Such an excellent spot to indulge in some delicious craft cocktails! Came here with the ladies and we really enjoyed ourselves. I love the rustic setup and feel. The ambience is amazing here. You can't help but to look around and admire the decor. The booths are really cozy and comfortable. If you're into craft cocktails, you will absolutely LOVE this place! We each had a couple of different drinks and all of them tasted amazing. I personally loved their Night Market cocktail and their mojito. They were both super refreshing and although the mojito wasn't served traditionally in a tin mug, it was still esthetically pleasing. They use fresh fruit when preparing their cocktails which is always a plus. But because of this, you may encounter a few gnats flying around. Service at the bar is incredible! All of the bartenders were friendly and engaging. Even though we were sitting at the booth, they still made sure to stop by and check in with us. It was a bit slow when we first arrived, but then it quickly filled up about 30 minutes later. Mostly a locals crowd, but the other patrons were really friendly too. They have live music on Friday and Saturday nights and happy hour during the week! I haven't yet partaken in either one of these, but I surely plan to the next time that I'm out with the ladies in Marin. All in all, I'm pretty impressed with this place. It's so nice to have a low key bar like the Tavern on 4th out here in Marin. read more

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Finally, a bar in San Rafael that makes the finest craft cocktails without making the usual jaunt to SF, where there's no parking. I'm probably the very few who still drives their vehicle into the city. Most people take Uber/Lyft or the Ferry. Thank goodness for this wonderful bar near SMART, and next door to Extreme Pizza. I can come in here and plop my derrière at the bar and order some fine cocktails made by friendly, knowledgeable mixologists who have a sense of humor. When I saw a pic of the "message in a bottle", I had to get one; however, my message was blank :( It was like opening a fortune cookie with no message in it, not even lucky numbers to choose from. The drink was quite delicious, but the Irish Coffee was the best I've ever had. I will definitely be back to try more cocktails made with love...maybe I will get a message next time with my special drink. Ask for their roasted nuts! 'Til we meet again ~ cheers and see you on Yelp (SYOY)! read more

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This is simply one of the best bars I've experienced. I'll be concise. Service was excellent. Kind, welcoming, unpretentious, and very knowledgeable bar tenders. Creative and delicious craft cocktail selection. I wanted to try each and every one. When I asked for a Vieux Carre, with a smile and without a blink the bartender made me a delicious cocktail. I can't wait to come back. read more

The Tavern on Fourth - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Rafael, California

I went for the opening and all I can say is I have never had a better cocktail in my life it was so delicious with handsome I candy making it as well and I've been a bartender so this was a great atmosphere with gentleman to open the door as well two thumbs up as they say .Good job to parents Duncan and Mr.Johnny Love . read more

3.9 I love a good cocktail made with style from a skilled bartender. That is exactly what you'll experience at The Tavern on Fourth. My friends and I arrived around 9:00pm, there were two other people in the bar - we'd just missed a rush of patrons so we had the entire space to ourselves. Sure enough, 20 minutes later about 15 people flowed into the bar, totally changing the vibe. Still nice, just a little more energy. Our bartenders were very nice and actually came over to our table to ask if we needed anything on a few occasions. A bartender. Leaving the bar to check on people at the table. You hear me?! The drinks rotate frequently so don't be like me and forget the ingredients! *Night Market - mint, vodka?, lime... delicious! We asked about the history of the tavern, you know I love a good history lesson of the day! Turns out Tavern on Fourth is the 2nd oldest operating bar in Marin County. After a 4-year remodel, the beams and columns are all that remain of the original structure. It invokes elegance to the space. Don't get me wrong, the bar itself is dazzling! I assume that because the bar uses fresh ingredients such as herbs and fruit (happy about that!) there were several gnats flying around. It made me think of my experience at Gloria Ferrer a.k.a "Lord of the Flies" (see my review). It was traumatic! Gnats were in the bathroom (the bathrooms could be maintained a little better) and in the bar area. We had to cover our cocktails with napkins so the little buggers wouldn't get a sip! A little annoying. Hence the 3.9 stars. At the entrance and towards the rear are velvet drapes to keep the cold air out at the front and the sound in at the rear. There is a stage towards the back where bands come to play on Friday and Saturday night. The SMART train is just around the corner so it's a perfect way to end the day before making your way home. The staff was great as were the drinks. For that reason, I will give them another go. With a bit of luck, they will have addressed the gnat problem. I hope it was a one-off. read more

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I loved many things about this place however I feel like it's still getting its legs. The drinks are carefully made (but $11 each and not mind blowing); the service was nice (albeit slow); the live music was really good (high school band quality). At its most crowded, I felt like I was in a bar in the marina which was kinda cool for people watching but I also feel like San Rafael has the potential for greater. C'mon we have more character than the marina, don't we!?? I'm glad it's adding to the San Rafael nightlife offering but I know they could step it up even further. I'l be back and try new items. There's lots of potential here and I'm really happy a place like this moved into this long neglected spot. read more

FINALLY, a really cool craft cocktail bar in Marin! I have been saying for years how Marin needs a bar like Tavern on Fourth. Why should SF, Seattle, NY, even Santa Rosa and Petaluma have all the fun? My prayers have been answered! Mr B got the Bartenders Choice. He told Chris the Mixologist he is a bourbon guy, and Chris crafted his own spin on a Manhattan, and it was perfect. I enjoyed the Little Emperor cocktail, which had some of my favorite flavors: ginger, lemon, and black currants. Both cocktails were excellent, and I am not exaggerating. Appreciated the expertise of a cocktail made right. The bar is inviting, hip and modern. Good music, and a great vibe. This is a huge step up from Positively 4th Street and 4th Street Tavern from yesteryear. I have already made plans to come back next week with a girlfriend, as it is that good. Check out the Tavern on Fourth, you will not be sorry! read more

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Such a great addition to SR. Marin needs more lounge like places that offer a good cocktail and a relaxed environment- this place is exactly that. Chris, the GM, was extremely personable and knowledgeable. I appreciated his wisdom and his generosity. The decor of the bar is darkly romantic- which I totally dig. The cocktails are inventive and I'm excited to see what food this place will soon offer. They have live music on the weekends which I definitely need to check out. Their alcohol selection is very unique. I have to say the cocktails are a bit expensive, I wish they offered a happy hour. But I understand these are craft cocktails, so this place has to be a special treat. Definitely will be back when I can. read more

The Tavern on Fourth - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Service and ambiance were impeccable. The owners of the bar are very personable and we're a joy to talk to! If goo are looking for a different spot to hang out and enjoy live music, I highly recommend this spot! read more

Personally I'm not a let's go the the bars type of girl but we were waiting for the smart train to roll by and we saw this amazing bar. We walked in and we were wowed. The vibe is calm, unique, and modern. Beautiful decor, a full bar and very clean restrooms (always a plus in my book!) I walked in and took a seat at the bar. They have hooks underneath your spot to you can hang your purse. As soon as we sat down we were greeted by the bartender and gave us a small list of cocktails and the beer menu we available to see on the wall. The beer menu was hard to look at from where we were sitting but that's not what we wanted. We wanted cocktails We were craving something with tequila and the bartender was very nice and we asked for a Paloma with a little sweetness and made us just that! Yummmm! They have an area for live music and a tv to catch up on sports. The Giants were playing against the Dodgers and we got to watch the game while we enjoyed our delicious drink! read more

The Tavern on Fourth - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Rafael, California

Came here Wednesday September 5, 2018 with a Co-worker. We stepped it and I was immediately please with the decor and design (always important to me). It felt like a really cool and chill spot to have eclectic adult beverages with unique flavors brought together. Let me get right to it.... ORDERED: - Purple Haze - Message in a Bottle - Free Bird - Island in the Sun I wanted "Oh Honey" but bartender couldn't make it PROS: - place is really pretty inside, I loved it - great looking bar to sit at and seats right behind it - Bartender explained a lot of the drinks (he looked like the driver in that show "The Hand Maid's Tale" - many coool drinks to chose from - great job on the cocktail recipes, I love when people think outside the box CONS: - Pricing and drink size didn't match up. Drinking here was a bit pricy for the tiny drinks your served. The drinks need to be a little bit bigger. That's why I gave 4 instead of 5 stars - Bartender took a really long time to make our drinks - Bartender had a strong BO odor so I was happy he stayed down at the other end most of the time. - No food or snacks. I probably would've stayed a lot longer if they offered something to eat, anything. Crackers? Meats? Nuts? Dried fruit? Apple slices? Anything. I attached drink menu. Pretty cool menu read more

The Tavern on Fourth - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Rafael, California

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My husband and I came here to enjoy a drink while waiting for dinner reservations elsewhere and we are so happy we did! The atmosphere is amazing. Inviting, but still feels cozy and intimate. I can't wait to come back when there's live music. We had two cocktails each but tried 3 different ones in total and they were all so good. Unique and inventive! read more

The Tavern on Fourth - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Uh oh. Two 5 star ratings in a row. I must be losing my edge. This place is coooooool tho. So close to the train station and such a nice ambiance. Not too big, not too small. Good service and they had Deogginizer so how could I not give them 5 stars? Totally a bar and not the place you would order food. But if ya wanna chill and drink, then this is the place! read more

This place is good and great bartender - i forgot your ask his name - I would frequent to car snd watch games and the crowd that comes through are mellow and friendly They got select beers and good cocktails I wish i too Lyft here and i really wanted to try all the beer on tap I will visit again just to feel the place read more

The Tavern has improved five-fold from their already five star review. We now come here specifically for the bartender Kevin. He has to be the most incredible, inventive bartender out there. I love that we can come in, tell him what we're in the mood for, and he concocts something well beyond our expectations each time. This place is a hidden gem! read more

The Tavern on Fourth - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Rafael, California

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I've only been to the Tavern recently, but it's my new go-to. Just lived in Marin County for a few months, and I discovered the place when I met the owners, so of course I had to try it on. The very first visit was an amazing band and an even better bartender. I've been back a few times now and I can say with certainty, Kevin is one of those mixologist who can hear your tastes and create a magic mouth-splosion you will want to serve at your next party. 5 stars, absolutely worth exploring. read more

Sazerac! On point. Thank you for making a great drink. I only had time for two drink but the mood was cool and the bartender was really kind to me when I made a mistaken on my other. Turns out his knowledge of drinks and what's goes together was on point. Thank you for having patience Mood: great Drink - Sazerac - Great read more

The Tavern on Fourth - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Rafael, California

As a San Rafael native, it's nice to see this town mixing it up a bit. Case in point, the arrival of The Tavern on Fourth. Many locals will remember this place as the artist formerly known as Fourth Street Tavern. It was a pretty divey, smokey bar & music venue. It definitely served its time and place. But this Tavern 2.0 is a much classier addition to the downtown area. First of all, they're one of the few joints in town that serve craft cocktails. These guys take their adult beverages seriously. And their spirit/libation menu rivals any bar you'd find in SF. Aside from the drinks, this Tavern is just a chill place to sit and sip (it's also a great 1st date spot). If I have one complaint though (and it's kind of a big one) - the drinks take WAY too long to make. I ordered two cocktails over the course of the evening and each one took almost 10 minutes to make (and the bar wasn't even crowded). I literally was watching the bartender make the drink in front of me. It reminded me of the the scene in "Love, Actually" where Alan Rickman's trying to buy that Christmas gift at the department store and the Rowan Atkinson employee spends forever wrapping the present. It literally took that long for the bartender to prepare my drink. I almost thought I was getting punked. Oh well, I guess patience is a virtue (and one that I need to work on). All in all, the Tavern on Fourth St. is a welcome to addition to San Rafael. And I'd gladly return here the next time I'm in the hood. Also, they have live music on weekends, so I might check that out soon. Cheers! read more

Overall, a great experience! HOWEVER, during a busy Friday night, service was slow. The bartenders didnt acknowledge us or say "Sorry for the wait, I'll be with you in one minute". On a positive note, the band that was playing was KILLER! I dont remember their name but they were great. read more

I went to the Tavern for the first time earlier this Summer and it was wonderful! Amazing how well they spruced up the place and the drinks were delicious! Craft cocktails in Marin!!! We went there again tonight and met Kevin behind the bar and it was even better than my first visit!!! Best cocktail menu ever! Best experience in a bar ever! So great to have conversations with a talented and friendly bartender. We discussed vermouth, clear ice, whiskey vs Scotch and everything cocktail related. I highly recommend the Tavern and wish them great success! Would like to make it a weekly ritual to pop in and see what they are stirring up! read more

If you're looking for a spot to be treated poorly if under the age of twenty five... then all means come to this location. There was only one bartender that treated me as if I was human and thats the best thing I must say. I'm usually always a nice star giver but when going to this bar I felt like a stranger although I was there very often and bartenders only cared for those who offered more as a tip. Just overall to keep it short and simple, the workers don't care about what they're pouring, and those whom wish to cause those vibes you just would so much rather do without. Hurtful, desolate, and honestly will never visit again due to customer service. Miserably dry and lazy. Tony was the only one who had shown interest. Thank you tony. read more

This is probably my favorite bar in San Rafael! It's clean and updated inside! Their drink menu is really unique unlike the other bars around. Great place to have drinks after dinner without the hassle of driving around town. read more

Love this place! Always a good drink here and the variety is endless! Music on the weekends is a plus if you are looking for a place that has music to dance by. read more

Bartenders are very helpful and the candy capped mushroom cocktail is a perfect post work libation

My dude and I are business owners on fourth st, and long time natives, so not generally fans of the "cliche hipster business" sweeping our nation's small and medium towns. This place has enough uniqueness though, that it's cool and fun without forfeiting personality. I've only had margaritas and they have been excellent every time (4x.) The third time we came here, the bartender was way too cool for school. Remember in the early 2000s when mean bartenders in SF gave hipsters everywhere a bad name? Then people learned. Except this guy didn't. He was just unpleasant. I convinced my dude to come back with me anyway, and the next bartender was nice and normal. All the others have been good too. It was just the one guy, but he almost ruined it for everyone. I'm happy to have a fun new bar on fourth! read more

We really appreciate a bartender who enjoys making cocktails and this is exactly what we got at Tavern on Fourth. The only downside is there is no food, it would be great if they provided even snacks or something to munch on. read more

My wife and I have been to The Tavern on Fourth a number of times prior to grabbing food in downtown San Rafael. The attention they pay to the cocktails they make is appreciated and the end product is always delicious. On top of the great cocktails, the beer selection is really well put together and provides a nice supplement to Libation up the road. The staff at Tavern is friendly and always good for a bit of discussion over drinks. read more

This was the first bar I visited since I moved to Marin this week for a temporary work assignment. It is apparent that the design was a priority when this venue was established. It's clean with a comfortable layout. I ordered a Manhattan, like I always do when I'm out for cocktails, which was average at best but good enough to leave me content. I wasn't too impressed with the bartender who prioritized leaning on the bar to converse with a female customer sitting at the bar over helping the few other customers in a timely manner despite their empty glasses. Also he kept reaching inside his waistband to scratch his backside which may have been due to an itchy clothing tag or something but regardless that isn't something you want to see from the person who is handling the glass you drink out of with the same bare hands he is using to scratch his rear-end. After that I ditched the last the 1/4 of my drink and went straight home to rinse my mouth with a homemade peroxide solution. I realize that one isolated butt scratch incident doesn't reflect the behavior of the entire staff but I will certainly be keeping an eye on the staff if I do return again for a drink. of Aside from the hygienic concern it was an alright experience and I will likely go back again since it is in close proximity to my Marin residence. I bumped up the star rating because it is one of few bars in that area that isn't a dive bar. read more

Finally managed to visit the Tavern for a drink. Nice selection on tap including a really nice, dry cider. Had to try one of the house cocktails, a Bastille Sour...very nice! One can actually have a conversation here; attractive setting and nice clientele and staff behind the bar. They have live music Fridays and Saturday but we will have to return to support that part. Nice, friendly but more upscale addition to the cocktail and bar scene downtown. read more

The best place for a nice cocktail in San Rafael. I recommend the Doc Holiday if you're a whiskey drinker. My one quibble with this place, is like most places in Marin, the ambience and decor could be so much better. The building itself is great, but the inside of the bar lacks creativity and personality. Too used to SF bars I guess. I will still give it five stars though, because for Marin, it's great. read more

First time on a Tues a week ago. No food. Boo. But you can bring food in. Expensive drinks. Not a real happy hour. Only a dollar off their premium drinks. Not so sure about this place. read more

This WAS a favorite bar for me. I frequent this bar with my husband on Fridays to start off the weekend with a DELICIOUS cocktail. There has been some changes with bartenders which happens, totally fine. However, the quality of cocktails that we were used to have recently declined substantially. I went this past Friday 10/11 approached the bar and was told " to hold on a sec!" Totally calm, not rushing anything I waited patiently for the bartender to come around and have me wait 30 min for one of the WORST margaritas of my life. I give this a 1 star. Cocktails have declined, beer list is SO Limited. Will be hunting for a new favorite spot. read more

1st visit and will surely return. Kevin was friendly, competent and extremely informative of his cocktail knowledge. read more

Craft bar!!! Chris was amazing and super cool dude. I loved the hospitality and the bar is so beautiful, no wonder it took 4 years to open. It's a very beautiful place...We will be back!! read more

The Tavern looks great since the remodel. Service and prices were excellent. Love the the new stage and dance floor. Awesome tight band last night, Steady Eddy and the Shakers. Fun cross section of humanity; dancing and singing to Marvin Gaye's What's Going On and other classic Motown hits. Will definitely go back again. read more

I've been coming to this bar for some time now and its my go-to place. It has just the ambiance that I was looking for; not divey, but not too high end or upscale. It was a drag when they lost their recent bartenders, but I am quite happy with the new ones. Kevin used to work at another bar that I frequented and he was the only reason I kept going there. So it's great that he's tending at my favorite San Rafael bar. The place has good rotating beer selection, which is ideal since I am always looking to try something new. Their liquor selection is also very unique and diverse with a great well whiskey. There is free live music on Friday and Saturday. The music on Friday is usually a jam band. Not really my style but still quality music. On Saturday the music is always fantastic, the first and last Saturdays always being the best with the regular bands Cold Sol and Gold Souls. If its your first time visiting, I would recommend one of those nights. read more

I had a fabulous experience on Labor Day, 2018. Found this place on Yelp; it was first time here. I had to do my own social science experiment, which passed with flying colors! Both staff members were very polite. Patrick is a gem @ communicating, listening, making excellent drinks, and looking adorable. I shall be back! read more

I have been waiting for this bar to open. And I am so happy with the remodel! Chris is fantastic, his drinks are unique and have never been tasted anywhere in the bay area. It's definitely worth the drive to come see him alone. The atmosphere is lovely, fresh flowers and the wood aesthetic brings a nice touch for downtown San Rafael. I love the staff, they remember your name and have a phenomenal selection that keeps you on your toes. Tony is the best too, he is always smiling and making sure that patrons are happy. I've been watching the Warriors games here and even though they're not a sports bar, they have two TVs that have ample room to see. I can't wait to come again and check out the live music! See you guys next week! read more

Beautiful new bar in San Rafael! Went here after work with friends last Friday, and it was the perfect spot to wind down for the weekend. Not too loud, Brendan at the bar was super responsive, and we got to try many of the craft beers (such a variety!) and order a couple delicious specialty cocktails. Bar has a great selection of liquors along with their beers on tap, and the cocktail menu was skillfully put together. This place is definitely filling a need in San Rafael for great places to hang out, and I'm looking forward to coming back. read more

Just stopped by after dinner in the city, there was at the least 12 guests at the bar . As soon as we walked in the bartender yelled out "we gave last call 10 minutes ago!"!Ok even so what the hell It was almost an intrusion... won't go bs k felt so dismissed read more