smileys is a historic bar and saloon that has been around for over 100 years. My husband's family goes back for several generations in Bolinas and his father and gran have gone to Smileys. The most recent iteration of Smiley's is excellent. They have live music on occasionally, opened up a patio where you can sit outdoors and they also serve delicious food, great cocktails and have a very good selection of draft beers. This is a great spot to have lunch in Bolinas. read more

See all

Do not eat here. This place was just as bad as the place I visited in Wyoming. I ordered a taco salad. It said it had Pico de gallo. Since when is Pico de gallo just a few diced tomatoes? It said it came with beans. Which is something that would typically be in a taco salad at the bottom. Well, this one didn't. It had a few black beans sprinkled on top. Then the corn? Unsure about that but there were sprinkles of that. I had to pay for the guacamole. Okay, typical. Then onto the the protein. Typically, taco salads come with this but not at this place. They charge $5 extra for that and it wasnt very much. The "asada" was the tiny cubed type. You know the type you see in grocery stores? It tasted like meat that had been left in the fridge for a few days and reheated. So, if you like lettuce in a taco shell that has a few sprinkles of other things, then this $25 "taco" salad is for you. My 14 yr old is a better cook. We also ordered a bean a cheese burrito. He did say that was a kids burrito, so I said okay. I didn't know it was $12. The waffle fries were good. Someone we brought with us ordered those and shared. She said her other food item was dreadful. The other person said his food was not worth the $20ish he spent on his burrito either. We were hungry and didn't plan accordingly. Next time, we will. This place is your typical overpriced horrible food tourist trap place. Just come with food if you plan on visiting the beach. I feel bad for the people who actually live in this town and this is one of the veey limited options they have for eating out. Over the years, I haven't had one decent food place ranging from Stinson beach up to bodega bay. I'd gladly pay the prices if any of the food was actually good. This is about the food and not about the service. That's the 1 star because at least the staff was nice. read more

Amazing food, music, Drinks and dog friendly. Will be back. Bolinas rocks! Google rooms were great! No TV which is a Plus. read more

Great food! Classic dive bar ambiance! The nicest staff/owners and great music! This place has it all!

It's not awful if you are not disabled but the last time that I was in there, I asked for a water before I was going to order an alcoholic beverage and the (kinda rude) bartender snidely directed me to the self serve water station that as a disabled person with limited use of my right hand, I absolutely could not navigate so I couldn't get my own water and the bartender refused to. I didn't get an alcoholic drink after that because I just really wanted my Smiley's experience to be over at that point but still needed lunch. Their fish tacos are my go to on the menu- they are consistently delicious and complemented well by the chips and salsa. The bartender was either nowhere to be found or repeatedly trying to clear the food that I was clearly still eating. Like he asked if he could take my chips and salsa (most of the plate was obviously still left) while I was actively chewing and couldn't respond. Even if I had been physically able to go get my own water, I wouldn't have been able to leave my food long enough to get a refill without the guy throwing away my food. I will be avoiding that particular bartender for the foreseeable future. And there is 1 disabled parking spot. That one spot is sometimes occupied by an umbrella or a table that they will move if you just let them know. It's kinda inaccessible but then so is Bolinas. read more

Smiley's Schooner Saloon - Fish tacos - Hotels Near Me - Bolinas, California

Great old school place! Loved watching the surfers roll in from our seat at the bar. Amazing bloody Mary's! We stayed the night at the main hotel lodging and the room was simple but clean and comfortable. The music from the bar was acoustic so we didn't hear it at all. Welcoming staff, pet friendly, very unique spot worth stopping by if you're in Bolinas! read more

Smiley's Schooner Saloon - Hotels Near Me - Bolinas, California

What an amazing location and town. We were looking for eats and it was just before the dinner spots. We poked our nose I to this place and at first glance it looks like a bar but it is so much more than than that! It's a community gathering sport , entrainment venue , and good eats. The Chilaquiles were exceptional and the flavor profile with green sauce was spectacular and the right about spice and heat for me . The staff were attentive and friendly and the our door dining is a big plus as the entertainment can be loud but does trickle out side. read more

The hotel was super clean and quaint. The owner Blair Was really nice and welcoming. We enjoyed the music on a Sunday afternoon read more

Great vibes all around! Good food with a fun band playing in the backyard and a chip bar with dank salsas. My only qualm was there were some Yellowjackets outside and I have a huge irrational fear of bugs. The food was great and everyone was very friendly. Definitely a good place to stop after surfing or hanging in Bolinas! read more

See all

Scrod was a 10 out of 10, atmosphere was dece and they didn't accept cash app (which a review said they did?). Overall it was solid but would recommend bringing a flask, and ordering heavy. Clientele left a little to be desired, but as they say, "when you're here you're family", so we managed. God bless. read more

Smiley's Schooner Saloon - We loved the scrod!!! - Hotels Near Me - Bolinas, California

This review is for music and drinks. It was a gorgeous day and live music was such a treat. The bar was incredibly crowded. I don't think this crowd was expected but here we all were. A thirsty bunch at that. We grabbed a spot outside, got a drink from the chaotic bar, and went back out to enjoy the music. It was such a treat. I wanted to get food but since the staff was overwhelmed, we decided to try a bite next time. This is a great local spot to check out if you're in the area. read more

See all

Outrageously over priced. Noisy. Small room. Would give Zero Stars if offered. There are class A hotels in nearby Bodega Bay that cost less. Stay away from this place. read more

After I posted my review the business went out of their way to try and correct the mistake. They refunded 1/2 my order and went over with their staff in terms of training. We spend a lot of time in Bolinas and I need to give props to tasty food. Their food is good quality. Please know there are no Bolinas restaurants with good prices so expect to pay more than usual for your meals if you decide to go out. read more

Smiley's Schooner Saloon - Mushroom chorizo taco. - Hotels Near Me - Bolinas, California

Highly recommend. Hosted group of our friends for live music night. Great setting and awesome people.

People are more than lovely. Food is on point and drinks are tasty. My home away from home to be honest. Adore this place.

Stopped in on a rainy afternoon Sunday afternoon recently. Bar was somewhat busy, more so bcuz there was only one bartender and we had to move down the bar to try and get service. Wait time was almost 15 mins to garner attention and 2 glasses of wine. There was a bar back or server assistant. Maybe he is in training, but he really was of no help it appeared to the bartender. Nothing entices me to return any time soon. The renovations/expansion seem well appointed and nicely done. read more

Awesome getaway with the one you love. We stayed in the capitan's quarters with the balcony and I was so impressed with how huge our room was how comfy and so so clean. The food down at the bar was awesome as well. The green salsa is a game changer! Can't wait to go back!!! read more

Smiley's Schooner Saloon - Enjoying our private huge balcony! - Hotels Near Me - Bolinas, California

Smiley's has great service, great drinks and great mexican food! The Chips and Guacamole were fantastic - slightly thicker than normal chips, which my wife and I usually don't love, but they were awesome! I don't usually like guacamole but his batch was incredible. My wife loved it and she's a guac-nut. We also got the green salsa with them which was a little thicker than normal salsa but really good too. The french fries were okay - we were expecting them to come with a ranchero sauce but they came with standard ranch? My wife loved her carnitas taco (very moist, juicy, tender shredded pork) and her chicken mole taco - the mole was almost a deep red rather than brown but it tasted as good as any mole we've had. I had a chicken burrito - it was pretty solid, I'm more of a black beans than a refried guy but still really enjoyed i. The bloody mary was perfect - I asked for it spicy and they delivered! My wife enjoyed the IPA beer that was on tap. We had so much fun we're looking at dates where we can stay at the hotel where this restaurant/bar is! read more

The place has its charms but if you are looking for a pool table, look elsewhere. Apparently, they had a pool table some time ago but replaced it with a ping pong table. And with that, the coast from Stinson to Mendocino has become a pool table desert. read more

The newly reopened and remodeled Smiley's Saloon is a beauty! We spent the night in #1 and were impressed by how comfortable and clean the room was. The new bar looks great and hasn't lost any of its charm. And The Live Oaks put on a killer set outdoors. Can't wait to go back! read more

Smiley's Schooner Saloon - The Live Oaks at Smiley's - Hotels Near Me - Bolinas, California

Wow is the food good at Smiley's! I had a green pozole with pork and it was just so delicious I'm a bit at a loss for words. Also had a very tasty margarita. If I lived in town I think I'd eat here a lot. We were lucky to get a table in the shade, since we had our pooch with us and she would not have been happy in the sun. Having said that more shade in the outdoor dining area would probably be a good thing. A minor quibble. Looking forward to the next Bolinas day trip and another meal at Smiley's! read more

Stayed in the hotel. I found it sweet, but if you are a light sleeper, this place isn't for you, I could hear the people on the other side of the walls. Yet I enjoyed that there was not a TV in the room, or a phone, or a radio. Pure peace and quit. My boyfriend performed in the band and it was a really nice show. The bartender showed her bra while some other band was up. Crazy! I liked how the place is super old. But the locals are kind of scary and crusty looking. The people really don't want you to come here as a tourist, they stare at you. read more

Smiley's Schooner Saloon - Hotel with a Hippie out front - Hotels Near Me - Bolinas, California

I'm still thinking about how flavorful and moist the carnitas were, how generously the vegetables were flavored with olive oil, and how much I could taste the salsas were made by hands that brought their love for their culture into the ingredients. Bolinas is a beautiful adventure when you want to have an escape out of town and I'm so grateful to have visited this little gem and all of the little thoughtful touches you will find throughout Smileys. I loved seeing the up-cycled redwood tables and Mexican chocolate and other goodies for sale. Thank you Smileys for putting so much thought and love into this retreat for us to visit. read more

So excited the restaurant is open! After a long day of hiking, the tacos, guac and chips really hit the spot. All the food I've tried here is fresh, tasty and full of flavor. And the staff is super friendly and helpful too! Looking forward to indoor dining someday, but it's great to have the outdoor patio to dine on and enjoy my Bloody Mary. Can't wait to go back! read more

Smiley's Schooner Saloon - Bar - Hotels Near Me - Bolinas, California

Awesome spot on Sutter street with a great selection of beers on tap but more impressed with their bourbon selection. Mellow Corn for the win! Service was fast and friendly we got there late so they had run out of a lot of items but the pulled pork was great! Lots of seating inside and heaters and fire pits outside made it nice. We will be back again! read more

You can taste, or more importantly drink, the history here. We wandered into the bar and sat down and ordered a simple craft beer and took it all in one sip at a time. Unfortunately there was a dude next to me watching, I kid you not, YouTube videos of golf the whole time we were there. Odd and sad. So, we didn't have any locals to chat with which is fine but something I wanted to do while in Bo. The bartenders were friendly and the drinks went down smooth. I would love to return in the evening for a more authentic experience. Certainly this place is not going anywhere so I look forward to future Smiley's visits. read more

Smiley's Schooner Saloon - Hotels Near Me - Bolinas, California

Great place to spend an afternoon in Bolinas. The day we went, had a jazz band playing. The guacamole was spot on.

Smiley's is the perfect getaway for friends or family. We stayed at the hotel and loved it's proximity to everything, weekend live music, awesome food, and wonderful people. The community and energy of the place is what makes it stand out. read more

Whenever I go fishing in Bolinas I always stop at Smileys to grab a burrito. The salsas that come with the burrito are great and the beer is ice cold what more can you ask for. Oh and staff are friendly read more

Great place. Dog friendly, welcoming locals, good prices on draft beer, clean bathrooms. I would definitely hang out there. read more

Smiley's Schooner Saloon - Hotels Near Me - Bolinas, California

See all

We came in last Sunday, the food was decent but the bartender was really rude. I've been in the service industry before and so I like to cut people slack but we felt very unwelcome and like we were a bother because we were ordering only food, not drinks. read more

I love the atmosphere and the food is delicious! The restoration of the hotel and bar shows the attention to detail. Great food, fresh and with vegetarian and vegan options, generous drinks and friendly atmosphere. What's keeping you? Head on over!! read more

Shhhh... don't tell anyone. But we love this place. This place feels like home when we travel an hour north to catch some saltier sea air. The dogs are always better behaved than the patrons and the patrons aren't so bad them selves. Saddle up, tip well and make some friends. read more

Smiley's Schooner Saloon - Smileys schooner saloon... never been sober enough to read the sign... but the dog said it was very informative. - Hotels Near Me - Bolinas, California

FREE BEER TO STAY HERE! At least that's what we got. The bartender IS hotel registration! My man wants me to take a star cuz our server was wasted but I had too good of a time. This is a party place. Not a quiet getaway. Not the best kept perhaps but character flavor and action packed come here to experience the scene. A wild and crazy bar with a convenient hotel to pass out in for a great price. They got new stuff, new fancy Eco beds but check for mold if it hasn't been touched because it's organic I suppose. There were two beds in our room and apparently the other has been untouched for quite some time. Ours was well kept and clean and very very comfy. We had the opportunity to look at rooms and picked one real quaint and cozy I would come back here uh - to party - with friends - and pets - dammet this place is cool just come hidden secret gem! Thanks Tim B. for revealing Bolinas! My review #125 belongs to this special place in my heart 5 Stars read more

See all

I'm in Bolinas. I need a coffee. Where do I go? "Go to Smileys" a local resident told me. So to Smileys I went. Looking at this place, you can tell that there is a lot of history here. I don't have a single clue as to what that history is, but I know it's deep and rich, especially looking through the historical lens on this small seaside community. I looked it up, it's right on the website (pasted below). Let me tell you that I only saw the bar and even had to order from the outside window (they wouldn't let my 6yo son in for legal reasons). The service was great, the coffee was okay. I wouldn't hesitate to return. From the website: Smiley's Schooner Saloon and Hotel was established in 1851 and has been in continual operation in the same stalwart and storied building since then. We've yet to find an older bar West of the Mississippi. The saloon is believed to have been built for the energetic young Captain Isaac Morgan. Captain Morgan arrived in Bolinas (or Jugville as it was known then) in 1849. Those were gold rush days, days of growth. Those were days when one gambled with one's dreams and then watched them either shatter and splinter or be crafted and honed into realities. Morgan applied his considerable energy to diverse and lucrative projects, including an apple orchard, schooner building and, of course, his saloon. The Captain lived in the house on the Lagoon side of Smiley's and watched his bar survive the 1860's temperance movement when many of the town's dens of drinking iniquity closed down. The 1868 records of the Bolinas division #8 of the "Sons of Temperance" does not list Captain Morgan, even though most of the other prominent and influential men in town were members. A few years later though, in 1872, shortly before he went back east to find a wife, we surprisingly find him listed as the Chaplain of the "Independent Order of Rechabites" which sponsored temperance lectures. After Morgan left, though few records survive, we know Niles Ogden ran the bar for forty years. There is no record of the pub closing after the great quake of '06. Quite the opposite was true. Business picked up because the two nearest establishments where one could also quaff lightning libations, The Flagstaff and the Del Mar, were unceremoniously dumped in the Lagoon. The 1920s found most drinking establishments in the nation closing due to Prohibition. Smiley's didn't close. She just put on a little window dressing. Her windows were painted black (a condition repeated during World War II for fear of Japanese bombers). One window remained clear through which a passerby could glimpse a barber chair and other barbershop paraphernalia. Customers would enter the barbershop then proceed through a second door into the bar. Business must have been good, old timers recall the rum runners kicking up a lot of dust roaring in and out of town in their new-fangled automobiles. Legend has it that Al Capone spent one summer in Bolinas before he was beset by hard times in federal prison. Over the years, the name of the saloon changed with its ownership: Jim Redmen's Saloon, Ed Knott's Bar, etc. The Italian immigrant, Ismaele Biachini, bought the place in 1955. Ismaele, Smiley to his friends, called the landmark "Smiley's Bar and Bait." Where the barbershop had been there was now a baitshop. Attorney Vernon Bradley was a more recent owner, turning the management over to his mother, Sue, who ran the place with a firm hand through the high living 70s. It was a pizza parlour and saloon under Bradley. In the 80s, the now ancient establishment was owned by Robert Glenn, a professional publican and man of impeccable taste. Glenn restored the now somewhat tattered building, refurbishing it from top to bottom with the finest materials. In 1990 Glenn turned the helm over to Don Deane. Deane's background included being a Marin County Probation Officer, social service agency executive and publisher of the Coastal Post newspaper. Under Deane's tutelage, Smiley's became known up and down the state and across the country when the town of Bolinas is mentioned. In 2015, Smiley's Schooner Saloon passed into new hands. New owners Leila Monroe and Ashley Huck are committed to continuing and building on the tradition of great music and community entertainment that has defined Smiley's for decades. read more

Smiley's Schooner Saloon - Hotels Near Me - Bolinas, California

Probably not what you expect compared toothed hotels. Smiley's is a lot smaller but for what it lacks in size, it makes up in character. The front desk is literally at the bar in the saloon building. Bolinas is small and quiet town. It was like a movie set were there's one of everything in town I.e. Market, gas station, hardware store... I recommend coming here if you want to experience what a small town is like and get some fresh air. I'm glad that we stayed here after the hike at alamere's fall. The staff that we encounter were super nice. The room came with 2 drink tickets, but when kk noticed that my sister, boyfriend and I were all guest she gave us a third drink free of charge. It was definitely neat to stay there. The room itself was cute and quaint. At first it had a strange smell but then I got used to it. It didn't bother my sister or boyfriend. The bathroom was small but still had all the necessities. It was pretty clean for the most part. read more

See all

The Saloon is very good, great food and bartenders Very noisy hotel many things making noise A noisy neighborhood heard a cherry bomb and verbal fighting Only got 1 hour of sleep there read more

We wandered in after having lunch to check the oldest bar and maybe chat up some locals. The atmosphere was cool and the bartenders were friendly. The selection on tap was small but decent and the prices were good. A great experience and I look forward to another visit sometime soon. read more

Don't come here. It's terrible. There are scorpions everywhere and the residents are all vampires in hiding. The surfing sucks......so stay away....from the OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING BAR IN CALIFORNIA. it is Mad turnt schrallping bail bait...bro. "The lunatic, the lover, and the poet, are of imagination all compact." - William Shakespeare read more

Dog friendly, walking distance from the beach, free drinks at the bar! Parking steps away from our room. Wow could it get any better? But wait there is more.... communal kitchen too! My partner and I really enjoyed our stay here we will be back again. Also thanks to Kaylee for the extra welcoming vibes and cute as can be dog we had the privilege of saying hello to! read more