Guide to Sonoma
Wineries and tastings
Absolutely stunning grounds with a fun outdoor area that can seat many. Their estate wines are also fantastic, their reds are great but they also make great dry whites—an awesome Gewürztraminer and a Chardonnay that doesn’t follow the standard Sonoma/Napa practice of over-oaking and making overly “buttery”.
Beautiful place to relax.
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Gundlach Bundschu Winery
2000 Denmark StreetAbsolutely stunning grounds with a fun outdoor area that can seat many. Their estate wines are also fantastic, their reds are great but they also make great dry whites—an awesome Gewürztraminer and a Chardonnay that doesn’t follow the standard Sonoma/Napa practice of over-oaking and making overly “buttery”.
Beautiful place to relax.
Good small local winery with award winning Syrah, Zinfandel, and Port all made by Aussie Chris Loxton. He’s often hovering around and can tell you about the grapes they harvest and produce themselves--great way to learn about wines.
Not as hard to get reservations. Fun fact: Chris is a former Physics PhD
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Loxton Cellars
11466 Dunbar RdGood small local winery with award winning Syrah, Zinfandel, and Port all made by Aussie Chris Loxton. He’s often hovering around and can tell you about the grapes they harvest and produce themselves--great way to learn about wines.
Not as hard to get reservations. Fun fact: Chris is a former Physics PhD
Close to Yountville, the Stag’s Leap district is the premier destination for Cabernet Sauvignon, ever since a wine from here beat out the Bordeaux wines in the 1976 “Judgement of Paris” competition.
Regusci is one of the best in Stag’s Leap with immaculate grounds, history dating to the prohibition, and well structure wines that can pair up to boldest flavors you throw it’s way. ~45 min drive.
Regusci Winery
5584 Silverado TrailClose to Yountville, the Stag’s Leap district is the premier destination for Cabernet Sauvignon, ever since a wine from here beat out the Bordeaux wines in the 1976 “Judgement of Paris” competition.
Regusci is one of the best in Stag’s Leap with immaculate grounds, history dating to the prohibition, and well structure wines that can pair up to boldest flavors you throw it’s way. ~45 min drive.
Located ~30 minute drive the iconic and prolific Silver Oak has an intense focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and beautiful grounds. A very worthwhile visit if you’re looking for an intro to Napa and Cabernet Sauvignon. Tastings range from $60-100.
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Silver Oak Napa Valley
915 Oakville Cross RdLocated ~30 minute drive the iconic and prolific Silver Oak has an intense focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and beautiful grounds. A very worthwhile visit if you’re looking for an intro to Napa and Cabernet Sauvignon. Tastings range from $60-100.
Restaurants
<10 min drive. The best food option in Glen Ellen and perhaps the Sonoma area. Reservations a must.
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Glen Ellen Star
13648 Arnold Dr<10 min drive. The best food option in Glen Ellen and perhaps the Sonoma area. Reservations a must.
10 min drive. Some of the best food on the square with a beautiful outdoor patio. Reservations a must.
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the girl & the fig
110 W Spain St10 min drive. Some of the best food on the square with a beautiful outdoor patio. Reservations a must.
10 min drive. A local hangout, strong cocktails and drinks in the square with friendly service. Good classic food (ie pastas, pizzas, pork chop).
You can sit in the front first come, first served or in their beautiful back patio area with reservations.
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The Swiss Hotel
18 W Spain St10 min drive. A local hangout, strong cocktails and drinks in the square with friendly service. Good classic food (ie pastas, pizzas, pork chop).
You can sit in the front first come, first served or in their beautiful back patio area with reservations.
<15 min drive. Salt + Stone in Kenwood is a great restaurant with a beautiful outdoor seating area, great oyster selection, and classic food.
A good choice for a celebration, we’ve celebrated our anniversary here.
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The Kenwood Restaurant & Bar
9900 Sonoma Hwy<15 min drive. Salt + Stone in Kenwood is a great restaurant with a beautiful outdoor seating area, great oyster selection, and classic food.
A good choice for a celebration, we’ve celebrated our anniversary here.
~5 minute drive. Amazing gourmet Basque/Korean restaurant that only opened in 2022 it has been getting a lot of buzz as one of America's best new restaurants (for good reason). Wood-fired food cooked in an open kitchen, so you can see the chef work his magic with turbot fish from Spain, steak, iberico pork, and more. Fine dining in a small intimate setting in a casual looking dining space.
Animo
~5 minute drive. Amazing gourmet Basque/Korean restaurant that only opened in 2022 it has been getting a lot of buzz as one of America's best new restaurants (for good reason). Wood-fired food cooked in an open kitchen, so you can see the chef work his magic with turbot fish from Spain, steak, iberico pork, and more. Fine dining in a small intimate setting in a casual looking dining space.
Local landmark
5 min drive. The Inn is built on the healing geothermal mineral hot springs that give the Agua Caliente/Boyes Hot Springs neighborhood it’s name.
They have a spa you can make appointments for, a nice restaurant, fire pits to hang out in front, and pools (fed by water from the hot springs)
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The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
100 Boyes Blvd5 min drive. The Inn is built on the healing geothermal mineral hot springs that give the Agua Caliente/Boyes Hot Springs neighborhood it’s name.
They have a spa you can make appointments for, a nice restaurant, fire pits to hang out in front, and pools (fed by water from the hot springs)
10 min drive. A must visit—the historic Sonoma Plaza is beautiful to walk around and enjoy the various restaurants, shops, wine tastings, and bars nearby.
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Sonoma Plaza
10 min drive. A must visit—the historic Sonoma Plaza is beautiful to walk around and enjoy the various restaurants, shops, wine tastings, and bars nearby.
Hiking
10 min drive. Beautiful, National Historic Registry park with great hiking in Glen Ellen. The final resting place of famous novelist Jack London (“Call of the Wild”) who built several structures in the park. Good picnicking, trails, and a small museum. Entrance $10 per vehicle
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Jack London State Historic Park
2400 London Ranch Rd10 min drive. Beautiful, National Historic Registry park with great hiking in Glen Ellen. The final resting place of famous novelist Jack London (“Call of the Wild”) who built several structures in the park. Good picnicking, trails, and a small museum. Entrance $10 per vehicle
15 min drive. Historic and beautiful grounds open to the public. Great to picnic here, go for a small hike, and maybe reward yourself with a tasting at the on premises Bartholomew Park winery.
Bartholomew Park
1695 Castle Rd15 min drive. Historic and beautiful grounds open to the public. Great to picnic here, go for a small hike, and maybe reward yourself with a tasting at the on premises Bartholomew Park winery.
Furthest drive at 25 min. For the more avid hikers, longer trail options (5+ miles) available with great panoramic views of Sonoma County and its rolling hills. If interested let me know so you can borrow my Sonoma Regional Park Pass for free access.
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North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve
5297 Sonoma Mountain RdFurthest drive at 25 min. For the more avid hikers, longer trail options (5+ miles) available with great panoramic views of Sonoma County and its rolling hills. If interested let me know so you can borrow my Sonoma Regional Park Pass for free access.
Coffee, pastries, and ice cream
10 min walk. The best ice cream spot in town. Their ice creams are fantastic and they also have great paletas (popsicles), and piping hot churros.
10x better than Michoacana, but since it’s new it doesn’t have the tourist hype and is often less busy (note: much smaller lines) and not as pricey.
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Cielito Coffee and Ice Cream
205 Nino Marco Sq10 min walk. The best ice cream spot in town. Their ice creams are fantastic and they also have great paletas (popsicles), and piping hot churros.
10x better than Michoacana, but since it’s new it doesn’t have the tourist hype and is often less busy (note: much smaller lines) and not as pricey.
5 min drive. Amazing coffee, some of the best baguettes you can find outside of Paris, and delicious pastries. I eat everything and love my gluten, but their gluten-free beignets are a must try.
Also really good food brunch you can eat in their back patio.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
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Baker & Cook
18812 CA-125 min drive. Amazing coffee, some of the best baguettes you can find outside of Paris, and delicious pastries. I eat everything and love my gluten, but their gluten-free beignets are a must try.
Also really good food brunch you can eat in their back patio.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Casual bites
5 min drive. Many local’s favorite go-to takeout with a fun seasonal menu. Some of the best Mexican in the Bay Area, and country :)
Get there early or be prepared to wait a little for your food. Nice back area to eat your food if you’d like to dine-in
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El Molino Central
11 Central Ave5 min drive. Many local’s favorite go-to takeout with a fun seasonal menu. Some of the best Mexican in the Bay Area, and country :)
Get there early or be prepared to wait a little for your food. Nice back area to eat your food if you’d like to dine-in
5 min drive. If you’re into taco trucks and curious to try one of the dozen trucks across Sonoma this one is the best. And a nice cheap bite (not open for lunch).
Located in the parking lot of an automotive shop, this is a late night spot that almost always seems to have a line, even after hours.
La Bamba Taco Truck
18155 Sonoma Hwy5 min drive. If you’re into taco trucks and curious to try one of the dozen trucks across Sonoma this one is the best. And a nice cheap bite (not open for lunch).
Located in the parking lot of an automotive shop, this is a late night spot that almost always seems to have a line, even after hours.
Bars
Great bar food, 5-7 pm happy hour, and live music Thursday - Monday night after 7 pm!
Not your traditional pub as they also have a good cocktail list and some good wines by the glass.
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Murphy's Irish Pub
464 1st St EGreat bar food, 5-7 pm happy hour, and live music Thursday - Monday night after 7 pm!
Not your traditional pub as they also have a good cocktail list and some good wines by the glass.
The place for beer lovers—amazing outdoor space, especially at night. They brew their own beers
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HopMonk Tavern Sonoma
691 BroadwayThe place for beer lovers—amazing outdoor space, especially at night. They brew their own beers