Of the many reasons to visit Tiburon, Marin County’s bay front gem, The Bungalow Kitchen by Michael Mina and Brent Bolthouse is at the top of the list. This newly opened waterfront ‘community clubhouse’ has it all: spectacular San Francisco skyline views, chic and comfy design features, a tantalizing menu featuring elevated California cuisine and crafted cocktails, and a vibrant social scene that draws some of the region’s most notable faces.
With eclectic bohemian design by internationally acclaimed AD100 interior designer Martin Brudnizki, the two-story, nearly 300-seat retreat pairs MINA Group’s signature five-star service and bold cuisine with Bolthouse’s unrivaled ability to create a vibe – and what a vibe it is.
Guests are greeted by a warm, living room-style scene, the star of which is a large, convivial, wrap-around bar. The main dining space exudes a luxe yet laidback ambiance; floor-to-ceiling windows lead to a greenery-filled patio that features views of San Francisco and Angel Island. An intimate, book shelf-lined private dining room features a custom Wilson Audio speaker system. Upstairs, the sleek Salon features lounge-style vignettes where guests can saddle-up to the speakeasy-style bar, challenge friends to a game of billiards, or nestle near a crackling fire.
Bolthouse was intimately involved in every immersive detail. The creator of Neon Carnival, the annual dance party recognized as one of the most coveted invitations in the world, this hospitality veteran virtually invented Southern California’s nightlife scene by evolving the art of nightclub promotion at venues such as the infamous Roxbury, The Viper Room, and The House of Blues. His influence is felt throughout the restaurant – from the rock star portraits gracing the upstairs walls, to the bespoke soundtrack, to his rock-themed, curated wine list – 'Brent’s Top 10 Albums Paired with Sommelier Jeremy Shanker’s Top 10 Bungalow Wines.'
'From the first moment that I sat out front on the dock with Michael Mina, I began to imagine The Bungalow Kitchen: a community clubhouse that would bring together the worlds of culinary and social under one roof,” said Bolthouse. “My dream is that The Bungalow Kitchen becomes an extension of our neighbors’ living rooms and a place where they come to celebrate life. I feel like this is our love letter to Tiburon.'
'I am thrilled to partner with Brent, my longtime friend and hospitality authority, to bring The Bungalow Kitchen to the Bay Area – breathing new life into the beloved destination of Tiburon,” said Chef Mina. “The Bungalow Kitchen was designed to feel like an expansion of guests’ homes, so the menu is familiar yet elevated, made up of California cuisine that reflects Tiburon’s beautiful waterfront location, fun history, and charming sensibility.”
The Bungalow Kitchen offers nightly dinner service featuring fare heavily inspired by local, seasonal ingredients. Menu highlights include the pristine NorCal Shellfish Tasting complete with pacific oysters, Fort Bragg sea urchin & salmon roe, poached spot prawn Dungeness crab Louie, and Bodega Bay clam cocktail, and the Garden Crudité Bowl, featuring crunchy, ice-cold garden vegetables served with gazpacho shooters and three dipping sauces – green goddess, lemon-poppyseed, and walnut romesco. Beloved MINA favorites, now exclusively available in the Bay Area at The Bungalow Kitchen, include Chef Mina’s Ahi Tuna Tartare mixed tableside with chili peppers, mint, garlic, pine nuts, and drizzled habanero-sesame oil, and the Michael Mina Reserve Caviar Parfait with crispy potato cake topped with smoked salmon, sieved egg, and whipped crème fraîche. The menu also features Lobster Pot Pie, a Chef Mina signature, comprised of a whole Maine lobster, truffle-lobster bisque, and root vegetables. For dessert, guests can indulge in a Meyer Lemon Crêpe Cake with crème fraîche cream, Sicilian pistachios and local raspberries, and Roasted K&J Orchards Persimmons topped with Tenbrink walnuts, and Straus vanilla bean ice cream.
A weekend brunch menu includes items like the perfectly crisped Sweet Potato Pancakes, blanketed with house-cured king salmon gravlax and the option to add 1oz of Michael Mina’s reserve caviar, Brokaw Avocado Toast sprinkled with everything spice and ice-cold shaved radish, Toasted Coconut French Toast sprinkled with pistachio praline and finished with a bright lemon curd and strawberry compote, and Hot Chicken & Waffles with sweet and spicy Yuzukosho honey served with tangy cabbage slaw.
Helmed by MINA Group’s director of bars Mike Lay, the cocktail program offers edgy and refreshing selections such as the beloved Bungalow Margarita with Casamigos Blanco tequila, lime juice, and agave nectar, the Shark Point Spritz featuring Aperol, Lillet rose, prosecco, Fever Tree seltzer, and orange, and City Lights with chamomile-infused vodka, lemon, elderflower, agave and faba, among so many others. Additionally, MINA Group’s corporate wine director and Master Sommelier Jeremy Shanker curated a robust wine list with 150 local and worldly offerings by-the-bottle and by-the-glass.
Whether popping-in for a cocktail or a full service meal, The Bungalow Kitchen by Michael Mina makes a visit to Tiburon a Northern California ‘must.’
The Bungalow Kitchen is located at 5 Main Street in Tiburon, California. Operating hours are 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; and 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday. Lunch service is forthcoming.
