Picnics & Dining
Let’s go out!
A quick drive into Mendocino Village gets you to markets, cafés, and restaurants
Grab a fast bite or sit down for an elegant meal
Just a few minutes away by car you’ll find shops, cafés, restaurants, and markets in Mendocino. Picnic tables are dotted around the campground, with propane BBQ grills available for you to put together a beautiful al fresco feast. Mendosa’s Market has both grocery essentials for a DIY picnic as well as pre-made foods like sandwiches and sushi if you want something quick.
You can find details about grocery markets on the Food! page. Restaurants we particularly like are listed below.
Mendocino Restaurants
We suggest making reservations for weekend dining.
Mendocino Café
(707) 937-6141
A cozy eatery with deck seating and a warm atmosphere, serving an eclectic menu with some Thai-inspired cuisine.
Fog Eater Café (as of 12/13, this restaurant is temporarily closed)
(707) 397-1806
A vegetarian restaurant inspired by both the hearty recipes of the deep South and the fresh plant-based cuisine of Northern California.
Flow
(707) 937-3569
American cuisine with great salads, burgers, locally-caught seafood and a full bar. The restaurant is on the second floor where you can enjoy unobstructed views of the ocean.
Mendocino Hotel (as of 12/13, this restaurant is temporarily closed)
(707) 937-0511
The food and drink are great in this historic setting. Scallops, grilled prawns and Manhattans are favorites. Forego the main dining room...the full menu is available in the sitting room near the fireplace.
Patterson’s Pub
(707) 937-4782
Expect delicious pub standards and the catch-of-the-day is always great. Cozy, loud, and unable to accommodate minors...but we love it.
Trillium
(707) 937-3200
New American cuisine with a focus on seasonal and local ingredients. Lunch and dinner are served in a comfortable dining room. Deck seating is available and opens up to a beautiful garden.
Cafe Beaujolais & Brickery
(707) 937-5614
Upscale, refined, delicious and creative. Chef Julian Lopez uses only seasonal, fresh and local ingredients to create his inspired menu. On weekends, don’t miss pizza from the Brickery served in their beautiful gardens (Friday-Sunday from 11:30am to 3pm).
Luna Trattoria
(707) 962-3093
Mossimo is serving delicious, authentic and homestyle northern Italian food from his cozy new digs in Mendocino. Open for dinner only – call for reservations.
Frankies Pizza & Ice Cream
(707) 937-2436
Serving artisan pizzas, salads and homemade ice cream from Cowlicks in Fort Bragg. Don’t miss black raspberry chocolate chunk, ginger , cardamom and candy cap mushroom ice cream. Patio seating is available and a good option when traveling with dogs.
Good Life Cafe and Bakery
(707) 937-0836
A great coffee shop with a delicious selection of breakfast and lunch items like daily soups, homemade breads, rice bowls, salads, and wraps. Patio seating is available and a good option when traveling with dogs.
Mendocino Market
(707) 937-3474
Local favorite with amazing sandwiches..featuring classic like a Reuben, Club, BLT, Mediterranean Sub, Blackened Shrimp PoBoy with Creole Remoulade..all made with high quality and super fresh ingredients and local breads. Their soups are also outstanding.
restaurants A few extra minutes south
(but, oh, so worth it)
Wildfish (1.9 miles south)
(707) 937-3055
This favorite eatery features locally-caught seafood, seasonal and organic produce and homemade bread. We love the cozy atmosphere and ocean views.
Little River Inn (1.8 miles south)
(707) 937-5942
This restaurant is well-known for its comfortable atmosphere and fresh coastal cuisine. It’s a local favorite. We recommend dinning at the bar where you can enjoy spectacular ocean views.
Ledford House (6.2 miles south in Albion)
(707) 937-0282
We love this place for its simple, rustic and delicious French bistro fare. The homemade bread is to die for and available to take home for $5/loaf.