If you’re looking for relaxation, new experiences and delicious bites this Labor Day weekend, make the most of your three-day break with a getaway to Point Reyes.
Located just a 1-hour drive from San Francisco and Oakland, or 2 hours from South Bay, Point Reyes is the perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With stunning scenic views, Point Reyes isn’t just for nature fanatics — it’s also a foodie’s paradise. I spent Memorial Day weekend exploring Point Reyes and finding all the best spots to eat, drink, stay and relax to compile tried-and-true recommendations.
Where to drink: Heidrun Meadery
If you love wine-tasting but crave something a little more unique, stop by Heidrun Meadery, a former dairy farm turned bee forage oasis.
Mead, one of the oldest drinks in human history, is made from fermenting honey, water and yeast. Heidrun Meadery uses the Champagne method to make naturally sparkling meads that showcase the natural flavor of the honey. If you like Champagne, you’ll love Heidrun’s meads.
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Heidrun makes more than 25 types of meads, each showcasing a different nectar source. For example, a mead made from honey sourced from Australian eucalyptus blossoms tastes completely different from a mead made from honey sourced from California orange blossoms.
“Each nectar source is different, so each honey has a different flavor, each mead has a different flavor based on that nectar,” said Marie Hansen, tasting room lead at Heidrun Meadery. “Some are earthy, some are tropical, some are really floral, some have a little minerality to them, some are more beer-like, but it’s all about the flowers.”
To experience just how different various meads can taste while learning about the mead production process, I’d recommend signing up for the tasting tour, held Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. The hourlong guided tour costs $54 per person and takes you through the production facility and bee forage farmscape while offering plenty of pours of mead.
I was shocked at just how different each mead tasted — one was light and sweet, another was herbal and minty, and yet another was smoky. Other highlights of the tour include having the opportunity to dunk a finger into a massive vat of warm honey and use machinery to seal a bottle of mead.
If you aren’t able to make the 11:30 a.m. tour on Saturday (although I highly recommend you make the effort to attend it), Heidrun also offers tasting flights for $25. The tasting flight fee is waived with a purchase of three bottles.
Mead pairs beautifully with food, Hansen noted, so feel free to bring outside food and have a picnic. She recommends pairing the Hawaiian Leihua Blossom Mead with local cheese and oysters; the Madras Carrot Blossom Mead with curry; and the Oregon Radish Blossom mead with barbecue.
Heidrun Meadery 11925 State Route 1, Point Reyes Station; Instagram: @heidrunmeadery. The tasting room is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where to eat (morning): Brickmaiden Breads
Start your morning right with freshly baked breads and scones while relaxing in a charming, flower-filled garden. Hummingbirds whiz by your head while whimsical flute tunes can be heard, played by head bread baker Steve.
Brickmaiden Breads’ storefront isn’t your typical bakery set-up. It’s actually located in the former house of Celine Underwood, who created Brickmaiden Breads in 2000. While she originally sold her baked goods at farmers markets and select wholesale channels, Underwood converted her house to a retail shop in 2017. Now, Bricksmaiden Breads is owned by Daren Dick and his sister Darcy.
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Dick’s career is in biotech, and he was a frequent customer at Brickmaiden Breads. During the pandemic, he wanted to help Underwood’s business stay afloat, so he would purchase her bread and donate it to the West Marin Community Center. When Dick learned that Underwood was looking to sell her business, he and his sister (who has 30 years experience as a pastry chef) decided to take over.
“I understood it’d be a challenging business,” Daren said. “It’s more about just keeping this place here for the community… It’s an extended family, I’d say. We have people who come in literally every day.”
Brickmaiden Breads offers a wide variety of breads, from batard loaves to baguettes to stuffed ficelles. Bread offerings vary day to day, but always expect wheat levan and country white, with plain and seeded variations as well as a specially daily flavor. Additional bread options include ancient grain loaves, ciabatta rolls, focaccia, simit and fougasse.
Coffee and tea offerings are available, as well as meat-based and vegetarian sandwiches built on housemade ficelles. For non-bread options, try Brickmaiden’s quiche, cookies and scones.
While you can’t go wrong with any of Brickmaiden’s bakes, if the fougasse is available, it’s a must-try. Visually stunning, the fougasse looks like a monsterra leaf. The texture is incredible, with a super crisp crust and a light and chewy interior. Nicely salted, the bread itself is flavorful, made only more incredible by the pops of green olives scattered throughout.
When you go to Brickmaiden Breads, be sure to stay awhile. Relax among the gorgeous flowers in the garden, letting the sun shine down and the gentle breeze carry your worries away.
Brickmaiden Breads, 40 4th St., Point Reyes Station; Instagram: @brickmaidenbreads. Open Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where to stay: Olema House
For a retreat-like ambiance that’s only minutes away from all the delicious bites and fun experiences Point Reyes has to offer, book a stay at Olema House.
Rather than staying at a stuffy, generic hotel where rooms feel corporate or clinical, Olema House lets you unwind with an ambiance that’s reminiscent of a charming cottage in the woods and a luxurious spa retreat. The room I stayed in felt homey and comfortable (as if I were staying at a rich friend’s house), with high ceilings, a faux fireplace and a balcony overlooking a lush green lawn and burbling creek.
Plenty of amenities are on the property, with outdoor fireplaces where guests are encouraged to toast marshmallows and make s’mores (equipment to do so is provided at the front desk). During the day, relax by the creek, and at night, the entire lawn lights up with twinkling fairy lights.
Olema House, 100021 Coastal Highway #1, Olema; Instagram: @olemahouse.
Where to eat (evening): Due West
Going out for dinner isn’t always relaxing: If you’re driving, you have to limit your alcohol intake, or you have to spend extra time using public transportation, or spend extra money using a rideshare app.
But if you stay at Olema House, restaurant and bar Due West is just steps away from the property, allowing you to indulge as much as you want without worrying about the drive home. Not only that, it has a lively, approachable atmosphere that perfectly balances the line between upscale and casual.
The menu highlights the bounty of Point Reyes, with raw and baked oysters from Tomales Bay, bread from Bricksmaiden and a cheese board comprised of local cheeses. Mains include mushroom pot pie, cioppino, fish and chips, pork schnitzel and more ($24-$36), with additional specials that rotate depending on the day ($30). I snagged the smoked brisket special, served with potato salad and coleslaw, and was absolutely amazed by the portion size. (You definitely won’t leave hungry!)
The cocktail list is delectable, with options such as Bramble On, made with jalapeno-infused tequila, mezcal, blackberry, lime, Earl Grey agave and a Sriracha salt rim, or the Treat Yourself, made with chamomile-infused vodka, lemon, honey and elderflower ($16).
And for dessert, choose from flourless chocolate cake, blueberry creme brulee or Basque-style cheesecake ($12). If you prefer your desserts liquid, dessert cocktails, such as a Bailey’s chocolate martini, are also available.
Due West, 10005 CA-1, Olema; 415-663-1264, Instagram: @duewestpointreyes. Open Monday to Thursday from 4-8:30 p.m., Friday from 4-9 p.m., Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
