Restaurants
Food scene
Our favorite restaurants in Sonoma County. We also recommend following our local food writer, Heather Irwin, of BiteClubEats. She writes for Sonoma Magazine and the Press Democrat.
Great family owned restaurant in Healdsburg. Excellent service. They’ve built a lovely outdoor dining parklet. Don’t miss the scallop en croute.
43 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Valette
344 Center StGreat family owned restaurant in Healdsburg. Excellent service. They’ve built a lovely outdoor dining parklet. Don’t miss the scallop en croute.
They have a rooftop restaurant that is open air with a limited menu and some nice cocktails. Good wine list and light fare.
Harmon Guest House
227 Healdsburg AveThey have a rooftop restaurant that is open air with a limited menu and some nice cocktails. Good wine list and light fare.
We’ve been going to this restaurant for more than 10 years. The outdoor dining area is really nice. Excellent chef. Killer cocktails. More expensive, as it is in Napa Valley. It’s 30 minutes east of our house.
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Solbar
755 Silverado Trail NWe’ve been going to this restaurant for more than 10 years. The outdoor dining area is really nice. Excellent chef. Killer cocktails. More expensive, as it is in Napa Valley. It’s 30 minutes east of our house.
amazing takeout or doordash -- top sushi in Sonoma County and less than 3 miles from the house
Aji Sushi & Grill
2360 Mendocino Aveamazing takeout or doordash -- top sushi in Sonoma County and less than 3 miles from the house
Lovely garden dining area out back. French California cooking. Earned its Michelin star in 2022.
62 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Barndiva
231 Center StLovely garden dining area out back. French California cooking. Earned its Michelin star in 2022.
This restaurant is less than 2 miles from the house. Across from Oliver’s Market. Recommended by local food critic friends. Very good, authentic Mexican with large portions. Ambiance isn’t great. Best to order to go.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Los Molcajetes Bar & Grill
6599 Montecito BoulevardThis restaurant is less than 2 miles from the house. Across from Oliver’s Market. Recommended by local food critic friends. Very good, authentic Mexican with large portions. Ambiance isn’t great. Best to order to go.
Great outdoor shopping district with a few breweries, restaurants and shops. Check out Crooked Goat Brewery, Fern Bar, Blue Ridge Kitchen and the Two Dog Night ice cream shop. Fern Barn is to-go only during pandemic.
155 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Barlow
6770 McKinley StGreat outdoor shopping district with a few breweries, restaurants and shops. Check out Crooked Goat Brewery, Fern Bar, Blue Ridge Kitchen and the Two Dog Night ice cream shop. Fern Barn is to-go only during pandemic.
Best Eggs Benedict in the North Coast. Our go-to for breakfast for years. Purchased in 2018 by one of the cafe’s long-time employees; closed for major renovations from winter 2020 to summer 2021.
26 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Garden Court Cafe
13647 Arnold DrBest Eggs Benedict in the North Coast. Our go-to for breakfast for years. Purchased in 2018 by one of the cafe’s long-time employees; closed for major renovations from winter 2020 to summer 2021.
Rosso
53 Montgomery DrGreat authentic gourmet pizza.
Sonoma’s only Three Star Michelin restaurant. During COVID lockdown, they offered incredible to-go dinners at reasonable prices. Sign up for the mailing list to learn more.
31 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
SingleThread Farm - Restaurant - Inn
131 North StSonoma’s only Three Star Michelin restaurant. During COVID lockdown, they offered incredible to-go dinners at reasonable prices. Sign up for the mailing list to learn more.
Opened in September 2021 by Chef Dustin Valette. Rooftop 106 casual restaurant (walk-ins only), wine tasting on tap downstairs, and The Matheson by reservation dining room downstairs. Right on Healdsburg Square.
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Matheson
106 Matheson StreetOpened in September 2021 by Chef Dustin Valette. Rooftop 106 casual restaurant (walk-ins only), wine tasting on tap downstairs, and The Matheson by reservation dining room downstairs. Right on Healdsburg Square.
New upscale bar in Healdsburg square opened in June 2021. Stylish decor, excellent cocktails, wines by the glass, and creative but compact menu of fancy appetizers.
Burdock
New upscale bar in Healdsburg square opened in June 2021. Stylish decor, excellent cocktails, wines by the glass, and creative but compact menu of fancy appetizers.
Local celebrity chef cooking in a renovated Victorian on a hill. We love making the 45-minute drive over the mountain to have lunch on the porch. Great food and drink. Expensive, as most of Napa is.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Acacia House by Chris Cosentino
1915 Main StLocal celebrity chef cooking in a renovated Victorian on a hill. We love making the 45-minute drive over the mountain to have lunch on the porch. Great food and drink. Expensive, as most of Napa is.
Good food and excellent cocktails. Funky fun interior design. At the Barlow.
38 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Fern Bar
6780 Depot StGood food and excellent cocktails. Funky fun interior design. At the Barlow.
Sister restaurant to Fernbar. Excellent fish tacos. Casual with indoor and outdoor seating. Counter ordering during COVID.
76 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Handline Coastal California
935 Gravenstein Ave. SouthSister restaurant to Fernbar. Excellent fish tacos. Casual with indoor and outdoor seating. Counter ordering during COVID.
Fun day trip adventure: take the SMART train to San Rafael for lunch. This Puerto Rican restaurant is an institution. Call to reconfirm that they have reopened the dining room since COVID. They are also opening a location in Petaluma, a town south of Santa Rosa that also has a train stop.
226 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sol Food
903 Lincoln AveFun day trip adventure: take the SMART train to San Rafael for lunch. This Puerto Rican restaurant is an institution. Call to reconfirm that they have reopened the dining room since COVID. They are also opening a location in Petaluma, a town south of Santa Rosa that also has a train stop.
Local favorite. Small plates. Extensive wine list. Closest date night restaurant to our house.
81 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Willi's Wine Bar
1415 Town and Country DrLocal favorite. Small plates. Extensive wine list. Closest date night restaurant to our house.
Good happy hour. House converted to a restaurant by the Willis Wine Bar owners. Great fried chicken.
72 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bird & The Bottle
1055 4th StGood happy hour. House converted to a restaurant by the Willis Wine Bar owners. Great fried chicken.
New sushi spot less than a block from Aji that is getting great reviews. Awesome ahi bowls.
Quick Sushi Santa Rosa
2500 Mendocino AvenueNew sushi spot less than a block from Aji that is getting great reviews. Awesome ahi bowls.
New New York-style Jewish deli from Willis Wine Bar owners. Getting great reviews.
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Grossman's Noshery & Bar
308 Wilson StreetNew New York-style Jewish deli from Willis Wine Bar owners. Getting great reviews.
There are many good restaurants in downtown Petaluma. I picked one of them. It’s fun to take the SMART train down to Petaluma for an afternoon. Use the Airport Station north of our house, which has a big parking lot.
51 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cucina Paradiso
114 Petaluma Blvd NThere are many good restaurants in downtown Petaluma. I picked one of them. It’s fun to take the SMART train down to Petaluma for an afternoon. Use the Airport Station north of our house, which has a big parking lot.
Pico Bar opened by the Solage pool in summer of 2021. It’s right next to our favorite restaurant in Napa Valley, Solbar. Mexican cocktails and inventive appetizers. Fun vibe with bocce ball courts. Al fresco dining under large pergola.
Picobar
755 Silverado Trail NorthPico Bar opened by the Solage pool in summer of 2021. It’s right next to our favorite restaurant in Napa Valley, Solbar. Mexican cocktails and inventive appetizers. Fun vibe with bocce ball courts. Al fresco dining under large pergola.
New bar and restaurant from Duke’s alumni—mixologists and the chef left to create this Instagramable bar in the old Mateo’s space. Backyard garden dining. Great cocktails, great food and fun pop-ups on weeknights with guest chefs.
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lo & Behold Bar + Kitchen
214 Healdsburg AvenueNew bar and restaurant from Duke’s alumni—mixologists and the chef left to create this Instagramable bar in the old Mateo’s space. Backyard garden dining. Great cocktails, great food and fun pop-ups on weeknights with guest chefs.
Great Thai food. Reasonably priced European white wines that pair well with the food. Service can be slow and annoyingly hipster on busy weekends.
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Khom Loi
7385 Healdsburg AvenueGreat Thai food. Reasonably priced European white wines that pair well with the food. Service can be slow and annoyingly hipster on busy weekends.
Not far from the house. Casual eatery with large back patio. Industrial farmhouse vibe with a little general store/craft shop upfront. Good food and service.
37 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
TIPS Roadside
8445 Sonoma HwyNot far from the house. Casual eatery with large back patio. Industrial farmhouse vibe with a little general store/craft shop upfront. Good food and service.
Hipster eatery located in an old brick building near downtown Santa Rosa.
54 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Spinster Sisters
401 S A StHipster eatery located in an old brick building near downtown Santa Rosa.
Opened in 2023, this tiki bar is run by a talented mixologist who used to work at Frankie's Tiki Room in Las Vegas. The decor is fantastic, and the food and drinks are true to tiki form. Take the SMART train from the Santa Rosa Airport station and get off in Petaluma. It's a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening.
Kapu Bar
Opened in 2023, this tiki bar is run by a talented mixologist who used to work at Frankie's Tiki Room in Las Vegas. The decor is fantastic, and the food and drinks are true to tiki form. Take the SMART train from the Santa Rosa Airport station and get off in Petaluma. It's a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening.
New Italian restaurant with courtyard bocce ball court in the old Campo Fina space. Run by three SingleThread alumns.
Molti Amici
New Italian restaurant with courtyard bocce ball court in the old Campo Fina space. Run by three SingleThread alumns.
My favorite food and wine pairing restaurant in Sonoma County this past year. Troubadour's simple bakery turns into a pop-up restaurant, Le Diner, a few nights a week. Sean and Melissa, the owners, also own Quail & Condor bakery and are partners in Molti Amici.
Troubadour Bread & Bistro
My favorite food and wine pairing restaurant in Sonoma County this past year. Troubadour's simple bakery turns into a pop-up restaurant, Le Diner, a few nights a week. Sean and Melissa, the owners, also own Quail & Condor bakery and are partners in Molti Amici.
In 2023, the owners hired a chef from Noma--named the world's best restaurant multiple times--to lead a new restaurant upstairs at Little Saint called Second Story. The space is airy, bright and filled with plants. Food pairing menu is offered with wine or no-alcohol options.
Reeser Str. 106, 46446 Emmerich am Rhein, Alemania
In 2023, the owners hired a chef from Noma--named the world's best restaurant multiple times--to lead a new restaurant upstairs at Little Saint called Second Story. The space is airy, bright and filled with plants. Food pairing menu is offered with wine or no-alcohol options.
This location is open; there's an Airbnb glitch. Major renovation by new owner/interior design guru Jay Jeffers. The restaurant has a new chef who used to work at Round Pond Estate winery. Not sure if he will ever be as good as Jesse Mallgren, who left in 2023 for Jordan Winery. But the space is stunning, and the new chef has gotten a few good reviews.
The Madrona - Opening Soon
1001 Westside RdThis location is open; there's an Airbnb glitch. Major renovation by new owner/interior design guru Jay Jeffers. The restaurant has a new chef who used to work at Round Pond Estate winery. Not sure if he will ever be as good as Jesse Mallgren, who left in 2023 for Jordan Winery. But the space is stunning, and the new chef has gotten a few good reviews.
Sightseeing
Reservations required. Incredible spot for a picnic.
118 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hog Island Oyster Co
20215 Shoreline HwyReservations required. Incredible spot for a picnic.
Scout Field Bar, located in the lobby, doesn’t require reservations and has beautiful views of the woods and mountains. Best cocktails in Healdsburg right now—and great zero proof options. Bar food is limited but okay. Expensive since it’s Montage. Hazel Hill is their fancy adjacent restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining.
Montage Healdsburg
100 Montage WayScout Field Bar, located in the lobby, doesn’t require reservations and has beautiful views of the woods and mountains. Best cocktails in Healdsburg right now—and great zero proof options. Bar food is limited but okay. Expensive since it’s Montage. Hazel Hill is their fancy adjacent restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining.
On a clear day, take a drive along the coast and end with lunch or happy hour at River's End. Fantastic views and good food. The cocktails are fancy-crafty, but the ocean views on the deck make up for it.
105 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
River's End Restaurant & Inn
11048 CA-1On a clear day, take a drive along the coast and end with lunch or happy hour at River's End. Fantastic views and good food. The cocktails are fancy-crafty, but the ocean views on the deck make up for it.
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What’s New in Healdsburg
There’s always something happening in Sonoma County’s hip culinary destination, 20 minutes north of Santa Rosa. Visit winecountrytable-dot-com and search what's new in healdsburg for my latest blog.