10 Best Restaurants on the Mendocino Coast

© Café Beaujolais

Established in 1968 in the heart of the historic town of Mendocino, Café Beaujolais is an elegant California French restaurant that serves seasonal French-inspired cuisine and award-winning local wines in a classic, laid-back setting. Based in a beautifully preserved Victorian farmhouse, the charming mainstay has been drawing couples celebrating their love for decades with a sublime menu of seasonal French fare, superb wines, and gracious hospitality. Executive Chef Julian draws inspiration from his many travels to create a menu of classic, yet innovative cuisine made using the finest ingredients such as olive oil from Spain and diver scallops from Nantucket Bay. The food is accompanied by a distinguished wine list featuring many local Mendocino wines, as well as wines from all over the world with more than 400 offerings and at least 50 by the glass. Café Beaujolais is open for lunch and dinner, Wednesday through Sunday, and dinner only on Monday and Tuesday.

961 Ukiah St, Mendocino, CA 95460, Phone: 707-937-5614

© Trillium Cafe & Inn

Based within a New England-style house, not far from Main Street in the heart of Mendocino, the Trillium Café and Inn is a cozy restaurant and bar with large bay windows, a crackling fireplace, comfortable décor and a charming outdoor deck with spectacular views of Big River Bay. The restaurant serves a seasonal, market-driven menu of farm-to-table fare prepared with artisanal produce and local ingredients such as Dungeness crab strudel, rabbit meatballs and tortellini, Covelo Ranch pork belly, roasted half game hen, and Gulf prawn with wild mushroom risotto. Desserts include Bourbon cream beignets and an excellent selection of Anderson Valley wine, craft beers, and classic cocktails, and the Trillium Café is open for lunch and dinner, daily.

10390 Kasten St, Mendocino, CA 95460, Phone: 707-937-3200

© Albion River Inn

Perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean, the Albion River Inn is a chic, romantic inn that offers spectacular oceanfront lodging and dining and a stunning venue for weddings and other special celebrations. Located in the heart of the Mendocino and Headlands Historic District and just a few miles from Van Damme State Park and the Kelley House Museum, the inn features contemporary, refined rooms and cozy cottages with sitting areas and fireplaces, whirlpool tubs, and furnished decks with breathtaking views. Complimentary amenities include a full breakfast in the elegant ocean-view bar and restaurant with live piano music, and ample parking.

3790 CA-1, Albion, CA 95410, Phone: 707-937-1919

© Ledford House Restaurant

The Ledford House Restaurant is a charming, oceanfront dining establishment seven miles South of Mendocino that serves traditional Cal-Med cuisine and fine boutique wines. Nestled atop a bluff on the Albion headlands with breathtaking panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the restaurant serves a seasonal menu of Provençal-style fare made with strong Mediterranean influences using locally sourced ingredients and regional produce. Two elegantly furnished dining rooms have contemporary décor and expansive windows that flood interiors with natural light and embrace beautiful views, where diners can savor the sublime cuisine against a backdrop of live jazz nightly. A full-service bar offers a variety of fine wines from around the world, craft and draft beers, and classic cocktails and the restaurant is open for dinner only Wednesday through Sunday.

3000 CA-1, Albion, CA 95410, Phone: 707-937-0282

© Little River Inn Restaurant

Located in the landmark coastal resort of the Little River Inn, the Little River Inn Restaurant is a delightful eatery with magical views of the Pacific Ocean that serves classic Northern Californian cuisine. Warm and welcoming family hospitality meets enticing fresh local fare and fine wines in this elegant and intimate restaurant where award-winning Chef Marc Dym creates exceptional dishes from locally sourced ingredients. Beloved by both travelers and locals alike, the restaurant serves classic American entrées with modern twists for breakfast and dinner, and a full-service bar, the Ole’s Whale Watch Bar, offers an array of libations from fine wines to handcrafted cocktails. The Little River Inn Restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner seven days a week. On Sundays the restaurant serves brunch, lunch and dinner.

7901 CA-1, Little River, CA 95456, Phone: 707-937-5942

© Luna Trattoria

Luna Trattoria is a cozy Northern Italian eatery on Ukiah Road that serves hearty pasta dishes, wood-fired pizzas and calzones, fresh home-baked bread, and fresh seafood in a warm atmosphere. Luna Trattoria takes diners on a culinary journey to Northern Italy with dishes such as wild mushroom risotto, spinach and ricotta cheese gnocchi, and a variety of pasta, meat and fish dishes, all prepared with simple and fresh locally sourced ingredients. A lovely garden out back in perfect for romantic alfresco dining and an extensive array of easy-drinking Italian wines and craft beers is available to enjoy with the food. Luna Trattoria is open for dinner, Tuesday through Sunday.

955 Ukiah St, Mendocino, CA 95460, Phone: 707-962-3093

© MacCallum House

MacCallum House Inn is a historic 1882 bed and breakfast in Mendocino that offers deluxe accommodations, a charming restaurant serving local cuisine, and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. The lovely inn is ideal for intimate and romantic weddings with several spaces for ceremonies and receptions, including the Grey Whale Café and Bar, which has a cozy glass-enclosed porch, and lovely gardens for outdoor ceremonies and receptions. Overnight accommodations are provided at the inn for guests, and the restaurant can offer delicious in-house catering and beverage services. MacCallum House Inn is located a few miles from the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse and Fort Bragg.

45020 Albion St, Mendocino, CA 95460, Phone: 707-937-0289

© Mendocino Café

Mendocino Café is a cozy eatery on Lansing Street with a lovely outdoor deck and beautiful ocean views. The tiny eatery serves an eclectic menu of Thai-inspired cuisine for lunch and dinner, drawing both locals and visitors alike who come to enjoy bowls of soba noodles, rice dishes, miso soup, and seafood dishes. The menu also features prime steaks, Thai burritos, Indian-style masala curry, pasta Florentine, and Brazilian fish stew, and signature entrées of sesame seed-crusted ahi tuna, tequila prawns, and peppercorn-crusted New York strip steak. Mendocino Café is open for lunch and dinner daily.

10451 Lansing St, Mendocino, CA 95460, Phone: 707-937-6141

© kichigin19/stock.adobe.com

Located in the heart of historic Mendocino Village on the east side of Lansing Street, Patterson’s Pub is a traditional Irish pub in the heart of Mendocino and a local favorite for both locals and visitors. Set in a quaint cottage, the folksy Irish hangout serves modern pub grub such as hearty burgers, fish and chips, Philly cheesesteak, and pulled pork sandwiches, along with global craft beers and casual wines. The well-stocked bar has several local beers on tap and by the bottle, top-shelf spirits, specialty cocktails, and casual wines from around the globe, and a full menu or light pub fare menu is available throughout the day. Patterson’s Pub is open for lunch and dinner, daily, late-night dining, and brunch on the weekend.

10485 Lansing St, Mendocino, CA 95460, Phone: 707-937-4782

© Ravens’ Restaurant

Located in the Stanford Inn by the Sea Eco-Resort, Ravens' Restaurant is a nationally acclaimed award-winning restaurant that serves organic vegan cuisine in a laid-back setting. Innkeeper and restaurant owner Jeff Stanford focuses on using fresh, high-quality locally sourced ingredients from its organic farm to create delicious whole-food dishes such as Portobello Benedict, Ravens Chilaquiles, house-made English Muffins, Citrus Polenta, and Ravens signature Sea Palm Strudel. The boutique hotel is beautifully furnished with contemporary décor, luxury amenities, and breathtaking panoramic ocean views of the Pacific Ocean. An ever-changing ‘Ethnic Menu’ is served every Wednesday, and Happy Hour is offered every evening. The full-service bar offers a variety of fine wines from around the world, craft and draft beers, and classic cocktails made with high-end spirits. Ravens’ Restaurant is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, daily.

44850 Comptche Ukiah Rd, Mendocino, CA 95460, Phone: 707-937-5615