21 Best Cocktail Bars near Novato

“My husband and I went to The Speakeasy for the first time tonight. From the moment we arrived until we left -- almost two hours -- Daniell took care of us and made us feel so welcome. Incredible cocktails, and delicious food. Really fun atmosphere and a great vibe. We plan on becoming regulars for happy hour and can't wait to have dinner at The Boardroom next door.“

“Food was really good and the wait staff was very friendly and helpful. Cute place. Good idea for decorations“

“A dive bar in downtown Novato, with all the ambience you'd expect of such an establishment. The host of characters at the bar certainly contributed. We were more interested in having beers than cocktails, but the draught beer selection was pretty dismal (5 beers on tap, and one of the taps was broken). They did have Lagunitas, which we all opted for. Okay, the name of the place does say "Cocktail Lounge," so I guess we can't get too uppity about the beer selection. The place was really quiet for a Saturday night. The bartender even commented that it was slow for a Saturday. What that meant for us was that we had the pool tables to ourselves and had a blast playing multiple rounds. (At $1 a game, no complaints!) The bartender was really nice, but would sometimes disappear for a while to go grab a smoke outside (with some of the other patrons). We were pretty chill, so didn't mind waiting, but I could see others might be cranky about it. All and all, a bar reminiscent of establishments you might have oft seen in the 70s and 80s. We were feeling a little nostalgic, I suppose. We're likely to go back.“

“I have been a faithful customer of Maya Palenque for 20+ years. I almost always order the chicken/rice soup which is beyond delicious. Big hunks of ripe avocados, glob of Mexican cheese, wonderful white meat chicken all in a very flavorful tomato base, not too spicy, broth. My husband swears by their chimichangas and the mole enchiladas also top notch. Always good, friendly service, never too crowded to feel comfortable. For those looking for a generous margarita, nice small bar area to sit after work. Their prices have gone up over the years, but then whose haven't? If you're looking for great Mexican food in a relaxed atmosphere, this is the place.“

“Great drinks and food. You will not be disappointed!“

“Atmosphere: Solid and funBar Service: Kind, interesting, professionalsDrinks: Costly (but craft cocktails can be, so expected), my drink was cloyingly sweet, my friend's drink was more of a savory thing, and one of the rum drinks was great.UPDATE:Within 1 hour the owner of the bar contacted me about the experience with the drink I had ordered. He offered an apology, which I appreciated but was unnecessary, as I should have been better about saying something during my visit, rather than in a public review. This was customer service at its best, and that I appreciate. Upon reflection my drink may have just been a bartender error, and everybody has an off day.As the atmosphere and employees are amazing, and the vibe a solid 100, and now management reacting in a meaningful way to a petty complaint, I am boosting to 5 stars across the board.Go see for yourself what caring about your customers, and their experience is all about. Cheers!“

“Very good food and good service. Great atmosphere.“

“Two words: Fancy. Toast. Girlies, hear me out, we love having our little treats that are fantastic flavor and a balance between sweet/savory. The fancy toast is all of that. They come bite sized, and you can get four for $29. The leek fritters and steak fries were a great appetizer and especially delicious during happy hour. I definitely would come back here again on gorgeous weather days. The seating/furniture is inviting for groups who want a casual hangout.“

“My daughter took me for Mothers Day brunch.....cute place inside. They brought water to the table right away and took our drink orders. There was ample staff to accommodate such a busy day, I had the steak and eggs and found the steak a little bit chewy. Everything else was wonderful. We will definitely be back.“

“Go to this spot asap! Everything about this place is amazing! Full Bar, cocktail menu with lots of options, tvs, music playing, casual dinning area, lots of menu options! French dip, pesto ravioli & Margaritas are amazing! Chicken wings were great too! The owners & managers are super nice & giving. This is a family run restaurant that you need to visit and support. They've got great service, awesome food & causal vibes! 5 stars all around! great for large groups also!“

“Really cool vibe and design inside with fresh delicious food. We had a beautiful view of the river to sip our cocktails. My girlfriend is gluten free and she appreciated the clear markings on the menu for the GF options. We definitely will go back.“

“Great handcrafted cocktails, kind personable service, and relaxing ambiance.I visited with a friend pretty close to closing time and felt welcome. The Petaluma Boulevardier was refreshing and delicious. The spirits are made in house and are very high quality.“

“Great local place! Friendly bartenders and great atmosphere. Saturday karaoke is a lot of fun.“

“Love what they’ve done with the place ! The huevos rancheros is awesome“

“Great food, great drinks, and great service. We really enjoy what they have done with this space and like all the variety they bring to their ever-changing menu items.“

“The atmosphere of this newly decorated restaurant is beyond what I had expected! Its classy and very modern! The food is really good and the staff are really friendly and very warm! The Spicy Pear margarita is THE BOMB!“

“Went here for the night last Thursday, the DJ was awesome!! Playing some classics I hadnt heard in awhile and really got the room going. Got a moscow mule that was perfectly made as well. The outdoor area is a nice place to hangout and talk as well, with heaters and everything. Would recommend if you are looking for a place to chill and have a great time! Great music!!“

“This is the best bar in Petaluma if you ask me! They make an amazing gin gimlet! The ambiance is amazing! It's like a fancy yet casual neighborhood spot. A sexy cheers if you will. My favorite thing after a work day is to head over, grab a drink, and play shuffle board for a while!“

“the service was very efficient and pleasant. All the dishes we tried were very good. The Ahi tuna nachos was one of my favorites, along with pork and noodle dish:)“

“We had a great time here. It was a busy Saturday evening. We didn’t make reservations so we were glad to get standing room near the bar. We had heard the cocktails are great and they are. We started with the Alpine Sour and a non-alcoholic drink. Absolutely delicious. The bar tender Manny was excellent. Manny also made us a fantastic paper plane (not on the menu) and another cocktail.“

“My husband & I used to be regulars at this restaurant until we moved out of Fairfax and further north so it's been a while since I have been here. I went last night for dinner with my sister and we had a fantastic meal. The server was very attentive and patient. He was great answering our questions and held one of the appetizers she had ordered to keep it warm until I arrived. Very nice. The only thing is that now that I'm vegetarian, there weren't a lot of pasta options and I ended up with a margarita pizza. It was yummy so no complaints, but I would love it if some restaurants in Marin would start to make more of an effort for vegetarians and vegans, especially since more and more people are going at least partially plant based. I have to say that it is the running joke for me with my friends that when we go out to eat, I have the choice of a mushroom dish as an entree unless I decide to do salads or apps. There are so many other things to do for plant based appetites than mushrooms and butternut squash. And I feel like Italian should be one of those restaurants that can really do a nice job with non-meat dishes. Okay, that being said, we had a great time, the apps and wine were delicious and the dessert, Tartuffo, was as delicious as I had remembered.“