LOCAL BUSINESSES, PEOPLE, & PLACES
Each month (more or less), Creekside zooms in on a local business, person of interest, or cool thing here in San Anslemo. Get to know your merchants, shop owners, service providers, and the stories behind your favorite places and people here in the Heart of Marin.
JULY 2025 SPOTLIGHT > Hilda’s Coffee Shop
BREAKFAST in AMERICA: Hilda’s Coffee Shop has been San Anselmo’s iconic breakfast spot since 1960, serving generations of families daily from 7:30AM. Known for their crowd-pleasing pancakes, scrambles, benedicts, omelets, plus sandwiches, burgers, and fries, Hilda’s serves lunch until 2PM. Enjoy outdoor parklet dining every day or old school counter seating. Hilda’s will begin burger and fries to go and parklet dining nights during Live On The Avenue (Friday and Saturday nights) from 5pm to 9pm each event night beginning August 1st). Nice! In the meantime, add Hilda’s to your list of regular breakfast and lunch enjoyment here in the Heart of Marin.
Earlier this year, Hilda’s owner, Sue Kirton, reached out to Creekside, asking for support and help. After the pandemic, Hilda’s never quite recovered their following. Even with their large parklet on the avenue, a generation of people seems to have missed this longstanding family restaurant. To that end, we have answered the call, taking on the task of helping Hilda’s, and really became the genesis of “Spotlight.” Time to help direct and addressing some of some deferred aesthetic maintenance, ensure quality production, dial in the plating, and get on the “grassroots” marketing. Some of the staff have been cooking at here for over 25 years; the pancakes remain outstanding. Hilda’s remains owned by Sue Kirton (who has worked in this family-run business for 50 years) and her team remain committed to the nostalgic history. We hope to see you at Hilda’s this summer. Thanks for stopping by and spreading the news.
Lo-Tech, Hilda’s doesn’t have a website, rarely updates a social post, and sometimes answers the phone. Hilda’s is old school: No reservations, walk-in, grab a menu, sit at the counter, indoors, or on the parklet. Hilda’s is located at 639 San Anselmo Avenue between LONGWAY and Eric Gelman Real Estate. The outdoor parklet offers great, sunny outdoor dining on the Avenue (friendly dog friendly). Dine, Shop, and Play in San Anselmo. (415) 457-9266
Legend has it that Hilda’s opened in 1960 in the location across the street (which eventually became Bubba’s Diner). Tor Nielsen’s signature German-style pancakes quickly became the big draw to this little American diner named after his wife, Hilda. Some 18 years later, Tor and Hilda sold the restaurant to Darleen and Brian Young, where their young daughter, Sue, would work and take the wheel in 2006 as operator. Over the years, the menu grew, flood waters threatened closure, they tried dinner server, beer wine, and resolved to focus on the their breakfast, brunch, and burgers. The Mickey pancake is the children’s favorite, breakfasts are hearty, and their tasty delicious burgers never disappoint. Hilda’s is a throw-back to simpler times, where families gather, movie deals are made, friends meet over a cup of coffee, it is home, it is Breakfast In America.
