Guidebook for Santa Rosa
Food Scene
Still our favorite restaurant anywhere, even though we live in NYC now. Great steaks and prime rib, of course, but their vegetable side dishes are amazing! We order them as appetizers to ensure that we get our greens. And if they have the chocolate banana bread pudding on the menu, get it with butter pecan ice cream (it normally comes with vanilla). So good!
98 locals recommend
Stark's Steak & Seafood
521 Adams StStill our favorite restaurant anywhere, even though we live in NYC now. Great steaks and prime rib, of course, but their vegetable side dishes are amazing! We order them as appetizers to ensure that we get our greens. And if they have the chocolate banana bread pudding on the menu, get it with butter pecan ice cream (it normally comes with vanilla). So good!
Entertainment & Activities
Green Music Center is a world class music venue, presenting concerts in a variety of genres, including classical, blues, pop, country and jazz.
The in-house restaurant, Prelude, has excellent food and drinks. Be sure to set up a reservation, though, if you want dinner before the performance. (You can pre-purchase drinks for intermission at the restaurant and have them waiting for you. Most people don't know that.)
54 locals recommend
Green Music Center
1801 E Cotati AveGreen Music Center is a world class music venue, presenting concerts in a variety of genres, including classical, blues, pop, country and jazz.
The in-house restaurant, Prelude, has excellent food and drinks. Be sure to set up a reservation, though, if you want dinner before the performance. (You can pre-purchase drinks for intermission at the restaurant and have them waiting for you. Most people don't know that.)
This is the nicest/cutest ice rink you will ever visit! Charles Schultz loved to skate and played hockey. The rink is still owned and run by the Schulz family. Check their calendar for open skate times, which vary by season.
44 locals recommend
Snoopy's Home Ice
1667 W Steele LnThis is the nicest/cutest ice rink you will ever visit! Charles Schultz loved to skate and played hockey. The rink is still owned and run by the Schulz family. Check their calendar for open skate times, which vary by season.
Drinks & Nightlife
This resto (owned by the same group who own Stark's) has a great happy hour. Excellent drinks and bar bites.
72 locals recommend
Bird & The Bottle
1055 4th StThis resto (owned by the same group who own Stark's) has a great happy hour. Excellent drinks and bar bites.
Everything Else
There are hundreds of wineries in Sonoma County, but the Dry Creek Valley section of Healdsburg has amazing vistas and incredible wineries. When friends and family want to go wine tasting, Dry Creek Valley is where I take them.
Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley
58 W North StThere are hundreds of wineries in Sonoma County, but the Dry Creek Valley section of Healdsburg has amazing vistas and incredible wineries. When friends and family want to go wine tasting, Dry Creek Valley is where I take them.
Arts & Culture
Schulz was a resident of Santa Rosa for decades. The museum is small, but lovely, and well-curated.
144 locals recommend
Charles M. Schulz Museum
2301 Hardies LnSchulz was a resident of Santa Rosa for decades. The museum is small, but lovely, and well-curated.
Parks & Nature
Bodega Bay is about half an hour west of our house. It is a small coastal community with rocky outcrops, beaches and trails along the coast. It is lovely. It can be windy and/or foggy, so dress in layers (have a jacket).
291 locals recommend
Bodega Bay
Bodega Bay is about half an hour west of our house. It is a small coastal community with rocky outcrops, beaches and trails along the coast. It is lovely. It can be windy and/or foggy, so dress in layers (have a jacket).
Essentials
Oliver's is similar to Whole Foods, but cheaper and with nicer staff. The one on Stony Point is 1.2 miles from the house, down 3rd St. Highly recommend their barbecue (out in front of the store). The barbecue is only open during warm weather (I think May-Oct) and only on weekends. Try the ribs!
45 locals recommend
Oliver's Market - Stony Point
461 Stony Point RdOliver's is similar to Whole Foods, but cheaper and with nicer staff. The one on Stony Point is 1.2 miles from the house, down 3rd St. Highly recommend their barbecue (out in front of the store). The barbecue is only open during warm weather (I think May-Oct) and only on weekends. Try the ribs!