If you dare to venture in Cavallo Point, a national park lodge spanning under the north foot of the Golden Gate, you will find the unexpectable ... A Michelin Star rate restaurant. Indeed, the Murray Circle, located in a newly remodeled 1905 U.S. army post, will be here sitting peacefully on the grounds of the former Fort Baker with a postcard view of the Bay. Widely known by locals, the Murray Circle and its adjacent Farley Bar, both offer an incredible comfortable space that almost feel like home, with the added benefits of top service and freshest local ingredients.
Thanks to a partnership of private, public, and nonprofit organizations, the former Fort Baker has become a first-class destination with the opening in 2008 of Cavallo Point, the Lodge at the Golden Gate. The current resort includes the Murray Circle - a one Michelin Star rated restaurant, the cozy Farley Bar, a full service SPA, and a 142-room hotel managed by Passport Resorts, which also runs the ultra chic Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, and the Jean Michel Cousteau resort in Fiji.
The Farley Bar is a great place to start your Cavallo Point experience. Just like its namesake Farley, the popular San Francisco Chronicle comic-strip character created by the late Phil Frank, the Farley Bar is "homy" and down-to-earth kind of place with deep, comfortable leather club chairs and two fireplaces. If you don't mind an elaborate meal, the bar offers a snack menu, very popular on Monday and Thursday's Live Music nights.
The Farley Bar is a great place to start your Cavallo Point experience. Just like its namesake Farley, the popular San Francisco Chronicle comic-strip character created by the late Phil Frank, the Farley Bar is "homy" and down-to-earth kind of place with deep, comfortable leather club chairs and two fireplaces. If you don't mind an elaborate meal, the bar offers a snack menu, very popular on Monday and Thursday's Live Music nights.
With its Country Club appeal, the Farley Bar located right outside the Murray Circle restaurant, is the perfect place to enjoy cocktails before your meal, or a good hot chocolate on a foggy day.
Flashback in time: Farley Bar's decor is really taking advantage of the architectural heritage of this historical place. Here we see an oversize chandelier supplying dim and warm lighting against the carved ceiling.
We enjoyed a bottle of Dom Pérignon - Vintage 1999 at a surprising affordable price: $160 (plus taxes), which is what you would pay for the same bottle at a good liquor store.
Understated and relaxing, the bar offers a small-plate menu, creative cocktails, cozy fireplaces, leather club chairs, and a bar crafted from a fallen tree. Farley Bar's merry mix of lodge guests and locals provides the social heart of Cavallo Point.
Under the direction of executive chef Joseph Humphrey, the Murray Circle has become since its opening in May 2008, one of Northern California's top culinary destinations. To his credit, Joseph Humpfrey was, before joining the Murray Circle venture, directing the Meadowood's kitchen in Napa Valley, where he earned two Michel stars.
His vision when opening the Murray Circle was simple: Sustainable, Fresh and Local... Three words very deeply implanted within the Bay area restaurant community, thanks to the early work of Alice Waters. "I wanted to be able to run a restaurant sustainably using fresh produce, meats and cheeses from the local farmers I’ve been friends with for years; and I wanted to do this on a large enough scale to make a difference. Ninety percent of what we serve is from farms here in Marin. I like knowing that we are writing the check right to the farmer."*
* Source: Marin Magazine.
The restaurant's wine cellar, is also quite impressive. Enhanced by their proximity to celebrated wine regions, Murray Circle showcases local treasures, artisan wines from small California producers that are often hard to find, combined with the best vintages from Europe's top estates. Indeed, we enjoyed a Spottswoode, produced in very small quantity in St Helena by some true wine artisans. Featuring over 2,000 selections and 30 wines by the glass, Wine Director Daniel O'Brien intends to honor and support independent producers and vintners, in particular those who are mindful of sustainable farming practices.
His vision when opening the Murray Circle was simple: Sustainable, Fresh and Local... Three words very deeply implanted within the Bay area restaurant community, thanks to the early work of Alice Waters. "I wanted to be able to run a restaurant sustainably using fresh produce, meats and cheeses from the local farmers I’ve been friends with for years; and I wanted to do this on a large enough scale to make a difference. Ninety percent of what we serve is from farms here in Marin. I like knowing that we are writing the check right to the farmer."*
* Source: Marin Magazine.
The restaurant's wine cellar, is also quite impressive. Enhanced by their proximity to celebrated wine regions, Murray Circle showcases local treasures, artisan wines from small California producers that are often hard to find, combined with the best vintages from Europe's top estates. Indeed, we enjoyed a Spottswoode, produced in very small quantity in St Helena by some true wine artisans. Featuring over 2,000 selections and 30 wines by the glass, Wine Director Daniel O'Brien intends to honor and support independent producers and vintners, in particular those who are mindful of sustainable farming practices.
Drakes Bay Oysters - $12. (Sustainable, environmentally friendly oyster farm in Northen California)
Dungeness crab salad - $16
Salmon carpaccio served with shaved calamari - $15
We enjoyed a Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 from the exceptional Spottswoode Estate (St Helena, Napa Valley). "Spottswoode's Estate wines provide the argument that there are still wines of balance and elegance produced in Napa Valley... Spottwoode wines are expressive in their youth and continue to age seamlessly." Daniel O'Brien, Wine & Spirit Director. $175
Artisan cheese selection, served with raw honey combs and parmesan tuiles - $17
Fried apple-pear pie with home-made ice cream - $8
Gingerbread cake served with caramel, peanuts and home-made ice cream - $8
If you have some time left after your meal, we recommend to walk around and explore the area. Cavallo Point is situated within the 75,000 acres of Golden Gate National Recreation Area – one of America's most beautiful National Parks. Some of the most scenic hiking trails are really close by. From this vantage point, you will get the best pictures with San Francisco and the Golden Gate in the background.
If you are staying at the lodge, many activities are offered such as complimentary yoga classes every morning and regular guided hikes. Please consult their website for more information.
If you are staying at the lodge, many activities are offered such as complimentary yoga classes every morning and regular guided hikes. Please consult their website for more information.
The newly renovated 1905 U.S. army post building where the Murray Circle restaurant, and the Farley Bar are located.
A world-class cooking school is also located right above the Murray Circle with classes available all year round. What an inspiring place to fine-tune your culinary talent.
For more information
Murray Circle restaurant
Breakfast: 7 am - 10 am daily
Brunch: Saturday & Sunday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Lunch: Monday - Friday 11:30 am - 2 pm
Dinner: Sunday - Thursday 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Dinner: Friday & Saturday 5:30 pm - 11 pm
Tel: +1 (415) 339 4750
Website (Also gives detailed information about the resort and its activities.)
Our review: We had a very good overall experience at the Murray Circle. We enjoyed taking a glass of champagne in the relaxing Farley Bar before proceeding to the restaurant. Since we were there in between Christmas and New Year Eve, the place was not packed, which we greatly enjoyed. The service was attentive and efficient. We only had less than 1 hour to eat before catching a plane, and everything went pretty smoothly. The ingredients were super fresh and of high quality. The only comment we had was that the Dungeness crab salad was more a salad with a little bit of crab. We had to special order more crab, to make it more consistent. I forgot to take pictures of our main dishes, because we had so little time to eat. We enjoyed some black cod, petrale sole, and a coq au vin. Because of the charming location and the quality of the food, we are definitely recommending this restaurant on your next trip to the Bay area.
Price: A 3 course lunch for 4 person did cost us $500 including taxes & gratuity ($275 without the wine). On lunch time, the restaurant offers a four mini courses tasting menu at $25 and a seven courses grand testing menu on dinner time at $85.
Price: A 3 course lunch for 4 person did cost us $500 including taxes & gratuity ($275 without the wine). On lunch time, the restaurant offers a four mini courses tasting menu at $25 and a seven courses grand testing menu on dinner time at $85.
Farley Bar
Sunday - Thursday: 11 am - 11 pm
Friday & Saturday: 11 am - 12 am
Live Music: Monday (7:30 – 9:30 pm) & Thursday (7:30 – 10:30 pm)
Interactive map
Check out our interactive map of California to see where I took all the pictures featured in this article.
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