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    Active Culture

    4.4 (173 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    ACTIVE CULTURE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - Active Culture

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    Grassroots Burger-so good! Vegan when you omit the falafel sauce (has yogurt). I added a side of OG sauce-delish!
    Sanaz S.

    Yumm! Had lunch here after a hike at Indian Valley with my husband and a friend. Between the three of us we had the potato tacos, a bowl, and the grassroots burger, 2 smoothies, and their iced tea. We veganized the things that were not (by omitting cheese or yogurt sauces), and everything was delicious! This is a nice, casual, indoor/outdoor cafe and we enjoyed the outdoor seating on this breezy but nice day. One wish is that they had a vegan cheese option, or maybe some more vegan proteins (tempeh, seitan, or impossible??). Will definitely return and try more of their vegan options.

    Guac and chips
    Angelin R.

    Another fabtastic meal. I swear, this is my go to- for togo. For dine in. For soft serve. For salad. I freaking love the food here. Service is always friendly. Pro tip- add the veggie patty to salad and always order chili togo.

    Aiten H.

    Nice location with plenty of parking and seating. Lots of menu options. I came in for a late morning snack. Ordered the avocado toast which came with chips and salsa. Next time I'll try one of their many salad options.

    Miguel F.

    We decided to try this place since it is in the way to one of our destinations on our mini vacation. The fact that they have vegan options for my wife, and 50% off everything on Fridays, it was hard not to give it a try. We brought our little dog so we sat at a table in the outdoor dining area. The food was great! I had a bowl, my wife had a veggie burger and my Mother in law had a salad! We each had. Try of each others food and everything was delicious and fresh! We also had shakes for dessert! This place has a good thing going on and we can't wait to try it again! It would be great if they opened a location in San Diego!!

    Rimma B.

    I got the Bay bowl and was very happy with it. The tartness from the apples was so refreshing! Very healthy and clean, the grains fill you up and keep you full. I wish they had more beverage options.. Pricing was steep but otherwise happy with our visit!

    Jonathan T.

    The name made me feel like what they serve is supposed to resemble what someone with a healthy and lively lifestyle eats, so I was all for it. It is also relatively easy to find, and they are next door to a coffee shop. I got Active Culture's hummus quinoa salad and it was pretty good. To be honest, I didn't need the sauce because it was not lacking flavor and did not set off any "dry" warning bells haha. They were also kind enough to show me where everything was, as if they knew it was my first time there. It's also not that far from my location. Score! I will be back.

    Rebecca C.

    Ordering from Active Culture is always a treat. This is one of my favorite food spots in Novato. I've had the wholesome bowl, not your mama's nachos, eastern trade winds, the bay bowl, the potato tacos and the breakfast bowl. I highly recommend all of them. I don't feel guilty whenever I eat here and they don't skimp on flavor. They also have açaí bowls, tasty shakes and froyo! The service is always great. They are tucked on the side of the Pacheco Plaza shopping center next to Marin Coffee Roasters and Boca Pizzeria. There is plenty of parking. Be sure to sign up for their e-newsletter because they have several discounts and specials every month.

    Acai bowl - Bountiful Bowl (Medium) with peanut butter added
    Marlys J.

    Active culture has quickly become my go-to spot for breakfast. I have become a creature of habit and always order the bountiful bowl with peanut butter. It is so delicious, healthy, and refreshing. They have lots of vegan and vegetarian options available on their menu. Warm bowls, acai bowls, smoothies, breakfast, frozen yogurt, and local beers/wines. They have some indoor seating as well as a lovely patio. On the weekends, there is typically live music playing outside the venue. The patio is dog-friendly and there are typically a few dogs around. The staff has always been friendly and accommodating. The store is always clean and spotless, even the outside patio. So happy to have this spot so close to home!

    Breakfast Bowl
    Sophia O.

    Even for a carnivorous person like me, I love this place. This breakfast bowl packs a lot of flavor and is filling. I also love their acai bowls & soft serve.

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    2 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    Abbi B.

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    6 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Lovely staff. Wonderful healthy fare. Beautiful comfortable space. Salads are bomb. Great choice if you have any dietary concerns.

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 month ago

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    Abbi B.

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    2 months ago

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    Abbi B.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Abbi B.

    Thanks for your review and support Rebecca!

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

    Great food and nice environment. The açaí bowls are sooo good. You feel good after eating here, the food is healthy, clean and fresh!

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    8 months ago

    Delicious, fresh, healthy food. This was perfect as my friend has a number of food allergies. Also a great location just off the highway.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    The veggies were fresh. The service was friendly. I would come back if I had an opportunity.

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    1 year ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Abbi B.

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    10 months ago

    I'm not a vegan but this place has some great offerings. I even liked the chili without any meat in it.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Love their açaí bowls. They are really well balanced. Make sure to get cocoa nibs. They have local promotions often

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    4 years ago

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    Abbi B.

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    2 years ago

    Food was great! Variety of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. Meat options as well.

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    Ask the Community - Active Culture

    Ayawaska Hilltop

    Ayawaska Hilltop

    4.3
    (770 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$
    Private events
    Free parking

    Everyone goes for the view, but the food is amazing too! Like what else can you ask for?…read more Main events, parties, birthdays you name it can happen here. I absolutely enjoyed my experience here and would recommend.

    I had no idea Novato had such a beautiful gem…read more Nothing against the city but I live in Benicia. The only time I come to Novato is to go through Novato. Theres hiking trails or places where we go to get to the Ocean. In order to go to them, we have to drive through Novato to get there. But whenever we are out in Marin, we usually just defeat to eating a Sol Food(If you know you know...). Recently we wanted to try something different. Ayawaska is about the experience. A very bold name but from the moment you walk in, to the moment you start eating your food you will quickly understand why they chose that name. All the workers are professional but also very friendly. Their cocktails are all delicious. Theres something about taking a sip and peering out the windows and seeing the view. For a minute it really feels like we are in another world. They really chose such a cool location for a restaurant. For food, I saw the Paella adjacent dish on the menu and I immediately knew what I was ordering. Arroz con Mariscos. We did order some Empanadas. I hate mushrooms but I had a bite of the Empanada Veggie. It's all mushrooms dude...alllll mushrooms...but it was good. My favorite was the Empanada de Lomo. But both Empanadas were delicious. They had a nice flaky crust but had really generous fillings. The flavors were so dang good. But with the Arroz con Mariscos I loved all the fixings it came with and how it was decorated. All kinds of onions and bell peppers everywhere. The rice itself wasn't overcooked or undercooked. And most of all there were giant shrimps along with calamari and clams. Altogether this was a symphony of Seafood and rice. This probably could be shared between two people. Unless you are just really hungry. So long story short, I highly recommend this place. Sometimes you go to fancy places like this and they got the nice decor. Sure. They got a nice view. Cool. But at the end of the day, the meal and the overall experience is what matters right? Ayawaska is the full package. If you live in the area and haven't tried this place yet, you are definitely missing out.

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    Active Culture - vegetarian - Updated July 2026

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