Where Marin County’s Savviest Cooks Shop

A Culinary Insider’s Guide to the Region’s Best Grocery Stores

Marin County, long regarded as a quiet outpost for culinary sophistication, is more than just a backdrop for scenic hikes and oyster-flecked coastlines. It’s a community where slow food is a way of life, where farm-to-table is a baseline—not a trend—and where even a midweek grocery run can feel like an act of reverence. For chefs, seasoned home cooks, and weekend gastronomes, Marin offers a constellation of independent grocery stores that elevate everyday shopping into something far more delicious.

Here’s a curated guide to the places where Marin’s most discerning palates—and many of its top chefs—choose to stock their shelves.

A Legacy of Local: Mill Valley Market

Since 1929, Mill Valley Market has served as the culinary heart of its namesake town. Family-run for four generations, the market’s shelves and produce bins reflect a deep relationship with Marin’s farmers and food artisans. A large portion of the fruits and vegetables come directly from MVM Farm, operated by the owners themselves. There’s an exceptional butcher, a wine selection heavy on local and biodynamic producers, and a produce department that changes with the rhythm of the region’s microseasons. It’s the kind of market where chefs stop in en route to prep, and neighbors still call each other by name.

Where Sustainability and Seasonality Meet: Good Earth Natural Foods

With its flagship in Fairfax and a bustling location in Tam Junction, Good Earth Natural Foods has been a cornerstone of Marin’s organic movement since the 1960s. Everything in the store—every orange, oat, and olive—is certified organic or verified to meet rigorous sustainability standards. The bulk section is legendary, offering dozens of heritage grains, spices, teas, and specialty salts. The hot bar is equally beloved, with rotating menus that feel more like a retreat kitchen than a grocery store café. Good Earth is where both home cooks and chefs go to source the cleanest ingredients with the lightest environmental footprint.

Global Flavors: Asian & Latin Markets

Though Marin isn’t saturated with international grocers, what it does offer is tightly curated and indispensable.

Asian Market in San Rafael is the county’s go-to for East and Southeast Asian pantry essentials—think oyster sauce, Thai basil, frozen dumplings, and hard-to-find condiments like yuzu kosho or gochujang. For Japanese specialties, Kuma Market excels with bento lunches, matcha snacks, and sushi-grade fish.

Lotus Market, adjacent to its sister restaurant Lotus Cuisine of India, provides a robust selection of Indian and South Asian spices, legumes, ghee, and fresh produce.

Meanwhile, Latin American cooking is well-served at Cardenas Market, a full-service grocery with in-house tortillas, a panadería, and an impressive array of chilies and tropical fruits. Smaller spots like Supermercado Mi Tierra offer a more intimate shopping experience with excellent cuts of carne asada, crema, and hard-to-source candies and dried herbs.

A Taste of Italy: Mill Valley Pasta Co.

Tucked away in the heart of Mill Valley is a gem that has captured the attention of Northern California chefs: Mill Valley Pasta Co. Founded by chef Todd Shoberg, this small but mighty pasta atelier produces fresh, extruded pastas made from organic semolina, heirloom grains, and eggs from pasture-raised hens. Offerings rotate with the seasons—think nettle tagliatelle in spring, saffron malloreddus in summer—and are sold through local grocers and direct to consumers via weekly drops. Their pastas are the kind that make a 10-minute dinner taste like a Michelin-starred meal.

Specialty Shops & Community Markets

Andy’s Local Market, situated in the Loch Lomond Marina in San Rafael, is a community hub with gourmet sensibilities. Local olive oils, artisan cheeses, handcrafted charcuterie, and wine from Marin and Sonoma share shelf space with everyday staples. With a stellar deli counter and made-to-order sandwiches, it’s equally suited for a picnic provisioning stop or a serious grocery haul.

Not far away is Scotty’s Market in Terra Linda—a neighborhood staple since the 1950s. Known for its throwback vibe and devoted following, Scotty’s offers a fantastic butcher, a full-service deli, and a selection of local produce that punches above its footprint. It’s the kind of place where regulars know when the fresh cioppino hits the shelves and don’t hesitate to grab extra for the freezer.

Woodlands Market (in Kentfield and Tiburon) and United Markets (San Rafael and San Anselmo) round out the list of beloved full-service grocers. Both balance everyday convenience with gourmet offerings—from artisan breads and imported cheeses to prepared foods that make dinner-party planning feel effortless.

Cheese, Bread & The Artisan Touch

West Marin's Palace Market in Point Reyes Station is a must-stop for anyone heading toward the coast. This independently owned market features local seafood, pastured meats, and a deli with elevated grab-and-go options. Their cheese counter reads like a who’s-who of Marin’s dairies: Point Reyes Farmstead, Cowgirl Creamery, and Marin French Cheese Co., to name a few.

And while The Spanish Table’s Mill Valley outpost closed in 2025, its legacy lives on in kitchens stocked with saffron, bomba rice, and anchovy-stuffed olives—still available via their Berkeley and San Francisco stores.

Marin County’s grocery landscape mirrors its values: local sourcing, global curiosity, sustainability, and serious flavor. Whether you’re planning a simple weeknight risotto or a dinner party that starts with mezze and ends with tartes tatin, the shops of Marin offer ingredients that inspire.

For those who love to cook, shop with intention, and support food as craft, Marin isn’t just a good place to eat. It’s a great place to begin.