Bartender & Bitters
The Bartender & the Bitters
Harborview Bistro and Bar is perched atop Noyo Harbor right at the bend in the river, providing gorgeous views up and down river toward the sea. The building itself is steeped in the history of Fort Bragg and provides a rich atmosphere for the restaurant and the very special bar area just off the entrance to the hotel itself.
Mixologist and bartender Laura Spradlin has been at the helm of the Harborview Bistro bar for going on eight years. She got her start as a bar manager at Heritage House in her early days and from there moved to Albion River Inn where she managed the bar for over 30 years. So if anyone knows the business of managing high end Mendocino County hotel bars, its Laura.
Harborview Handcrafted
Her latest endeavor is handcrafting Harborview’s beautiful and proprietary line of bitters, and incorporating them into specialty cocktails. The botanicals used are grown on the premises and change with the seasons along with the cocktail menu.
At the time of our visit, early spring, lilac bitters were the latest concoction and Whale of a Thyme was the seasonal cocktail on offer, in sync with the annual whale migration season. The line of bitters can be purchased in the hotel lobby.
Local Tip:
Happy hours on the back deck overlooking the inner Noyo Harbor.
Bitters elevate the cocktail with layers of flavor expressions – the sky’s the limit.
– Laura Spradlin
The Harborview Bistro Bar includes Laura’s Apothecary Station, a wonderful and rich assortment of herbs, dried fruit, flower petals, peppers, and even edible glitter. Watching her construct her concoctions is almost as fun as drinking them.
Good & Coffee
Thanksgiving Coffee
Thanksgiving Coffee Company has been roasting beans in Fort Bragg with purpose and heart since 1972. The company grew from a vision shaped by current CEO Jonah Katzeff’s mother and father, a vision that coffee could be a force for good.
Inspired by the back-to-the-land movement of the late 60’s, the founders wanted every cup to weave together the flavors of distant lands with the well-being of the farmers who brought each harvest to life. Thanksgiving Coffee pioneered direct relationships with coffee growers long before “fair trade” became a household phrase. Their motto is“Not Just a Cup, But a Just Cup”, and it isn’t just a slogan, but a daily promise to uplift communities from Central America to Africa.
Artisan roasted, ethically sourced
Through innovation and activism, the company has been at the forefront of environmental stewardship: championing organic coffees, investing in sustainable packaging, and supporting social and environmental causes close to home and across the globe.
Thanksgiving Coffee is deeply committed to the North Coast community, where its been located for over 47 years. Local employees roast, package, deliver and ship products directly from the roastery that overlooks the scenic Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg, California. It is a Fort Bragg business through and through and the smell of roasting beans is a welcome smell in the harbor area on roasting days.
Local Tip:
Coffee can be purchased directly at their shop on the south side of the harbor.
“We didn’t start out to change the world.
We were just looking for a good cup of coffee.”
Huck’s SliderHouse
Huckleberry & Sliders
Owned and managed by brothers Eric and Michael Huckleberry, Eric brings 30 years of experience working as a chef and Michael brings administrative and sales acumen developed from over 10 years as a business owner in Fort Bragg. Employees are all Fort Bragg locals, and there is a real feeling of Fort Bragg community when you walk in the door.
New Kids on the Block:
Newly opened Huck’s Slider House is a welcome addition to the food scene in Fort Bragg. Huck’s is a fast and casual to-go restaurant with a menu that includes classic and creative slider options plus soups, salads, tasty sides, and many rotating specials. Patrons can walk in, order online, or call in orders. They will be offering food delivery in the near future as well.
Local Tip:
Grab some sliders to take with you on your way to Tall Guy for a most excellent burgers and beer experience!
“Fort Bragg felt like the natural home for Huck’s Sliderhouse because it embodies everything we love—community, creativity, and connection to the land and sea. We’re inspired daily by the bounty of local farmers, the fresh catch from the harbor, and even the wild flavors we can forage from the forest. Having our business here means more than just serving food—it’s about celebrating the spirit of this place and sharing it with everyone who walks through our doors.”
Silver & Fusion
Silver & Mayan Fusion
Many Hispanic-owned restaurants in Fort Bragg have roots from the Yucatan region of Mexico. On the higher end of this set is Mayan Fusion, located on Main Street since 2017.
Silver Canul
A local, living culinary legend, owner and Executive Chef Silver Canul honed his craft at several of the North Coast’s most acclaimed restaurants. And yet, at Mayan Fusion, he’s created a dining experience that is uniquely his own – simultaneously exquisitely curated and lovingly crafted.
Silver’s history on the North Coast began with a job at a Point Arena dairy farm when he was 19. Starting as a dishwasher at the Heritage House, he moved to the kitchen and began learning from a French-trained executive chef. From there he went to the Little River Inn where he started as Sous Chef and soon after became Executive Chef.
Known for his specials, Silver’s tenure spanning more than 10 years at Little River Inn earned that restaurant somewhat of a cult following. He became well-known in the culinary scene and well-positioned to start something of his own.
Keyword: Fusion
Silver’s restaurant is aptly named, as the menu at Mayan Fusion is certainly Yucatan-inspired, but you will also find influences from France (creamy sauces), Italy (arancini and cioppino), and even Asia (crispy shrimp won tons.) Seafood is a significant part of the menu emphasizing seasonal, locally caught fish and shellfish. Mayan Fusion is a town favorite because of the fabulous cuisine but also for the sweet atmosphere and friendly staff. Silver will probably come out and say hello, and you will have the opportunity to complement the chef.
Local Tip:
The cocktail menu offers a kickass top shelf margarita, along with some additional margarita variations. And be sure to try the homemade sangria in three flavors!
David, Tonda & The Great Outdoors
David, Tonda
& The Great Outdoors
Whatever the Fort Bragg weather brings, Tonda and David Miller have you outfitted for fun out in the field. With the plethora of outdoor options up on the North Coast, The Outdoor Store, like a “mini-REI,” is an essential resource for visitors and locals alike.
David and Tonda purchased the business four years ago and used the covid era to remodel and make the shop their own.
Raised in Fort Bragg (David’s mother was Tonda’s kindergarten teacher), they both spent time elsewhere in the Bay Area (including Paradise where they lost their home in the Camp Fire), before returning and settling in with their children and the business. Between the two of them they have 6 kids, including 10-year-old twins to outfit for adventure. It’s a full circle story, like many Fort Bragg natives, the North Coast pulls you back….as a great place to raise a family and run a small business.
Buy Well, Buy Once
Local Tip:
Get tips on the best spots to hike and bike from their knowledgeable staff!
Art and The Explorers
Art & The Explorers
Welcome to Art Explorers, a nonprofit creative art studio for people with developmental disabilities and brain injuries. When the artists are here, they experience a sense of both purpose and camaraderie through making art in a community setting. It is a place that feels nurturing and comfortable and allows them space to just be themselves.
Local Tip:
The Gallery is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday. Look for a piece for yourself or to give as a gift.
Art pieces from Art Explorers are one of the most impactful gifts you can give because it gives so much back to the creator.
A variety of artwork and merchandise is for sale including original works on paper, painting and ceramics, original t-shirts, sweatshirts, jewelry, tote bags, cards and more. Proceeds are split 50/50 between the artist themselves and the organization. When a member of the public purchases their art at the gallery, the artists feel a sense of great pride. The self-esteem built through the Art Explorers program offers a pathway toward personal growth and inclusion into the wider community.
We believe that art has the power to transform lives, and opens a window to the deepest expressions of the human spirit. Our philosophy is rooted in total respect for the individual and the core belief that all people have a unique artistic voice.
Anna and the Friendly Fungi
Anna & the Friendly Fungi
With the fall and the beginning of what we hope is another rainy season, we start to see new friends on the forest floor. These friends emerge from the deadfall and leaf detritus that provide the perfect condition for mushrooms to burst forth from the earth in their many different glories. We found the perfect guide in Fort Bragg to walk with in the forest and learn about this seasonal natural occurrence.
Anna Towers is a local photographer and naturalist, and a dedicated mycophile (devotee to mushrooms.) She has been studying, hunting for and photographing mushrooms in Northern California for over 10 years. Anna’s experience has taught her where and how to find a surprising variety of mushrooms and how to best capture their beauty on camera in the varied lighting situations in the woods. And let’s be clear, this often includes laying flat on the ground, eye to eye with the forest floor, among the sticks, stones, etc. But none of that bothers Anna whatsoever! Her inspiration from the treasures she finds on the forest floor is both palpable and contagious. And her photos are magically wonderful.
"I want to successfully share this otherwise elusive mycological magic with as many people as possible."
Anna has been published, interviewed, contributed to interpretive work around the Bay Area, shown in galleries and her photography is currently featured in retail locations in both the Bay Area and Mendocino County. Follow her on social media @thefriendlyfungus, and find the Friendly Fungus Photography table at Fort Bragg events. Just look for the woman with a red and white mushroom hat.
Photography by @FriendlyFungusPhotography
If you are interested in foraging on the North Coast, Anna recommends (and we do too) hiring a guide to help you identify what might be edible and what is not. A good place to start is the Mendocino Coast Mushroom Club:
The Tall Guy & the Tap
The Tall Guy & the Tap
The freshest beer you can get by the glass. That’s what Patrick Broderick is offering customers at his Tall Guy Brewing tap room newly opened in the old Sears building on North Franklin Street.
Patrick comes by his talent for making great beer honestly. For 30 years he rose in the ranks at North Coast Brewing and finished his career as co-brewmaster. In that time, he developed a strong sense of community and a solid belief that Fort Bragg is worthy of mecca status for great craft beer.
If you want the beer,
you gotta get it here.
Working with his wife and three daughters, Patrick’s go-fresh-or-go-home model involves brewing once a week and rotating beers regularly. The starting lineup includes a Mexican Lager, German Helles, Belgian Witbier, a hoppy American Pale Ale, a 90s-style IPA, a hazy IPA, a Brut IPA. and a London Porter as well as hard and soft seltzers made on the premises.
Local Tip:
All Tall Guy beers are served by the glass, although you can get growlers poured right from the tap.
The vibe at Tall Guy is 70s relaxed chic with comfy couches, window seats, a 12-foot harvest table, and even a place to play shuffleboard. Patrick has created a gathering place for the community and a destination for travelers, ready to accommodate a party or date night, or offer a refuge to sip and read. The tap room serves simple but delicious fare available from local food trucks and restaurants, offered to compliment the fresh libations.
Greg, Steve & The Roundmans
Greg, Steve & Roundman’s
Roundman’s Smokehouse and Butcher shop is co-owned by an ex-aerospace instructor from Silicon Valley and an ex-private chef with local food knowledge. This might actually be the magic combination of talent for a perfect balance between logistics, butchery skills, and culinary creativity. Steve Rasmussen has been running Roundman’s for years, having moved to Fort Bragg which he fell in love with when vacationing here. Greg Braden, who has past business ties to Covelo beef sources, is the new ingredient to the business and comes to Roundman’s with fresh ideas for new recipes and delicacies.
Bringing Home the Bacon
Don’t be fooled by the relatively modest storefront. As Mendocino County’s only USDA-approved and inspected meat processing company, Roundman’s is a substantial operation and a local institution. They offer a wide selection of fresh meats, all of which are hung for aging and butchered at the shop on Main Street across from the train depot. According to Steve, “We source meat out of Covelo Valley which is a few valleys over, and we do our own smoking of sausages, fish, poultry, cheese and hams. It’s very oldschool.” Roundman’s also offers a rotating selection of sausages made by an employee named JB who Steve calls a “sausage artist.” But then, ultimately, it’s going to come back to the bacon. “Our bacon is very basic,” says Steve. “Just salt and sugar, we use celery for curing, it doesn’t overpower, there aren’t a lot of chemicals so you can actually taste the pork.”
“I just love the area. The people and the businesses. It’s such a wonderful place. People say thank you, and they smile and they hold the door for you. There’s no better place in the world.”
– Steve Rasmussen
Local Tip:
Roundman’s offers custom cut and wrap processing for pork, lamb, goat, elk and deer (but not bear). Plus ask about Covelo beef liver treats and smoked or fresh bones for your dog.
Lia & The Walls
Lia &
The Walls
Lia Morsell started The Alleyway Art Project in Fort Bragg with the dual purposes of bringing public art to the fore and dressing up some of the overlooked corners of the Downtown area, namely the alleys which are a signature element in the Fort Bragg built landscape. As founder and director of the project, she connects local businesses and organizations with local artists to create murals inspired by local life, landscape, culture, and history. Currently numbering 12 murals, an Alleyway art walk is one of the best ways to spend a morning or afternoon in Fort Bragg.
Inspiration in the Alleys
Lia, with her husband and young son, moved to Fort Bragg from the Bay Area in 2016 and have not looked back, enjoying being closer to family, the small town life, and the inspiration that comes from being part of a thriving creative community. In 2018, Lia, with a partner, founded The Red House Co-Working Space, now an essential business support and networking hub for freelancers independent contractors, creatives and anyone passing through that needs a spot to get a little work done.
Local Tip:
An Alleyway Art Walk map is in the works. Check their website before you head up this summer.