Macaroni and cheese was introduced to the United States in the 1800s, and has since become a staple comfort food for Americans. (Oksana Mizina / Shutterstock)
As is the case with most beloved pasta dishes, the origin of macaroni and cheese can be traced to Italy. A recipe called de lasanis in the 13th century Italian cookbook “Liber de Coquina” combined sheet pasta — cut into 2-inch squares and cooked in water — with grated cheese, such as Parmesan. The cheesy pasta dish became popular across Europe, but didn’t arrive in the United States until the early 19th century.
In 1784, James Hemings, who was enslaved by president Thomas Jefferson, traveled to France with Jefferson for the purpose of training in French cooking techniques, becoming the first American to be trained as a French chef. It was on this trip where Jefferson first encountered and enjoyed macaroni and cheese, which Hemings recreated with his own twist. Jefferson preferred Hemings’ version, which ended up being served at a state dinner hosted by Jefferson at the White House in the early 1800s.
After being introduced to America’s elite, macaroni and cheese became more widely enjoyed across the nation, especially once Kraft Foods created its easy and affordable Macaroni and Cheese Dinner in 1937. Ever since, this comforting, cheesy dish has been tantalizing the taste buds of people from all walks of life.
Whichever way you like your mac and cheese — whether it’s in a baked casserole form or loaded with meats and veggies — here are 20 Sonoma County restaurants that will accommodate your favorite comfort food fix.
Macaroni and cheese was introduced to the United States in the 1800s, and has since become a staple comfort food for Americans. (Oksana Mizina / Shutterstock)
Check here for our dining editor’s top cheesy picks.
Santa Rosa
Belly Left Coast Kitchen
Three Hog Mac & Cheese, $19: With smoked applewood bacon, Mexican chorizo and Spanish chorizo, this mac is a meat lover’s paradise. 523 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-526-5787, bellyleftcoastkitchenandtaproom.com
Bird & the Bottle
Craft Mac & Cheese, $16: Smoked cheddar with crispy kale and a secret ingredient adds a touch of sophistication to this gooey, nostalgic craft mac and cheese. 1055 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-568-4000, birdandthebottle.com
Craft Mac & Cheese with fried mortadella at Bird & The Bottle Restaurant in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Jackson’s Bar and Oven
Mac & Cheese, $18: A rich Gruyere mac topped with toasted bacon breadcrumbs. 135 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-6900, jacksonsbarandoven.com
Stark’s Steak and Seafood
Four Cheese Mac with Dijon, $16: Dijon-infused mac with four cheeses for an exceptionally rich, velvety dish. Black Truffle & Goat Cheese Mac, $20: The truffles and goat cheese add a savory, tangy bite to this mac, topped with chives for a touch of freshness. 521 Adams St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-5100, starkssteakhouse.com
Willie’s Wine Bar
Spring Mac & Cheese, $18: A vibrant mac with sweet peas, green garlic and goat cheese fondue. 1415 Town and Country Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-526-3096, williswinebar.net
Lobster mac and cheese at Willi’s Wine Bar in Santa Rosa. Willi’s now has a spring mac and cheese. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Kenwood
Salt & Stone
Truffle Mac & Cheese, $16: A rich, creamy mac in a four cheese sauce (Grana Padano, Gouda, Queso Ibérico, white cheddar) and topped with toasted breadcrumbs. 9900 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-833-6326, saltstonekenwood.com
Rohnert Park
Amy’s Drive Thru
Broccoli Cheddar Mac, $7.29: This fast food mac with cheddar, tender broccoli and breadcrumb topping can be made vegan for an additional 50 cents. 58 Golf Course Drive W., Rohnert Park, 707-755-3629, amysdrivethru.com
Graton
Underwood Bar & Bistro
Macaroni & Cheese, $12.50: Bubbling, rich mac topped with toasted breadcrumbs. Add pancetta for $3. 9113 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-7023, underwoodgraton.com
Underwood Bar & Bistro in Graton serves up a delicious mac and cheese with pancetta and topped with breadcrumbs. (Foodspotting)
Petaluma
Seared
Dungeness Crab Mac & Cheese, $22: Mac with local Dungeness crab, Nueske’s bacon, Delta asparagus, Valley Ford Highway 1 fondue, Parmesan and chives. 170 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-762-5997, petalumaseared.com
Speakeasy
Lobster Mac & Cheese, $18: Sweet, meaty lobster mingling with cheddar and fontina cheeses, topped with crumbled bacon and herbed breadcrumbs — a fan-favorite at Speakeasy. 139 Petaluma Blvd. N., Suite B, Petaluma, 707-776-4631, speakeasypetaluma.com
Lobster Mac & Cheese with crumbled bacon, lobster, cheddar and fontina cheese topped with herbed breadcrumbs from Speakeasy Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Petaluma. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Brewsters Beer Garden
Mac & Cheese, $12: A super-gooey elbow macaroni and cheese baked in a cast iron skillet and topped with thyme breadcrumbs. 229 Water St. N., Petaluma, 707-981-8330, brewstersbeergarden.com
TAPS On The River
Mac ‘N’ Cheese, $11.95: Cavatappi pasta in a housemade cheese sauce topped with pecorino and breadcrumbs. 54 East Washington St., Petaluma, 707-763-6700
Windsor
KIN Windsor
Mac-Daddy Pizza, $18 for 10-inch, $27 for 14-inch: A thick crust pizza with red sauce, shredded mozzarella, applewood smoked bacon and KIN’s white cheddar mac and cheese (also great as its own entree for $19). Welcome to carb heaven. 740 McClelland Drive, Windsor, 707-837-7546, kinwindsor.com
Mac and cheese at Kin Restaurant in Windsor. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)Three-way Smoker Combo with ribs, chicken, brisket and sides of mac and cheese and an okra, corn and cherry tomato sauté from Sweet T’s Restaurant + Bar in Windsor. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Sweet T’s Restaurant
Loaded Mac & Cheese, $24: This perfectly cheesy mac side dish exemplifies the classic southern comfort food Sweet T’s is known for. A two-cheddar mac is topped with toasted breadcrumbs, bacon, jalapenos, barbecue sauce and a choice of smoked brisket, pulled pork or pulled chicken. 9098 Brooks Road, S., Windsor, 707-687-5185, sweettssouthern.com
Healdsburg
Kinsmoke
Mac & Cheese, $6 side: Shell pasta full of cheesy goodness is the ultimate side to barbecue favorites such as pulled pork or beef brisket. 304 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-473-8440, kinsmoke.com
Barbecue chicken, brisket, Brussels sprouts with bacon, macaroni and cheese, and hush puppies at Kinsmoke in Healdsburg. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)
West County and Coast
boon eat + drink
boon Mac-N-Cheese, $16: Mycopia mushrooms and truffle breadcrumbs make for an outstanding umami-rich mac. 16248 Main St., Guerneville, 707-869-0780, eatatboon.com
Saucy Mama’s Jook Joint
Mac & Cheese, $7: A creamy, gooey mac made with four types of cheeses. 16632 Highway 116, Guerneville, 707-604-7184, saucymamasjookjoint.com
Barbecue Pork Rib platter with sides of melon, cornbread waffle, mac and cheese, and collard greens at Saucy Mama’s Jook Joint in Guerneville. (Heather Irwin / The Press Democrat)The Mac + Cheese with smoked Gouda and Monterey Jack cheeses topped with panko from Negri’s Italian Dinners and Joe’s Bar in Occidental. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Negri’s
Mac + Cheese, $13.50: This mac and cheese, served as a side dish at the historic Italian restaurant in Occidental, includes smoked Gouda and Monterey Jack, topped with breadcrumbs. Add pancetta for $4. 3700 Bohemian Highway, Occidental, 707-874-0301, negrisrestaurant.com
Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery
Mac & Cheese, price varies: This coastal cheese company regularly rotates its menu specials, including the mac. But you can expect any number of Valley Ford cheeses, such as the popular Highway 1 and Estero Gold, and add-on combos like sausage and peppers or flank steak and bok choy. 14390 Valley Ford Road, Valley Ford, 707-875-7073, valleyfordcheese.com
Mac & Cheese at Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)Portuguese Mac & Cheese at Tasca Tasca in Sonoma. (Erik Castro/for The Press Democrat)
Sonoma
Tasca Tasca
Mac & Cheese,price varies on number of tasting plates: Portuguese-style mac and cheese with smoky, mildly spicy linguica. 122 West Napa St., Sonoma, 707-996-8272, tascatasca.com
Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville along the Russian River. (Eileen Roche / Sonoma Magazine)
Endlessly flowing, the river has often been celebrated as a symbol of rebirth. From rural church baptisms and water-powered sawmills to songs (“Proud Mary”) and novels (“A River Runs Through It”), the river resonates as a source of renewal.
That same spirit of resurgence is alive and well this summer along the Russian River, with the launch of The River Electric glamping resort and swim club, and the much-anticipated debut of Guerneville Social Club later this fall. It’s the latest splash in a “new river scene” that started more than a decade ago when mortgage broker turned restaurateur and hotelier Crista Luedtke took a chance on Boon hotel + spa and Boon eat + drink, kickstarting an influx of local investment and new businesses that have swelled in recent years.
“I think people are really starting to catch on to how magical it is here, not only in the summer, but really year-round,” says Luedtke, who knows that no matter how much Guerneville and surrounding river towns might evolve, there will always be a “gritty bohemian funkiness” beneath the surface.
A sunset view at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville along the Russian River. (Eileen Roche / Sonoma Magazine)
It’s the reason Bonzo, a new Guerneville gift shop, sells sweatshirts with the slogan “Keeping it weird since 1850” beneath a silkscreened winged frog and a cluster of mushrooms with eyes. And it’s the reason corporate chain restaurants rarely venture into town — and those that do, like Subway, don’t survive. “We’re not ever gonna be a Healdsburg or an Aspen or a Sonoma town square,” Luedtke says. “We’re still funky, and we will always be funky. I mean, look at River Electric. As hip and groovy as it is, it’s still got its cool funkiness. They’re taking over what was once J’s Amusement Park.”
The campground at The River Electric in Guerneville. (Bess Friday)
On a tour of The River Electric a week before it opened, co-owner Kelsey Sheofsky showed off the resort’s new tent city beneath the redwoods (imagine an Ewok forest village with chic canvas tents) and made note of a tombstone — a vestige of Dr. Evil’s Haunted House that continued to scare locals every Halloween long after the amusement park went dark — that still needed to be removed.
Where once there was a Mad Mouse roller coaster and corner-hugging go-karts, a 12-acre resort has come to life as The River Electric, centered around a 60-foot circular pool accessible to overnight guests or with a $32 day pass. A sleek outdoor bar and restaurant serves upgraded smashburgers, turkey clubs, and Straus soft serve (and look for The River Electric canned wine collab with Ruth Lewandowski Wines). A block from the river, it’s a watering hole by day, with chaise lounge and cabana upgrades, and a glamping resort by night, all drenched in an Oakland hipster vibe — evidenced by the Instagram-bait payphone booth, restored and reprogrammed so that guests who pick up the receiver hear poetry recited in a voice reminiscent of Boris Karloff.
The reception area at The River Electric in Guerneville. The camp resort opened to the public Memorial Day weekend. (Eileen Roche / Sonoma Magazine)Enjoying poolside treats at The River Electric in Guerneville. The sleek outdoor pool bar and restaurant serves upgraded smashburgers, turkey clubs, and Straus soft serve. (Eileen Roche / Sonoma Magazine)
Sheofsky and her husband, Mike, made their name erecting luxury tent hotels in the middle of nowhere all over the country with their glamping production company, Shelter Co. Since founding it in 2011, they’ve staged elaborate off-the-grid weddings, hosted eclipse events for Virgin Galactic, and provided VIP tent experiences at BottleRock and Outside Lands music festivals. With The River Electric, they’re putting down roots and finding a permanent home for the brand. After buying the property in 2018, they’ve weathered seven years of permitting and floods to make it happen. “We filled the pool yesterday and I said, ‘This pool is half river water and half my tears,'” says Kelsey Sheofsky, who is very grateful for the river resurgence, giving respect and credit to Luedtke as the de facto “town mayor” of this unincorporated river community.
Just as there is a seasonal flow to the Russian River, a rolling way of life that runs between the highs of winter rains, when currents move fast, and the lows of lazy summer trickles, when paddlers have to portage kayaks to the next deep spot — there is also a generational flow through the decades.
In the 1850s, it was a logger’s paradise, better known as Stumptown. In the 1930s through the 1950s, it was a popular postcard summer escape for fogged-in San Francisco families. Big bands leaders Duke Ellington and Tommy Dorsey played the circuit from Forestville to Rio Nido to Guerneville and beyond. In the ’60s, hippies came to town, with the Grateful Dead playing the Dance Hall in Rio Nido. Then in the late ’70s and early ’80s, it became an LGBTQ+ haven, with gay entrepreneurs opening Fife’s Resort, Rainbow Cattle Company, and R3 Resort, eventually paving the way for Pride parades, Lazy Bear Week, and Women’s Weekend.
Nick Schwanz and Spencer Scott at their Solar Punk Farm in Guerneville. (Eileen Roche / Sonoma Magazine)
“I think this latest wave is not necessarily a reinvention, as much as it is just like the next generation,” says Nick Schwanz, the president of the Russian River Chamber of Commerce and co-owner of Solar Punk Farms. “A lot of young people are coming up to Guerneville for the same reason that people have always come up to Guerneville — because it’s absolutely gorgeous.”
If Forestville is the gateway from the east and, winding along River Road, Monte Rio and Duncans Mills are the trailing lower-river towns that give way to the coast, then it makes sense that Guerneville is the epicenter, where much of the new scene is taking hold. When historians look back one day at the urban flight and migratory effects of Covid on small towns across America, this former logging town will be the perfect case study.
The Sheofskys had already planned their escape from San Francisco to Sebastopol when the pandemic hit in 2020, just two days after their kids started at new schools. Among that same wave of transplants is Michael Rex, a former ESL teacher in San Francisco who moved to Guerneville during the pandemic.
Michael Rex, owner of Russian River Books & Letters in Guerneville. Rex, a former ESL teacher, moved to Guerneville during the pandemic. (Russian River Books & Letters)
Lured by a “For Rent” sign in the window, he opened Russian River Books & Letters in an alcove beside Coffee Bazaar café. He has filled the charming book nook with a wide range of literature and sprinkled in vintage typewriters that customers can use to type poems or letters. An acoustic guitar sits in the corner, waiting for anyone who wants to strum it. Along with author readings, the bookstore hosts live musical performances, and there’s a Hanukkah concert every year.
Since opening in 2021, Rex has learned a lot about locals by the books they order. “It’s very eclectic. You have fly fishermen and hunters, and then you have drag queens and bikers and bicyclists,” he says. “Somebody said that Guerneville is the queerest rural town in America, and it’s probably true.”
There’s a special section in the bookstore curated by Solar Punk Farms, whose owners, Schwanz and his husband Spencer Scott, also repaired to the river from San Francisco during the pandemic. Converting a former horse property on Armstrong Woods Road into a “queer-run regenerative land project,” they’re harvesting their first crops this year, supplying local restaurants in town. But they’ve created more than a farm. Having recently hired an events manager, they’re planning concerts, farm tours, volunteer weekends, and an “upcycled fashion festival.”
Solar Punk Farm owners Nick Schwanz and Spencer Scott were married on the farm two summers ago. Their front porch is a gathering space for friends and family. (Eileen Roche / Sonoma Magazine)
Across the street from the bookstore, Hair and Heavy Metal Salon boasts the largest concentration of ’80s hair band posters (Dio, Motley Crue, Whitesnake) along the river. In 2023, owner Donnelle Malnik moved to Guerneville, calling it “the freakiest spot I could find catapulting out of San Francisco.” Around the corner on Main Street, El Barrio mezcal lounge is always hopping on summer nights. It features a three-page cocktail list and a closet-sized kitchen where they make their own tortillas. Like other big-city expats, owner Jimmy Kansau blew into town during the pandemic with his husband.
“In the summer, everybody’s in a good mood,” Kansau says. “Everybody wants to have a party. So it’s a constant influx of people in and out. Some people come here with their bathing suits and their hats, and other people come dressed up, because they just feel like dressing up. It’s a juxtaposition of amazing things, for sure.”
Margarita from El Barrio in Guerneville. Jimmy Kansau purchased the mezcal lounge from Crista Luedtke four years ago. (Kelly Pulieo)
Four years ago, the Venezuela native bought El Barrio from Luedtke. This fall, he’s planning to open Guerneville Social Club near R3 Hotel at Mill and Fourth streets in the former Timberline Restaurant. His vision is a market hall concept with downstairs storefronts that might include a bakery, coffee shop, and taproom, with a beer garden out back. The upstairs event hall will be the main attraction, he says, the scene of “ridiculous weekend brunches” in the restaurant, along with cooking classes and wellness activities. As a social club there will be a yearly membership of around $200 a year.
With so much investment coming from newcomers, it’s not surprising to hear the word “gentrification” pop up in local conversation. It’s one of the reasons The River Electric is hosting “Local Tuesdays” with $5 entrance fee and lower-priced menu options “so you can really come in and have lunch and swim for under 20 bucks,” says Kelsey Sheofsky.
When Saucy Mama’s Jook Joint owner Yvette Bidegain says, “This isn’t the same Guerneville that was here when I grew up. This is a totally different town,” she means it in a good way. Bidegain grew up in the Hacienda community east of town, near Forestville. Her father ran the Richardson’s Ribs booth at the Sonoma County Fair, serving gumbo and ribs from recipes he learned growing up in Louisiana. It proved so popular they eventually opened three restaurants. Bidegain used vacation time from her job at CalTrans to help out with the business.
Yvette Bidegain, owner of Saucy Mama’s, at the Guerneville barbecue spot. Back in the day, her father ran the Richardson’s Ribs booth at the Sonoma County Fair. (Chad Surmick / The Press Democrat)Saucy Mama’s Jook Joint in Guerneville. Yvette Bidegain opened the barbecue spot in 2022. (Chad Surmick / The Press Democrat)
In 2017, she started doing pop-up soul food once a week, gaining a devoted following selling Southern food and barbecue at Johnson’s Beach during the pandemic summers. Since she opened Saucy Mama’s in 2022 west of downtown, the biggest seller has been the catfish and fried okra, inspiring one of her friends to call her “the Colonel Sanders of catfish.” The ribs, cooked out back in a Texas smoker with her father’s secret recipe, come in a close second. Ebbing and flowing over the years, the Russian River seems to have found a new rhythm, she says. “I’m a person who likes change — change is good. No one expects to find a soul food restaurant in Guerneville, and they tell us that all the time.”
Now, at the peak of the summer season, as tourists from around the Bay Area and California discover — or rediscover — the winding ribbon of water that rolls through the redwoods, it’s a chance for a new generation of business owners to learn to work together in solidarity. “Anytime there’s a new business that comes to town, it’s not about like, ’Oh man, there’s competition.’ No, it’s like, more begets more,” says Luedtke. “I come from an abundance model, where I feel like there’s enough for everyone. New people coming to town is an opportunity for us all to shine our shoes and make sure that we’re not getting complacent and lazy.”
Small Town Gems
Forestville
Burke’s Canoe Trips has provided canoe rentals for generations of river-goers. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Burke’s Canoe Trips: Countless thousands have dropped in here for the epic summer rite of passage: paddling the 10-mile span of the Russian River from Forestville to Guerneville.
Along the way, you can stop off at sandbars and beaches for picnics and swimming. Keep an eye out for wildlife such as great blue herons, river otter, osprey, and turtles. And make sure you chat up owner Linda Burke, whose family has been renting boats since the late 1950s, back when Burke’s Resort had a roller rink, arcade, and nightclub that staged everyone from Tommy Dorsey to Duke Ellington. Rates: $95 canoes/$60 kayaks, with complimentary shuttle pickup. 707-887-1222, burkescanoetrips.com
Canoes line Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville. (Eileen Roche / Sonoma Magazine)
River Shuttle: Summer parking can be a nightmare at many of the beautiful regional park beaches along the river, especially later in the day. Hot tip: Hop on the Sonoma County Regional Parks River Shuttle, departing every 30 minutes from El Molino High School, 7050 Covey Road, Forestville. The shuttle runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, stopping at Steelhead Beach Regional Park and Sunset Beach River Park. Buy $5 advance passes: parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/regional-parks-river-shuttle
Also, one of the best river hangouts is at the wide sandy beach at Mom’s Beach, just past Burke’s Canoe and Steelhead Beach, at 10584 River Drive. Make sure you get there early (park opens at 7 a.m. and there are only 17 spots), park in the corner lot, just off River Road, and take the trail down to the water.
Mushroom Mycopia pizza at Sonoma Pizza Co. in Forestville. (Heather Irwin / The Press Democrat)
Sonoma Pizza Co.: If you’re looking for picnic supplies in town, this seasonal gourmet pizza joint poses a tough choice between the wood-fired Pepperoni Nirvana pie, prepared Chris’s Way with hot honey and ricotta, and the Italian Stallion sandwich. 6615 Front St. 707-820-1031, sonomapizzaco.com
Rio Nido
Rio Nido Roadhouse has long been a popular venue for live music. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)
Rio Nido Roadhouse: There may be no better venue to see live music near the river than this classic roadhouse. It’s the reason Chuck Prophet keeps returning for his Summertime Thing festival. It’s where Count Basie and Harry James played during the 1930s and ’40s, and where The Beach Boys and the Grateful Dead plugged in during the ’60s. And it’s the reason why most locals show up any night no matter who’s on the bill. 14540 Canyon 2 Road. 707-869-0821, rionidoroadhouse.com
Guerneville
Things to do
The River Electric: Located on 12 acres, about a block from the river, this brand-new swim club and glamping resort features two pools to cool off on a hot summer day — a 60-foot round pool and the smaller, rectangular Little Dipper. Swim club day passes are $32, with upgrades for chaise lounges and cabanas. Pool bar snacks range from smashburgers, “River Rat” fries (loaded with pimento cheese), and root beer floats to ceviche and local wines. Pool and restaurant are open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 16101 Neeley Road. 707-937-8915, theriverelectric.com
The River Electric’s poolside bar in Guerneville. (Eileen Roche / Sonoma Magazine)“River Rat” Loaded Fries (with pimento cheese, potato chip crumble, creme fraiche and scallions) at The River Electric in Guerneville. (Bess Friday)
Johnson’s Beach: Rent a kayak, a beach umbrella, or a cabin and chill at one of the most famous bends in the river. Siblings Ethan, Alison, and Andrew Joseph took over in 2022 and are updating what founders Ernie and Gertie Johnson started a century earlier in 1918. 16215 First St. 707-869-2022, johnsonsbeach.com
Solar Punk Farms: Touted as a “queer-run regenerative hub,” this former horse arena has been reborn as a climate think-tank, demonstration area, and working farm all rolled into one. Look for a MORF (Music on Regenerative Farms) concert on July 12. Later this year, they’re creating “Wine and Wander” experiences that combine farm tours with wine tasting, and also volunteer work and play weekends. 15015 Armstrong Woods Road. solarpunkfarms.com
Nick Schwanz and Spencer Scott see their project as an important step in helping others engage with climate advocacy. That’s why outreach is such an important part of their work, including community work parties and demonstration gardens. (Eileen Roche / Sonoma Magazine)Equality Vines co-founders Matt Grove, left, and Jim Obergefell at their tasting room in Guerneville. (Christopher Chung / The Press Democrat)
Equality Vines: Founders Matt Grove and Jim Obergefell combine their love of winemaking with an undying fight for equal rights in this eclectic tasting room. Since releasing their first wines (with names like Rosé the Riveter and 19th Amendment Sauvignon Blanc), they have donated nearly $300,000 to nonprofits and equality organizations. 16215 Main St. 877-379-4637, equalityvines.com
Porter-Bass Winery: “We do our tastings outside under our walnut tree,” says winemaker Lance Bass. “It’s a fairly intimate setting, with a beautiful view of the vineyard and the forest around us.” When his parents bought the 17-acre vineyard in 1980, it was run-down with old, unhealthy Palamino and Zinfandel vines. Today, it’s thriving with organically farmed Chardonnay and Zinfandel. Tastings by appointment only. $25 per person, fee waived with purchase of wine. 11750 Mays Canyon Road. 707-869-1475, porter-bass.com
Marguerite Wildenhain works on her pottery wheel at Pond Farm in Sonoma County. (Otto Hagel / Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods)
Pond Farm Pottery: Master potter Marguerite Wildenhain put this renowned ceramics studio and artist colony on the map back in the 1940s and ‘50s. Now a designated National Historic Landmark located in the Austin Creek State Recreation Area, it hosts a new artist residency program and docent-led tours for $25 per person the third Saturday from March-October. Reserve spots at pondfarm.org. 17000 Armstrong Woods Road, 707-869-9177
Shopping
Guerneville Wine Collective: This newly opened wine nook takes over where previous Wine Vault owners left off, adding trendy imported tinned fish from Spain and Portugal to the mix. “Our idea is that people can come and grab some pickled veggies, tinned fish, some crisps, a bottle of wine and then go to the river and have a picnic,” says owner Karla Garcia. She opened the wine shop next to Nimble & Finn’s ice cream in the historic Guerneville Bank Club building in May. 16290 Main St., Instagram.com/guernevillewinecollective
Bonzo: Run by husband-and-wife team Eric Gonzales and Beth Miles, this funky clothing and gift shop is the place to go for all things Guerneville-branded, such as river-centric “I Choose the Bear” or Samsquanch T-shirts, “Gville” hats, and “Keeping it Weird Since 1950” hoodies. 14016 Armstrong Woods Road, thebonzo.com
Places to eat
Flash-fried Brussels sprouts at Boon Eat + Drink in Guerneville. (Boon Eat + Drink)
Boon eat + drink: The much-buzzed-about restaurant that helped put Guerneville on the map when chef Crista Luedtke opened in 2009 still garners rave reviews more than 15 years later. The focus is on seasonal, farm-to-table comfort food, so it’s no surprise the flash-fried Brussels sprouts are still the most popular dish, Luedtke says, adding that “the mac ‘n’ cheese is still going strong.” This time of year, look for “blistered tomatoes, seasonal peaches, basil, and really fresh summer vibes on halibut,” she says. No reservations. 16248 Main St. 707-869-0780, eatatboon.com
Road Trip: Chef Crista Luedtke’s latest offering is an ode to her globe-trotting foodie travels and childhood favorites. Look for Mexican street corn salad daily and Thai-style pork Benedict with crispy rice cakes and a Thai hollandaise sauce on the weekend brunch menu. Two of the most popular items are the Free Bird and The Mac Daddy. “Don’t call me out here, but I love a Big Mac and this is my version,” says Luedtke, who makes her own secret sauce. 16218 Main St. 707-604-6102, eatatroadtrip.com
The Mac Daddy burger with a 7-ounce Oak Ridge patty and secret sauce from Road Trip in Guerneville. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)New England-style crab roll from Trillium Winebar & Taproom on Main Street in Guerneville. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Trillium: The petite 12-seat marble-counter raw bar is the main attraction at this forest-flower-inspired café and lounge run by chef Greg Barnes and wine geek Genevieve Payne. Come for the super-fresh oysters, poke, crudos, and ceviche — but don’t miss the crab roll. And good luck narrowing it down to a glass on the nearly bottomless wine list. 16222 Main St. 707-604-5750, trillium.bar
Saucy Mama’s Jook Joint: Owner Yvette Bidegain has taken her Louisiana family’s recipes and love of Southern cuisine and soul food to another level with the ever-popular fried catfish and her father’s secret-spiced ribs that premiered decades ago to long lines at the Richardson’s Ribs booth at the Sonoma County Fair. From collard greens to sweet potato pie, there’s even something for vegetarians — behold the deep-fried tofu po’boy. 16632 Highway 116. 707-604-7184, saucymamasjookjoint.com
Black-eyed peas at Saucy Mama’s Jook Joint, the Guerneville barbecue spot. (Chad Surmick / The Press Democrat)Lavender honeycomb ice cream at Nimble & Finn’s in Guerneville. (Nimble & Finn’s)
Nimble & Finn’s: Year after year, the most popular flavor at this boutique handmade ice cream shop is lavender honeycomb. But it really depends on what’s in season. Two sisters, Leandra and Jazmin, started with a pushcart freezer at farmers markets, and now make a wide range of flavors from Earl Grey blackberry to toasted coconut date shake. Located inside the historic Guerneville Bank Club building (next to the Wine Collective). Tip: Don’t miss the cool photo booth in the old bank vault behind the counter. 16290 Main St. 707-666-9411, nimbleandfinns.com
Piknik Town Market: First thing to know is, yes, the new owner, Margaret Van der Veen, is still serving the famous biscuits that once made Oprah’s holiday list of “Favorite Things” when the same venue was known as Big Bottom Market. Now the motto is “same biscuit, different basket.” It’s the perfect pop-in spot to grab a breakfast burrito in the morning or a Headlands Hiker sando (beetroot hummus, mixed greens, topped off with pickled cucumber-cashew kale pesto on a ciabatta roll) in the afternoon. 16228 Main St. 707-604-7295, pikniktownmarket.com
El Barrio: One of the tastiest cocktails at this popular mezcal lounge is known as El Patron, named after owner Jimmy Kansau, “because, well, I’m the boss,” he says. Close your eyes and you’ll swear it’s a Mexican Negroni. In addition to handmade tortillas and birria tacos, don’t get Kansau started on the L.A.-style vegetarian tacos with roasted-curry cauliflower, pine nuts, olives, and dates. “It’s kind of like an amalgamation of cultures with this amazing habanero salsa,” he says. “It’s to die for.” 16230 Main St. 707-604-7601, elbarriobar.com
A cocktail from El Barrio in Guerneville. One of the tastiest cocktails at this popular mezcal lounge is known as El Patron. (El Barrio)Baked and toasted French toast with strawberry sauce and vanilla cream from Baked on the River in Guerneville. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Baked on the River: Helena Gustavsson Giesea’s popular Guerneville café reopened this spring at the R3 Hotel, serving dinner plus brunch and a barbecue lunch on weekends. 16390 Fourth St. 707865-6060, bakedontheriver.com
Places to stay
The River Electric: In addition to the swim club, this glamping resort offers overnight stays in 40 tents. They’re decked out with king-size beds, electricity, and Wi-Fi, tucked away like a luxurious summer camp in the shade of a redwood forest that runs up against the meadow and pool. 16101 Neeley Road. 707-937-8915, theriverelectric.com
A double tent at The River Electric in Guerneville. (Bess Friday)A guest cottage at Dawn Ranch in Guerneville. (Gentl & Hyers / Dawn Ranch)
Dawn Ranch: This 22-acre spread of chalets, cabins, cottages, bungalows, and tents is an intimate natural river paradise. Chefs Juliana Thorpe and Ignacio Zuzulich spin local produce and seasonal ingredients with a Brazilian, Argentinian, and European twist. Dawn Ranch is also home to the annual Cosmico music festival where the theme is “music is love.” 16467 Highway 116. 707-869-0656, dawnranch.com
The Stavrand: Roll out of bed to a plate of crab Benedict and a flight of mimosas at this off-the-beaten-path hideaway in Pocket Canyon, across the bridge and down the road from The River Electric. Owners Sam and Emily Glick (previously the general manager at the Kimpton Buchanan in San Francisco) bought the former Applewood Inn and turned it into a luxury boutique gem. 13555 Highway 116. 707-869-9093, thestavrand.com
At The Stavrand in Guerneville. (Emma K Creative)Sip on a cocktail or a glass of wine from the Honor Bar at boon hotel + spa in Guerneville. (Boon Hotel + Spa)
Boon hotel + spa and The Highlands: “I like to call Boon sort of like Palm Springs meets the redwoods. It’s kind of got that mid-century vibe,” says Crista Luedtke, owner of both resorts. “And then Highlands is more like an adult summer camp. A little bit moody, a little bit more like a writer’s retreat.” Take your pick, both have recently been remodeled.
Boon: 14-room boutique hotel with a spa that offers Swedish, deep-tissue, and therapeutic massages, ranging from $145-$215. 14711 Armstrong Woods Road. 707-869-2721, boonhotels.com
The Highlands: Up the hill from Johnson’s Beach, this quirky getaway features rooms, cabins, and Coyote Camp tents. Note to old-timers: The pool is no longer clothing optional like the previous incarnation as Highland Park Lodge. 14000 Woodland Drive. 707-869-0333, highlandsresort.com
AutoCamp: Picture a big campground and lawn nestled among the redwoods west of downtown Guerneville. It’s loaded with 31-foot Airstreams, glamping tents, tiny homes, and the 42-square-foot Happier Camper for a more minimalist stay. Grill out on private outdoor fire pits. The general store is open until 10 p.m. And did we mention complimentary granola? 14120 Old Cazadero Road. autocamp.com/location/russian-river
AutoCamp’s luxury tent and patio site near Guerneville along the Russian River in Sonoma County. (Madison Kotack / for Mesa Lane Partners)Relax around the firepit at Mine + Farm in Guerneville. (Mine + Farm)
Mine + Farm: A B&B for cannabis lovers (and beer and wine lovers), this nine-room renovated ranch-house inn grows its own weed. It means guests can toke pre-rolls anywhere from the hot tub to the ping-pong table, or they can dig into special Elevated Experience dinners with cannabis as a featured ingredient. Owners Bryce Skolfield and Suzanne Szostak also cultivate fruit trees, a garden, and chickens on the 3-acre property around the corner from Korbel Winery. 12850 River Road. 707-869-4466, mineandfarm.com
Monte Rio
Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen: Not far from the Monte Rio skate park, this river café with a Middle Eastern twist serves up everything from shakshuka and coconut curry to baklava cream pies and chocolate peanut butter cream pie. And Lightwave might have the raddest T-shirts of any café down by the river, featuring a hand-drawn design with skull and skateboard and gramophone. 9725 Main St. 707-865-5169, lightwavecafe.square.site
Co-owner Gal Ginzburg takes orders among the antique radios at Lightwave Coffee and Kitchen in Monte Rio. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)The Big Rocky Games at Monte Rio Beach includes sack races, rock skipping and ice cream eating contests. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Monte Rio Beach: The largest public beach on the lower Russian River offers kayak rentals, soft-serve ice cream, a boat launch, and a dog-friendly area. Tip: There is no better slice of small-rivertown Americana than this beach packed elbow-to-elbow on the Fourth of July for the boat parade and Big Rocky Games. mrrpd.org/monte-rio-beach
Duncans Mills
Gold Coast Coffee and Bakery: Morning pastries and coffee are the go-to wake-up call at this quaint Duncans Mills café. But owner Patrick Parks has also carved out a well-curated musical scene as of late, staging local favorites like Eric Lindell and Sol Horizon, paired with wood-fired pizzas and tasty locally crafted brews. 25377 Steelhead Blvd. 707-865-1441, goldcoastcoffeebakery.com
Truffle fries from Willi’s Wine Bar in Santa Rosa. (Willi’s Wine Bar)
When times are good, when times are bad, French fries are there for you. They’re crispy, salty, slathered with ketchup or aioli friends who simply want to make you smile. Here’s our taste-tested, dining editor-approved fries for any walk of life. Dig in, Sonoma County.
New Additions
Augie’s French: There’s no shortage of potato choices at this Santa Rosa bistro — duck fat roasted Yukons, buttery pommes puree (mashed potatoes) and the creme de la creme, skinny fries with a sauce boat of Bearnaise sauce. Share with a friend. 535 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-531-4400, augiesfrench.com
Fries with Bearnaise dipping sauce at Augie’s in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)Duck fat pommes frites, the Bentley of French fries at Bistro Lagniappe in Healdsburg. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Bistro Lagniappe: The Bentley of French fries. Hand-cut fries (pomme frites) cooked in rendered duck fat with a outside and feather-light inside. Served with sauce choron — a rich Bearnaise with tomato. 330 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-473-8181, lagniappehealdsburg.com
Iggy’s Organic Burgers: Iggy Style fries are a hot mess, but sooooo good you should order two. Thick-cut fries with melted cheddar, pickled onions, Iggy’s Million Island sauce, pickles and grass-fed beef. 109 Plaza St., Healdsburg, iggysburger.com
Thick-cut fries with melted cheddar, pickled onions, Iggy’s Million Island sauce, pickles and grass-fed beef at Iggy’s Organic Burgers in Healdsburg. (Kelsey Joy)Currywurst at Tisza Bistro’s Beer Garden in Healdsburg. (Heather Irwin / The Press Democrat)
Tisza Bistro: Currywurst, a classic German street food, is made with housemade sausage, beer-battered fries and caramelized onions with a curry-spiked ketchup. 165 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-291-5193, tiszabistro.com
Grata: Cacio e pepe fries. All the flavor of the classic pasta dish — Parmesan and cracked black pepper — on a basket of fries. 186 Windsor River Road, Windsor, 707-620-0508, grataitalianeatery.toast.site
Cacio e pepe fries with garlic aioli is a must-have treat at Grata Italian Eatery in Windsor. (Heather Irwin / The Press Democrat)Dirty Fries at War Pigs Craft Kitchen in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
War Pigs BBQ: Dirty fries are oh so naughty. Thin-cut fries piled with melty cheese sauce, pulled pork, coleslaw and more sauce.Instagram.com/warpigs_craft_kitchen
Healdsburg Bar & Grill: Okay, so tater tots aren’t exactly fries, but these Japanese-style okonomiyaki tots come with a sweet-salty unagi sauce, Kewpie mayo, chives and bonito flakes. Inspired by a savory Japanese pancake.245 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-3333, healdsburgbarandgrill.com
Healdsburg Bar & Grill’s okonomiyaki tots come with a sweet-salty uangi sauce, Kewpie mayo, chives and bonito flakes. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Still Great
Handline, Sebastopol: Hand-cut, double-fried French fries. Get the homemade ketchup and special sauce. 935 Gravenstein Ave., Sebastopol, 707-827-3744, handline.com
Hand cut, double fried French fries at Handline Restaurant in Sebastopol. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Fern Bar, Sebastopol: Aged fries with smoked mushroom ketchup and aioli. 6780 Depot St., Suite 120, Sebastopol, 707-861-9603, fernbar.com
Sequoia Burger, Sebastopol: Classic burger and fries at Sequoia Burger in Sebastopol. 1382 Gravenstein Hwy. S., Sebastopol, 707-829-7543, sequoiaburger.com
Sonoma Beef Burger with onion rings, fried chicken burger, chili fries and Cajun fries at Acme Burger in Cotati. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
Acme Burger, Santa Rosa, Cotati and Petaluma: You can’t have a good burger without great fries! 1007 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-615-7309; 550 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati, 707-665-5620; 330 Western Ave., Petaluma, 707-559-3820; 701 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Suite D1, Petaluma, 707-665-5012, acmeburgerco.com
Willi’s Wine Bar, Santa Rosa: Truffle Fries. Nuf said. 1415 Town and Country Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-526-3096, starkrestaurants.com
Truffle fries from Willi’s Wine Bar in Santa Rosa. (Willi’s Wine Bar)
Americana, Santa Rosa: Real beef-fat fries are beyond outstanding with their mushroom burger and a milkshake. 205 Fifth St., Suite A, Santa Rosa, 707-755-1548, americanasr.com
Amy’s Drive Thru, Rohnert Park: Crispy, tasty fries that go perfectly with an Amy Burger and a coconut milk shake. 58 Golf Course Drive W., Rohnert Park, 755-3629, amysdrivethru.com
Smokin’ Bowls, Rohnert Park: Hand-cut fries, fried in beef fat, tossed with their own seasoning and topped with all kinds of horrifyingly delicious sauces, pulled pork, cheese, sour cream and more. 295 Southwest Blvd., Rohnert Park, 707-665-5265, smokinbowls.com
Rohnert Pork bowl with fries, bacon, green onion, cheese and pulled pork at Smokin’ Bowls in Rohnert Park. (Heather Irwin)Flat Iron Steak Frites with mushroom-shallot butter, arugula, chipotle steak sauce and frites from Underwood Bar and Bistro Friday, March 21, 2025, in Graton. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Underwood Bar and Bistro, Graton: Flat Iron Steak Frites. 9113 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-7023, underwoodgraton.com
McDonald’s: Love ’em or hate ’em, McDonald’s fries are the fast food standard that many of us associate with childhood. They’re simply the best. Period. Various locations.
The Fries I Miss
The legendary shoestring fries from Bistro Ralph. Gone, but not forgotten. (Heather Irwin)
Bistro Ralph: A mountain of tangled shoestring fries. The best ever. Ralph pops up for one-night dinners from time to time in Healdsburg so keep a lookout for these one-of-a-kind French fries.
Notoriously cold during most of the year, Northern California beaches are the ultimate getaway for hot weather days. Pack a picnic and some sunblock and head out to Doran Beach, or any of our favorite beaches. The Russian River has plenty of cool spots, too. Pro tip: Make your way to the beach early, before everyone else — and their cars — do the same. Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville has paddleboarding, picnicking, tubing and swimming. johnsonsbeach.com
People float down the Russian River by various methods of transportation towards Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)An inviting trailside bench allows visitors to take a rest in the Grove of Old Trees, an old-growth redwood grove near Occidental. (Alvin Jornada/The Press Democrat)
Cool down under the canopy
Walk shaded by gentle giants in the Grove of Old Trees, perched high on a remote ridge top in Occidental. The grove is owned and managed by the land conservancy group LandPaths and includes 28 peaceful acres traversed by a network of wide, easy-to-walk trails. Access is free but be forewarned: There are no amenities, save for a picnic table. 17599 Fitzpatrick Lane, Occidental, 707-544-7284, landpaths.org
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve offers a year-round refuge for Sonoma County visitors and locals looking to get away from it all (parks.ca.gov). On hot days, it’s a good spot to cool down. Follow the paths meandering through the woods and take in the sounds of nature. Pro tip: Arrive early to enjoy the silence — sans selfie-snapping tourists on Segways. Then head to Nimble & Finn’s in downtown Guerneville for some cool sweet scoops.
Get some ice cream
On meltingly hot days, thoughts turn to ice cream and its cousins — gelato and sorbet. Noble Folk Ice Cream and Pie Bar in Healdsburg and Santa Rosa is worth a special trip (thenoblefolk.com). Unique flavors include passionfruit, Thai tea, salted caramel and Dutch cookie, each inspired by local produce and the seasons. For more places to get a cool sweet scoop, click here.
Ice cream cone from Noble Folk, which has locations in Santa Rosa and Healdsburg. (Noble Folk)Amy Fazzini, left, skates with her daughter, Faith, 9, and Crystal Haskins, 10, during the public skate session at Snoopy’s Home Ice in Santa Rosa on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)
Keep the kids cool and happy
Take restless and overheated little ones to Snoopy’s Home Ice, or spend the day bowling, playing laser tag or jumping on the trampolines at Santa Rosa’s (air-conditioned) Epicenter. Further north, play in the river at Memorial Beach.
Pair a movie with AC
A couple of Sonoma County movie theaters have received facelifts in the last few years, including Santa Rosa’s Airport Stadium and Petaluma’s Boulevard 14, and now come with reclining chairs, beer and wine bars, and online ticket sales allowing moviegoers to choose their seats before getting to the theater. Pro tip: Get your tickets online before the heat peaks and then enjoy a movie and air conditioning.
Become a cave(wo)man for a day
Many Sonoma County wineries keep their wine barrels cool in underground caves, open to thirsty visitors looking to escape the heat. Head into the caves at Deerfield Ranch or Kunde Family Winery in Kenwood, for example. Pro tip: Reserve a tour or private tasting ahead of the heat wave — you won’t be the only one craving a caveman lifestyle once temperatures rise.
The wine cave at Deerfield Ranch in Kenwood. (Courtesy of Deerfield Ranch)
Or enjoy your wine with some AC
If you prefer to stay out of the cave but still crave some local vino, most Sonoma County tastings rooms are air conditioned. Not sure where to go? Check out these popular wineries for first-time visitors. Pro tip: In the heat, stick to whites and Pinot.
Rosé all day in the kiddie pool
Prefer to stay cool in the comfort of your own yard? Get an inflatable pool. Not just for the kiddos, you can get a slightly larger version just for you. Fill it up, then grab a bottle of your favorite Sonoma County rosé from the fridge. Pro tip: Add another splash of cool pink with rose sorbet, or a cute can of brut rosé.
Siblings Carter Gardea, 9, Sophia, 7, and Camille, 12, jump into the pool at Morton’s Warm Springs in Glen Ellen, on Thursday, June 30, 2011. (Beth Schlanker/ The Press Democrat)The pool area at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville. (Francis Ford Coppola Winery)
Embrace the heat from underneath a patio umbrella, a cold drink in hand and a good meal on the table (find winery patios here; and outdoor dining here). Or cool down with a cocktail and a few nibbles at one of our favorite bars for hot summer nights.
Parade participants roll down Main St. during the 48th annual Penngrove parade in Penngrove, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
Traveling between Petaluma and Santa Rosa on old country roads, the blink-and-you-miss-it town of Penngrove may appear as a blip on your GPS. At first glance, the town of just around 2,100 people seems quaint yet sleepy. But stop and linger for a while, and a world of quirky charm opens up.
It’s that charming, small-town feel that landed Penngrove on Travel + Leisure’s recent list of 10 best small towns to live in the United States. The travel magazine interviewed real estate experts from around the country to determine the best tiny towns with “access to health and educational facilities, green spaces and cultural activities.”
As the only California town on the list, Penngrove stood out as a place that “feels like stepping into a cozy TV rerun.”
The welcome sign into Penngrove. (Sonoma County Tourism)
“Though it’s just a one-light town tucked into the foothills, it offers easy access to modern conveniences while providing a peaceful escape from city life,” said West Coast Realtor Holly Schaefer in the article.
Schaefer goes on to describe the charm of Penngrove: its rural country living, long-standing traditions, unique local business and “community full of character.”
Here’s where to go to experience the best of Penngrove.
Where to eat
Grateful Bagel
Though Penngrove’s 22-year-old breakfast and lunch staple JavAmore Cafe closed in the fall of 2024, the county’s go-to local bagel chain Grateful Bagel took over the spot just a few weeks later. Find signature bagel egg sandwiches as well as croissants, smoothies, salads, burritos and other breakfast and lunch dishes (including the newly added banh mi). Located in The Grove Plaza. 10101 Main St., 707-794-1516, facebook.com/thegratefulbagelca
The Grateful Bagel in the former JavAmore Cafe location in Penngrove. (David Templeton / Petaluma Argus-Courier)
The Grove
Part café, part speakeasy, this curious new spot in the former Mack’s Bar & Grill held a soft opening over the Fourth of July weekend. By day, it’s The Pour House at the Grove, serving up coffee and baked goods, with a full espresso bar on the way. Come nightfall, The Grove becomes a speakeasy for cocktails and bites. The recent soft opening debuted a limited menu of dishes, such as barbecued oysters, Thai chicken skewers, pibil pork sliders and a dressed-up baked sweet potato. Stay tuned for more details on the grand opening. 10056 Main St., instagram.com/the_grove_speakeasy
Odd Cookie Bakery
This wildly creative little bakery opened last summer with a lineup of over-the-top cookie and cupcake creations. The flavors of the goodies are just as inventive as the names, like the “I Need Dubai This Cookie” with toasted pistachios, chocolate chips and a craze-worthy Dubai chocolate bonbon in the center. Also find brownies, cake cups, marshmallow treats and hot cocoa bombs. Keep an eye on Odd Cookie’s Instagram for fun foodie photos and seasonal treat drops. 10000 Main St., Penngrove, 707-283-7772, oddcookiebakery.com
The newly famous “I Need Dubai This Cookie” with a browned butter, pistachio and chocolate cookie with a Dubai Chocolate Bon Bon baked into the center from Odd Cookie owner Anna Rodriguez Friday, May 8, 2025, in Penngrove. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)Mama J’s Pizzeria in Penngrove. (Peter Posert)
Mama J’s Pizzeria
Every place, no matter how small, needs a hometown pizza spot. Mama J’s has been Penngrove’s special slice of goodness since 1998, serving up West Coast sourdough pizza, salad, wings, fries, subs and even pork ribs. The Joe’s Combo is a satisfying classic pie with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, olives and onion. Feeling adventurous? Go for Buddy’s Special, topped with fresh garlic, anchovies and more garlic. Don’t forget the garlic breadsticks (and maybe a mint). 10101 Main St., 707-664-1515, eatatmamajs.com
Twin Oaks Roadhouse
Operating for nearly 100 years, this classic rancher bar serves up cold brews and elevated pub grub. Go for the pork sliders, roadhouse cheddar burger, beer-battered fish tacos and Nashville hot fried chicken sandwich. 5745 Old Redwood Highway, 707-795-5118, hopmonk.com/twin-oaks
The fried chicken sandwich at Twin Oaks Roadhouse on Old Redwood Highway in Penngrove. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat)Inside the Penngrove Market in Penngrove. (Houston Porter / Petaluma Argus-Courier)
Where to shop
Penngrove Market
The neighborhood grocery store carries plenty of products from local artisans and farmers. Its purveyors include Red Bird Bakery, Mycopia Mushrooms, Revive Kombucha, Redwood Hill Farm, Retrograde Coffee Roasters and Zoe’s Meats. The market also has a kitchen with a wood-fired oven, serving up sandwiches, pizza and calzones. 10070 Main St., 707-753-4974, penngrovemarket.com
Soap Cauldron
Using time-honored soap-making techniques, the Soap Cauldron is behind the popular Three Sisters Apothecary line of artisan soaps and skincare products. Aside from the fragrant and beautifully marbled soap bars, find shampoo, shave oils, creamy body butters, soothing salves and massage oils. The shop even has a line of pet grooming products called Soapy Tails. 11830 Main St., 707-888-5659, soapcauldron.com
Three Sisters Apothecary retail shop is attached The Soap Cauldron production facility in downtown Penngrove, Nov. 28, 2023. (Chad Surmick / The Press Democrat)During the holidays, Good Gray sells paper crafts, origami kits, ornaments and cards, along with books and chocolate. The old-timey business is plastic free, with price tags and receipts written out by hand. (Kim Carroll)
Good Gray
This cute shop is perfect for gift shopping. Its vast assortment of home products includes tea towels, mugs, kitchen brushes, enamel pots, soap dishes and so much more. Bonus perk: None of the products are made of plastic, not even the price tags. 9591 Main St., 707-755-4535, goodgray.com
Things to do
An early afternoon crowd at the Penngrove Pub came for games and conversations as bartender Dirk Payne served up drinks. (Crissy Pascual / Petaluma Argus-Courier)A group called the Penngrove Hillbillies ride a trolley down Main Street during the 48th annual Penngrove parade in Penngrove, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
The Penngrove Pub
The neighborhood pub is a quintessential watering hole for drinks and community togetherness. Come for the live music, karaoke and line-dancing nights Wednesday through Sunday. Then get some post-partying eats at the next-door Tip Top Taco. 10005 Main St., 707-992-0121, thepenngrovepub.com
Penngrove Social Firemen events
Founded by Penngrove Fire Department volunteers in 1946, the Penngrove Social Firemen strive to support and foster community. The group maintains and manages Penngrove Park (11800 Main St.), holds fundraisers and other events at the Penngrove Clubhouse (385 Woodward Ave.) and hosts the annual Penngrove Parade down Main Street. If you missed Penngrove’s “Biggest Little Parade in Northern California” on July 6, there are plenty of other events to look forward to, such as a Hawaiian luau in September, a holiday light parade in December and a grand crab feed in January. penngrovesocialfiremen.org
Onion Soup Gratinee with croutons and melted gruyère from Brigitte Bistro Sunday, July 6, 2025 in Petaluma. (John Burgess / Press Democrat)
If you’ve noticed a rising tide of steak frites, Coquilles Saint-Jacques, beurre blanc and people pronouncing “cassoulet” with alarming accuracy, it’s not by accident — Sonoma County is having a French moment.
Like tasty forest mushrooms, restaurants and bakeries à la française are popping up everywhere, embracing the zest for good food, good wine and good butter that defines Gallic cuisine.
French techniques and a flair for local ingredients have always been at the heart of Wine Country’s unique style of cooking, but classic white-tablecloth French restaurants have been few and far between in these parts since the 1980s.
Now, a new generation of Francophiles are adopting the time-honored flavors of the birthplace of modern cuisine, along with a wave of French newcomers bringing recipes and traditions from their homeland.
Bon appétit, mes amis.
The newcomers
The shadow from a sign in the front window falls upon a table with Cassoulet, duck confit, lamb and red peas at Bistro Lagniappe Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Healdsburg. (John Burgess / Press Democrat)Beef tartare from Bistro Lagniappe Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Healdsburg. (John Burgess / Press Democrat)
Bistro Lagniappe
When chef Jacob Harth first captured local attention last September with a pop-up preview of Winnie’s, a restaurant centered around responsibly sourced West Coast seafood, I took note. Anyone who can make gooseneck barnacles appetizing (they resemble turtle toes) is a kitchen wizard.
While Winnie’s is still in development, Harth’s new Healdsburg bistro is a stunning debut. He describes the menu as California countryside cooking inspired by French rural routiers (roadside restaurants) and bistros, using the best ingredients Sonoma County has to offer.
The concise menu belies the awe-inspiring dishes. I nearly skipped the “Plate of Summer Vegetables,” which sounded like a ho-hum plate of crudités. But when it arrived, we gasped at the rainbow of colors, textures and preparations — raw, roasted and pickled — on the plate.
Plate of early summer vegetables from Bistro Lagniappe Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Healdsburg. (John Burgess / Press Democrat)Trout, mussels, lettuce and fig leaf from Bistro Lagniappe Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Healdsburg. (John Burgess / Press Democrat)
A large wood-fired oven, which can reach temperatures of 1,200 degrees, has its own section on the menu, featuring roasted oysters with smoked garlic butter and comforting cassoulet with duck confit. Sweet, caramelized onions and Comté cheese with a Parmesan foam is one of the best dishes I’ve ever eaten.
Perfectly cooked trout, a roasted chicken with morels and a crisp mille-feuille with passion fruit round out the meal.
I can’t wait to see what’s next. 330 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-473-8181, lagniappehealdsburg.com
Poppy
Choux au Craquelin with espresso-chocolate mousse and a dusting of powdered sugar from Poppy restaurant Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Glen Ellen. (John Burgess / Press Democrat)
This Glen Ellen restaurant has the soul of France with the heart of Sonoma County. The newest branch on The Girl & The Fig’s family tree, it’s the culmination of founders Sondra Bernstein and John Toulze’s 25 years of travels through rural France.
A handful of dishes already define it as a restaurant to watch — a perfect summer salad, a crave-worthy roast chicken and a standout bread service. Don’t miss the Choux au Craquelin ($10), a baseball-sized puff pastry filled nearly to bursting with velvety espresso mousse. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, three-course family-style dinners are $65, with wine included. 13690 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, 707-938-2130, poppyglenellen.com
Bijou
Cheese Fondant with Rebiochon cheese, sourdough, garlic confit and honey glaze from Bijou, the new Petaluma restaurant from chef Stéphane Saint Louis Monday, July 1, 2025. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Petaluma’s Bijou — a more casual cousin to Table Culture Provisions’ fine dining experience — is the latest from acclaimed chef Stéphane Saint Louis. From its prime downtown location to its constantly evolving menu, the restaurant reflects his personal vision. As a young chef working across the street at The Shuckery, Saint Louis often eyed the expansive modern space, imagining that it would one day be his.
Ever-changing dishes reflect Saint Louis’ creativity and changing seasons, making it worth repeated visits. Some staples, however, will remain on the menu — a fish entrée, steak frites, housemade pasta and several starters. Reservations are available on OpenTable and are highly recommended. 190 Kentucky St., Petaluma
New wave, old school
Beef Cheek Bourguignon with classic garni and pommes purée from Augie’s French Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, on Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Augie’s French
Paying homage to Auguste Escoffier, the father of modern French cuisine, restaurateurs Mark and Terri Stark’s classic French bistro serves classic-yet-approachable fare, including dishes like steak frites, mussels, escargots, Salade Lyonnaise and steak tartare. Chef Quincey Sanders, formerly of Portland’s Le Pigeon, heads the kitchen, and the tender, homey beef cheek bourguignon could make a grown man cry. Open daily. 535 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-531-4400, augiesfrench.com
Brigitte Bistro
Chef/owner Nick Ronan’s bistro-style cooking is the real deal. Raised between Paris and the south of France, he has created a menu that is a reflection of the food he loves best — beef bourguignon, duck confit, cheese souffle, onion soup gratinée, tableside beef tartare and the requisite steak frites (desserts are also stunning).
Onion Soup Gratinee with croutons and melted gruyère from Brigitte Bistro Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Petaluma. (John Burgess / Press Democrat)
But it’s Ronan’s warm, bear-hug style approach to welcoming guests like family, encouraging evening sing-alongs at the dining room’s baby grand piano, that really defines his restaurant. For Ronan, Brigitte Bistro isn’t a quest for Michelin stars; it’s a neighborhood gathering spot for a meal in the French tradition — feeding family and friends with love and passion. 841 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-981-8381, brigittebistropetaluma.com
Le Diner
Le Diner at Troubadour Bread and Bistro n Healdsburg. (Emma K Creative)
This daytime boulangerie and gourmet sandwich shop magically transforms into Sonoma County’s tip-topiest French café Wednesday through Sunday evenings. Limited seating offers an intimate six-course dining experience from chef Sean McGaughery, who MacGyvers the tiny kitchen into a Michelin-noted force of nature. The menu features seasonal, locally sourced dishes like duck a l’orange, Wagyu steak tartare and petite escargot served in a Limoges tea cup. Requires a prepaid reservation, so plan ahead.
When’s the last time you had Chicken Cordon Bleu? The chicken breast stuffed with Prosciutto and molten Gruyere disappeared with mall bangs and mixtapes, but it’s back at this rural bistro, along with French staples like steak frites, escargot and duck confit. 3535 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa, 707- 546-6462, walterhanselbistro.com
Boeuf Bourguignon at Walter Hansel Wine Bistro in Santa Rosa. (Chris Hardy/For Sonoma Magazine)Carré d’Agneau Persillé, rack of lamb with herbs de Provence and demi-glace sauce, a specialty of the house is shown at La Gare French restaurant, in Santa Rosa, on Friday, July 5, 2024. (Darryl Bush / For The Press Democrat)
La Gare
A longtime locals’ favorite (45 years and counting) for Old World French cuisine, La Gare offers well-established white-tablecloth standards, including coq au vin, Chateaubriand, frog legs and garlicky escargots. The Railroad Square staple was featured on KQED’s “Check, Please! Bay Area” last year. Open 5-9 p.m. daily for dinner. 208 Wilson St., Santa Rosa, 707-528-4355, lagarerestaurant.com
Boulangeries and patisseries
Goguette Bread
Long-fermented loaves are the bread and butter of this family-run French boulangerie, sold still warm if you time your pickup right (preorders are recommended). The expanded footprint of the bakery means even more to love, including creamy French custard ice cream (try their espresso and ice cream affogato), sandwiches and buttery cookies. Open 1:30-9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. 59 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, goguettebread.com
Soraya Salamati, 11, brushes on the olive oil over Pain aux olives before her mother Najine Shariat sprinkles a little salt on the loaves at Goguette Bread in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Croque madame at Pascaline Bistro and Patisserie in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Pascaline Bistro and Patisserie
Doing double duty as a bakery and café, this French-owned carb-loading destination is the place to go for flaky croissants, kouign-amann and sweet pastries for breakfast (or lunch), along with hearty sandwiches, quiche and salads after 10:30 a.m. Pascaline also serves bistro-style dinners from 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with offerings like boeuf bourguignon, veal viennoise and mushroom farrotto, plus a wine list with selections from France to Wine Country. 1021 Hahman Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-303-7151, pascalinebistro.com
Sarmentine
French expat Alexandra Zandvliet turned a pandemic pop-up into a multi-location patisserie phenomenon. The original, popular shop in Santa Rosa expanded to The Barlow in Sebastopol in 2023, taking over the former Red Bird Bakery location. Just last year, Sarmentine opened its third location in Petaluma. Don’t miss the baguettes, chocolate tarts, cream-filled mille-feuille and seasonal cakes like bûche de Noël. Plus, lunch sandwiches, cheeses, terrines and other French goodies. 52 Mission Circle, Suite 112, Santa Rosa; 6760 McKinley St., Suite 150, Sebastopol; 840 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, 707-623-9595, sarmentine.com
Paris Brest and a creamy canele at Sarmentine Bakery in Petaluma. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)A summer salad on the Costeaux La Terrace bistro menu at Costeaux French Bakery cafe in Healdsburg on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. (Erik Castro / For The Press Democrat)
Costeaux Bakery
This Healdsburg bakery has been a favorite for sourdough baguettes, croissants and addictive French onion soup since 1973 (the original bakery was built in 1923, right next to the current location). Their deep dish quiche, with ham, bacon, mushrooms, cheese and a few veggies just for good measure, never fails to impress. A go-to for great cakes, as well. 417 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-1913, costeaux.com
Les Pascals
This bright butter-yellow café is impossible to miss and a cyclist favorite for its pastries and coffee. Classic croissants, brioche and breads, the hard-to-find Paris-Brest (a doughnut-shaped éclair), sandwiches, quiche and the required French onion soup are on the menu. Open every day except Wednesday. 13758 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, 707-934-8378, lespascalspatisserie.com
Farmhouse Sonoma owner Pemba Sherpa’s carpenter brother created tables and other touches from barn wood found at his Napa home to create a quaint environment in the old Palms restaurant location Friday, May 9, 2025 in Sonoma. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Amid sweeping immigration raids and deportations across the country, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, is honoring North Bay immigrants for outstanding contributions to their communities.
On June 30, Thompson presented the Sonoma County American Dream Award to restaurateur Pemba Sherpa, recognizing his entrepreneurial achievements, educational initiatives and public service.
“Mr. Sherpa has embodied the American dream through (the) creation of his restaurants Taste of the Himalayas and Farmhouse Sonoma, and his unwavering commitment to our community,” Thompson said.
Pemba Sherpa with a tray of traditional food and drink. ‘Losar,’ the Nepalese New Year, was colorfully celebrated at the Taste of the Himalayas restaurant on the Plaza Feb. 9, 2016. Since Sonoma is home to a large Sherpa community, Pemba Sherpa, proprietor of the restaurant, decided it was time to recognize this important holiday locally. (Robbi Pengelly/Index-Tribune)
Sherpa was raised in a small Himalayan village and immigrated to the United States in 1997 to pursue higher education and attend culinary school. He worked with the late Michael Chiarello in Napa before opening Taste of the Himalayas in downtown Sonoma in 2003. His latest venture, Farmhouse Sonoma, opened in May.
“Immigrants are our neighbors and colleagues, soldiers and first responders, doctors and lawyers, farmers, entrepreneurs, teachers and so much more,” Thompson continued as he presented the award. “Our nation would not be the powerhouse of the world without their contributions to our country’s history, culture and economy.”
Cinthya Cisneros, owner of La Cheve Bakery and Brews in Napa, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Cisneros received the Napa County American Dream Award. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
Cinthya Cisneros of Napa’s La Cheve Bakery and Brews received the Napa County American Dream Award. Born in Michoacán, Mexico, Cisneros has lived in Napa for most of her life, working as both a teacher and bartender. Her family-owned Mexican bakery, craft beer taproom and restaurant, which opened in 2020, provides scholarships for local college students.
Cisneros is also the founder of the forthcoming Con Amor Botanas y Tequila restaurant in downtown Napa and an advisory board member of the nonprofit scholarship organization 10,000 Degrees.
A plate of tacos includes four types: al pastor, veggie, fish, and shrimp, at El Roy’s Express Mex truck No. 2 on Santa Rosa Avenue in Santa Rosa, on Thursday, July 11, 2024. (Darryl Bush / For The Press Democrat)
Santa Rosa’s late-night munchie game just got a lot tastier with the opening of El Roy’s Express Mex drive-thru. Open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight, the taqueria’s new brick-and-mortar location serves up street tacos, super burritos, sopes, gorditas and its signature bacon-wrapped Mexidogs straight to your car window — no shoes required.
I’m no stranger to drive-thrus — the stains and drips on my car upholstery tell the tales of a thousand car meals. On a daytime visit to El Roy’s new pickup window, I breezed through, with about a five-minute wait for my usual order of three tacos and Jamaica agua fresca. My shirt and seat had been anointed with salsa by the time I pulled out of the parking lot.
Yelpers have reported longer waits during peak hours, but I’m fine kicking back in my mobile with a true crime podcast if it means avoiding the shivering (or sweltering) that comes with standing in line at their nearby food trucks. Not to mention I can do it in my jammies.
El Roy’s Express Mex has opened a brick-and-mortar and drive-thru in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)A plate of tacos at El Roy’s Express Mex truck No. 2 on Santa Rosa Avenue in Santa Rosa. (Darryl Bush / For The Press Democrat)
The new location at 602 Elsa Drive also has indoor counter service and seating for those who prefer a less mobile dining experience.
One notable perk at the new site is easy parking. The Edith Street location was notorious for its lack of parking, with customers often resorting to double parking, blocking driveways or using the spots of neighboring businesses while picking up takeout.
El Roy’s Express Mex operates food trucks in Petaluma (401 E. Washington St. and 175 Fairgrounds Drive) and Santa Rosa (1569 Sebastopol Road, 2728 Santa Rosa Ave. and 505 Santa Rosa Ave.). Follow their Instagram (@elroysexpressmex) for more details.
Plums ripen in a tree at Piano Farm in Bloomfield on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)
One of summer’s most exquisite pleasures is the Santa Rosa plum, plucked off its stem just after sunrise, droplets of dew shimmering in the morning light. Take that first bite and feel the fruit’s thin skin snap between your teeth as your mouth fills with luscious juice.
Like Arctic Gem white peaches and Sureness yellow watermelon, the less done to these superb plums, the better.
Once we have eaten our fill neat, we can enjoy them in myriad ways, from simple plum agua fresca and plum-mustard sauce — delicious with sausages cooked on the grill — to galettes, upside-down tarts, grunts and Dutch babies.
One of the simplest ways to use them is in a plum compote. While it can be made with any plum, it is best with our very own Santa Rosa plum. This compote is delicious served alongside a few butter cookies and soars when spooned over ice cream or sorbet. For a real treat, pair it with Oro Blanco sorbet or olive oil ice cream from Screamin’ Mimi’s in Sebastopol.
Plum Lavender Compote
Plums ripen in a tree at Piano Farm in Bloomfield. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)
Makes about 2 cups
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
1 tbsp. culinary-grade lavender flowers
1 bay leaf
18 ripe Santa Rosa plums
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Put the sugar and water into a small saucepan, add the lavender and bay, and bring to a boil over high heat.
When the sugar is dissolved and the mixture clear, remove from the heat, cover the pan, and let steep for about 30 minutes.
Cut the plums into quarters, discard the pits, and put the plums into a medium saucepan. Strain the sugar syrup into the saucepan and discard the lavender and bay. Set over low heat and cook gently until the plums fall apart, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla and let cool.
If you’re heading out to the coast, the Wild Poppy offers a creekside, dog-friendly patio with music for brunch on the weekends Saturday, July 13, 2024 on the Bodega Highway west of Sebastopol. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
In temperate Sonoma County, it’s rare to find a dining venue without a lovely patio or sidewalk tables. Still, there are some serious standouts when it comes to offering stellar outdoor spaces and great food.
Here are my picks for shaded patios, prime sidewalk people-watching and sun-dappled gardens worth seeking. As a person prone to severe sunburn, I’ve added a shade score to indicate the coverage you can expect from shades and umbrellas.
Santa Rosa
Spinster Sisters
This outdoor garden is all about wide-open spaces in an urban setting. Enjoy supper and wine beneath colorful sails and twinkling lights. Charming bistro tables and retro picnic benches covered by floral oilcloth match the creative vibe of the SOFA (South of A Street) neighborhood. Chef Liza Hinman creates hyperlocal seasonal California cuisine. Shade score: 6/10. 401 South A St., Santa Rosa, 707-528-7100, thespinstersisters.com
Mitote Food Park
Set in the heart of the predominantly Latino community of Roseland, this happy gathering of food trucks features the flavors of Oaxaca, Jalisco, Michoacan, Yucatán, and Mexico City. There’s also a vibrant al fresco bar and live music with fully-tented sun coverage. Shade score: 9/10. 100 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, mitotefoodpark.com
Windsor
Grata
Neighborhood Italian dining with a semi-enclosed patio with plenty of shady spots and cool breezes. Tiny tables aren’t ideal, but the risotto makes up for it. Shade score: 8/10. 186 Windsor River Road, Windsor, 707-620-0508, gratawindsor.com
The patio seating at Grata Italian Eatery Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Windsor. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)Outdoor dining at Valley Swim Club in Sonoma. (Eileen Roche/for Sonoma Magazine)
Sonoma
Valley Swim Club
This seafood-centric restaurant has no indoor seating, so the year-round outdoor space is well-covered with retro-chic furniture and comfy bench seats. Oversized striped umbrellas create a shaded oasis for yard seating. Shade Score: 9/10. 18709 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, valleyswim.club
El Dorado Kitchen
A private courtyard and pool transport you from the busy downtown square to a restful retreat. Excellent Cal-Italian food and craft cocktails compliment the intimate space. Shade Score: 7/10. 405 First St. West, Sonoma, eldoradosonoma.com
The Girl & the Fig
Large umbrellas and sun shades cover the large enclosed patio space that’s a world away from the daily grind. Casual French cuisine with a full cocktail bar and friendly service. Shade Score: 7/10. 110 West Spain St., Sonoma, thegirlandthefig.com
Bloom Carneros
With nearly an acre of enclosed patio and woodchipped ground cover, there’s plenty of room to spread out in shady spots or grab some tanning time in the sun. The menu features a creative, seasonal Cal-Med fare from chef Jennifer McMurry. Bring your kids and pups because it’s a perfect play place with special menus for both. Shade Score: 8/10. 22910 Broadway, Sonoma, bloomcarneros.com
If you’re heading out to the coast, Wild Poppy offers a creek-side, dog-friendly patio with music for brunch on the weekends. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Sebastopol
Wild Poppy
The rambling outdoor patio of this offbeat Sebastopol roadhouse has always been a magical place, full of nooks, crannies and hidden spaces to explore. Despite plenty of umbrellas, it can be hard to find complete shade on extra hot days, but a quiet ledge overlooking the creek offers leafy coverage. Don’t miss the Cosmic Queso! Shade score: 7/10. 9890 Bodega Highway, Sebastopol, thewildpoppycafe.com
Petaluma
Brewsters Beer Garden
Dogs, kids and grown-ups all have a place at this indoor-outdoor spot. Excellent barbecue and burgers, mostly California-made beers on tap and cocktails. Live music can get a little loud if you’re trying to converse, but after a few beers, who cares? Shade Score: 7/10. 229 N. Water St., Petaluma, brewstersbeergarden.com
Healdsburg
The Rooftop at Harmon Guest House
Take in views of Fitch Mountain, the Mayacamas range and downtown Healdsburg while you nosh on small bites and casual dishes. Full bar, plus some excellent wines. Shade score: 6/10. 227 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, harmonguesthouse.com
The Rooftop Bar at Harmon Guest House in Healdsburg. (Courtesy of Harmon Guest House)The Olive Terrace at Montage Healdsburg’s Hazel Hill restaurant. (Christian Horan Photography)
Olive Terrace at Montage Resort
Perched high above the Alexander Valley, the Olive Terrace at Montage’s Hazel Hill restaurant overlooks vineyards and hundreds of acres of open landscape. It also comes with cozy rocking chairs and fire pits. The menus offer both small bites and hearty offerings. Order craft cocktails at the adjacent Scout Field Bar. Shade score: 6/10. 100 Montage Way, Healdsburg, montagehotels.com/healdsburg
Roof 106
Chef Dustin Valette’s ambitious venture is a multistory building with The Matheson restaurant on the ground level, a mezzanine overlooking the restaurant for private events and a rooftop lounge, Roof 106. The rooftop lounge has a more casual indoor-outdoor setting with craft cocktails, small plates and seasonal flatbreads from a custom 3,800-pound wood-fired Mugnaini oven. Shade Score: 8/10. 106 Matheson St., Healdsburg, thematheson.com
Outdoor dining area at Bravas Bar de Tapas in Healdsburg. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Bravas Bar de Tapas
“Jamon In,” reads the neon arrow pointing to the patio that Healdsburgers flock to every summer. Sangria, paella, Spanish tapas and plenty of gossip are what you’ll find at this popular watering hole and restaurant. Shade score: 7/10. 420 Center St., Healdsburg, starkrestaurants.com
Healdsburg Bar & Grill
Known to locals as HBG, this buzzing American eatery is the playground for Michelin-starred chef Douglas Keane to serve up comfort classics like macaroni and cheese, seared tuna burgers and the classic HBG burger. The fenced patio offers space for kids to roam. Shade score: 7/10. 245 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, healdsburgbarandgrill.com
Occidental
Altamont General Store
The outdoor space is the perfect addition to this eclectic cafe and market. Umbrella-covered tables plus a grassy knoll for cartwheels on cool summer evenings. Shade score: 5/10. 3703 Main St., Occidental, altamontgeneralstore.com
The outdoor patio at Catelli’s in Geyserville. (Courtesy of Catelli’s)
Geyserville
Catelli’s
Lasagna with paper-thin layers of pasta and a tried-and-true meat sauce is a signature dish worth the trip north. Chef Domenica Catelli is one of Sonoma County’s bright lights, committed to using the best local ingredients. The expansive outdoor area with black and white tiles is iconic — and one of the best event spaces in Sonoma County. Shade score: 6/10. 21047 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, mycatellis.com
Diavola
You’ll swear you’re in Italy at this temple of charcuterie, wood-fired pizza and classic Italian entrees, including oxtail ragu with pappardelle, braised beef tripe alla Fiorentina and spaghetti with pork cheek ragu. The cheeky hanging laundry that lines the walkway to the back patio completes the experience. Shade score: 9/10. 21021 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, diavolapizzeria.com
Lunch patrons enjoy a magnificent view of vineyards, flowers and hillsides at Rustic, located at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville. (Erik Castro/for The Press Democrat)
Rustic at Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Rustic takes full advantage of its scenic Sonoma County setting on an outdoor terrace overlooking the picturesque Alexander Valley and Coppola vineyards. The menu embraces family-style cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients from the property’s organic herb and produce garden. (Note: Rustic recently ended dinner service, but will remain open for lunch.) Shade score: 8/10. 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, francisfordcoppolawinery.com
Sonoma Coast
Fisherman’s Cove
This no-nonsense family-owned seafood shack and fishing-marine supply store specializes in fresh local oysters harvested from Tomales Bay. The crab sandwich rivals nearby Spud Point. Shade score: 4/10. 1850 Bay Flat Road, Bodega Bay, fishermanscovebodegabay.com
Rocker Oysterfeller’s
There’s often live music and dancing on the large back patio of this funky eatery and saloon in the historic Valley Ford Hotel. A mix of local oysters and Southern-influenced comfort foods using local ingredients make this a top stop. Shade score: 8/10. 14415 Highway 1, Valley Ford, rockeroysterfellers.com