With 3 Sonoma country trips under my belt in the last few months, I’d say I’m pretty well versed when it comes to what to eat, where to stay and what to do!! So today we’re bringing you Gaby’s Guide to Sonoma!
A complete guide for everything your heart desires while in sonoma country! Here we go…
Where to stay:
Farmhouse Inn – is tucked away in Sonoma county and it’s the picture of perfection. Imagine the chicest barn you’ll ever see and then add in the best rooms with the most comfy beds, a restaurant that is kicking butt and taking names and has a Michelin star, and a spa that is not to be missed. It’s perfection. Bonus – they have a gourmet s’mores bar every night. ON BRAND!
Where to eat:
El Dorado Kitchen – what more could you ask for than a glass of rosé, a plate of perfect french fries and some other flatbreads right smack in the middle of Sonoma square. It’s a great place to hang on the patio and have a leisurely lunch.
Glen Ellen Star – ugh. I’m obsessed. Everything about the wood fired food at Glen Ellen Star makes me happy. It’s not to be missed.
Barndiva – I’m not even sure if Barndiva is considered to be in Sonoma County – but it’s too good to pass up! The food has some major California flair and it’s just generally an awesome place to hang for a looooong afternoon of eating and drinking! My husband had to drag me out – I didn’t want to leave!
Spoonbar – here’s the way to do it – cocktails, all the appetizers and a few dozen oysters. It’s the most fun way to eat after a day of wine tasting!
Where to drink:
Taylor Maid Farms – my favorite place to grab a cup of coffee or tea before hitting the wine trails for the day! Bonus, if you have to work on the road like me, they have an incredible 2nd floor where you can sip on your caffeinated beverage and bang out some work!
Woodfour Brewing Co. – for all your beer lovers out there – this is not to be missed!
Scribe Winery – home to some of my favorite red wines and a fun picnic basket that you can nosh on with friends while over looking the vineyards. It’s quite the place to spend the afternoon.
Benziger Family Winery – imagine a biodynamic winery that is also home to a sprawling farm where you can grab a bunch of food, set up shop and have a picnic and taste test your way through an entire flight of pinot. Sign me up!! It’s a decent walk up from Glen Ellen, but totally do-able if you want to burn a few calories before your wine.
Gary Farrell Winery & Vineyard – another fantastic spot to sit on top of a hill and look out over Sonoma county!! Annnndddd they have cheese pairings with the wine tasting. Winning.
Lucky Star – its the dive bar to end all dive bars!! The perfect place to grab a nightcap!
What else to do:
Wine Country Cyclery – rent a few bikes and ride from vineyard to vineyard! It’s the perfect way to get around and taste a few wines on the way. Helmuts MANDATORY!
The Barlow – is a collection of various places to eat, shop, drink and hang out. There’s a little something here for everyone.
Shed – you can eat at Shed, but you can also shop! Swing by their market to grab some really fab specialty items.
Nailed it! Yes-Barndiva is considered part of sonoma county, just not the town of Sonoma.
What I really want to know is, Did you actually walk up the hill to Benziger?? I hope you took the tour while you were there. It is quite possibly the best winery tour in all of Sonoma county.
Right on the money with Spoonbar. No trip to Healdsburg is complete without a cocktail at their awesome bar.
~sonomalocal
we did walk!! it was quite the hike but totally worth it once we were at the top!!
My list of places to visit just keeps getting longer and longer!!!!
Gaby, Sonoma is our favorite place to visit and my husband and I travel there at least twice a year. It’s so relaxed and we’ve always found the food and wineries to be exceptional. We love visiting Gary Farrell and enjoying the beautiful view from the tasting room. My husband and I always talk about retiring there someday and buying a small house on a vineyard. Thanks for sharing a few new places for us to visit next time.
Have been here and LOVED it, but not to the Farmhouse Inn. So lovely, Gaby!
I Love, Love, Love this post! We are in Sonoma all the time… a bonus of living near Lake Tahoe now – it’s just a quick drive! I’m dying to check out the Farmhouse Inn, and all of the good eats and drink spots you mentioned. Yay!
I can’t believe I have never been to Sonoma! I need to make the trip, what a great guide!
I haven’t traveled to California yet, but Sonoma is definitely on my travel bucket list! 🙂 The Farmhouse Inn looks right up my alley. It looks like such a quaint B&B.
I can see myself going to Sonoma just to stay at the Farmhouse Inn! What a charming place!
We were just there in August with our two young children and we were amazed at how many family-oriented activities there were. My husband and I are looking forward to going back for a couples getaway as well! Great list of suggestions and I love the look of the Farmhouse Inn!
What a fantastic guide! I’ve been to Napa but not Sonoma. And any wine trip is right up my alley.
I haven’t been to Sonoma in much too long, and it’s really not THAT far from So Cal! Great tips and recommendations- now I’m itching to go!
I love Sonoma! It’s so relaxing and the views are gorgeous. You gave a whole new list of things to check out when I go next!
Sonoma is one of my favorite places on the planet. Bacon Slayer & I honeymooned in Napa & Sonoma and we’re dying to get back. You sold me on The Farmhouse Inn with the phrases “chic barn'” and “gourmet s’mores bar!” I’m also pretty sure that I could easily sip a caffeinated hour away at Taylor Maid Farms. Definitely pinning this to my travel destination board!