There are places that encourage one to unplug, and then there is Olema House, where the surrounding landscape is so enrapturing that one might consider cancelling one’s phone plan and going off the grid entirely.
Tucked beside a creek and forest near Point Reyes National Seashore, the historic West Marin inn occupies rolling rustic grounds populated by majestic deer, flickering firepits and trees strung with twinkling lights. After dusk, the property begins to resemble a particularly well-catered production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream—albeit one with king-size beds, complimentary wine and significantly fewer romantic entanglements involving donkey-headed actors.
Olema House sits along Highway 1 in the tiny town of Olema (“town” is an overstatement here), a convenient point of departure for coastal hikes, scenic overlooks, local farms and the misty backroads of West Marin. Yet the property itself makes a persuasive argument for staying put.
The individually styled rooms combine natural textures and a warm residential sensibility with the quiet luxuries expected of a restorative getaway. Our Creek View King provided an appropriately serene headquarters for an overnight escape, while a welcome bottle of Olema House wine immediately established the prevailing agenda: Slow down and settle in.
Classic board games and lawn games provide analog entertainment, and the inn’s “Binocular Bar” allows guests to borrow vintage or modern binoculars for wildlife watching. Meanwhile, deer play peekaboo from the adjacent forest across the creek.
A short stroll away, Olema House’s on-site restaurant, Due West Tavern, translates the surrounding region into a relaxed California dining experience. The menu ranged widely without feeling unwieldy: Tomales Bay oysters (best to start with these), local cheeses, clam chowder, salads, seafood, steak frites, chicken, pasta and a rotating series of weekday Blue Plate Specials.
Our fried chicken sandwich arrived with house dill pickles and slaw, providing the requisite combination of crunch and tang. The Tavern Smash Burger—American cheese, onions, house dill pickles and aioli—was an unapologetically satisfying tavern classic. Both came with fries and demonstrated the kitchen’s ability to elevate familiar fare without depriving it of the old school qualities that made one order it in the first place.
More coastal-minded diners can consider blackened rock cod, clam linguine or fish and chips, while oysters are available raw or baked. The beverage list similarly covers considerable territory, from California and French wines to cocktails and a thoughtfully chosen beer selection featuring North Bay breweries including Pond Farm, North Coast, Russian River and HenHouse.
Due West feels polished enough for an evening out but comfortable enough for families, hikers and, of course, guests of the inn. During our leisurely evening, we spied first dates, old friends, and throughout were impressed with the friendly staff.
The night’s true flourish came afterward. Beneath strands of lights, we gathered around a firepit for complimentary s’mores, offered on select evenings. The creek murmured nearby, the forest gathered in the darkness and the deer maintained their quiet patrol of the grounds.
It was simple but unexpectedly transportive—the sort of slow moment Olema House promises and genuinely delivers.
Olema House is located at 10021 Coastal Hwy. 1, Olema. Due West Tavern is open daily, with happy hour from 4 to 6pm. Reservations and information are available at olemahouse.com.
