Every year the local paper, the Press Democrat, sponsors a best of Sonoma County businesses determined by readers' votes. This may not be a hundred percent accurate, in that some businesses take this more seriously and actively encourage votes; maybe even going with the vote early and often routine. Anyway, it's still a pretty good barometer on what the locals like. I'll hit the highlights, plus skip the best dentist and such to stay with things a visitor might be interested in. A link to the full list is at the bottom of the page.
The first listing in each category is the winner; any others listed are honorable mentions. And maybe some personal comments.
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| SIGH, Sonoma's Champagne Bar |
Drinking
Bar
Fern Bar, Sebastopol. Lo and Behold, Healdsburg. SIGH, Sonoma.
SIGH is a bubble house and a fun stop.
Bar for live music
HopMonk, Sebastopol & Sonoma. Elephant in the Room, Healdsburg. 3 Disciples Brewing, Santa Rosa. Brewsters, Petaluma.
3 Disciples is beer only; all the other have a full bar.
Coffee
Avid, multiple locations in Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Petaluma. Retrograde, Sebastopol. Crooks, Santa Rosa.
When I worked in Healdsburg I was a fan of Flying Goat Coffee. There are probably a couple dozen quality coffee roasters in Sonoma County.
Craft beer
Henhouse, Santa Rosa & Petaluma. Old Caz, Rohnert Park. Russian River Brewing, Santa Rosa & Windsor.
Cooperage and Crooked Goat are popular with the locals, including me.
Craft cocktail
Fern Bar, Sebastopol. Lo & Behold, Healdsburg. Gravenstein Grill, Sebastopol.
There are quite a few spots in Healdsburg known for their cocktails including Duke's, The Rooftop, Burdock, and Barndiva.
Distillery
Spirit Works, Sebastopol. Alley 6, Healdsburg. Young & Yonder, Healdsburg.
There are about 15 craft distilleries in Sonoma County, cuz you can't live on wine alone, apparently.
Dive bar
John & Zeke's, Healdsburg. The Dirty, Santa Rosa. 440 Club, Santa Rosa. 8 Ball, Cotati.
If you're staying in Healdsburg, don't miss John & Zeke's. In Sonoma, it's Steiner's.
Happy hour
Stark's, Santa Rosa. Gravenstein Grill, Sebastopol. Seared, Petaluma.
Stark's has won this for many years in a row.
Taproom
Russian River Brewery, Santa Rosa & Windsor. Old Caz, Rohnert Park. Barley & Bine, Windsor. Flagship, Santa Rosa & Windsor.
Okay, Russian River and Old Caz are breweries with their own beers available, not actually taprooms. For real taprooms add Belly Left Coast, Brewsters, and HopMonk as restaurant/tap rooms plus Rincon Valley Taproom as a taproom only.
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| Wild Flour Bread In the middle of nowhere, Freestone |
Eating
Artisan cheese
Cowgirl Creamery, Petaluma. Valley Ford Cheese, Valley Ford. Bohemian Creamery, Sebastopol.
A personal favorite is Vella Cheese, Sonoma. Western Sonoma and Marin put out lots of excellent cheese.
Bakery
Wild Flour Bread, Freestone. Red Bird Bakery, Cotati. Quail and Condor, Healdsburg.
Costeaux French Bakery, Healdsburg, is a local institution. Love their breads. There are many great bakeries around.
Deli
Oliver's Market, multiple locations in Santa Rosa, Cotati, Windsor. Ulia's, Santa Rosa. Mac's, Santa Rosa.
Mac's is a downtown Santa Rosa institution.
Doughnuts
Johnny Doughnuts, Santa Rosa. Happy Donuts, Windsor. Flakey Cream, Healdsburg.
I stand by Tan's Doughnuts in Santa Rosa. I haven't had one since this morning.
Ice cream
Screamin' Mimi's, Sebastopol. Nimble & Finn's, Santa Rosa, Guerneville. Noble Folk, Santa Rosa & Healdsburg.
Nimble & Finn is handmade and organic.
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| HopMonk Tavern, Sonoma |
Eating and Maybe Drinking
Asian
SEA Thai, Royal China, Goji, all in Santa Rosa.
SEA Thai is a favorite.
BBQ
Sweet T's, Windsor. Kinsmoke, Healdsburg. Camancho's, Santa Rosa
Breakfast
Dierk's. Jeffery's. Hank's. All in Santa Rosa.
Been to Hank's many times.
Brunch
Gravenstein Grill, Sebastopol & Parish Cafe, Healdsburg tied for the top spot followed by Fern Bar, Sebastopol.
Burgers
Superburger, multiple locations is Santa Rosa, Cotati, Windsor. Sonoma Burger, Sebastopol. Acme Burger, Santa Rosa & Cotati.
Superburger wins every year.
Burrito
Mi Pueblo, Cotati. Don Pancho's, Petaluma. El Roy's, Santa Rosa & Petaluma.
There are multiple Mi Pueblo locations; not sure of the difference between them. El Roy's is food trucks and we all know the best and cheapest Mexican food comes from trucks.
Dining experience
Stark's, Santa Rosa. La Gare, Santa Rosa. Gravenstein Grill, Sebastopol.
These are all definitely favorites.
Eating on the coast
Fishetarian, Spub Point, The Tides, all in Bodega Bay.
Food trucks
El Roy's. Galvan's. Lila's. HolyChiliMole.
There are lots of good food trucks around. Some are only at special events; my favorites include Gerard's Paella, Tri Tip Trolley, and the Wurst Grill.
Italian
Lococo's, Santa Rosa. Grata, Windsor. Caffe Giastra, Petaluma.
Sonoma County is full of Italian heritage and excellent Italian restaurants including Art's Place, Campo Fina, Della Santino's, Diavola, Riviera, and Rosso.
Kid friendly restaurants
Mary's Pizza Shack, multiple locations in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Sonoma, Petaluma.
I'll just stop with the winner because this is a great place for the kids.
Latin (not Mexican)
El Coqui, Santa Rosa. Quinua, Petaluma. Guiso, Healdsburg.
Mexican
Mi Pueblo, Cotati. Don Pancho's, Petaluma. Mi Ranchito, Cotati. El Gallo Negro, Windsor.
There are a ton of Mexican restaurants, taquerias, and food trucks in Sonoma County.
Pizza
Acre, Sebastopol & Petaluma. PizzaLeah, Windsor. Diavola, Geyserville.
Also, Rosso and Jackson's in Santa Rosa.
Romantic meal
Ca'Bianca, Santa Rosa. La Gare, Santa Rosa. Gravenstein Grill, Sebastopol.
Add in Barndiva, Depot Hotel, Dry Creek Kitchen, John Ash, River's End, and Stark's.
Sandwich
Oliver's Market, Santa Rosa, Cotati, Windsor. Sonoma Sourdough, Rohnert Park & Petaluma. Troubadour, Healdsburg.
Seafood
Willi's, Healdsburg. Fishetarian, Bodega Bay. The Shuckery, Petaluma.
Steak
Stark's, Santa Rosa. Seared, Petaluma.
The Cattlemens restaurant chain was on the list. I can't recommend it.
Sushi
Hana, Rohnert Park. Osake, Santa Rosa. Umé, Windsor.
Vegetarian
East West Cafe, Santa Rosa. Cozy Plum, Santa Rosa. East West, Sebastopol. La Bodega, Sebastopol.
East West is great, and I'm not a vegetarian (they're not vegetarian only).
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| Doran Beach |
Other
Antique store
Whistlestop, Santa Rosa. Antique Society, Sebastopol. Janakos, Fulton.
Beach
Doran, Bodega Bay. Goat Rock, Jenner. Salmon Creek, Bodega Bay.
It is not safe to go in or near the water in most coast locations. Doran Beach is an exception. Still, be careful with the kids.
Day spa
Osmosis, Freestone. Me Spa, Sebastopol. Seasons of Skin, Santa Rosa.
Golf course
Bennett Valley, Santa Rosa. Northwood, Monte Rio. Windsor, Windsor.
Hikes
Trione-Annadel, Santa Rosa. Taylor Mountain, Santa Rosa. Sugarloaf Ridge, Kenwood.
These are all moderate hikes. More difficult is Hood Mountain. Easier is Spring Lake, Sonoma Valley, Foothill, and Shiloh.
6th Street Playhouse, Santa Rosa. Transcendence Theatre, Sonoma. Main Stage West, Sebastopol.
Transcendence is seasonal outdoor off-Broadway. A new theater has just opened in Santa Rosa, The California.
Museum
Charles M. Schulz Museum, Museum of Sonoma County, Children's Museum of Sonoma County, all in Santa Rosa.
The Schulz Museum (aka the Snoopy Museum) is great for kids and adults.
Place to buy wine
Bottle Barn, Santa Rosa. Oliver's Market, Santa Rosa, Cotati, Windsor. Miracle Plum, Santa Rosa.
Bottle Barn is the locals' not-so-best-kept secret. You can order online.
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| Charles Schulz Museum image from sonomacounty.com |
You can read the whole thing at 2022 Press Democrat Readers' Choice.
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