Philip’s guidebook
Dining
Some of my favorite places to dine or have casual meals.
A popular place for breakfast with locals. Take your pastries and coffees and sit in historic Sonoma Plaza.
27 locals recommend
Basque Boulangerie Café
460 1st St EA popular place for breakfast with locals. Take your pastries and coffees and sit in historic Sonoma Plaza.
One of my favorite places for outdoor casual dining. Great food and a good selection of local beers and wines. I advise guests to make a reservation either by phone or on line as it can get busy at weekends.
Kivelstadt Cellars Wine Garden & Eatery
22900 BroadwayOne of my favorite places for outdoor casual dining. Great food and a good selection of local beers and wines. I advise guests to make a reservation either by phone or on line as it can get busy at weekends.
Fantastique! Authentic French boulangerie in the village of Glen Ellen, twelve minutes from the Cottage. Delicious pastries, silky quiches and toasted sandwiches. A great place to pick up some delicious pastries, come back to the Cottage and sit out in the Creek Garden for a romantic breakfast. Opens at 6:00 AM. Lines can be long at weekends, so get there early.
35 locals recommend
Les Pascals Patisserie et Boulangerie
13758 Arnold DrFantastique! Authentic French boulangerie in the village of Glen Ellen, twelve minutes from the Cottage. Delicious pastries, silky quiches and toasted sandwiches. A great place to pick up some delicious pastries, come back to the Cottage and sit out in the Creek Garden for a romantic breakfast. Opens at 6:00 AM. Lines can be long at weekends, so get there early.
Sunflower Caffé
421 1st St WPopular on Sonoma Plaza restaurant for breakfast and lunch.
Southeast of Sonoma. A restaurant for breakfast and lunch with a distinctive rural retro vibe. Outdoor dining with southern style food. Check website for hours, as their hours have been changing.
8 locals recommend
Lou's Luncheonette
2698 Fremont DriveSoutheast of Sonoma. A restaurant for breakfast and lunch with a distinctive rural retro vibe. Outdoor dining with southern style food. Check website for hours, as their hours have been changing.
Locals love this restaurant. Unpretentious and great food. The Fig Cafe also does not charge corkage on Sonoma wines. So if you have bought a special bottle of wine during the day at one of Sonoma's tasting rooms, enjoy it with dinner.
82 locals recommend
the fig cafe & winebar
13690 Arnold DrLocals love this restaurant. Unpretentious and great food. The Fig Cafe also does not charge corkage on Sonoma wines. So if you have bought a special bottle of wine during the day at one of Sonoma's tasting rooms, enjoy it with dinner.
Wonderful food. If you cannot book here, try its less visited sister restaurant, the Fig Cafe in Glen Ellen.
175 locals recommend
the girl & the fig
110 W Spain StWonderful food. If you cannot book here, try its less visited sister restaurant, the Fig Cafe in Glen Ellen.
As former proprietor Larry Murphy would say, "Welcome to the Wine Country, have a Guinness!" Great beer, distinct Irish atmosphere and great pub food. There is also a regular music scene. A favorite with locals and visitors alike.
43 locals recommend
Murphy's Irish Pub
464 1st St EAs former proprietor Larry Murphy would say, "Welcome to the Wine Country, have a Guinness!" Great beer, distinct Irish atmosphere and great pub food. There is also a regular music scene. A favorite with locals and visitors alike.
Located in an historic adobe building dating from the 1830s, and which has been a hotel and bar for over a century, this is a favorite with locals and visitors. There are some outdoor tables facing onto the historic Sonoma Plaza, where on a Friday and Saturday evening you can watch Sonoma pass by while you enjoy a glass of wine and/or dine.
47 locals recommend
The Swiss Hotel
18 W Spain StLocated in an historic adobe building dating from the 1830s, and which has been a hotel and bar for over a century, this is a favorite with locals and visitors. There are some outdoor tables facing onto the historic Sonoma Plaza, where on a Friday and Saturday evening you can watch Sonoma pass by while you enjoy a glass of wine and/or dine.
Fantastic thin crust pizza! The Morphy family opened the Red Grape over twenty years ago and it is a favorite place for a light lunch in their back garden or dinner.
42 locals recommend
The Red Grape
529 1st St WFantastic thin crust pizza! The Morphy family opened the Red Grape over twenty years ago and it is a favorite place for a light lunch in their back garden or dinner.
Popular local chain of taverns. Good pub food and large open garden like setting.
65 locals recommend
HopMonk Tavern Sonoma
691 BroadwayPopular local chain of taverns. Good pub food and large open garden like setting.
Wineries
Some of my favorite wineries in Sonoma and Napa valleys.
Do not miss this local gem, a short fifteen minute stroll up Felder Road.
Ellie and Chris have built on the reputation of the Durrel Vineyards by having a tasting room in the elegant Victorian farmhouse.
The winery is open by appointment only.
Appointments at Dunstan are available each day at 11 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM. Call 707 933 3839.
Dunstan Wines - Durell Vineyard
1945 Felder RdDo not miss this local gem, a short fifteen minute stroll up Felder Road.
Ellie and Chris have built on the reputation of the Durrel Vineyards by having a tasting room in the elegant Victorian farmhouse.
The winery is open by appointment only.
Appointments at Dunstan are available each day at 11 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM. Call 707 933 3839.
Gundlach Bundschu Winery
2000 Denmark StreetHistoric
Buena Vista Winery
18000 Old Winery RdCalifornia’s first and oldest winery. Founded by Agoston Hara