Cozy Sonoma Restaurants and Bars for Chilly Days

These local spots have the fireplace roaring, plus comforting meals and drinks to keep you warm.


On chilly, rainy days, when all you want to do is snuggle up by a crackling fireplace, head to these cozy restaurants, bars and tasting rooms in Sonoma County for a comforting meal and drinks. Click through the above gallery or see the list below for details, and share your favorites in the comments.

Stark’s Steak & Seafood, Santa Rosa: This classic steakhouse does cozy in retro style. You’ll get the Bogie-and-Bacall vibe right away. Manhattans, aged whiskies and absinthe are served by white-coated bar staff. The seats are leather and a baby grand sits in the corner waiting to tinkle out a tune or two. 521 Adams St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-5100, starkrestaurants.com

Monti’s, Santa Rosa: This Montgomery Village restaurant is a hot summer spot for wine and Mediterranean cuisine on the patio. During the colder months, a wood-burning rotisserie keep things hot, and gregarious bartenders keep guests in good spirits no matter the temperature. 714 Village Court, Santa Rosa, 707-568-4404, montismv.com

The Lounge at John Ash & Co at Vintners Resort in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy of Vintners Resort)
The Lounge at John Ash & Co at Vintners Resort in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy of Vintners Resort)

John Ash Front Room, Santa Rosa: The dark, clubby vibe of this hotel lounge is perfect for rainy-day drinks with friends. Cozy leather seats are prime real estate, but bar tables for two are a bit more intimate. 4330 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, 707-527-7687, vintnersresort.com

El Dorado Kitchen, Sonoma: Escape the hustle and bustle of the busy dining room, and grab a seat in the farm-chic lounge. You’ll be warmed by the fireplace and cutely named cocktails such as the Coda Pendant of rye, apple schnapps, sugar, lemon and Angostura bitters. 405 First St. West, Sonoma, 996-3030, eldoradosonoma.com

The Restaurant at Dawn Ranch, Guerneville: Dawn Ranch’s new restaurant offers a true farm-to-table dining experience, with many of its ingredients grown directly on the property. Warm up by the fire after taking a stroll through the resort’s meadow. 16467 California 116, Guerneville, 707-869-0656, dawnranch.com

The dining room at Agriculture Public House at Dawn Ranch in Guerneville. (Greg Ceo Studio)
The dining room at Agriculture Public House at Dawn Ranch in Guerneville. (Greg Ceo Studio)
The restaurant at the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
The restaurant at the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Farmhouse Inn, Forestville: Farmhouse Inn houses an upscale, but surprisingly low-key Michelin-starred restaurant. The ambiance is sophisticated yet cozy, the Cal-French cuisine delicious yet unpretentious, the decor chic and the service snappy. And there’s a fireplace. 7871 River Road, Forestville, 707-887-3300, farmhouseinn.com/restaurant

Drake’s Fireside Lounge, Bodega Bay: Adjacent to the Drakes Sonoma Coast Kitchen at The Lodge at Bodega Bay, this pretty retreat woos with a large stone fireplace framed by gorgeous views of Bodega Head, Doran Beach and the Pacific Ocean. Life is nice when you’re bundled in your favorite sweater, supping on a juicy cheeseburger and sipping on a cocktail. 103 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3525, lodgeatbodegabay.com/the-fireside-lounge

The Matheson, Healdsburg: Enjoy a woodfired pizza fireside at The Matheson’s Roof 106. This buzzy rooftop bar in Chef Dustin Valette’s new restaurant complex has fire pits and a warm ambiance. 106 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-723-1106, thematheson.com/roof-106

Ram’s Gate Winery, Sonoma: Feel as though you’re in a mountain lodge while taking in the Carneros views. There are multiple tasting experiences and spaces to enjoy by appointment ($40-$160; some are seasonal and many offer food pairings), and each space is warmed by a roaring fireplace. 28700 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 707-721-8700, ramsgatewinery.com

The veranda fireplace at Ram's Gate Winery in Sonoma. (Courtesy of Ram's Gate Winery)
The veranda fireplace at Ram’s Gate Winery in Sonoma. (Courtesy of Ram’s Gate Winery)
Lambert Bridge Winery on West Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg has a cozy tasting room with a fireplace, shown lit for the holidays. The winery hosts a number of holiday events, including a Wreath Making Class from 4-6 p.m. on Dec. 12. (Courtesy of Lambert Bridge Winery)
Lambert Bridge Winery on West Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg has a cozy tasting room with a fireplace, shown lit for the holidays. The winery hosts a number of holiday events, including a Wreath Making Class from 4-6 p.m. on Dec. 12. (Courtesy of Lambert Bridge Winery)

Lambert Bridge, Healdsburg: Specializing in Bordeaux varieties, Lambert Bridge also boasts a tasting room featuring a large fireplace, vaulted ceilings and a bar made of a single felled redwood tree. Glass walls provide a view into the barrel room. The Barrel Room Tasting Experience is $75 and includes four hand-selected wines. 4085 West Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 707-431-9600, lambertbridge.com

Zina Lounge, Sonoma: It’s an unusual set-up, but all the more fun for being so different. Technically, Zina could be called a wine and food pairing, since you sit with an intimate group at a communal table in what is the Zina Hyde Cunningham Winery tasting room in the lobby of the Ledson Hotel on the Sonoma Plaza. The setting is fine-dining posh, trimmed in gleaming wood with a flickering fireplace flanked by leather couches. 480 First St. East, Sonoma, 707-996-9779, zinawinery.com

Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens Tasting Room, Santa Rosa: Visit this winery estate for a tasting of their sustainably-produced wines and a stroll through the gardens. On cold days, cozy up by the fireplace in the tasting room. The Estate Tasting is $35; reservations required. 5007 Fulton Road, Santa Rosa, 800-769-3649, kj.com

Lonnie Hayes, Heather Irwin, Maci Martell, Julie Fadda Powers and Carey Sweet contributed to this article.