Ayawaska in Novato, CA

What Ayawaska Is

Ayawaska is a restobar, not a quiet neighborhood cafe. You come for lunch or dinner, a Sunday brunch window, and drinks that are part of the night rather than an afterthought. The kitchen leans classic Peru with a modern California edge. Catch-of-the-day ceviche. Filet mignon lomo saltado. Anticuchos. Empanadas. Aji de gallina. Seafood rice.

The bar is a second menu. Pisco Sour, Maracuya Sour, Chilcano, Ayawaska Sour, and house signatures sit next to wine, local draft beer, chicha morada, and Inca Kola.

What's On The Menu

Start with ceviche if you eat fish. El Clasico is catch of the day in leche de tigre with red onion, Peruvian corn, and sweet potato. La Paisana adds huancaina. There is an ahi tuna Nikkei version and a vegan Ceviche Fresh with quinoa, mango, and passion fruit leche de tigre. Other openers include tequeños de cangrejo, empanadas, anticuchos, and pulpo anticuchero.

Mains people come back for include lomo saltado clasico, lomo saltado mixto with prawns, arroz con mariscos, aji de gallina, seco de carne, and tallarines verdes. Vegetarian and vegan plates are on the board, including a quinoa campesino salad and vegan tallarin saltado.

Hours And The Hilltop Location

What The Visit Is Like

Expect a lively dining room and a bar that can carry the night if dinner turns into another round. The food is shareable. Order ceviche for the table, then one saltado and one rice or stew so you taste more than one sauce. Allergens including peanuts and nuts are in the kitchen, so speak up if that matters.

Why People Go

People come for a North Marin Peruvian address that is more than a lunch counter, for pisco drinks you cannot get at a standard Novato bar, and for lomo saltado that still tastes like the Lima plate instead of a generic stir-fry. They stay because Hilltop finally has a restobar that can do both dinner and a cocktail night.

Who Ayawaska Is Best For

Ayawaska works especially well for Novato groups who want to share ceviche and saltado, couples who like a sour and a late plate on Friday, and anyone who already loves Peruvian food and does not want to drive to the city. It is less ideal if you need a quiet 8:00 PM two-top with no bar energy.

Where It Fits In Your Novato Day

A simple Hilltop evening is Ayawaska for ceviche and lomo, then home without dropping into Old Town. Pair a Sunday brunch window with errands at Vintage Oaks. If you want sushi the same week, Masa's on Grant is the downtown counter. This is the Hilltop night out.

Planning Your Visit

Arrive earlier on Friday and Saturday if you want a booth before the 10:00 PM close. Use the brunch window on Sunday if you want a shorter visit. Check the Hilltop menu page before you go, then order one sour and one ceviche before you commit to entrees.