Bon Air / Spyglass Hill

The Bon Air/Spy Glass Hill neighborhood in Larkspur is just across Sir Francis Drake Blvd from Greenbrae. The neighborhood is mostly known for being the home of the Bon Air Shopping Center and Marin General Hospital.

Bon Air Shopping Center is little more than a glorified strip mall. There you will find a Mollie Stone’s Supermarket, an apparel store named Arch Rival, a CVS Pharmacy, and a Susie Cake’s Bakery. There is also a Fifi’s Diner and a sport’s bar, Wipeout B&G. No big deal, but they do seem to get a ton of traffic on the weekends when I have been here.

In addition to the hospital (which I don’t review here because I really don’t know anything about it) and the shopping center however, the Bon Air-Spy Glass Hill neighborhood/hoods also have residential sections. On the eastern half, the Bon Air side, you have a gated condominium complex with nice newer dwellings.

On the western end it is mostly apartments, with most of these units dating back to the 1960’s by all appearances, but having dingy looking balconies that probably offer pretty good views.. Apartments around here will run you around $2100 for a 2 bedroom, which given the territory is not insane, though it might be a little steep in terms of what you actually get for this.

One of the big benefits here is that the schools are strong. You in effect get the same schools that those paying for their $1 million homes for around $24,000 per year. A pretty good deal.

Commuting is also pretty good so long as you are staying in the North Bay area (no farther down than SF or Oakland). This is not where you want to live if you work way down in San Jose.

There are also a ton of parks and green spaces in this neighborhood, and even if there weren’t, you could head on over to the many green spaces in Marin, such as Stinson Beach or Mt. Tamalpais.

Overall a pretty good place for renters who want to hobnob with the really well off. Though, of course, it will cost you to do so.