With 6 Sonoma country trips under my belt in the last few years, I'd say I'm pretty well versed when it comes to what to eat, where to stay and what to do!! So today we're bringing you Gaby's Guide to Sonoma!
A complete guide for everything your heart desires while in sonoma country! Here we go...
COFFEE + BREAKFAST + BRUNCH:
Sunflower Caffé - Breakfast and brunch of my dreams. That breakfast burrito with wagyu was mind boggling. And the grilled cheese...actual perfection
Santé - The worlds most epic brunch - pictured above.
Valley - Omg. French Toast. Enough said.
Taylor Lane - My favorite place to grab a cup of coffee or tea before hitting the wine trails for the day! Bonus, if you have to work on the road like me, they have an incredible 2nd floor where you can sip on your caffeinated beverage and bang out some work!
LUNCH:
El Molino Central - Truly one of the best Mexican meals I've had in my entire life and favorite spots from this guide to Sonoma. Those nachos will haunt my dreams forever.
El Dorado Kitchen - What more could you ask for than a glass of rosé, a plate of perfect french fries and some other flatbreads right smack in the middle of Sonoma square. It's a great place to hang on the patio and have a leisurely lunch.
Barndiva - I'm not even sure if Barndiva is considered to be in Sonoma County - but it's too good to pass up! The food has some major California flair and it's just generally an awesome place to hang for a looooong afternoon of eating and drinking! My husband had to drag me out - I didn't want to leave!
DINNER:
Glen Ellen Star - Ugh. I'm obsessed. Everything about the wood fired food at Glen Ellen Star makes me happy. It's not to be missed.
Spoonbar - Here's the way to do it - cocktails, all the appetizers and a few dozen oysters. It's the most fun way to eat after a day of wine tasting!
Girl and the Fig - It's a staple on the Sonoma square and if you can snag a res, it's worth a visit!
Diavola - We need pizza!! always and forever! I haven't been in years but it was excellent when we went a few years back
DESSERT:
Sweet Scoops - Super cute ice cream shop right on the main square of Sonoma! The strawberry was insane.
WHERE TO STAY:
Farmhouse Inn - It's tucked away in Sonoma county and it's the picture of perfection. Imagine the chicest barn you'll ever see and then add in the best rooms with the most comfy beds, a restaurant that is kicking butt and taking names and has a Michelin star, and a spa that is not to be missed. It's perfection. Bonus - they have a gourmet s'mores bar every night. ON BRAND!
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn - It’s EVERYTHING. The spa is quite possibly my favorite spa in all of California. It’s the perfect destination for a girls weekend.
WHERE TO DRINK:
Scribe Winery - Home to some of my favorite red wines and a fun picnic basket that you can nosh on with friends while over looking the vineyards. It's quite the place to spend the afternoon.
Benziger Family Winery - Imagine a biodynamic winery that is also home to a sprawling farm where you can grab a bunch of food, set up shop and have a picnic and taste test your way through an entire flight of pinot. Sign me up!! It's a decent walk up from Glen Ellen, but totally do-able if you want to burn a few calories before your wine.
Gary Farrell Winery & Vineyard - Another fantastic spot to sit on top of a hill and look out over Sonoma county!! Annnndddd they have cheese pairings with the wine tasting. Winning.
Silver Oak Cellars - Give me a gorgeous cheese platter, a flight of wine and a fun garden and see you in 2 hours. Silver Oak Cellars had all of that and it was perfect.
Jordan Winery - Jordan is another incredible winery that we've been visiting for years!! Adults only but a very special place! And the food is next level
Abbots Passage - One of my favorite wineries to date. Their food/grazing boards with the wine is truly unmatched in the entire sonoma valley
Woodfour Brewing Co. - For all your beer lovers out there - this is not to be missed!
THINGS TO DO:
Wine Country Cyclery - Rent a few bikes and ride from vineyard to vineyard! It's the perfect way to get around and taste a few wines on the way. Helmuts MANDATORY!
The Barlow - Is a collection of various places to eat, shop, drink and hang out. There's a little something here for everyone.
Helmuts MANDATORY!
I think it's spelled helmets,
We would love to have you come visit our Winery Serres Ranch. We are a six generation family ranching operation that grows winegrapes, blueberries and beef cattle.
Sonoma is one of my favorite places on the planet. Bacon Slayer & I honeymooned in Napa & Sonoma and we're dying to get back. You sold me on The Farmhouse Inn with the phrases "chic barn'" and "gourmet s'mores bar!" I'm also pretty sure that I could easily sip a caffeinated hour away at Taylor Maid Farms. Definitely pinning this to my travel destination board!
I love Sonoma! It's so relaxing and the views are gorgeous. You gave a whole new list of things to check out when I go next!
I haven't been to Sonoma in much too long, and it's really not THAT far from So Cal! Great tips and recommendations- now I'm itching to go!
What a fantastic guide! I've been to Napa but not Sonoma. And any wine trip is right up my alley.
We were just there in August with our two young children and we were amazed at how many family-oriented activities there were. My husband and I are looking forward to going back for a couples getaway as well! Great list of suggestions and I love the look of the Farmhouse Inn!
I can see myself going to Sonoma just to stay at the Farmhouse Inn! What a charming place!
I haven't traveled to California yet, but Sonoma is definitely on my travel bucket list! 🙂 The Farmhouse Inn looks right up my alley. It looks like such a quaint B&B.
I can't believe I have never been to Sonoma! I need to make the trip, what a great guide!
I Love, Love, Love this post! We are in Sonoma all the time... a bonus of living near Lake Tahoe now - it's just a quick drive! I'm dying to check out the Farmhouse Inn, and all of the good eats and drink spots you mentioned. Yay!
Have been here and LOVED it, but not to the Farmhouse Inn. So lovely, Gaby!
Gaby, Sonoma is our favorite place to visit and my husband and I travel there at least twice a year. It's so relaxed and we've always found the food and wineries to be exceptional. We love visiting Gary Farrell and enjoying the beautiful view from the tasting room. My husband and I always talk about retiring there someday and buying a small house on a vineyard. Thanks for sharing a few new places for us to visit next time.
My list of places to visit just keeps getting longer and longer!!!!
Nailed it! Yes-Barndiva is considered part of sonoma county, just not the town of Sonoma.
What I really want to know is, Did you actually walk up the hill to Benziger?? I hope you took the tour while you were there. It is quite possibly the best winery tour in all of Sonoma county.
Right on the money with Spoonbar. No trip to Healdsburg is complete without a cocktail at their awesome bar.
~sonomalocal
we did walk!! it was quite the hike but totally worth it once we were at the top!!