How to Visit Sausalito Like a Local

Just a ferry ride across the bay (or bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge) is Sausalito, a picturesque town that was once a hub for bootlegging during Prohibition and shipbuilding during WWII.

These days, it’s equal parts tourist attraction, quaint fishing village, and easy day trip from San Francisco. Here’s how to visit like a local.

Skip the Car, Take the Ferry

Yes, you can drive or Uber across the bridge, but taking the ferry is slow travel at its best. The 25-minute cruise glides you right past Alcatraz and offers sweeping city and Golden Gate views before docking right in the heart of town. Lace up your walking shoes—locals know that the best way to get around (and avoid parking headaches and tickets) is on foot.

You can take either the Golden Gate Ferry from the Ferry Building or the Blue & Gold Fleet, which leaves from Pier 41, not far from Pier 39 in San Francisco. Be sure to check their websites for schedules, especially on weekends and holidays.

For ease, I recommend using your phone to purchase tickets by downloading the Clipper app, and setting up an account to pay ahead. It’s super easy and saves you from the sometimes painfully long lines at ticket machines.

Sausalito is full of places to eat, drink and lunch like a local

Shop Local

Don’t worry, you’ll find your fair share of t-shirt shops that the kids will love, but Sausalito is also home to a surprising selection of authentically local gifts that your loved ones at home will treasure, too.

An easy walk from the ferry landing is Sausalito Books by the Bay (look for the blue awning), a community-supported bookstore owned by a Sausalito resident. There’s often an author event going on, and the shop sells books written by local authors as well as Sausalito-inspired gifts. Nearby, the Sausalito Center for the Arts often hosts exhibitions and showcases spotlighting the work of Bay Area artists.  On Caladonia Street, drop by Studio 333 Boutique & Gallery, a women’s clothing boutique with vintage as well as new clothing, and treasures from local artists.

Karl the Store ( a play on Karl the Fog, the nickname of San Francisco’s local weather pattern) is an eclectic mix of vintage and new clothing, gifts, furnishings, and household decor, located right next to Equator Coffee. Though you can now find Heath Ceramics in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and even Texas, I prefer the OG studio and showroom in Sausalito, where the iconic handmade pottery has been crafted since the 1950s.

Stroll Caledonia Street

Bridgeway, Sausalito’s main waterfront drag, is undeniably postcard-perfect. But the authentic Sausalito happens when you duck over to Caledonia Street, Sausalito’s original Main Street. No, you won’t get water views, but you will find a smattering of restaurants that aren’t mobbed with day-trippers. There’s even a sports bar, Smitty’s, if you want to catch a game, and an old-fashioned hardware store that will make you never want to go to Home Depot again.

Pick up local souvenirs at Sausalito Books by the Bay

Eat Like You Live There

When the waterfront draws a crowd, locals head elsewhere for morning coffee, like Equator, Firehouse, or A Taste of Rome.  On Caledonia Street, dinner-only Osteria Davino is one of my favorites, thanks to its cozy environment, seats at the bar, and authentic Italian food (my husband swears the lasagna tastes just like his mama’s). They also have live Jazz on most Friday and Saturday nights. Sushi Ran, one of the area’s best sushi restaurants, is open for lunch Thursday-Sunday, so book ahead.

Another Caladonia Street favorite is the Indian restaurant, Sartaj, a few doors down from Sandrino, an authentic and tiny pizza joint whose no-reservation tables are tough to come by, but worth the wait. If you want to grab a sandwich, potato salad, or other picnic-friendly delights, drop by Sausalito Gourmet Deli. I like to grab mine and eat it in the secret garden out back, where I’ve never had to fight for a table.

Further afield (but still walkable) is the fresh-off-the-boat sustainable seafood at Fish, located near the Clipper Yacht Harbor. There’s always a line, so don’t worry, it’s normal. Also, further afield is Anchorage Five Restaurant, a family-run old-school diner open for breakfast and lunch. It’s a frequent stop for me and my husband, and bonus: It’s also across the street from Heath Ceramics.

Old-school Anchorage Five is family run and never crowded

Stay the Night (and for Live Music)

When the crowds start to head back to San Francisco on the ferry, it’s nice to know you don’t have to. Instead, stick around and watch the sky change color and the city lights start to twinkle.

Grab a glass of wine at Bacchus and Venus, or on the porch at swanky Cavallo Point, then keep the night going with live music almost every night of the week at the No Name Bar (757 Bridgeway, 415-332-1392), an unfussy and totally friendly watering hole since 1959 (call for music schedule). Speaking of watering holes, when arriving at Travis Marina Bar, you’ll swear you took a left turn at a dead end, but it’s there, not far from Cavallo Point and the Bay Area Discovery Museum. It’s only open on weekends and is frequently closed, so check ahead. However, when it’s open, you’ll enjoy casual drinks and food, along with sometimes live music in a low-key atmosphere, with epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Sausalito Seahorse, a bit of a walk from the ferry landing (or quick taxi), serves fresh seafood Wed-Sunday, with live music on weekend nights. For something different, drop by for Salsa dance lessons on Sunday afternoons.

If you happen to visit during the summer (June – September), be sure to stay for the outdoor Jazz & Blues by the Bay concert series, which begins around 6:30 p.m. on Friday nights.

Enjoy the scenic rewards of hiking in the Marin Headlands

Get Active

Like many Californians, I’m grateful to live in a place where Mother Nature does some of her best work, and enjoying the outdoors is a part of life for many, whether it's grabbing coffee alfresco with friends, taking a walk along the water, or hiking to the bridge. In Sausalito, being on the water is something almost everyone loves to do. If you crave more than the ferry ride over, book a kayak tour with Sea Trek, and glide past floating homes, sailboats, and the picturesque waterfronts while looking for local wildlife like seals that like to pop their heads out of the water to catch some rays.

Before the first ferry arrives each morning, locals walk their dogs and get their step count up along Bridgeway, stopping to grab coffee and enjoy the peace and serenity of the scene.

Meanwhile, the Marin Headlands are a gorgeous place to hike if you’re up for it. There are numerous trails, and you’ll need a car to get there from downtown Sausalito. Parking can be challenging on weekends, so consider visiting midweek, as locals usually do.

Don’t forget to tag #AgingPlayfully