Guidebook for Sonoma County
Food Scene
I love the small plates to share with a group, outdoor seating, local meats and produce, great wine and cocktails.
49 locals recommend
Monti's
714 Village CtI love the small plates to share with a group, outdoor seating, local meats and produce, great wine and cocktails.
Just one of the Stark's owned restaurants I'll suggest, they are all great and different enough to visit multiple during your stay. **Best Happy Hour in Town! I love the small plates to share with a group, nice ambiance, local meats and produce, great wine and cocktails.
98 locals recommend
Stark's Steak & Seafood
521 Adams StJust one of the Stark's owned restaurants I'll suggest, they are all great and different enough to visit multiple during your stay. **Best Happy Hour in Town! I love the small plates to share with a group, nice ambiance, local meats and produce, great wine and cocktails.
SEA Thai Bistro
2350 Midway DrBest Thai food in town! Have a small outdoor seating area also.
Really great sushi! I love the Utah Roll. If you love sushi and feel adventurous you can sit up at the bar with the owner Gary Chu and let him surprise you with chefs choice.
20 locals recommend
Osake
2446 Patio CtReally great sushi! I love the Utah Roll. If you love sushi and feel adventurous you can sit up at the bar with the owner Gary Chu and let him surprise you with chefs choice.
Established in 1881, the Dry Creek General Store offers a unique selection of delicious foods, gifts, and books.
The deli serves hand crafted sandwiches, soups, salads, and seasonal specials.
It's a great place to grab lunch to take to a winery to enjoy a picnic. Be ready for a line...but the food is worth it!
32 locals recommend
Dry Creek General Store
3495 Dry Creek RdEstablished in 1881, the Dry Creek General Store offers a unique selection of delicious foods, gifts, and books.
The deli serves hand crafted sandwiches, soups, salads, and seasonal specials.
It's a great place to grab lunch to take to a winery to enjoy a picnic. Be ready for a line...but the food is worth it!
Underwood Bar and Bistro
9113 Graton RdGreat food, ambiance, wine and cocktails.
Rosso
53 Montgomery DrGreat pizza and the burrata cheese is made in-house and delicious.
Award winning beers and pub food.
262 locals recommend
Russian River Brewing Company - Santa Rosa Location
725 4th StAward winning beers and pub food.
Award winning beers, live music almost everyday, large beer garden, and pub food.
140 locals recommend
Lagunitas Brewing Company
1280 N McDowell BlvdAward winning beers, live music almost everyday, large beer garden, and pub food.
Really delicious and creative cocktails made with fresh ingredients! Good food, and fun bar area with large doors the open up to the street.
38 locals recommend
Spoonbar
219 Healdsburg AveReally delicious and creative cocktails made with fresh ingredients! Good food, and fun bar area with large doors the open up to the street.
Great breakfast place. They are only open for breakfast and lunch.
38 locals recommend
Jeffrey's Hillside Cafe
2901 4th StGreat breakfast place. They are only open for breakfast and lunch.
Best bread ever!
Limited days/hours: 8am to 6:30pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
From their website: Wild Flour Bread features brick oven baked sourdough breads, scones, biscotti and coffee drinks. Working with a wood fired brick oven we produce beautiful hard crust breads that our customers come from miles around to taste. At 8am we open with 4 breads only, our sticky bun, cheese fougasse, goat flat bread and either the Bohemian (apricot, orange and pecan) or the Egyptian (pear, fig and candied ginger) and 1 or 2 out of 4 or 5 daily kinds of our whipping cream scones which have become a daily sellout with flavors like apricot, white chocolate, ginger or double chocolate, espresso, hazelnut.
176 locals recommend
Wild Flour Bread
140 Bohemian HwyBest bread ever!
Limited days/hours: 8am to 6:30pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
From their website: Wild Flour Bread features brick oven baked sourdough breads, scones, biscotti and coffee drinks. Working with a wood fired brick oven we produce beautiful hard crust breads that our customers come from miles around to taste. At 8am we open with 4 breads only, our sticky bun, cheese fougasse, goat flat bread and either the Bohemian (apricot, orange and pecan) or the Egyptian (pear, fig and candied ginger) and 1 or 2 out of 4 or 5 daily kinds of our whipping cream scones which have become a daily sellout with flavors like apricot, white chocolate, ginger or double chocolate, espresso, hazelnut.
Big Bottom Market
16228 Main StMarket for lunch items.
Homey cafe with vintage-modern flair serving specialty coffee & craft beer, plus breakfast & lunch.
23 locals recommend
Brew Coffee and Beer House
555 Healdsburg AveHomey cafe with vintage-modern flair serving specialty coffee & craft beer, plus breakfast & lunch.
Great food, drinks, large outdoor seating area with fun bar. It's a bit of a drive, but worth it.
42 locals recommend
Catelli's Restaurant
21047 Geyserville AveGreat food, drinks, large outdoor seating area with fun bar. It's a bit of a drive, but worth it.
The dining experience at SingleThread offers guests a personalized culinary event that begins with canapés on the rooftop garden (weather permitting). Connaughton and his team tailor an 11-course tasting menu to each guests’ dietary preferences or restrictions while featuring Sonoma county’s ingredients at their peak of seasonality.
31 locals recommend
SingleThread Farm - Restaurant - Inn
131 North StThe dining experience at SingleThread offers guests a personalized culinary event that begins with canapés on the rooftop garden (weather permitting). Connaughton and his team tailor an 11-course tasting menu to each guests’ dietary preferences or restrictions while featuring Sonoma county’s ingredients at their peak of seasonality.
Screamin' Mimi's
6902 Sebastopol AveGreat local ice cream shop.
Informal New York-style deli offering traditional Jewish dishes, cocktails & outdoor picnic tables.
11 locals recommend
Grossman's Noshery & Bar
308 Wilson StreetInformal New York-style deli offering traditional Jewish dishes, cocktails & outdoor picnic tables.
Taqueria Santa Rosa #5
791 Montecito CenterFern Bar's airy, plant-filled space can be found within The Barlow, Sebastopol's popular shopping and dining destination.
38 locals recommend
Fern Bar
6780 Depot StFern Bar's airy, plant-filled space can be found within The Barlow, Sebastopol's popular shopping and dining destination.
French-style breads & baked goods made with organic ingredients & served in petite quarters.
14 locals recommend
Goguette Bread
59 Montgomery DrFrench-style breads & baked goods made with organic ingredients & served in petite quarters.
Daytime bakery serving breakfast bowls, sandwiches, cakes & pastries in snug, homey surrounds.
21 locals recommend
Criminal Baking Co.
808 Donahue StDaytime bakery serving breakfast bowls, sandwiches, cakes & pastries in snug, homey surrounds.
TIPS Roadside
8445 Sonoma HwyTIPS Roadside offers comfort food. Great outdoor seating.
Sonoma-style American fare plus local craft beers & wine in bucolic, family-friendly surroundings. Great outdoor dining/patio
57 locals recommend
The Kenwood Restaurant & Bar
9900 Sonoma HwySonoma-style American fare plus local craft beers & wine in bucolic, family-friendly surroundings. Great outdoor dining/patio
Health-minded American cafe for breakfast & lunch items in a charming, marketplace-style setting.
14 locals recommend
The Pharmacy
990 Sonoma AveHealth-minded American cafe for breakfast & lunch items in a charming, marketplace-style setting.
Breezy eatery for sustainable seafood, tacos, burgers & other coastal Californian fare. Great food, easy vibe, and soft serve ice cream. So great!
76 locals recommend
Handline Coastal California
935 Gravenstein Ave. SouthBreezy eatery for sustainable seafood, tacos, burgers & other coastal Californian fare. Great food, easy vibe, and soft serve ice cream. So great!
Calling all vegans, vegetarians and veggie lovers...Little Saint is an uplifting gathering place in Healdsburg, opening soon with a 100% plant-based menu plus music, art and conversation. Great cocktails!
9 locals recommend
Little Saint
Calling all vegans, vegetarians and veggie lovers...Little Saint is an uplifting gathering place in Healdsburg, opening soon with a 100% plant-based menu plus music, art and conversation. Great cocktails!
Chill restaurant & shop with Californian cuisine & local wines, plus homemade pasta & cheese.
10 locals recommend
Sonoma Wine Shop / La Bodega Kitchen
2295 Gravenstein Hwy SChill restaurant & shop with Californian cuisine & local wines, plus homemade pasta & cheese.
Quite possibly my favorite restaurant in Sonoma County. Filet sliders and chocolate banana bread pudding (with ice cream) for the win!
81 locals recommend
Willi's Wine Bar
1415 Town and Country DrQuite possibly my favorite restaurant in Sonoma County. Filet sliders and chocolate banana bread pudding (with ice cream) for the win!
Sarmentine
52 Mission CirAmazing pastries and coffee. Quick drive from Happy House.
Shopping
Sonoma County Meat Co.
35 Sebastopol AveLocally raised and butchered meat. Really great bacon!
Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers Market
50 Mark West Springs RdFarmers Market
Parks & Nature
Spring Lake is a really nice place to walk on a trail or go for a hike.
48 locals recommend
Spring Lake
Spring Lake is a really nice place to walk on a trail or go for a hike.
Annadel is connected to Spring Lake, you can walk on a nice paved trail, go hiking, go to the children's park to play and ride the train or carousel, and go mountain biking.
162 locals recommend
Trione-Annadel State Park
6201 Channel DrAnnadel is connected to Spring Lake, you can walk on a nice paved trail, go hiking, go to the children's park to play and ride the train or carousel, and go mountain biking.
Brush Creek Trail East is easy to walk or ride a bike on. I often ride my bike the 2.75 miles down brush creek trail which takes you under Hwy 12 to Yulupa to make my way to Montgomery Village for food and drinks.
Brush Creek Trail East
Brush Creek Trail East is easy to walk or ride a bike on. I often ride my bike the 2.75 miles down brush creek trail which takes you under Hwy 12 to Yulupa to make my way to Montgomery Village for food and drinks.
Hiking/walking trains, mountain biking, and a 18-hole disc golf course.
44 locals recommend
Taylor Mountain Regional Park
2080 Kawana TerraceHiking/walking trains, mountain biking, and a 18-hole disc golf course.
Armstrong Redwoods is located in a canyon two miles north of the Russian River and the town of Guerneville. Walking/Hiking trails.
500 locals recommend
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve Visitor Center
17000 Armstrong Woods RdArmstrong Redwoods is located in a canyon two miles north of the Russian River and the town of Guerneville. Walking/Hiking trails.
Essentials
Oliver's Market is best described as a locally owned Whole Foods. It is just a few short blocks from my house.
58 locals recommend
Oliver's Market - Montecito
560 Montecito CenterOliver's Market is best described as a locally owned Whole Foods. It is just a few short blocks from my house.
Whole Foods Market
1181 Yulupa AveSafeway
100 Calistoga RdEntertainment & Activities
From their website: An African adventure in the heart of California wine country. Guests may explore the Sonoma Serengeti on an African wildlife safari alongside romping herds of exotic wildlife or relax in a luxury safari tent under the gaze of a graceful giraffe. Our goal is to actively promote conservation and environmental education concepts to our guests, whether they are with us for an hour or a week. We are extremely proud to say that Safari West is fully accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
128 locals recommend
Safari West
3115 Porter Creek RdFrom their website: An African adventure in the heart of California wine country. Guests may explore the Sonoma Serengeti on an African wildlife safari alongside romping herds of exotic wildlife or relax in a luxury safari tent under the gaze of a graceful giraffe. Our goal is to actively promote conservation and environmental education concepts to our guests, whether they are with us for an hour or a week. We are extremely proud to say that Safari West is fully accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Snoopy's Home Ice
1667 W Steele LnIce-skating.
The Joe Rodota Trail runs between Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. The trail starts at the pedestrian/bicycle bridge intersection with the Prince Memorial Greenway (between West 3rd Street and Railroad Street), southwest of the Marriott Courtyard Hotel. The trail ends near the intersection of Mill Station Road and Highway 116 in Sebastopol. Access to the trail is located off the following public streets: Roberts Avenue, Dutton Avenue, Stony Point Road, Wright Road, Sebastopol Road, Merced Avenue, Llano Road, Petaluma Avenue, High School Road, Cleveland Avenue, Ellis Court, DuFranc Avenue, Hurlbut Avenue, and Highway 116.
The Joe Rodota Trail is 8.47 miles of paved trail. Sections of the trail run along an abandoned railroad line. The trail offers an opportunity for families with young children to experience an outdoor outing for walking, bicycle riding, horseback riding, and roller skating. The trail meanders along agricultural ranches, and the Laguna of Santa Rosa. There are signs of the historic railroad throughout the property. Three bridges are on top of the old train trestles. The trail is especially popular in the spring with a burst of color from wildflowers. The trail is an excellent place for year-round bird watching.
34 locals recommend
Joe Rodota Trail
The Joe Rodota Trail runs between Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. The trail starts at the pedestrian/bicycle bridge intersection with the Prince Memorial Greenway (between West 3rd Street and Railroad Street), southwest of the Marriott Courtyard Hotel. The trail ends near the intersection of Mill Station Road and Highway 116 in Sebastopol. Access to the trail is located off the following public streets: Roberts Avenue, Dutton Avenue, Stony Point Road, Wright Road, Sebastopol Road, Merced Avenue, Llano Road, Petaluma Avenue, High School Road, Cleveland Avenue, Ellis Court, DuFranc Avenue, Hurlbut Avenue, and Highway 116.
The Joe Rodota Trail is 8.47 miles of paved trail. Sections of the trail run along an abandoned railroad line. The trail offers an opportunity for families with young children to experience an outdoor outing for walking, bicycle riding, horseback riding, and roller skating. The trail meanders along agricultural ranches, and the Laguna of Santa Rosa. There are signs of the historic railroad throughout the property. Three bridges are on top of the old train trestles. The trail is especially popular in the spring with a burst of color from wildflowers. The trail is an excellent place for year-round bird watching.
Modern, locally owned theater specializing in art-house, independent & foreign films.
23 locals recommend
Summerfield Cinemas
551 Summerfield RdModern, locally owned theater specializing in art-house, independent & foreign films.
Arts & Culture
Seasonal event: Broadway Under The Stars as described on their website:
Transcendence's "Broadway Under The Stars" is a series of award-winning concerts featuring accomplished Broadway and Hollywood performers under the stars in the majestic open-air winery ruins in Sonoma's Jack London State Historic Park. Each year features songs from a plethora of Broadway favorites such as Mamma Mia, Hairspray, Book of Mormon, Chicago, and more!
Each evening begins with pre-show picnicking on the great lawn, alongside the vineyards of the park (with multiple wineries pouring and food and wine available for purchase), and concludes with an evening of inspirational entertainment that Before It’s News dubbed “…goosebumps all around.”
201 locals recommend
Jack London State Historic Park
2400 London Ranch RdSeasonal event: Broadway Under The Stars as described on their website:
Transcendence's "Broadway Under The Stars" is a series of award-winning concerts featuring accomplished Broadway and Hollywood performers under the stars in the majestic open-air winery ruins in Sonoma's Jack London State Historic Park. Each year features songs from a plethora of Broadway favorites such as Mamma Mia, Hairspray, Book of Mormon, Chicago, and more!
Each evening begins with pre-show picnicking on the great lawn, alongside the vineyards of the park (with multiple wineries pouring and food and wine available for purchase), and concludes with an evening of inspirational entertainment that Before It’s News dubbed “…goosebumps all around.”
From website:
The Children’s Museum’s mission is to inspire children’s creativity and stimulate their curiosity to discover the world through playful exploration of the arts and sciences.
34 locals recommend
Children's Museum of Sonoma County
1835 W Steele LnFrom website:
The Children’s Museum’s mission is to inspire children’s creativity and stimulate their curiosity to discover the world through playful exploration of the arts and sciences.
Local artists Patrick Amiot and Brigette Laurent have showered yards on Florence Ave with large junk art sculptures. It is amusing and fun to take a walk down the street to look at the creations.
15 locals recommend
Florence Avenue
Florence AvenueLocal artists Patrick Amiot and Brigette Laurent have showered yards on Florence Ave with large junk art sculptures. It is amusing and fun to take a walk down the street to look at the creations.
Snoopy's Gallery and Gift Shop
1665 W Steele LnOutdoor sculpture garden: four-acre grove of wooden glens with ancient gnarled oaks and open meadows. The gates to the estate are open to the public from 10- 4:00 daily, allowing visitors a chance to experience the art & nature of Paradise.
37 locals recommend
Paradise Ridge Winery
4545 Thomas Lake Harris DrOutdoor sculpture garden: four-acre grove of wooden glens with ancient gnarled oaks and open meadows. The gates to the estate are open to the public from 10- 4:00 daily, allowing visitors a chance to experience the art & nature of Paradise.
Sightseeing
Luther Burbank Art & Garden
2050 Yulupa AveDoran Beach
201 Doran Beach RdJust one of many beautiful Northern California beaches.