welcome to
F A I R F A X
Tucked into the wooded hills of central Marin, Fairfax has long been one of the county’s most distinctive small towns. Independent, creative, and deeply connected to the outdoors, it pairs a lively downtown with miles of trails, open space, and some of Marin’s most beautiful natural surroundings.
The town’s compact center is filled with locally owned restaurants, cafés, shops, and music venues, while just beyond downtown, winding roads lead quickly into redwood groves, oak-covered hills, and the open spaces that define Marin living. Fairfax is also deeply connected to cycling culture and is widely celebrated as one of the birthplaces of modern mountain biking.
There’s an easygoing quality to life here: morning coffee downtown, an afternoon on the trails, dinner at a neighborhood favorite, and live music after dark. It’s a town with a strong sense of identity—and one that has worked hard to retain its wonderfully independent spirit.
LOCAL DINING + NIGHTLIFE
For a town of its size, Fairfax has an especially strong food and nightlife scene. Downtown is compact enough to explore on foot, with everything from acclaimed Japanese dining and neighborhood Italian to casual tacos, natural foods, cocktails, and late-night music.
STILLWATER
BOFAX COFFEE
FAIRFAX SCOOP
VILLAGE SAKE
LOCAL SHOPS + SMALL-TOWN CHARACTER
Fairfax’s downtown favors the independent and unexpected. Bookstores, garden shops, galleries, outdoor outfitters, and locally owned boutiques line its compact streets, giving the town a character that feels personal rather than polished. It’s the kind of place where errands easily turn into an afternoon of browsing, coffee, and conversation.
LIVE WATER SURF
EMMA’S SHOP
WAYFINDER BOOKS
WU WEI TEA TEMPLE
THE POTTING SHED
GOOD EARTH NATURAL FOODS
SPLIT ROCK
PERI’S TAVERN
OUTDOORS + TRAILS
In Fairfax, the outdoors begins almost at your doorstep. Trails climb quickly from town into redwood groves, oak woodlands, and expansive Marin open space, making hiking and biking part of everyday life. Fairfax is also closely tied to the origins of mountain biking, a history celebrated at the Marin Museum of Bicycling and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Whether setting out for a morning trail ride, exploring Camp Tamarancho, or simply spending an afternoon beneath the redwoods, access to nature is one of the defining pleasures of living here.
LAKE LAGUNITAS
PERI PARK
MARIN MUSEUM OF MOUNTAIN BIKING