Playa

Playa

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Playa
Review
At a glance
Closed now
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About
MICHELIN Bib Gourmand: Good quality, good value cooking
The foggy beaches of Marin County may be a far cry from the sand and surf of Baja, but this lively spot keeps the vacation vibe alive with margaritas, mezcal and madly delicious Mexican cooking. And while Playa feels upmarket with its colorful tiles, blown-glass lights and walls of windows, its food is wonderfully authentic. The menu makes for tough choices: opt for the outstanding al pastor tacos layered with sweet-spicy caramelized pineapple salsa, or the crispy empanadas stuffed with chorizo, currants and green olives, drizzled with chimichurri. Whether you choose a cocktail and a mushroom-squash blossom quesadilla at the bar or bowls of chips and queso fundido with a big group on the sunny back patio, good times are guaranteed.
Read more on MICHELIN Guide
Features
CUISINES
Mexican, Latin
Meal types
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
American Express
Digital Payments
Discover
Dog Friendly
Family style
Full Bar
Highchairs Available
Mastercard
Outdoor Seating
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Takeout
Television
Visa
Wheelchair Accessible
Menu


Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant?
Save this restaurant
Closed now
• Opens at 11:00 AM
Sunday
11:00 am - 7:30 pm
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Wednesday
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Thursday
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Friday
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Saturday
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles106 reviews
Excellent
42
Very good
38
Average
16
Poor
6
Terrible
4

SkiBumNNica
37 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021 • none
Lots of creative offerings. Reasonable price for the unique dishes and pleasant atmosphere. The guacamole was accompanied by 3 sauces/salsas. The fresh peppers and cilantro were perfectly balanced (most typical restaurants load up the avocado with onion and skip the spices). We tried the Mole Negro Enchiladas and the Fresh Catch Battered Fish Tacos. Both were great (I had to remove the cabbage slaw on the fish tacos, so much vinegar it made my eyes water, but what was left was delicious). 4.5 stars to the food. As you'd expect for a Mexican restaurant,there are plenty of margaritas offered. There were also a number of tequila based drinks without the lime and sugar. I recommend exploring these too. 5 stars to the bar. The waiter, when we could find him, was very pleasant but somewhat overwhelmed. The poor guy seemed to be covering tables spread all over the restaurant, inside and out. If he had had half as many tables and half the geographic area to cover, I'm convinced the service would have been 5 star. I hope this is a post-COVID problem that will be solved with more staffing in the future. The kitchen was super slow. 3 stars on the service.
Written 27 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Louise M
Castle Rock4003 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2024 • family
This was our first visit to Playa, although our aunt we were with was a regular there. We started with just chips and salsa while we spent some time catching up. We never felt rushed to order, and our server waited until we were ready. The chips were fresh made and were yummy, along with the three salsas they came with. When ready, we ordered lunch; all of us got tacos. I ordered the mahi mahi fish taco, my husband got the same and an al pastor taco. The other two in our party got the mahi mahi, but with dairy restrictions. All were delicious, and I would definitely recommend them. The al pastor was good too, but my husband said the fish we the best. What I really loved is that we were allowed to take our time without any pressure and had a wonderful experience.
Written 24 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

D i
Tiburon406 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2024 • family
Great for indoor/outdoor dining! Great food and signature cocktails. Nice bar to dine at also. My favorite is the Trio de Enchiladas, each with a different sauce & added their rice & black beans---yummy! Started with chips, salsas and guacamole. Had delicious Ahi Tostadas as appetizer. Son had Baja fish tacos and loved them too. He recommended the corn which I had never tried and it was to die for!!
Written 18 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mish
123 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • couples
Just happened to be staying in the area and decided to try this place. The trio of enchiladas was awesome! My spouse also enjoyed the mezcal shrimp tacos and cilantro rice. Shared the churros with spicy chocolate sauce and salted caramel sauce, very light tasting and the perfect finish to our amazing dinner. Service and ambience were both excellent.
Written 9 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

northernk
Phoenix13279 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022 • none
Not sure what this place professes to be exactly, sorta mexican inspired, pricier, ok service but not very personal. And watch out for add on's they are hoping you don't care and say yes to add on's, example sparkling water bottle which was 8 dollars but offered as if it was just another choice. All fine and expected from this sort of place i suppose, seating can be tight if your not open to loud conversations and ease dropping and yes i know alot don't care about this sort of thing. Food wise the salsa and chips were fantastic and i would say best thing on the menu, chips are home made and you have choice of several excellent sauces, this was delicious. Also, had a Carnitos Quesidila and a shredded beef taco listed what was in that below. That was very good both were just a touch greasy for whatever reason but flavors were there. Would i go again, probably not, service didn't seem to care, and didn't have a very relaxing atmosphere, but locals do seem to love the place. Guajillo-Tomato Braise, Blue Corn Tortilla, Oaxaca Cheese, Chile Rojo Salsa, Radish, Cucumber, Cilantro
Written 26 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

drmader
Orinda3029 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • couples
Still searching for excellent Mexican in Marin.. great vibe here ..downtown Mill Valley is such a fun place to stroll. Great drinks and guacamole..more salt needed on chips but they were warm and greasy! Yum . Fish tacos were over seasoned /spiced.. burrito was average at best. Seating is crowded and chilly.. bring a jacket . Will come again and try something else .
Written 29 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hippely
Gilbert393 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020 • couples
We were strolling through downtown Mill Valley on a Saturday afternoon and decided to stop in to Playa for a late lunch. We were asked if we had reservations (we did not), but we only had to wait a few minutes for a table on the patio. Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday, so it is not the regular lunch menu. We chose a salad and Chilaquiles. I know that there is not a standard recipe for Chilaquiles, but these Chilaquiles were more like nachos topped with a couple of eggs. The flavors were good and I enjoyed them, but I’m not sure I would order them again. The salad was well presented and very good but portions are on the small side. We’d like to come back for lunch or dinner when the full menu is available. Definitely a pleasant place to enjoy good food.
Written 12 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SonomaNut
Sonoma1121 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2021 • family
Sunday brunch in the outside area is a nice experience. We did the Rancheros and Benedict with lots of guacamole and chips. Service and atmosphere excellent. Food quality great with creative ingredients. Mexican food is tough because you can find excellent meals elsewhere for lower cost with way less atmosphere. Eat here when you want upscale dining.
Written 21 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PassingThruCustoms
Connecticut813 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2022 • none
We enjoyed our visit to Playa. Their patio in the back has a coast redwood tree towering beside it - loved that! The homemade chips and a selection of 3 different salsas were so good, and went well with their margaritas. I had the roast chicken which came with an adobo sauce on the side, and fantastic potatoes, heirloom carrots, peppers and fresh tortillas - delicious. I only had the half size and it's a lot of food. The server was super-friendly. All around great meal and evening on their patio.
Written 8 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CAFamily
California439 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • none
This restaurant is very pretty inside! The fish tacos were good, but expensive for two tiny tacos and no sides. We were surprised the homemade chips were corn, not flour. Wasn't expecting that & prefer flour, but they were fine. Tables were very close together.
Written 21 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

D i
Tiburon406 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • none
Our son wanted to get here before heading back to college as he and his buddies love it. The foods which we shared were excellent with great services and beverages! Love the venue too as lively and very good size patio and bar. We shared the Guacamole that comes with (3) types of salsas. And House-made salsa and chips are great too. I love the Chicken Tortilla Soup and our son and I enjoyed the Little Gem Salad. I love the very tasty Mole Negro Enchiladas and the guys very much liked their Carnitas and Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos
Written 2 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

bdaball
4 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • none
Extremely rude staff. The Staff just wanted to get out of there. Even though we spent over $400 on drinks, they turned off the patio heaters and locked us out of their patio at 9:30. 30 minutes before closing. No warning. No, we are closing in 30 minutes. Literally locked us out. We were a group of 40 and 50 year olds just talking, not being loud or rude. On top of all that we were tipping well. Will not go back and recommend you don’t either!
Written 2 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

katravler
Las Vegas290 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • couples
So much flavor! We had Brussel sprout and Broccoli starters - these are kind of large. Good to share or if you are vegetarian, could be a meal. Then we had two different taco types - pork and birria - nice street taco size and delicious. I would recommend this place !
Written 26 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Elizabeth Bailey
19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021 • couples
I really enjoyed dinner here. 5 stars is a lot. The service was excellent. The Marguerita was really good. Not quite sweet enough but that’s an easy fix and the server was very nice to bring a little shot glass of agave. Best chips ever besides what I make at home. I really appreciate this too. You so seldom get good hot fresh chips anymore!
Written 21 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ivanya M
San Pablo131 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • family
Wanted to thanks them because they were able to accommodate us (party of 12) for Mother’s Day just by calling couple of minutes before we got there. Jorge, our waiter was very nice and courteous. We all liked the food. Nice place and location.
Written 14 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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