On our way back to San Francisco from a Sunday afternoon picnic at the stunning Muir Beach Overlook, just 20 minutes or so from the Golden Gate Bridge, we stopped off at the nearby Pelican Inn to track down 6 ounces of water for our son’s bottle.   We had been to The Pelican Inn twice before, once for a pint of English stout in the inn’s authentic old English pub, and another time for a lovely dinner with family in the charming garden.  Never before, however, had we considered enjoying an afternoon glass of wine at this wonderful location.

But as we walked out of the Tudor-style bar with a full baby bottle in hand, we noticed other folks being served wine and cheese as they sat in couples and small groups on the front lawn, seemingly relaxed and care-free in a stereotypically Northern Californian way.   We couldn’t resist joining them for a crisp and refreshing glass of white wine (only after we had scanned the wine list, of course!).  Considering the fact that The Pelican Inn’s bar had the feel of a genuine English pub, the list featured a surpisingly good selection of wines by the glass (see menu) and by the bottle (see menu) offering both New and Old World selections from “top growing regions with a focus on artisan producers, especially those using organic or biodynamic practices.”  If you go, we recommend trying the Navarro Riesling, the Chablis, the Vouvray, the Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc, either of the Sancerres, or anything under “Bubbles,” each of which is sold only by the bottle.  If you do choose to order by the glass, note that the bartender will likely pour out samples if you ask (he did for us, at least).

If you find yourself wanting to prolong an equisite day of exploring the natural beauty of the Marin Headlands, there may very well be no better way of doing so than with a glass of wine in your hand on the Pelican Inn’s front lawn.

www.PelicanInn.com
10 Pacific Way
Muir Beach, California 94965
(415) 383-6000