Comforts in San Anselmo is a full-service café with a spacious outdoor seating area where dogs are genuinely welcome. We took our dog there on a weekend afternoon and appreciated how natural the whole setup felt—other people with dogs were already settled at tables, and the staff didn’t make a fuss about it, which meant we could actually relax instead of feeling like we were doing something unusual.

The menu covers breakfast and lunch with solid, uncomplicated food. Their Chinese Chicken Salad with house-made Chinese-style dressing is genuinely good—it’s one of those dishes that shows up on a lot of people’s regular orders, and you can see why. Beyond the main menu, there’s a large take-out section with wine, magazines, and gift items if you want to grab something for the road.

San Anselmo itself is a pleasant place to walk around, with tree-lined streets and a downtown area that doesn’t feel too touristy. The café sits in the middle of things, so you’re not isolated—you can easily combine a meal here with a walk through town or head into the Marin hills for something more substantial. Parking on side streets near the café is usually manageable, especially if you avoid peak lunch hours.

One practical thing: bring water and a portable bowl for your dog. It gets warm in the afternoons, and even though San Anselmo is temperate compared to inland parts of the Bay Area, your dog will appreciate fresh water while you’re eating. The outdoor seating is genuinely shaded by trees in most spots, which helps.

It’s worth stopping by whether you’re local or passing through Marin County. The food is honest rather than trendy, the dog-friendly aspect isn’t performative, and you can actually have a normal meal with your dog nearby without feeling like you’re at some specialty venue.