Guidebook for Sonoma
Everything Else
Outdoor swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, full work out facilities, fun classes.
Parkpoint Health Club Sonoma
19111 Sonoma HwyOutdoor swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, full work out facilities, fun classes.
The best place in Sonoma County for yoga classes. Very healing atmosphere, great teachers, very affordable.
Yoga Community
1395 5th St WThe best place in Sonoma County for yoga classes. Very healing atmosphere, great teachers, very affordable.
If you need a haircut while you're in town, go see Sharyn Pacquette at EJ-588. She's especially great with very wavy or curly hair.
EJ-588 Hair Studio
588 1st St WIf you need a haircut while you're in town, go see Sharyn Pacquette at EJ-588. She's especially great with very wavy or curly hair.
Lovely place to learn meditation. Tuesday and Thursday evenings and most Sunday mornings are open to the public.
Sonoma Shambhala Meditation Center
255 W Napa StLovely place to learn meditation. Tuesday and Thursday evenings and most Sunday mornings are open to the public.
Heaven forbid you need a hospital while you're here, but in case you do, here's where to go.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sonoma Valley Hospital
347 Andrieux StHeaven forbid you need a hospital while you're here, but in case you do, here's where to go.
Food Scene
Gourmet Taco Shop
19235 Sonoma HwyGreat fish tacos for a few bucks each.
The best Mexican food in Sonoma County. Organic corn tortillas made the old-fashioned way; top-notch ingredients, fun, casual atmosphere.
141 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
El Molino Central
11 Central AveThe best Mexican food in Sonoma County. Organic corn tortillas made the old-fashioned way; top-notch ingredients, fun, casual atmosphere.
Sonoma's long-standing funky coffeehouse. This is definitely not Starbucks!
39 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Barking Dog Roasters
18133 CA-12Sonoma's long-standing funky coffeehouse. This is definitely not Starbucks!
Best food on the Sonoma plaza. The menu changes with the seasons; they tend to feature mediterranean-style soups and sandwiches, lots of veggie dishes. Outdoor patio makes for a fun experience.
87 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sunflower Caffé
421 1st St WBest food on the Sonoma plaza. The menu changes with the seasons; they tend to feature mediterranean-style soups and sandwiches, lots of veggie dishes. Outdoor patio makes for a fun experience.
Peet's Coffee
591 BroadwayWell, it's Peet's. Nuf said.
If you're a pizza-and-pasta type of eater, this place is the best in town.
42 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Red Grape
529 1st St WIf you're a pizza-and-pasta type of eater, this place is the best in town.
Hands-down, the best Thai food in Sonoma County, maybe in the whole state. Get the mango-sticky rice dessert when the mangoes are in season. Fantastic!
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bangkok 9
201 W Napa StHands-down, the best Thai food in Sonoma County, maybe in the whole state. Get the mango-sticky rice dessert when the mangoes are in season. Fantastic!
I'm not a big fan of Italian food (despite being Italian), but my neighbor swears by the place.
46 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cafe Citti
2792 4th StreetI'm not a big fan of Italian food (despite being Italian), but my neighbor swears by the place.
The best (and perhaps most costly) food on the Sonoma Plaza. Treat yourself.
175 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
the girl & the fig
110 W Spain StThe best (and perhaps most costly) food on the Sonoma Plaza. Treat yourself.
If you can't afford the girl and the fig, try this slightly lower-end trattoria-style venue in Glen Ellen. No corkage fee, which is a plus. Great flatbread pizzas.
82 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
the fig cafe & winebar
13690 Arnold DrIf you can't afford the girl and the fig, try this slightly lower-end trattoria-style venue in Glen Ellen. No corkage fee, which is a plus. Great flatbread pizzas.
Essentials
Sonoma Market
500 W Napa StGreat place for groceries; good wine selection.
Whole Foods Market
201 W Napa StWhat can I say? It's Whole Foods.
Shopping
Did you forget to pack some clothes that you now vitally need? Go talk to Chris at Sisters. She'll hook you up.
SISTERS Consignment Couture
4235 Yulupa AveDid you forget to pack some clothes that you now vitally need? Go talk to Chris at Sisters. She'll hook you up.
Support Sonoma's indie book store. Used and new books; interesting speakers and events in the back.
Readers' Books
130 E Napa StSupport Sonoma's indie book store. Used and new books; interesting speakers and events in the back.
If you forgot your toothbrush, need first aid supplies, etc.
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Rite Aid
19205 Sonoma HwyIf you forgot your toothbrush, need first aid supplies, etc.
Great store for both mainstream and complementary health supplies. Sometimes do educational events on topics related to alternative healing.
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pharmaca
1744 Solano AveGreat store for both mainstream and complementary health supplies. Sometimes do educational events on topics related to alternative healing.
Funky, shabby-chic furniture that the owner refurbishes with her unique touch. One-of-a-kind stuff.
Poppy's
13875 CA-12Funky, shabby-chic furniture that the owner refurbishes with her unique touch. One-of-a-kind stuff.
Sonoma Mission Gardens
851 Craig AveThe best nursery in Sonoma, should you need or want garden supplies.
This gorgeous store is full of high-end earthenware cooking pots from around the world. As a chef, this is my heaven.
Bram
493 1st St WThis gorgeous store is full of high-end earthenware cooking pots from around the world. As a chef, this is my heaven.
Arts & Culture
This is not a cinema mega-plex. It's a 19th-century theater house that plays first-run and indie films from all over the world.
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sebastiani Theatre
476 1st St EThis is not a cinema mega-plex. It's a 19th-century theater house that plays first-run and indie films from all over the world.
Yep, even Sonoma has its own art museum. I saw a great exhibit here last year dedicated to kitchen utensils. They do fun stuff like that.
17 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
551 BroadwayYep, even Sonoma has its own art museum. I saw a great exhibit here last year dedicated to kitchen utensils. They do fun stuff like that.
Her photographs are poignant and stunning. Go to the back of the store and look. You'll likely learn something you didn't know.
Lisa Kristine Gallery Sonoma
452 1st St EHer photographs are poignant and stunning. Go to the back of the store and look. You'll likely learn something you didn't know.
Fun cooking school. Take a class while you're here.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Seven Branches Venue and Inn
450 W Spain StFun cooking school. Take a class while you're here.
Sightseeing
Can't vouch for the wines, but the grounds are lovely. There's a spectacular 3-mile hiking loop on the winery grounds.
60 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bartholomew Estate Vineyards and Winery
1000 Vineyard LnCan't vouch for the wines, but the grounds are lovely. There's a spectacular 3-mile hiking loop on the winery grounds.
Less than a mile from my house. Lovely walking trails through the woods, plus a big field surrounded by a walking path. Good place to go "earthing," or walking barefoot.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Maxwell Farms Regional Park
100 Verano AveLess than a mile from my house. Lovely walking trails through the woods, plus a big field surrounded by a walking path. Good place to go "earthing," or walking barefoot.
Have never been but heard it's lovely. Want to get there someday.
29 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Quarryhill Botanical Garden
12841 Sonoma HwyHave never been but heard it's lovely. Want to get there someday.
Lovely grounds; a very Martha Stewart-esque farm store with wreaths, fresh fruit and veggies, and some value-added goods.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Oak Hill Farm
15101 Sonoma HwyLovely grounds; a very Martha Stewart-esque farm store with wreaths, fresh fruit and veggies, and some value-added goods.
Stunning land. Fascinating to tour his home, you really get a sense of this unique character. Docents are informative and friendly.
201 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Jack London State Historic Park
2400 London Ranch RdStunning land. Fascinating to tour his home, you really get a sense of this unique character. Docents are informative and friendly.
Bouverie Preserve
13815 CA-12Haven't yet been; will make it someday.
Gorgeous, very gentle hiking trail that you can do either as a loop of its own (about 2 mi) or merge with the Sonoma Overlook Trail for a more rigorous hike.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Montini Open Space Preserve trailhead
4th Street WestGorgeous, very gentle hiking trail that you can do either as a loop of its own (about 2 mi) or merge with the Sonoma Overlook Trail for a more rigorous hike.
Drinks & Nightlife
Live music, lots of sports TVs, and excellent pub fare. The staff wear T-shirts that say, "Welcome to wine country. Have a beer."
43 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Murphy's Irish Pub
464 1st St ELive music, lots of sports TVs, and excellent pub fare. The staff wear T-shirts that say, "Welcome to wine country. Have a beer."