The Bruliam Sonoma guide

Sonoma County is really, really big. Vast and stunning, Sonoma County offers everything from panoramic mountain vistas to redwood groves to our churning shoreline. This means that you can devote over an hour driving from one corner of our county to the other. So, if you’re keen to maximize winery visits, plan your itinerary carefully. Cluster winery visits within a few miles of each other. Select a hotel to reflect where you want to be, based on the wineries you’ll visit and the grape varietals you love.

Legalese- Let me be clear here: these are not the only options. In fact, these represent the (limited) handful of hotels and restaurants that I can vouch for myself. They may not be the newest or the hottest, since I don’t get out much. 

“If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else.” (Yogi Berra)

LODGINGS 

HEALDSBURG

Hotel Healdsburg – situated on the Healdsburg square within walking distance to restaurants, wineries, and shops; houses Charlie Palmer’s fine dining stalwart Dry Creek Kitchen (Bruliam cheerleader)

H2Hotel – situated on the Healdsburg square within walking distance to restaurants, wineries, and shops

Harmon Guest House- situated on the Healdsburg square within walking distance to restaurants, wineries, and shops; notable for great rooftop deck with nibbles and cocktails

Montage – luxury destination hotel at the edge of Healdsburg; houses fine dining Hazel Hill. You’ll need to drive everywhere. (Bruliam cheerleader)

Appellation Healdsburg-newly opened & located at the edge of town, before the turn-off for Montage. Houses another Charlie Palmer concept with menu riffing on Dry Creek Kitchen but without convenience of being on the square. You’ll need to drive everywhere.

SANTA ROSA

Farmhouse Inn – luxury destination hotel with on-site fine dining & spa. Bucolic and surrounded by vines, you’ll need to drive everywhere.

Vinarosa Resort & Spa – centrally located in Santa Rosa just off the 101 freeway, affording easier access to all Sonoma AVA’s. Houses farm to table restaurant John Ash (notable for a beloved happy hour menu).

CITY OF SONOMA

El Dorado Sonoma – located on the historic Sonoma square within walking access to area restaurants and shops including Sign of the Bear (excellent kitchen shop), & the OG Williams Sonoma. Houses fine dining El Dorado Kitchen (Bruliam cheerleader).

DINING

HEALDSBURG

Breakfast / coffee

Quail & Condor – A pastry carb load, now with sit down service. Don’t miss their killer croissants and kouign-amann. Their pane siciliano bread is fantastic (albeit a less exciting breakfast choice). Kid friendly.

Flying Goat - rejuvenate with an espresso 

Acorn Café- Seating indoors & outdoors. Beloved by locals. Always busy. Don’t miss the shakshuka or breakfast sando. Kid friendly.

Black Oak Coffee – My favorite iced coffee. Tasty pastries including vegan & GF options. Can be tough to score seating. Kid friendly.

Downtown Bakery – Before Quail & Condor and before Noble Folk, we bought our pastries (& frozen pie crust) at the Downtown Bakery. The OG Healdsburg bakery with the best ever sticky morning buns. Recently added lunch sandwiches. Hot take: Downtown Bakery is my go-to once more. Kid friendly.

Costeaux – Another beloved Healdsburg institution known for breakfast, lunch, and pastries. Kid friendly. Epic nutcracker collection and holiday décor in December.

Lunch / Dinner

Pizzando – If you split an artisan pizza & a salad, you still save room for soft serve ice cream. Kid friendly.

Harmon House rooftop deck best for cocktails and snacks

Barn Diva- Yes, you’re in wine country for the wine. But their cocktails are divine. Dramatic, artful décor. Don’t miss the chevre croquettes & handmade pastas. If their excellent burger returns to the menu, get it! (Bruliam cheerleader)

Lo & Behold A bit louder. A bit rowdier. Also good cocktails. You can’t go wrong with the pea shoot salad & beef brisket tacos. Their menu is an uber-elevated, creative twist on bar food.

Asahi Sushi easily the best sushi in Sonoma County. Daily nigiri specials include fish flown from Japan & omakase sliced by Chef Nobu. (Bruliam cheerleader)

The Matheson offers fine dining downstairs and a more casual vibe on the roof. Two experiences; same building. Trendy “be-seen” Instagram favorite so make reservations in advance. Robust happy hour if you’re OK elbow-to-elbow with your neighbor.

Valette – Seasonal dining & sister restaurant to The Matheson

Dry Creek Kitchen – Healdsburg’s OG wine country, fine dining, farm-to-table stalwart from celebre-chef Charlie Palmer. Elegant, seasonal plates served with professionalism, warmth, & flourish. We still celebrate family milestones here. And when kids are away, Brian and I share a few apps and cocktails at the bar. (Bruliam cheerleader)

Hazel Hill at Montage – Elegant & luxe seasonal farm to table / wine country cuisine with dramatic views. Great accommodating food allergies. (Bruliam cheerleader)

Willis Seafood (& Starks Family Restaurants) – locally owned & operated restaurant group with multiple concepts. Notable (actually exceptional) that each of their concepts is fresh, yummy, seasonal, reliable, & beloved by locals. Healdsburg iteration is seafood-centric with a raw bar. Santa Rosa location is “Willis Wine Bar.” Ever changing BTG wine lists that rotate through different boutique wineries like Bruliam (Bruliam cheerleader)

Healdsburg KID FRIENDLY COUNTDOWN:

Pizzando, Kinsmoke (BBQ), Costeaux, Healdsburg Bar & Grill (large fenced patio), & Acorn café

GRAND CRU ADJACENT (i.e. Town of Windsor)

Olivers – our fancy grocery store. Made to order deli sandwiches, burrito bar, & sushi. Stellar cheese department. Robust selection of grab & go ranging from warm breakfast burritos to entrees. Adjacent “cafe” with seating & coffee bar. Multiple outlets across Sonoma County.

Kin Windsor has pizzas, salads, sandwiches, etc. It's all fine - exactly what you imagine for a chicken club & fries (but don’t expect the best meal of your life). Kid friendly

 Machado burger is in the same mall as Olivers. Good burgers & fries. Kid friendly.

 KC's is a 50’s-style diner beloved for breakfast but also serves lunch (& possibly dinner). My kids loved it when they were little. Perfect if you need to start your morning on a full stomach. Kid friendly.

 Pizza Leah has great wood fired pizza and salads (they make their own Caesar dressing). Creative pies. Stellar crust. Limited indoor/outdoor seating. Kid friendly.

Russian River Brewing Company – Home of Pliny the Elder (#IYKYK). Beer garden. Burgers & elevated bar food. Across from Grand Cru.

Anna's for breakfast burritos. But she is literally one very energetic woman in a teeny store. No website; limited seating. Here are details:  Address: 10333 Old Redwood Hwy #103, Windsor, CA 95492 Phone: (707) 837-0680. Call ahead to order. Gatekeep this secret spot.

Grey Squirrel Manor is BRAND new coffee place (formerly Café Noto).  Specialty coffee drinks and modern riffs on matcha. Coffeehouse snacks (muffins etc) also available. Fancy coffee drinks on the expensive side. Big plus: ample parking and located on the Windsor Town Geen which features a fountain, green space, and grass for kids to roam and run. Kid friendly.

NOTABLE IN / AROUND SONOMA COUNTY

Mitote Food Park – Collection of food trucks featuring specialties & iterations of Mexican cuisine. Standout birria tacos. Solid margaritas. Outdoor only. Wear layers. Kid friendly.

El Dorado Kitchen – Delicious, seasonal farm to table cuisine served on the historic Sonoma square. Energetic bar scene. (Bruliam cheerleader)

El Molino Centrale – epic Mexican cuisine with handmade tortillas and a seasonal menu. Expect to queue. Located in Agua Caliente, adjacent to the city of Sonoma. Parking can be a hassle. Limited outdoor seating. Not to miss. Kid friendly. 

Glen Ellen Star is a James Beard & Michelin rated standout in the teeny town of Glen Ellen. Reservations required. Yes, order the pizza. But wow their wood fired veggies and sides are always standout. Heated patio, table, & counter seating. Kid friendly (ish) since owners are parents. But know the restaurant is small & may feel tight for strollers. They have a sister concept with pastas. Parking is tight. (Bruliam cheerleader)

Underwood Bar & Bisto is your funky, yummy West County dining choice in the town of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Graton. Their sister restaurant Willowood is standout for breakfast and is 100% kid friendly. If you need further proof, I can send you Amelia’s second grade restaurant review (!).

Petaluma- Great vibe with cute shops and multiple great dining locations. I’m just too lazy to drive 45 minutes to eat dinner. Standout sandwiches made to order at Stellina. More pastries at their sister concept Stellina Pronto. Even more pastries at Della Fattoria or Sarmentine, both in Petaluma. 

Historic downtown Sonoma offers many (many!) more options besides EDK. The Girl & the Fig is renowned. Wit & Widsom is a lovely, seasonal Michael Mina concept. But again, I am too lazy to drive an hour to eat dinner. If you are traveling with little people, check out Traintown. 

Sebastopol is also home to great dining, including the magical Patisserie Angelica and great fish tacos at Handline. You’ll find terrific Thai at Khom Loi and stellar ramen at Ramen Gaijin.