Downtown Magnolia Avenue and Marin Country Mart offer two very different sides of life in Larkspur
By Phillipa Criswell
For more than 30 years, Left Bank was a familiar presence on Magnolia Avenue. Opened in 1994, the original Larkspur restaurant became part of the fabric of downtown — a place for dinner with friends, celebrations and simply meeting for a drink.
Its closure in June 2026 understandably felt like the end of an era.
But I don't see it as a sign that downtown Larkspur is losing its relevance. If anything, it is an interesting moment to look at how Larkspur has evolved and at the two very different gathering places the community now enjoys: historic downtown and Marin Country Mart at Larkspur Landing.
They offer very different experiences, and both are part of what makes Larkspur such an appealing place to live.
Magnolia Avenue still feels like Larkspur
One of the things I have always appreciated about downtown Larkspur is that it doesn't feel manufactured.
Magnolia Avenue follows the natural contours of the town, with older buildings, mature trees and residential neighborhoods tucked into the surrounding hills. It has retained a scale and character that is increasingly difficult to find in the Bay Area.
Left Bank was an important part of that streetscape, but it was never the whole of it.
Perry's on Magnolia, Restaurant Picco, Tavola Rustica - Larkspur and Emporio Rulli are among the places that continue to give downtown its restaurant and café life. Farm House Local, just off Magnolia on Ward Street, remains a popular breakfast and lunch destination.
Then there is the Lark Theater, whose Art Deco marquee has been part of Magnolia Avenue for generations.
The result is something quite different from a conventional shopping or restaurant district. Downtown Larkspur remains a place where you can have dinner, see a film, stop for coffee or simply walk along Magnolia Avenue — often alongside people who live only a few blocks away.
A second gathering place has grown at Larkspur Landing
At the same time, another side of Larkspur has been developing around Marin Country Mart.
The Country Mart has become much more than somewhere to shop. Restaurants and cafés, the Saturday farmers market and a growing calendar of community events have made it a destination in its own right.
The mix continues to evolve. Souvla brought its Greek-inspired menu to the Mart, while Buvette du Marais adds a French bakery, café and bistro to the mix.
The Mart also creates reasons to come that have little to do with shopping. The Saturday farmers market includes live music and children's activities, while seasonal programming ranges from outdoor movie nights to family events.
Its location is another important distinction. Marin Country Mart sits directly across from the Larkspur Ferry Terminal, with SMART nearby, making this part of Larkspur unusually well connected to San Francisco and other parts of Marin.
Two very different Larkspur experiences
I don't think downtown Larkspur and Marin Country Mart need to be viewed as competitors.
They serve different purposes.
Downtown has history, intimacy and the feeling of an established Marin town. Its restaurants and businesses are woven into residential neighborhoods, and that relationship is an important part of its character.
The Country Mart offers something different: an open-air collection of shops, restaurants and events with easy access to the ferry, SMART and Highway 101. It draws people from well beyond Larkspur as well as local residents.
Depending on where you live in Larkspur, you may experience one much more frequently than the other.
And that is where the distinction becomes particularly interesting from a real estate perspective.
Where you live changes how you experience Larkspur
Larkspur is a relatively small community, but its neighborhoods can feel remarkably different.
For someone living close to downtown, being able to walk to Magnolia Avenue for coffee, dinner or a movie can become part of everyday life. Homes in the surrounding hills offer another experience altogether, often trading immediate walkability for privacy, outlook and a greater sense of separation.
Closer to Larkspur Landing and Greenbrae, the ferry, SMART, Highway 101 and the amenities of Marin Country Mart become much more immediate.
These aren't necessarily better-or-worse choices. They are lifestyle choices — and they are one reason I think understanding Larkspur requires more than looking at a map or comparing price per square foot.
Change without losing character
The closing of Left Bank is significant because it was part of downtown Larkspur for more than three decades. Whatever eventually occupies that prominent Magnolia Avenue location will inevitably become part of the next chapter.
But one restaurant closing doesn't redefine downtown.
What has changed is that Larkspur now has another established gathering place at the other end of town. The historic downtown and Larkspur Landing offer residents two quite different ways to experience their community.
For a small Marin town, that's a considerable asset — and one of the things that continues to make Larkspur distinctive.
Thinking about buying or selling in Larkspur?
The differences between Larkspur's neighborhoods aren't always apparent from a listing or a map. Location, walkability, sun, hillside setting, access and proximity to downtown or the ferry can all affect both how a property lives and how buyers perceive it.
I help buyers and sellers understand those differences throughout Larkspur and Marin County.
