoolhouse Creek
Overall Ratings
5 based on 144 reviews
Open everyday but Tuesday (all we ask is one day a week to sleep in a little) at 8:00 + Open to the Public! In 1862, just ten years following the arrival of the first settlers on the Mendocino Coast (and a year before Lincoln's Gettysburg Address), mill owner and rancher Charles Perkins, built the Inn's historic Ledford Farmhouse. In 1888, Perkins built a mansion on the hill to the south of the Inn and, in so doing, renovated the farmhouse to give to his daughter as a wedding present. The coffered old growth redwood ceilings you see while dining at Circa '62 were added for the wedding and were quite the statement of affluence and style for the time. We do our best to live up to the beauty of Mr. Perkins home(yes, some of our guests and staff believe he's still here) by serving a great breakfast that shows off the best local stuff, has a sense of fun and is really just an extension of our own home... We can't wait to meet you!
Reviewed By Joan88 - Mill Valley, California
Brilliantly delicious! My husband enjoyed the huge ‘raft’ concoction the first day while I appreciated being able to order smaller items from the sides menu. Scrumptious slice of french toast was perfectly decadent. You can find some healthy choices too, if you don’t want to indulge. Vegan option of almond pancake was interesting! Charming little rooms, fireplace roaring, birds galore outside, friendly owner came out to say hello and lovely servers. It will be our go to breakfast spot in the Mendocino area from now on.
5. Garden Bakery
Overall Ratings
4 based on 69 reviews
Reviewed By Helen R - Port Townsend, Washington
Got a couple kind of dry cinnamon rolls and 3 mediocre day old croissants. $11. Jeesh. Kind of sad. Should be better for that price. Really.
6. Albion River Inn Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 397 reviews
Reviewed By DaveJ_Mayor - Roseville, California
The Albion River Inn Restaurant was the highlight of our dining experience during our trip to Mendocino!!! The seafood was incredible, the sunset was spectacular and the atmosphere was perfect!!! If you're looking for a romantic dinner this is the place to take your loved one!
7. David's Deli
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 278 reviews
Located in the Boatyard. we have a wonderfull staff and excellent food. Serving Breakfast and Lunch 7 days a week.
Reviewed By hortaegg - Cameron Park, California
Stopped in for breakfast. I had a tradition assortment of food: eggs, hash browns, sausage, pancake. The eggs and potatoes were cooked just right though the portion of potatoes was small. The sausage patty was flatten out so much that it got way over cooked and had very little flavor. My wife had eggs with biscuits and gravy. The gravy seemed to have lots of meat but it seemed to be old bits of bacon and that tasteless sausage. Though the dish is my wife's favorite, she hardly touched this plate.
8. Cafe Beaujolais
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 898 reviews
Reviewed By rlwlawrisk - San Francisco, California
My wife and I just had a fabulous dinner at the Cafe. I had one of the best-ever duck breasts and my wife had the blackened cod. The restaurant was busy and we had to wait a few minutes, but the wait was worth it. We can;t wait for our next visit. The prices are not cheap, but the quality of the food is excellent.
9. Wild Fish
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 532 reviews
100% Local & Organic The culinary team at Wild Fish procure produce locally from farmers, fishermen & women and foragers - the fish is always wild and fresh. Everything is made from scratch and in house.
Reviewed By coinsenuf - Port Ludlow, Washington
The restaurant is tucked in behind the Post Office in Little River. The restaurant was filled to capacity and we had to wait about 30 minutes beyond our reservation time. The owner with his London accent made the wait pleasant enough. The service when we were seated was smart and well done. The food was excellent. Although not inexpensive, it was a solid value for the overall experience.
10. Ledford House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 180 reviews
Reviewed By PeterandJinx - Coronado, California
We were scheduled to dine at Wild Fish (see a separate review) but arrived early. Staff there suggested a walk across the street to Ole's. It was jammed (two seats left at the bar so I stood). The bar looked out on the Pacific across Highway 1. Everyone at the bar was having dinner. We had our drinks (as DD I had an Arnold Palmer) but my wife said that made a mean martini, and our daughter recommends the bubbly. Thanks to the staff at Wild Fish.
