Patate e Porchetta pizza from L’Oro di Napoli Friday, February 28, 2025, at their second location in Petaluma. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Amid a whirlwind year of restaurant openings, everything’s coming up roses for the city of Petaluma. And national publications are taking note. In a recent article, food review site Mashed named the Gold Rush-era town a “must-visit food destination.”
Of course, this is no news to Sonoma County residents, who have enjoyed Petaluma’s farm-fresh cuisine since it gained the designation as the World’s Egg Basket 100 years ago — resulting in an annual Egg Day Parade that still marches on to this day.
But lately, it seems the rest of the nation has finally embraced the charming wonders of Sonoma County’s historic gem of a town. In June, CNN named Petaluma among the best towns to visit in the U.S., describing it as “a riverfront farm-to-table paradise.”
Petaluma restaurants to try
Branzino in Crosta, grilled potato wrapped sea bass with cherry tomatoes in a lemon white wine sauce from L’Oro di Napoli Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Petaluma. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)Strawberry Tart with strawberry compote, vanilla cream, mint strawberry sorbet and meringue from Bijou Monday, July 1, 2025, in Petaluma. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
The Mashed article cited a number of essential Petaluma restaurants to try, from historic community staples to beloved modern fusion eateries.
Dining at Brewsters Beer Garden in Petaluma. (Sonoma County Tourism)Meatballs and mashed potatoes at Stockhome restaurant in Petaluma. (newrevmedia.com)
Those looking for a more unique dining experience should try the Swedish and Middle Eastern cuisine at Stockhome (220 Western Ave.), where Mashed recommended dishes like fried halloumi and wiener schnitzel. Among Petaluma’s newcomers, L’Oro Di Napoli (208 Petaluma Blvd. N.) was named for providing a high-end dining experience with “exquisitely crafted dishes” like risotto and grilled seabass.
For more favorite restaurants in the foodie haven of Petaluma, check here.
This circa-1936 two-bedroom, two-bathroom Cazadero home is currently listed for $513,200. (John Genovese)
There’s much to love about a circa-1936 Cazadero home that’s currently listed for $513,200. With two bedrooms and one-and-a-half bathrooms, the 908-square-foot cottage — referred to as the “Cazadero Love Nest” — sits on .18 acres nestled in redwoods.
A great-room layout offers light and openness in the kitchen and living room. Views of trees are in good supply here. There’s an eat-in kitchen counter as well as a separate dining room, also with redwood views.
Kitchen in the Cazadero cottage. (John Genovese)Patio at the Cazadero cottage, surrounded by redwoods. (John Genovese)
An updated bathroom with pine paneling and marble herringbone tiles combines cozy and stylish vibes. Downstairs bedrooms have direct access to the yard that offers a full forest bath. There’s also a detached studio, garage and workshop area.
For more information on this home at 5600 Austin Creek Road, Cazadero, contact listing agents Richard Lester, 707-303-6358, John Genovese, 415-407-8796, The City Country Group at Vanguard Properties, mycitycountry.com
Eggnog Waffles with Brandy Butter Saturday, December 7, 2024. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
While the United States celebrates National Waffle Day on Aug. 24, International Waffle Day is held March 25, celebrating the worldwide love of the sweet breakfast food. But the annual foodie holiday reportedly began as a misunderstanding.
First, the origin of the waffle
According to Smithsonian Magazine, the waffle dates back to ancient Greece, where Athenians roasted flat cakes called obelios between two hot metal plates.
Later adapted to the French oublies during the Middle Ages, the edible discs typically depicted Biblical scenes and religious iconography, as they served as a sort of communion wafer, eaten after meals as a symbolic blessing. Made of simple grain flour and water, the food was commonplace among all walks of society throughout Europe by the 13th century.
As cooks gained access to different ingredients and spices, the recipe of the wafer changed over time, transforming into a delicacy called a gaufre or wafel. Eventually, the treat traveled around the world, picking up new names, flavors and designs.
So how did Waffle Day start?
While the first iterations of the waffle gained popularity as a communion wafer, Waffle Day began with a Christian holiday, the Feast of Annunciation or the Day of Our Lady. Typically held on March 25, it commemorates the moment archangel Gabriel told Mary she would give birth to God’s son.
Waffle – the food – has little to do with this celebration but its name, in Swedish, apparently made March 25 the designated day for waffles, all due to a misunderstanding, according to tourism website Visit Sweden. In Sweden, the Feast of Annunciation is called “Vårfrudagen” (the Day of Our Lady), which sounds very similar to “våffeldagen,” which means the waffle day.
Over time, it became tradition to eat waffles on March 25, and soon Waffle Day was celebrated all across Europe. And while the U.S. has its own National Waffle Day on Aug. 24 — coinciding with the patenting of the first American waffle iron in 1869, invented by Cornelius Swarthout of Troy, New York — it doesn’t hurt to celebrate the treat at least twice a year.
A variety of waffles from around the world include the fluffy Brussels-style Belgian waffle; Sweden’s crispy, heart-shaped waffles; the thin, cookie-like Dutch stroopwafels; the fish-shaped Japanese taiyaki waffles; the green Vietnamese pandan waffle; the savory, U.K.-based potato waffles and many more.
No need to travel the world to find a hot plate of delicious waffles. Here’s the best of the sweet breakfast treat in Sonoma County to celebrate International Waffle Day on March 25, America’s National Waffle Day on Aug. 24, or any day of the year.
Berry granola waffles from Sunflower Caffe in Sonoma. (Sunflower Caffe)
Sunflower Caffe
The rotating seasonal menu currently offers a passion fruit coconut waffle — a buttermilk waffle topped with passion fruit curd, Chantilly cream, toasted coconut and organic Vermont maple syrup. A gluten-free oat waffle can be subbed for $2. 421 First St. West, Sonoma, 707-996-6645, sonomasunflower.com
Belgian waffles are on the menu at Verano Cafe in Sonoma. (Robbi Pengelly/Index-Tribune)
Verano Cafe
The Sonoma cafe offers a Belgian buttermilk waffle topped with seasonal fruit, whipped cream and syrup. Or, spring for a classic waffle and fried chicken. 18976 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, 707-931-6837, veranocafesonoma.com
Sax’s Joint
This 1950s-style diner has an extensive breakfast menu, including a handful of waffle dishes. Go for the classic chicken and waffles or take it next level with the spicy bacon cheddar waffle. Prefer a sweeter take on the morning treat? Delight your inner child with Baily Shay’s Cereal Waffle. 317 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-559-3021, saxsjoint.com
Fried chicken and waffles at Sax’s Joint in Petaluma. (Chris Hardy/for Sonoma Magazine)The waffle with fresh strawberries served at the River Front Café in Petaluma. (Crissy Pascual/Petaluma Argus-Courier)
River Front Cafe
The riverside cafe’s Belgian waffle is topped with fresh strawberries, powdered sugar and whipped cream. 224 B St., Petaluma, 707-347-5147, riverfront.cafe
Mr. Stroopwafel
The Netherlands stroopwafel shop has a variety of the Dutch cookie-like waffle treat on its menu. The Original Stroop is a classic stroopwafel filled with caramel. Or go for one of the tantalizing signature stroopwafels, such as the chocowafel, strawberry drizzle and coconut crisp. 441 N. McDowell Blvd., Suite 24, Petaluma, mrstroopwafelusa.com
Cafe Mimosa
Cafe Mimosa serves waffles at all three of its locations — topped with berries, powdered sugar and mascarpone. 417 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 707-658-2795; 451 Rohnert Park Expressway, Rohnert Park, 707-595-3764; 456 College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-293-9450, cafemimosaaa.com
Waffles with berries, powdered sugar and sweet mascarpone cheese from Cafe Mimosa in Rohnert Park. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Chicken and waffle with Fresno chili at Beer Baron in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
Beer Baron Bar & Kitchen
Take your bar bites to the next level with Beer Baron’s fried chicken and waffles, served with Fresno chili slaw, maple syrup and bacon butter. For dessert, try a churro waffle, topped with vanilla bean ice cream and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. 614 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-757-9294, beerbaronsr.com
Americana
A waffle, which can be made gluten-free, is served with housemade vanilla cider maple syrup, whipped cream and seasonal fruit. Available at both Santa Rosa and Sebastopol locations. 205 Fifth St., Suite A, Santa Rosa, 707-755-1548; 162 N. Main St., Sebastopol, 707-827-3309, americanasonomacounty.com
The Belgian waffle with strawberries and cream at the Howard Station Cafe in Occidental. (Beth Schlanker / Sonoma Magazine)
Howard Station Cafe
The locomotive-themed cafe in Occidental includes a variety of waffle dishes on its menu, from a simple Belgian waffle to more decadent versions like the chocolate chip and cream waffle. A favorite is the peaches and cream waffle. 3611 Bohemian Hwy., Occidental, 707-874-2838, howardstationcafe.com
Fandee’s Restaurant
Fandee’s waffle is served with chocolate sauce and fresh berries. Make it a meal (for an extra $6) with two eggs any style and two pieces of bacon or sausage. Waffle add-ons ($2 each) include banana, blueberries and chocolate chips. 7824 Covert Lane, Sebastopol, 707-829-2642, fandeesrestaurant.com
Savannah Banana Waffle with toasted pecans, banana and housemade molasses butter served with a mimosa at Cape Fear Cafe in Duncans Mills. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)
Cape Fear Café
Offering California cuisine with a southern twist, Cape Fear Café has a handful of waffle dishes on its breakfast and brunch menus, all served with housemade molasses butter and hot syrup. Our go-to is the Savannah Banana Waffle, topped with toasted pecans and fresh sliced banana. 25191 Main St., Duncans Mills, 707-865-9246, capefearcafe.com
Saucy Mama’s Jook Joint
The cornbread waffle is the perfect accompaniment to the buttermilk fried chicken or spicy hot link. 16632 Highway 116, Guerneville, 707-604-7184, saucymamasjookjoint.com
Aged Tuna Crudo with in a watermelon reduction from Farmhouse Sonoma in the old Palms restaurant location Friday, May 9, 2025 in Sonoma. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Sonoma has no shortage of dining destinations, but Farmhouse Sonoma has filled a niche for a long-needed casual, affordable, family-friendly spot in Sonoma Springs. When it opened in April, the spacious restaurant almost instantly became a community hub, where locals gather for meals, cocktails, and gossip.
Farmhouse is a change of pace for Sherpa, who came to California from Nepal in 1997 to attend college and culinary school. Instead of his signature Nepalese, Tibetan, and Indian cuisine, the menu here is brimming with classic American-Mediterranean fare like golden brioche French toast at breakfast, Cobb salad adorned with both blue cheese and ranch dressing, crisp fried calamari with saffron-lime aioli, and pastas made fresh daily.
Pappardelle Carbonara from Farmhouse Sonoma in the old Palms restaurant location Friday, May 9, 2025, in Sonoma. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Together with chef Sonam Sherpa, Pemba has created dishes that are surprisingly refined for such a relaxed, reasonably priced hangout. (The two are unrelated, despite the same last name, which is common in the Himalayas where many work as climbing guides.)
Sherpa spent a year renovating the restaurant space, which previously housed the Palms Grill. The transformed dining room gleams with newly exposed high ceilings, a sophisticated cream-and-black color palette, and bamboo accents. Sherpa’s landlord, Justin Altamura, crafted the dramatic steeple-style foyer using old-growth redwood reclaimed from a barn once owned by his grandfather in Napa — a place where the famed racehorse Seabiscuit was known to vacation. Additional woodwork in the dining area was done by Sherpa’s cousin from New York.
A selection of wines at Farmhouse Sonoma in the old Palms restaurant space Friday, May 9, 2025 in Sonoma. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)Farmhouse Sonoma in the old Palms restaurant space Friday, May 9, 2025, in Sonoma. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Every visit here feels like a family affair. There are handshakes and hugs all around — from both regulars and new patrons as guests pause to greet Sherpa and his wife, Tenzin Yangchen, who helps at the restaurant in the evenings after her day job as a pharmacist.
Sherpa says the new restaurant exists because of the community. “We’ve been through it all — recessions, the pandemic, wildfires — and the reason we’re still in business is because of the locals.”
Best Bets
Grilled Branzino from Farmhouse Sonoma in the old Palms restaurant location Friday, May 9, 2025, in Sonoma. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Tuna Crudo: Dry aging for 10 days results in tuna that is meltingly tender with concentrated flavor. It’s a generous portion with a refined finish that includes sake, watermelon, and calamansi.
Bruschetta: Topped with burrata and caramelized peach chutney that is delicious enough to eat straight from a jar with a spoon.
Pappardelle Carbonara: Pasta is made fresh from scratch, then tossed with salty pancetta, English peas, wild mushrooms, and a delightfully rich cured egg-yolk sauce.
Grilled Branzino: Delicate whole herb-crusted fish is served tail-on and butterflied atop whipped potatoes then finished with grilled lemon and chimichurri.
Mike Zakowski, owner and baker of The Bejkr, sells his bread, scones, and fresh wood-fired pretzels Friday, May 23, 2025 at the Sonoma Farmer’s Market. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
The moment one walks through the door of Quail & Condor bakery in downtown Healdsburg, a sensual feast begins. The intoxicating, yeasty aromas of just-baked breads rocket straight from nose-to-brain, and then to belly as it responds with a powerful, hungry rumble.
These are no ordinary breads. These are handmade sourdough beauties kissed with startling tang — hearty sesame-seed epis hand-rolled into classic wheat stalk shapes, and slightly sour miche that’s fluffy inside and made with fresh-milled rye, spelt, and whole wheat. The bakery’s naturally leavened baguettes are so sexy, the long, slender loaves look as though they belong tucked alongside a colorful bouquet of flowers in the basket of a bike tootling along the Champs-Élysées.
Quail & Condor caught the attention of The New York Times this past December, putting the tiny shop on the list of “22 of the Best Bakeries Across the U.S. Right Now.” Then, in January, bakery owners Melissa and Sean McGaughey were named as semifinalists for the 2025 James Beard Outstanding Bakery Award.
Sesame-seed epis and naturally leavened baguettes at Quail & Condor in Healdsburg. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
And yet, as wondrous as the accomplishments are, it can sometimes feel like just another day in Sonoma County — blessed with such a collection of outstanding family-owned bakeries, it might seem an embarrassment of riches.
But that inkling of too much privilege dissipates with that first bite of crunchy-chewy crust on Quail’s pain de campagne, the French country bread crafted with rye and whole wheat, folded in with tart olives, and even more exquisite when slathered with imported French butter.
Chef/co-owners Melissa Yanc McGaughey and Sean McGaughey and their team bake their New York Times heralded breads for Quail & Condor at their second Healdsburg restaurant, Troubadour Bread & Bistro, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
And that’s just one example. Sonoma County boasts Wild Flour Bread in Freestone; Nightingale Breads in Forestville; Red Bird Bakery in Cotati; Goguette Bread, Village Bakery, and Marla Bakery all in Santa Rosa, and the list goes on. Some specialize in wood-fired brick hearth ovens, some use rack ovens, some work out of home kitchens with cottage licenses. But all unite in one shared cause: to make the finest breads with artisanal flours and grains, wild yeasts, and hands-on love which includes long fermentations.
What is it about Sonoma County that makes it such a hotbed for bread? San Francisco’s sourdough bread is famous, with humidity said to play a crucial role in its fermentation and flavor, but does Sonoma County have its own magical secret factor?
Bakery owners Melissa Yanc McGaughey and Sean McGaughey and their team bake breads for Quail & Condor at their second Healdsburg restaurant, Troubadour Bread & Bistro. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
“That’s a really good question,” Melissa McGaughey muses. “There aren’t a ton of grain growers here. For me, it’s about the community and lifestyle, the energy and flow. I’ve only really lived in big cities, so I always thought that the small town of Healdsburg was a stepping-stone for me, but I found that all of Sonoma County is bustling. We’re big, but small — I love that I get to connect with so many people personally.”
Mike Zakowski agrees that it’s the mesmerizing vibe keeps him rooted. He competed for Team USA at the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie in Paris in 2012, where the group won a silver medal. He could work anywhere across the globe.
Mike Zakowski, owner and baker of The Bejkr, sells wood-fired pretzels at the Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers Market. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Yet now, with his own The Bejkr business, he sells his mouthwatering goods at the Sonoma Valley Farmers Market year-round on Fridays at Depot Park on First Street West and during summer at the Sonoma Tuesday Night Market.
“I’ve made bread all over the world. I travel and I teach a lot. There’s good bread all over,” he says. “It’s the Sonoma weather that attracted me, actually. I’m from the Midwest originally and I’ve been here 18 years. It’s just such a stunning place to live.”
Mike Zakowski, owner and baker of The Bejkr, sells his bread, scones, and fresh wood-fired pretzels Friday, May 23, 2025, at the Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers Market. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
His breads, all artfully scored, are made of ancient, whole grains, sourced from local farms and stone milled. He mills his own specialty grains, too, such as emmer, spelt, ancient einkorn, California rye, and wheat.
He appreciates that he always finds great reception for even uncommon bread flavors like a loaf he makes with Khorasan (an ancient wheat variety), stone-milled rye, roasted sweet corn, jalapeño, cilantro, and kovasz keszites, a Hungarian-style sourdough starter.
Recently, after a tour of Japan, he’s been experimenting with even more flavors.
“I got reinspired to do some new things, like raisin water, which is an old French technique,” he says. “And I’m a matcha drinker, so I’m exploring green tea powder, adzuki beans, roasted soybeans, mochi, and rice in breads, and I’m making a shokupan now (pillowy-soft Japanese milk bread).”
The fact that so many Sonoma foodies are open to, and eager for, such interesting specialties is a big incentive for creative bakers. For Lee Magner of cult-boutique Sonoma Mountain Breads, that’s been a big selling point keeping him here.
“It’s a community that really celebrates food across the board,” he says, of people who swarm his email to grab the 100 baguettes and 125 or so artisanal loaves he produces each week at his Sonoma Mountain home and farmstand. “Craftsmanship is also really celebrated here, and people understand that making bread is definitely a labor of love.”
Sonoma Mountain Bread owner Lee Magner bakes small batches of bread out of a barn in the hills above Penngrove Friday, May 23, 2025. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
The local bread phenomenon was birthed at the turn of the last century, beginning with Franco American Bakery, which started in 1900, making the family-run business the oldest established bakery in the North Bay. The sourdough starter is the same as it was 125 years ago, lovingly nurtured like the precious child it is. It was followed with downtown Healdsburg’s Costeaux French Bakery, founded in 1923, and still wowing with its seeded sourdough and feather-soft brioche.
More beautiful breads blossomed in 1994, when Kathleen Weber introduced us to artisanal loaves made with fine ingredients like organic flours, Brittany sea salt, local extra virgin olive oils, and instead of commercial yeast, a natural starter featuring her own Petaluma ranch-grown grapes.
Initially, she drew on her home-baked, Italian-style fermented fare, baked in a wood-burning oven. By 1995, the French Laundry demanded to be a customer, followed by more high-end restaurants such as Auberge du Soleil. Some might say that the local love truly took flight when Weber opened Della Fattoria in Petaluma in 2003, enchanting customers including Martha Stewart. We lost Weber in 2020, but her legendary breads live on at the restaurant.
Certainly many of Sonoma County’s local bakers could go big time, if they chose. Both Costeaux and Della Fattoria have grown over the years into wholesale businesses. More recently, after outgrowing her home-based baking business, the acclaimed Alexandra Zandvliet opened Sarmentine Organic French Bakery in Santa Rosa in 2021, which was immediately so popular she now has shops in Sebastopol and Petaluma, too.
The team at Quail & Condor bake breads at the owners’ second Healdsburg restaurant, Troubadour Bread & Bistro. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)Mike Zakowski, owner and baker of The Bejkr, sells his baked goods at the Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers Market. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Yet for many of today’s modern bakeries, keeping small is the point. “For us, the fulfillment doesn’t come from making a bunch of money and growing the business,” McGaughey says. “My husband and I are super-aligned on that. We don’t need to live superlavishly. We are able to pay our bills, put our kids in good schools, and reinvest in the people that we hire so they are able to not only have a career, but also be able to take care of themselves. If there’s anything left over, we are able to take one to two vacations a year.
“We also enjoy very much being able to work with the farmers personally. If we got any bigger, it’d be much harder for us to do that.”
The Bejkr’s Zakowski is a bit more blunt.
“No, none of that interests me,” he says politely, of expanding. “I used to do all that, working with so many bakeries. Been there, done that. I literally do everything myself now, and that’s what I love.”
Strawberry nuvole, a dessert pasta, on the Dry Creek Kitchen pasta tasting menu from chef Shane McAnelly. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
There are more than 300 identified pasta shapes in Italy, each with a unique history, birthplace and use — from cheese-filled tubes to ruffled ribbons that grip sauce.
Chef Shane McAnelly of Dry Creek Kitchen pays a delicious tribute to his favorites on the restaurant’s new six-course pasta tasting menu, including the street corn agnolotti that stole my heart in the summer of 2020.
It was one of my favorite dishes of that challenging year. The pillows of pasta with roasted sweet corn, shishito peppers, lime, cotija and cilantro were the essence of summer on a plate. I’ve long wondered if it was as good as I remembered. It is.
The Dry Creek Kitchen pasta tasting menu ($119 per person, $85 supplemental wine pairing) is a departure from the restaurant’s progressive American cuisine, allowing McAnelly to showcase his pasta prowess.
The former chef of Healdsburg’s Chalkboard and Brass Rabbit, McAnelly was celebrated for his handmade pasta and lush, seasonal sauces. He later reintroduced many of those dishes at Bricoleur Vineyards in Windsor, where he was executive chef for three years.
Shane McAnelly is the executive chef of Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg. (Paige Green, 2023)
More than macaroni
What sets this tasting menu apart is the joyful celebration of Sonoma County produce, made magical at this time of year.
The opening salvo is a single slice of Russian River Organics heirloom tomato atop creamy stracciatella with fresh basil leaves, Rochioli olive oil and a drip of aged balsamic. It’s almost comical in its simplicity, but a talented chef knows when to step back and let the ingredients shine.
Bellwether Farms ricotta gnudi wrapped in squash blossoms and bathed in a clear broth of tomato water and Parmesan is breathtaking. I have no idea what sorcery it takes to make umami tomato water, but bathing in it would not be out of the question.
Cocoa Trifoglio on the Dry Creek Kitchen pasta tasting menu from chef Shane McAnelly. The clover-shaped tubes of pasta are infused with cocoa and topped with crunchy hazelnut praline. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
The showstopper is a sweet-savory Cocao Trifoglio, which McAnelly has revived from the Chalkboard menu. The clover-shaped tubes of pasta are infused with cocoa, lending an earthy foundation for a nest of Liberty duck confit. The lily is gilded with rich Madeira cream sauce and crunchy hazelnut praline. This will absolutely be one of my “Best Dishes of the Year.”
Beet Gigli with short rib sugo in a zesty horseradish gremolata is the heartiest course and had me crying for mercy and a doggy bag. It was just as amazing the next day for lunch, overlooking the fact that I microwaved it. Sorry, chef Shane.
Strawberry nuvole, a dessert pasta, on the Dry Creek Kitchen pasta tasting menu from chef Shane McAnelly. The pasta is made with strawberry powder and accented by white chocolate shavings and mascarpone mousse. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
Pastry chef Taylor Kelley gets into the pasta spirit with a strawberry nuvole pasta (made with flour and strawberry powder). Shavings of white chocolate and a quenelle of mascarpone mousse add glam to this clever dessert.
While I’m all about a good plate of macaroni or a messy plate of spaghetti and meatballs, Dry Creek Kitchen’s pasta tasting menu does a deep dive into the ocean of what pasta can be in the hands of a master.
Reservations are highly recommended.
Dry Creek Kitchen, 317 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. 707-431-0330, drycreekkitchen.com
People attend a Petaluma Chamber of Commerce mixer at the Montagne Russe Winery and Record Lounge in Petaluma Thursday, July 31, 2025. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
The bar for downtown Petaluma’s tasting room scene just got a little higher with the addition of Montagne Russe. Doubling as a record shop, the newly opened venue pours cool-climate Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay, plus Rhône-style selections under the winery’s Le Pöet-Laval side label.
The story
Kevin Bersofsky might still be a garage winemaker today if his neighbor hadn’t ratted him out to the feds. While working for Sutter Home Winery in 2006, Bersofsky started making his own wine at home in St. Helena. He started with a few barrels and gradually expanded production to more than a dozen. Then, in 2013, somebody squealed.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau quickly shut down Bersofsky’s illicit operation, forcing him to dump four precious barrels down the drain. (In my mind, the feds shoot the barrels with 1920s machine guns as red wine spurts from the bullet holes. It may or may not have actually gone down that way.) Bersofsky learned his lesson and went legit, officially founding Montagne Russe in 2015.
The Montagne Russe tasting room at Bacchus Landing in Healdsburg featured a mural of a roller coaster that winemaker and owner Kevin Bersofsky designed as a senior engineering project while in college. As of Memorial Day this year, Montagne Russe shut down its Healdsburg tasting room, reopening it in Petaluma last month. (Brian Welsh)
Taking its name from the French term for roller coaster — Bersofsky helped design one as an engineering undergraduate — Montagne Russe specializes in single-vineyard wines from the Petaluma Gap and other cool-climate regions. The winery buys fruit from local growers and makes the wines at Brooks Note just down the street. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah are flagships.
The grand opening of Montagne Russe in Petaluma, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)Records sit for sale at the Montagne Russe Winery and Record Lounge in Petaluma Thursday, July 31, 2025. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
Walking into the sunny, open room, visitors are greeted with a giant roller coaster graphic that twists its way across the entire left-hand wall. Weeeee!
Tasters can settle into window seating facing Petaluma Boulevard, perch at high-top tables or grab stools at the white quartz tasting bar. The atmosphere is relaxed for both humans and pups; there’s even a basket of dog toys so furry ones can chew while their humans sip.
A small alcove at the back of the venue serves as a record emporium with thousands of albums for sale. (Bersofsky’s personal vinyl collection lives behind the bar — and yes, he does take requests.)
On the palate
The Montagne Russe 2022 Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir at the Montagne Russe Winery and Record Lounge in Petaluma Thursday, July 31, 2025. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
Bersofsky is the chief financial officer at Folio Fine Wine Partners in his weekday gig, but he says he’s not a numbers guy in the vineyard. Grape-picking decisions are made according to taste, when the fruit achieves the right balance between flavor, sugar and acidity.
I could happily quaff the 2023 Le Pöet-Laval White Rhone Blend from Mendocino County ($35) all summer long. It’s crisp and lean, with appealing peachy aromas and flavors. The 2022 Montagne Russe Dragon’s Back Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($58) is a pretty, floral wine with aromas of raspberries and spice. The 2021 Alder Springs Syrah from Mendocino County ($55) is like sipping blackberry pancakes with a side of bacon. The wine is savory and structured, with a lush, long finish.
Tastings cost $35 (choose between Montagne Russe and Le Pöet-Laval flights). Mad scientist types can also book a “winemaker for a day” blending session for $100. Stay tuned in the coming months for “Vinyls & Vino” trivia events, movie nights and live music.
Beyond the bottle
A meaty sandwich from Stellina Alimentari in Petaluma. (Emma K Creative)
Just across the street from Montagne Russe, Stellina Alimentari is the place to savor an Italian-style focaccia sandwich or made-to-order arancini. Italian house wines are typically just 10 bucks a glass, and there are lots of yummy pantry items and take-home bottles for sale.
Montagne Russe is open from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday through Monday and from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. 155 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 1-855-GO-RUSSE (1-855-467-8773), russewines.com
Tina Caputo is a wine, food, and travel journalist who contributes to Sonoma magazine, SevenFifty Daily, Visit California, Northern California Public Media, KQED, and more. Follow her on Bluesky at @winebroad.bsky.social, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.
Guy Fieri tries blueberry pancakes at Hank’s Creekside in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Guy Fieri may be a household name across the country, but he’ll always be Santa Rosa’s native son. Sonoma County is where he launched his first restaurants and where his philanthropic spirit continues to shine. Still living and working in the area, Fieri is known for supporting fellow local restaurateurs — and giving them a national spotlight on his hit Food Network show “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives.”
For many, that kind of exposure brings a major boost in business and lasting recognition. If you’re visiting one of these featured spots, keep an eye out — Fieri’s flashy signature is often hidden somewhere inside, a fun little Easter egg for fans to discover.
La Texanita Restaurant, Santa Rosa
Craving an authentic taste for his “Global Grub” episode in season seven, Fieri went to La Texanita Restaurant in Santa Rosa. “So simple, but so good,” he said of the carne asada tacos. “I’m telling you something, there’s just nothing that can beat that handmade tortilla.” Some other Fieri favorites include the posole, sopes and huaraches. 1667 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, 707-525-1905, latexanita.com
A molcajete and margarita from Taqueria Molcajetes, a Mexican taqueria in Santa Rosa that was featured on Guy Fieri’s Food Network series “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” for its smoking-hot Molcajete Mixto. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat, file)
Taqueria Molcajetes, Santa Rosa
Fieri highlighted numerous dishes at Santa Rosa’s Taqueria Molcajetes for his “Regional Recipes” episode in season 29, including its signature Molcajete Mixto as well as the taquitos, burritos, tacos pastor and chile verde. He called this Mexican restaurant off West College Avenue “without question, one of the best Mexican food experiences I have ever had.” 1195 W College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-544-8280
Guy Fieri tries blueberry pancakes at Hank’s Creekside in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Hank’s Creekside Restaurant, Santa Rosa
The traditional breakfast and brunch spot Hank’s Creekside Restaurant in Santa Rosa was featured in the “House Specials” episode in season one. Fieri tried the blueberry pancakes with corn beef hash. “It’s basic, it’s simple, but it’s money,” he said. He also mentions the eggs Benedict and cinnamon-walnut French toast. 2800 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-575-8839, hanks-creekside.com
Simply Vietnam Express, Santa Rosa
Serving up the unique flavors of Vietnam, Santa Rosa’s Simply Vietnam Express was featured in the “Meaty Mashup” episode in season 29, where Fieri praised its combination pho. “Oh my goodness. It’s light, refreshing, but the depth of flavors is outstanding,” he said. “It’s everything I wanted it to be.” 3381 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-544-4585, simplyvietnamexpress.com
Bo Kho, Spicy Vietnamese Beef Stew, by chef Be Nguyen of Simply Vietnam in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Korean Burrito with ground beef marinated with soy, brown sugar, garlic and ginger, Korean barbecue sauce, avocado, mint cilantro, pickled daikon and carrot, organic brown rice, and house kimchi at Zoftig in Santa Rosa. (Chris Hardy/For Sonoma Magazine)
Zoftig Eatery, Santa Rosa
Featured on the “From Big Burgers to Little Italy” episode in season 29, Zoftig Eatery is a contemporary restaurant serving up healthy fare. Fieri tried the Korean burrito, stuffed with marinated Stemple Creek Ranch beef, house kimchi, brown rice and veggies. “I’m going to drown in my own drool,” he said before chomping down on the burrito. 57 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-521-9554, zoftigeatery.com
Tiramisu at Cafe Citti in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
Sonoma’s Sunflower Caffe, a popular breakfast destination, was featured in the “From Mozz to Matzo Balls” episode in season 11. Fieri sampled the borscht and feta lamb burger. “That’s like the [most] luscious lamb burger,” he said. “Seriously, one of the best I’ve tried.” 421 First St. W., Sonoma, 707-996-6645, sonomasunflower.com
Avocado toast from Sunflower Caffe in Sonoma. (Sunflower Caffe)The outdoor seating area at Russian River Pub in Forestville. (Russian River Pub)
Russian River Pub, Forestville
Russian River Pub is a regular go-to for Fieri, who first featured the restaurant in the “American Cookin’” episode in season one. Fieri’s favorite dishes include the pub burger, seared ahi tuna salad and beef tri-tip sandwich. But it’s the crispy, juicy chicken wings that he calls “some of the best-tasting wings in the nation.” Fieri featured the pub again in the “Takeout: Bold Bites Brought Home” episode in season 32, and a third time in the Triple D Nation spinoff in the “California Comfort” episode. 11829 River Road, Forestville, 707-887-7932, russianriverpub.com
Ten-layer lasagna at Catelli’s in Geyserville. (Chris Hardy/for Sonoma Magazine)
Catelli’s, Geyserville
Catelli’s was featured in the “Bar Food and Bon Bons” episode in season 12. Fieri said the ravioli, made in-house from scratch, was “memorably great” and he couldn’t get enough of the beef meatball sliders. Fieri featured the California-inspired Italian restaurant in three other episodes of “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives” and its spinoff show “Triple D Nation.” 21047 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville, 707-857-3471, mycatellis.com
Changed concepts and/or management
Cochon Volant BBQ Smoke House (now Il Fuoco Pizza), Sonoma
Also featured in the “Meaty Mashup” episode was Sonoma’s former Cochon Volant BBQ Smoke House (now Il Fuoco Pizza). Fieri praised the spicy fried chicken, calling it “a chef’s fried chicken.” He also has a namesake dish on the menu — the WTF (What The Fieri) Burger — a seared beef patty topped with 14-hour smoked brisket, smoked pork shoulder, house-cured maple bacon, a fried chipotle pork cake, cheddar cheese and housemade barbecue sauce. While Cochon Volant switched to pizza-focused Il Fuoco in 2021, chef Rob Larman still offers catering and serves barbecue during weekend pop-ups at the restaurant. 18350 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, 707-509-5480, cochonvolantbbq.com, ilfuocopizza.com
Customers order baby back ribs, sausage, pork shoulder, short ribs and beef brisket by the pound to create their mixed platter at the Cochon Volant BBQ Smoke House in Sonoma. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)Turkey Scallopini at The Bird in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin/Press Democrat)
Willie Bird’s Restaurant (now The Bird), Santa Rosa
Known for serving up turkey in a wide variety of ways, Willie Bird’s (now The Bird) was featured on the “Talkin’ Turkey” episode in season two. Fieri was impressed with the turkey stroganoff served in a creamy sauce with sautéed mushrooms.
Shrimp and pork shumai from dim sum specialist Michelle Wood, the new owner of Jimtown Store, at her home in Santa Rosa, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Jimtown Store (now Jimtown and Then Sum), Healdsburg
In the “Porktastic” episode in season 11, Fieri featured Healdsburg’s historic Jimtown Store, a quaint café in a rustic country store tucked away in the vineyards of Alexander Valley. “Big, deep flavor in the brisket,” Fieri said of the smoked brisket sandwich. “Sauce is no joke, you get that little back kick of the bourbon.”
Jimtown Store closed at the end of 2019 and reopened as Jimtown and Then Sum in June 2025 under chef Michelle Wood. The reimagined Jimtown now focuses on dim sum as well as spring rolls, poke bowls, banh mi and traditional deli sandwiches. Jimtown remains a fitting eatery for the “Poktastic” episode, as our dining editor loves the pork shumai and barbecue pork bao buns on the current menu. 6706 Highway 128, Healdsburg, 707-756-5022, jimtown.com
Closed
Worth Our Weight (Now Closed), Santa Rosa
The nonprofit Worth Our Weight culinary training program and bistro (located on Hahman Drive where Pascaline French Bistro is now) was featured in the “Funky Finds” episode in season 11. Fieri noted it as a “one-of-a-kind experience,” and the Guy Fieri Foundation donated a pretzel cart to the culinary program/restaurant. Worth Our Weight executive director Evelyn Cheatham announced the closing of the culinary training program for at-risk young adults in 2018 after struggling to find funding. Cheatham died in November 2019.
Worth Our Weight executive director Evelyn Cheatham announced in 2018 the culinary training program and bistro for at-risk young adults will close after struggling to find funding. Cheatham died in November 2019. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Before Johnny Garlic’s closed in 2018, Fieri featured his own restaurant chain on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” At the restaurant’s Santa Rosa location in 2012, he showed viewers how the restaurant makes Sashimi Won Tacos and Garlic-Onion Tortilla Stack. (Kent Porter/ The Press Democrat, file)
Johnny Garlic’s (Now Closed), Santa Rosa
Before it closed in 2018, Fieri featured his own restaurant in the “Unexpected Eats” episode in season 14. The restaurant had a fusion of Mexican, Italian, Asian and Cajun dishes on the menu, and on his show Fieri highlighted the eatery’s Sashimi Won Tacos dressed in eel sauce, which won gold at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.
Zazu Kitchen + Farm (Now Closed), Sebastopol
Farm-to-table establishment Zazu Kitchen + Farm was featured on the “From Sandwiches to Stroganoff” episode in season 29. Fieri loved the Bacon-in-the-Batter Waffle along with the quality, freshness and portion sizes of the restaurant’s dishes. Zazu closed in 2019 after a flood damaged the restaurant and surrounding businesses in Sebastopol’s The Barlow. Owners Duskie Estes and John Stewart continue to operate their Black Pig Meat Co. food truck and catering business.
The now-closed Zazu Kitchen + Farm in Sebastopol. (Chris Hardy)The now-closed Schellville Grill on Broadway at Highway 121 in Sonoma. (Robbi Pengelly/Index-Tribune)
Schellville Grill (Now Closed), Sonoma
Sonoma’s Schellville Grill was featured on the “Grilled, Smoked and Sauced” episode in season nine. Fieri tried the buckaroo sandwich with Mexican Achoté chicken on a brioche roll and the tri-tip sandwich smothered in a special barbecue sauce. It had “the right amount of smoke,” he said. Schellville Grill owner Matthew Nagan sold the restaurant in 2020.
Spring colors envelop John Leipsic of Larkspur and Wendy Robbins of Massachusetts as they tour the Western Hills Garden in Occidental, Tuesday, May 14, 2019. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat)
With spring in the rearview and sunny summer upon us, local gardens are in full bloom again. If you are seeking a peaceful sanctuary in nature, a beautiful spot for a picnic, a secluded lovers’ escape, a pathway for a revitalizing stroll or simply a place where you can unwind and relax, this list of some of our favorite gardens in Sonoma County was made for you.
Asian and California Native Plants
Sonoma Botanical Garden
Philadelphus schrenkii in bloom at the Sonoma Botanical Garden (formerly Quarryhill Botanical Garden) in Glen Ellen. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
You can take a tranquil walk or picnic among breathtaking flowers and foliage native to Asia without leaving Sonoma County. Located just outside of Glen Ellen, Sonoma Botanical Garden (formerly Quarryhill Botanical Garden) has blossomed into an expansive showcase of plant species from Asia and California over the course of nearly 40 years. A focus on conservation has long been a part of Sonoma Botanical Garden’s ethos. Founded by Jane Davenport Jansen in 1987, the garden was started from wild seeds collected on expeditions to Asia. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 12841 Highway 12, Glen Ellen, 707-996-3166, sonomabg.org
Rhododendron, Azaleas, Camellias and more
Botanica Nursery and Gardens
Sunlight streams down on a rhododendron at Botanica Nursery and Gardens (formerly Hidden Forest Nursery) near Sebastopol on Thursday, May 6, 2021. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)
Tucked away in the Hessel Area of Sebastopol, this is a nursery and a magical secret garden all in one. Rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and Japanese maples are among the many plants available for purchase at Botanica Nursery and Gardens (formerly Hidden Forest Nursery), but the highlight of a visit to the nursery just might be a walk around its verdant grounds. Walking along the two miles of trails that wind through the botanical reserve feels like a journey to an enchanted land. Guided docent tours through the 7.5 acres are also available the first and third Saturday morning of each month. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday; other times by appointment. 3970 Azalea Lane, Sebastopol. 707-823-6832, botanicanurseryandgardens.com
Roses and Irises
Russian River Rose Company
Colorful blossoms fill the landscape at the Russian River Rose Company’s garden in Healdsburg. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)
The Russian River Rose Company’s show garden in Healdsburg features over 650 different roses and 202 irises. Guided tours can be booked for a fee to see the full splendor of the garden and its many flower varieties. Among some of the garden’s highlights are the Rose Allee (eight arches covered with climbing roses), a Butterfly Garden, an Iris Garden and a Perfume Distillery where rose water and perfume are produced. 1685 Magnolia Drive, Healdsburg. 707-433-7455, russian-river-rose.com
More Roses
Garden Valley Ranch
Garden Valley Ranch in Petaluma. (Sonoma County Tourism)
Situated on over 5 acres, this expansive rose farm cultivates 8,000 rosebushes. There are a variety of ways to experience Petaluma’s historicGarden Valley Ranch. You can buy tickets for a day of flower foraging when the roses are in bloom or make a reservation to stay overnight at the property’s romantic garden cottage. The venue also can be booked for weddings and private events. 498 Pepper Road, Petaluma. 707-795-0919, gardenvalley.com
Rare Plant Species
Western Hills Garden
Spring colors envelop John Leipsic of Larkspur and Wendy Robbins of Massachusetts as they tour the Western Hills Garden in Occidental. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)Scotch broom blooms, Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at Western Hills Garden in Occidental. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
You will not want to miss this plant lovers’ oasis in Occidental. Western Hills Garden features an array of species collected from far-off places such as Australia, South America and South Africa. Set on a 3-acre property, the garden has five ponds, 34 bridges and everything from rare conifers to endangered Chinese maples to a camellia forest. For a fee, visitors can walk through the garden on their own or book a guided tour with a group. 16250 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental. westernhillsgarden.com
Lavender
Monte-Bellaria di California
Lavender plants begin to bloom at Monte-Bellaria di California lavender farm near Sebastopol, Saturday June 17, 2023. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
There is nothing quite like seeing lavender fields in bloom. Monte-Bellaria di California opens its lavender farm to visitors for country walks during weekends starting in April, but it’s during early summer when the lavender is in full color.Pre-paid, timed tickets are required during this “High Bloom Season” that goes from June 2o to July 27. Though not as colorful later in the year, visitors can also take walks on weekends when the lavender aromas reach their peak during the farm’s “High Fragrance Season” from Aug. 2 through Aug. 31. 3518 Bloomfield Road, Sebastopol. 707-829-2645, monte-bellaria.com
Montgomery High School junior Rima Makaryan, 16, paints details on the “Dreamer” mural she created at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa, on Saturday, March 30, 2019. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)
“If these walls could talk” goes the saying — in Sonoma County, they can. Thanks to the work of talented artists, the facades of our local buildings share stories that reflect this area: beautiful, colorful and diverse.
Discover the creative side of Sonoma County by checking out some of our favorite local murals. Summer is a great time to get outside for a public art day trip.
Petaluma
“Sonoma” by Maxfield Bala
Maxfield Bala fell in love with drawing and all things art when he was a middle school student doodling in the corners of his notebooks. As a Petaluma local, he never thought he would have an opportunity to bring his small drawings to life in a big way. Today, Bala is one of a handful of North Bay artists sought out by local art committees and city planning departments to design and paint larger-than-life public art installations. 2557 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma
Mural artist Maxfield Bala applies spray paint to his “Welcome to Petaluma” mural project on Petaluma Blvd South along Highway 101 in Petaluma on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)Mural artist Maxfield Bala works on his “Welcome to Petaluma” mural project on Petaluma Boulevard South along Highway 101 in Petaluma on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
“Welcome to Petaluma” by Maxfield Bala
This mural, spanning 50-feet wide and 13-feet tall, is one of multiple projects Bala has been asked to contribute to Sonoma County. “The welcome mural I am painting has so many features that represent the city that are iconic to Petaluma that we have all grown up with as a community,” said 25-year-old Bala in a 2019 interview. “It is just nice to give back to the community in the way I know how, which is through art.” Petaluma Boulevard South, along Highway 101 heading toward San Francisco.
Phoenix Theater Mural by Ricky Watts
A “splash of cosmic color” in downtown Petaluma, local artist Ricky Watts’s 3,000-square-foot mural transformed the southern wall of the Phoenix Theater into a huge outdoor art exhibit in 2013. In 2015, Claus Brigmann, with the help of Mike Hollibaugh, built a solar-powered LED lighting system to illuminate the mural after dark. Watts describes his artwork’s abstract style as “space rainbows,” with fluid shapes and colors that intertwine. The Phoenix Theater, 201 Washington St., Petaluma
The colorful mural on the south wall of The Phoenix Theatre created by local Sonoma County artist Ricky Watts, in Petaluma on Thursday, July 5, 2018. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)Murals and other forms of art are seen all along American Alley for the O+ Festival in Petaluma on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. (Rachel Simpson / for the Petaluma Argus-Courier)
Various Murals, American Alley
Alleyways aren’t typically known for their photographic potential, but Petaluma’s American Alley is an exception. This hidden gem is home to abstract and realist murals. Painted on historic brick buildings, they offer a glimpse into the life of the working class. The murals were painted by various artists during the O+ Festival in November 2015. Located between Petaluma Boulevard North and Kentucky Street, off Washington Street.
Santa Rosa
“Dreamer” by Rima Makaryan
Artist Rima Makaryan, a Montgomery High School junior, wants people to see beauty in the immigrant experience, and not just focus on border walls, family separations and other charged elements of the current debate. Drawing on her own experience as an Armenian immigrant, Makaryan pushes viewers of her work to appreciate those who come to this country seeking better lives, or to escape hardship or violence in their native lands. Montgomery High School, 1250 Hahman Drive, Santa Rosa
Montgomery High School junior Rima Makaryan, 16, paints details on the “Dreamer” mural she created at her school in Santa Rosa, on Saturday, March 30, 2019. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)Untitled murals by MJ Lindo-Lawyer, Joshua Lawyer and Big Hepos in Santa Rosa, off Santa Rosa Avenue, on a former used car lot at the corner with Sebastopol Avenue. (Ricardo Ibarra)
Untitled Mural by MJ Lindo-Lawyer, Joshua Lawyer, Big Hepos
Husband-and-wife artists Joshua Lawyer and MJ Lindo-Lawyer, along with friend and fellow artist Big Hepos, completed work on this Santa Rosa Avenue mural in December, 2018. Only five months later, the mural was vandalized. The faces it depicted, two of them brown, had been splashed with white paint. Thanks to a successful GoFundMe campaign, the artwork was restored. While the original had featured the faces in profile, the restored version shows the faces looking straight at the viewer. 505 and 514 Santa Rosa Ave., on a former used car lot at the corner with Sebastopol Avenue.
“Battle of Good versus Evil” by Joshua Lawyer, MJ Lindo-Lawyer and Big Hepos
A struggle between light and darkness, the idea behind this mural was “a David and Goliath story arch,” according to Joshua Lawyer. It depicts two figures, face-to-face in a wrestling ring: an indigenous woman in jeans, sweatshirt and Converse shoes facing a looming Lucha Libre-masked wrestler, painted in darker, heavier tones. The mural sits on a Roseland site that has historically been a community gathering place, the meeting spot for protests and the location for the annual Cinco de Mayo fiesta. 883 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa
“Battle of Good versus Evil” mural by Joshua Lawyer, MJ Lindo-Lawyer and Big Hepos on Sebastopol Road in Santa Rosa. (Ricardo Ibarra)Pedestrians walk past a mural created by Daniel Doughty and Nick Jensen at Art Alley in the SOFA arts district in Santa Rosa. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)
Untitled Mural by Daniel Doughty and Nick Jensen
The South of A Street arts district — SOFA — covers a few blocks between Santa Rosa Avenue and South A Street, bordering Sebastopol and Sonoma avenues and neighboring Juilliard Park. A great destination for art appreciation, it is home to galleries as well as street art. A manga-inspired mural, created by Daniel Doughty and Nick Jensen, can be found in SOFA’s Art Alley.
Guernica Mural by Mario Uribe
Ever since local artist Mario Uribe was in art school, almost 60 years ago, he’s been moved by Pablo Picasso’s 1937 oil painting Guernica. One of Picasso’s best known works, it captures the horrors of war in a scene depicting the German aerial bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. Today, the painting is exhibited in the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid. Thanks to Uribe, locals and visitors to Sonoma County can see a reproduction of it in SOFA’s Art Alley. “The message in Guernica fits our world today and deserves to be replicated,” says Uribe, who projected the painting onto the wall at night and traced it. He then premixed the colors for the mural and several Artstart apprentices helped paint the various areas, while Uribe put in the finishing touches. 461 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa
Imaginists Theater founders Amy Pinto and Brent Lindsay have bought the building that houses the theater and small artists studios in the South A district of Santa Rosa. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)An artist who goes by the pseudonym Bud Snow, lower right, paints her mandala mural with the help of Judy Kennedy, left, and Reina Rivera at Juilliard Park in Santa Rosa, on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. The mural was commissioned by the Santa Rosa Art in Public Places Committee with a grant from Downtown Connect. (Christopher Chung / The Press Democrat)
Mandala Mural by Bud Snow
This bold and brightly colored mandala was created by muralist Julia Davis, aka Bud Snow, in the shallow bed of an abandoned fountain in Juilliard Park. The large, circular artwork features concentric rings of abstract, mythological-looking creatures Snow thinks of as contemporary versions of prehistoric, or perhaps, evolutionary beasts. “I’m interested in urban cave painting — discussing community, spirituality, friendship, joy, love — through simplified, abstracted but recognizable forms,” the Oakland artist said in a 2016 interview. Juilliard Park, Santa Rosa
Laura Kelly Memorial Mural by Bud Snow
The loss of a friend powered Bud Snow’s largest project to date: a vertical mural six stories high on the backside of Santa Rosa’s Roxy theater. Laura Nicole Kelly, a Sonoma County practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine, died from cancer in 2016. “She was my best friend. A lot of people were touched and healed by Laura,” said Snow, whose tribute to her friend takes the shape of a processional banner, featuring images that the late Kelly shared with Snow. Behind Roxy Stadium 14 onFirst Street, Santa Rosa.
The Laura Kelly Memorial Mural by Bud Snow on the backside of Santa Rosa’s Roxy theater. (Spring Maxfield)Artists Daniel Doughty, left, and Mario Uribe, right, move a scaffolding holding Jennifer Tatum, so that she can reach another portion of the Palms Inn Project mural, in Santa Rosa on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)
Palms Inn Mural by Mario Uribe
Local artist Mario Uribe, along with his assistant Daniel Doughty, Petaluma artist Jennifer Mygatt Tatum and apprentices from the nonprofit Artstart, created this 208-square-foot mural on the back of the wall of the Palms Inn, a 104-unit motel for homeless veterans and the chronically homeless. Wanting to draw attention to homelessness in Sonoma County and the need for more housing, Uribe used pictures of the residents to create composites of smiling people. Together, they form a puzzle in the shape of a house and, at the residents’ request, Uribe also included emblems of the five military branches. 3345 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa
Healing Mural by Mario Uribe
This mural, located in the Roseland neighborhood in southwest Santa Rosa, memorializes one of Sonoma County’s most traumatic events, the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Andy Lopez. The 48-foot-long mural depicts strong and colorful images of Mexican-American culture and day-to-day life, combined with the familiar, now-iconic image of Lopez, a Santa Rosa teenager who was shot by a Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy in 2013 as he walked through his Moorland Avenue neighborhood carrying an Airsoft BB gun the deputy reportedly mistook for a real weapon. 779 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa
Artist Mario Uribe installed a new panel (no justice, no peace) on the “Healing Mural” at Andy’s Park in Roseland, Tuesday Aug. 1, 2017. The panel replaces an old panel, in which some in the community, including the Lopez family, say was too sympathetic to the Sonoma County sheriff’s department. Andy Lopez was shot and killed by deputy Erick Gelhaus on Oct. 22, 2013. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)Artist Blanca Molina’s colorful mural, which translates to “live and enjoy life,” continues to bring smiles to those who pass by Sazón Peruvian restaurant on Sebastopol Road in Santa Rosa. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
“Vivir y Disfrutar” by Blanca Molina
Local graphic designer Blanca Molina and her partner created a vibrant mural outside of Sazón Peruvian Restaurant in 2022 that celebrates Peruvina culture with a beautiful landscape, including cactuses, alpacas and a Quechua woman. Molina designed the piece as part of a mile-long Mural Festival in Santa Rosa’s Roseland neighborhood, helmed by MJ Lindo-Lawyer and Joshua Lawyer and featuring works by various other local artists. 1129 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa
HenHouse Mural by Blanca Molina
In 2023, artist Blanca Molina completed a colorful mural inside HenHouse Brewing’s Santa Rosa location, featuring two hens toasting glasses of beer adjacent to a wall that reads, “con cerveza, no hay tristeza,” which Molina said roughly translates to “with beer, there is no sadness.” Molina also created a series of fun beer can labels for HenHouse. 322 Bellevue Ave., Santa Rosa
A mural by Sonoma County-based artist Blanca Molina at Henhouse Brewing Company in Santa Rosa. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)Blanca Molina, an artist and graphic designer in Sonoma County, sits in Tía María bakery in Santa Rosa’s Roseland neighborhood, with one of her murals on the wall behind her. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
Tía María Mural by Blanca Molina
Stretching across a wall at Tía María bakery in Santa Rosa’s Roseland neighborhood is one of Blanca Molina’s latest works, completed in spring of 2025. The mural features orange poppies and a bouquet of conchas sprouting from a traditional café de olla on a bright pink background, with overlaying text that reads, “May your cafecitos be strong and your chisme be juicy.” 44 Sebastopol Ave., Santa Rosa
“Raising Rainbows” by Maria de Los Angeles
Installed in early 2023 inside the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation’s new building, this 7-by-17-foot acrylic mural is a lush floral landscape with symbolic imagery of community, equity, migration and environmental justice. The piece celebrates students, cultural diversity and the mission of education. 707 Elliott Ave., Santa Rosa
Maria de Los Angeles’ mural “Raising Rainbows,” measuring 7 feet by 17 feet, is on view in the Santa Rosa Junior College foundation building’s community room. (Ryan Bonilla)Artist Maria de Los Angeles takes a picture of Karla Garcia’s drawing and where she would like it to be placed on a community-focused mural at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts Murals by Maria de Los Angeles
In August 2023, artist Maria de Los Angeles unveiled two large-scale, vibrantly detailed acrylic murals on the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts campus. “The Muses: A Celebration of a Blossoming Imagination” (19-by-19 feet) honors the performing arts, while “Four Seasons: A Celebration of Community and Environmental Beauty” (8-by-20 feet) evokes nature’s seasonal cycle and communal ties. Around 100 community participants contributed to the murals. 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa
Anova School Mural by The Velvet Bandit
On the grounds of the Anova Center for Education campus in Santa Rosa, The Velvet Bandit created her largest piece yet (40 feet by 8 feet), depicting poppies, daisies and positive word affirmations. The vibrant and inspiring mural was unveiled in July, 2025. Commissioned by Anova CEO Andrew Bailey, who was uplifted by her earlier “rogue art,” this bold public artwork now greets Anova school visitors. 212 Concourse Blvd., Santa Rosa
The Velvet Bandit with a mural she painted on the grounds of Anova Center for Education in Santa Rosa, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)Emmanuel Morales is one of three artists that helped to create a mural celebrating diversity, native culture, and the immigrant experience on a wall which had been previously vandalized with pro-Trump sentiments. Photo taken at Cali Calmecac Language Academy on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, in Windsor. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)
Windsor
Cali Calmecac Mural by Various Artists
A once-white wall defaced by anti-immigrant graffitiwas transformed into a vibrant mural celebrating Latino immigrants’ heritage and culture. Painted by local artists and students from Santa Rosa Junior College, the mural was conceived as an empowering response to vandalism that marred Cali Calmecac’s campus in late October, 2016. In vivid shades of purple, blue, green and other colors, the mural depicts scenes of creation, indigenous dancers, agriculture and students in the classroom. The main artists involved in the mural were Arturo Monroy, Mario Quijas, Emmanuel Morales, Jiovanny Soto and Everardo Flores. 9491 Starr Road, Windsor
Sonoma
Vida de la Muerte by Various Artists
This 15-by-60-foot mural, created by nearly 20 teens and organized by the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, was funded in part by a National Endowment for the Arts grant aimed at supporting public art and artist residency collaborations. Acclaimed street artist Chor Boogie, aka Joaquin Lamar Hailey, of San Rafael, led the project. Boogie’s murals and artwork have appeared all over the world, including the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the Smithsonian Institute. The colorful mural, featuring bright images of vineyards, Dia de Los Muertos icons, constellations named for animals and more, covers the wall of the Republic of Thrift shop in Boyes Hot Springs. 17496 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma
The 15-by-60-foot “Vida de la Muerte” mural in Sonoma, created by nearly 20 teens and organized by the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, covers the wall of the Republic of Thrift shop in Boyes Hot Springs. (Lorna Sheridan)Artist Maria de Los Angeles, who works in New York City and lives in Jersey City, created two murals for the town of Glen Ellen in 2021. (Ryan Bonilla)
Glen Ellen
Glen Ellen Murals by Maria de Los Angeles
Commissioned by developers Stephen and Holly Sorkin in collaboration with the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, Maria de Los Angeles completed two murals for Glen Ellen in 2021. The colorful murals, titled “Valley of Dreams” and “Galaxy of Hope,” are displayed on two walls of a mixed-use building that includes retail space, the Garden Court Cafe restaurant and an affordable housing project. 13647 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen
Sebastopol
“Teens Go Green” by Dana Lynn Vallarino
This 10-by-20-foot mural brightens up the campus at Brook Haven School in Sebastopol with colorful silhouettes of youth walking, biking, scootering and skateboarding. The mural is the result of a brainstorming session during a weekly Teens Go Green Club meeting. The club encourages students to get themselves to school using environmentally friendly modes of transportation. Sebastopol artist and Brook Haven alumna Dana Vallarino worked with club members to design the mural, even using them as models for the silhouettes. 7905 Valentine Ave., Sebastopol
Sebastopol artist Dana Lynn Vallarino paints a mural at Brook Haven School in Sebastopol. (Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)Muralist Amanda Lynn puts the final touches of color on a bluebird on a fig tree on the outer walls of The Playground Café at St. Stephen’s Church Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, in Sebastopol. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
“The Playground” by Amanda Lynn
A once-blank church wall was transformed into a charming mural evoking “a bit of wonderment for everyone.” Painted in October 2024 by Forestville muralist Amanda Lynn, the mural features local flora, insects and a bluebird. These elements were drawn directly from the church’s 4-acre site at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.The mural reflects Lynn’s joy in creating public art that brings delight to Sebastopol and its community. 500 Robinson Road, Sebastopol
Healdsburg
Harmon Guest House Murals by Various Artists
Healdsburg’s Harmon Guest House (227 Healdsburg Ave.) has been inviting local artists to bring their talents to the resort since 2021 — with stunning results. The artworks range from sculptures and paintings to dance choreography and abstract nature videos. Here are some of the murals that have gone up at Harmon Guest House:
Artist Jake Messing poses with his “Blue Harmon” mural, which spans the staircase at Harmon Guest House in Healdsburg on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)
“Blue Harmon” by Jake Messing: Installed in May of 2022, Messing’s flock of bold blue herons graces the main stairwell at Harmon Guest House. The ascending herons symbolize “self-reliance, determination and good luck,” according to the artist.
“Mistress of Memory / Palimpsest Suites” by Alice Warnecke Sutro: Local artist and winemaker Alice Warnecke Sutro created a mixed-media art project for Harmon Guest House that included a large wall mural at its The Rooftop terrace, as well as etchings on glass shower doors. The mural and shower art featured figurative line drawings of people. The artwork was put on display in June, 2024.
Artist Alice Sutro’s “Mistress of Memory” is featured in the restaurant atop Harmon Guest House in Healdsburg on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)Maria de Los Angeles’ art piece “Mi Healdsburg-My Healdsburg” spans four stories on Harmon Guest House in Healdsburg on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)
“Mi Healdsburg / My Healdsburg” by Maria de Los Angeles: Unveiled Aug. 23, 2024, this temporary vinyl and glass mural, located atHarmon Guest House, featured a striking central female figure carrying local produce. The nearly 50-f00t-tall piece, designed by artist Maria de Los Angeles, was created via community workshops and funded by a $19,000 public art grant with the purpose of attracting and welcoming more people to the hotel and surrounding community.
Cloverdale
Staff of La Familia Sana from left to right; Laura Arreguin, Jade Weymouth, Andrea G, Christina Rosas, Maria De Jesus Ferreira, Mayra Arreguin and Blanca Molina (center), muralist, stand in front of Molina’s mural during its unveiling in Cloverdale on Sept. 20, 2024. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)Blanca Molina’s mural stands on the corner of N. Cloverdale Boulevard and W. Second Street for its unveiling in Cloverdale on Sept. 20, 2024. (Abraham Fuentes/For The Press Democrat)
“The Way of the Community Mural Project” by Blanca Molina, Nico Kimzin and others
With input from Cloverdale Latino youth, La Familia Sana — a nonprofit benefiting underserved people — partnered with Kimzin Creative to create a mural that represented various aspects of Latino culture. The Cloverdale mural reads “Saludos from Cloverdale” and includes lowriders, a quinceañera and a large cactus. It serves to include and uplift Cloverdale’s Hispanic community.201 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Suite B, Cloverdale
Andrew Beale, Alexandria Bordas, Mary Callahan, Sofia Englund, Martin Espinoza, Ricardo Ibarra, Mayra Lopez, Derek Moore, J.D. Morris, Angela Ramirez, Eloísa Ruano González, Lorna Sheridan, Chris Smith and Mary Jo Winter contributed to this article, originally published in 2020 and since updated. For more information about local murals and street artists, visit Artstart, Creative Sonoma and Santa Rosa Urban Art Partnership.
