Nikki And Michael’s Guide to Living Like a Local
Breakfast/Brunch
They only serve brunch on the weekends but their sister restaurant Picazo Cafe is open seven days a week for breakfast and is also quite good. Everything on the menu is good. There are also known for their burger if you’re around for lunch or dinner.
8 personas locales recomiendan
Picazo Kitchen & Bar
19101 Sonoma HwyThey only serve brunch on the weekends but their sister restaurant Picazo Cafe is open seven days a week for breakfast and is also quite good. Everything on the menu is good. There are also known for their burger if you’re around for lunch or dinner.
Closest dining to the house - easy bike ride or drive. Pretty standard menu items done really well and reasonably priced. Restaurant is smaller and has a “locals” feel.
21 personas locales recomiendan
Creekside Cafe
239 Boyes BlvdClosest dining to the house - easy bike ride or drive. Pretty standard menu items done really well and reasonably priced. Restaurant is smaller and has a “locals” feel.
Great back patio with plenty of seating. Really unique menu and the Monster Mimosas are a great way to start the day. Get in line and get your order in right away because it gets busy and the line gets long – and they do run out of eggs. Located on the plaza.
87 personas locales recomiendan
Sunflower Caffé
421 1st St WGreat back patio with plenty of seating. Really unique menu and the Monster Mimosas are a great way to start the day. Get in line and get your order in right away because it gets busy and the line gets long – and they do run out of eggs. Located on the plaza.
Chilaquiles is the only thing they do for breakfast, but they are oh so worth it. If we could recommend one food item this would be it. We save one breakfast every trip and make sure to get the chilaquiles.
141 personas locales recomiendan
El Molino Central
11 Central AveChilaquiles is the only thing they do for breakfast, but they are oh so worth it. If we could recommend one food item this would be it. We save one breakfast every trip and make sure to get the chilaquiles.
This is our favorite place right now. This family-owned gem is in the heart of Glen Ellen. They make everything from scratch…including the sausage. The benedicts are delicious and the mimosas are on the larger side. How can you go wrong? Try to go early because it does get very busy. Alternatively, you can head straight to the cash register and get pastries and espresso to go.
26 personas locales recomiendan
Garden Court Cafe
13647 Arnold DrThis is our favorite place right now. This family-owned gem is in the heart of Glen Ellen. They make everything from scratch…including the sausage. The benedicts are delicious and the mimosas are on the larger side. How can you go wrong? Try to go early because it does get very busy. Alternatively, you can head straight to the cash register and get pastries and espresso to go.
Lunch & Dinner
One of the best restaurants in Sonoma. Décor is great. Food is great. Right on the plaza. Just an awesome dining experience. Reservations recommended.
175 personas locales recomiendan
the girl & the fig
110 W Spain StOne of the best restaurants in Sonoma. Décor is great. Food is great. Right on the plaza. Just an awesome dining experience. Reservations recommended.
Great beer menu and upscale tavern food. Order the “Pliny the Elder” beer if you want a Sonoma original by Russian River Brewing (it’s a double IPA) – it’s a very well-known beer and has a cult following. Perfect place to go relax, have a drink and listen to some live music (every Friday evening and early afternoon on weekends). This is the place to watch Sunday NFL football if you are so inclined. We usually stop here on our way back to our “weekday” house. Also very kid friendly.
65 personas locales recomiendan
HopMonk Tavern Sonoma
691 BroadwayGreat beer menu and upscale tavern food. Order the “Pliny the Elder” beer if you want a Sonoma original by Russian River Brewing (it’s a double IPA) – it’s a very well-known beer and has a cult following. Perfect place to go relax, have a drink and listen to some live music (every Friday evening and early afternoon on weekends). This is the place to watch Sunday NFL football if you are so inclined. We usually stop here on our way back to our “weekday” house. Also very kid friendly.
Amazing Mexican “street” food that uses fresh, local ingredients. It can be a bit on the spicy side so be careful if you’re sensitive to that. You can’t go wrong with what you order here. Once you order, you can walk through the kitchen to the seating in the back. This is the same place with the chilaquiles recommended for breakfast.
141 personas locales recomiendan
El Molino Central
11 Central AveAmazing Mexican “street” food that uses fresh, local ingredients. It can be a bit on the spicy side so be careful if you’re sensitive to that. You can’t go wrong with what you order here. Once you order, you can walk through the kitchen to the seating in the back. This is the same place with the chilaquiles recommended for breakfast.
Yummy pizza dine-in or delivery. This is the original restaurant. There is also a location in Sonoma plaza.
13 personas locales recomiendan
Mary's Pizza Shack
18636 Sonoma HwyYummy pizza dine-in or delivery. This is the original restaurant. There is also a location in Sonoma plaza.
On the NW corner of the plaza across from Girl and the Fig. Upper scale, but surprisingly kid-friendly (ask the server for the kids’ menu). You can sit outside by their pool or inside in their beautifully decorated restaurant. The menu changes frequently but when they have it we love the Nicoise salad and burrata appetizer.
98 personas locales recomiendan
El Dorado Kitchen
405 1st St WOn the NW corner of the plaza across from Girl and the Fig. Upper scale, but surprisingly kid-friendly (ask the server for the kids’ menu). You can sit outside by their pool or inside in their beautifully decorated restaurant. The menu changes frequently but when they have it we love the Nicoise salad and burrata appetizer.
This is a more laid-back sister restaurant to Girl and the Fig and is located in Glen Ellen. They have no corkage fee and also have a great selection of their own Rhone area wine. You can get one of our favorite roses here (The Girl and the Fig Rose). Their brunch menu is awesome…we liked the brunch pizza. Dinner is equally as superb and we love the burgers. Excellent service.
82 personas locales recomiendan
the fig cafe & winebar
13690 Arnold DrThis is a more laid-back sister restaurant to Girl and the Fig and is located in Glen Ellen. They have no corkage fee and also have a great selection of their own Rhone area wine. You can get one of our favorite roses here (The Girl and the Fig Rose). Their brunch menu is awesome…we liked the brunch pizza. Dinner is equally as superb and we love the burgers. Excellent service.
This is a small quaint restaurant downtown Glen Ellen. It’s good to get reservations if you can. The steak is delicious as are any of the roasted veggies. Awesome wine list, too.
127 personas locales recomiendan
Glen Ellen Star
13648 Arnold DrThis is a small quaint restaurant downtown Glen Ellen. It’s good to get reservations if you can. The steak is delicious as are any of the roasted veggies. Awesome wine list, too.
Wineries & Tasting Rooms
Perfect place to start your wine tasting day. Sit out on the patio with views overlooking the vineyard and enjoy some bubbly.
59 personas locales recomiendan
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards
23555 Arnold DrPerfect place to start your wine tasting day. Sit out on the patio with views overlooking the vineyard and enjoy some bubbly.
Enjoy some of Sonoma’s best pinot noirs. If you plan on tasting here you should think about making a reservation - you need to come at one of their designated tasting times.
Patz & Hall Winery
21200 8th St EEnjoy some of Sonoma’s best pinot noirs. If you plan on tasting here you should think about making a reservation - you need to come at one of their designated tasting times.
The oldest family owned winery in California. Huge grounds with a lake and nice view. Lots of different varietals to try.
87 personas locales recomiendan
Gundlach Bundschu Winery
2000 Denmark StreetThe oldest family owned winery in California. Huge grounds with a lake and nice view. Lots of different varietals to try.
Smaller winery, less crowded most of the time. Beautiful grounds. If the weather is nice, enjoy your wine on the gorgeous patio.
12 personas locales recomiendan
Arrowood Vineyard & Winery
14347 CA-12Smaller winery, less crowded most of the time. Beautiful grounds. If the weather is nice, enjoy your wine on the gorgeous patio.
On the plaza. The owner Robert Kamen has written a bunch of movies, including Karate Kid, Taken, Fifth Element, Transporter, and Taps, among others. You’ll see some evidence of these movies in the tasting room. Tasting fees are on the high side but it’s worth it. These are some of our favorite wines in the valley.
9 personas locales recomiendan
Kamen Estate Wines
111B East Napa StreetOn the plaza. The owner Robert Kamen has written a bunch of movies, including Karate Kid, Taken, Fifth Element, Transporter, and Taps, among others. You’ll see some evidence of these movies in the tasting room. Tasting fees are on the high side but it’s worth it. These are some of our favorite wines in the valley.
On the way to Glen Ellen, this down-to-earth and kid-friendly winery specializes in a few red blends and cabs. They also have tram tour of their biodynamic vineyards, fermentation facility, crush pads, and barrel caves.
89 personas locales recomiendan
Benziger Family Winery
1883 London Ranch RdOn the way to Glen Ellen, this down-to-earth and kid-friendly winery specializes in a few red blends and cabs. They also have tram tour of their biodynamic vineyards, fermentation facility, crush pads, and barrel caves.
If you are very picky about your Pinot Noirs, and like them a bit more earthy and less fruity/jammy, give Merry Edwards a try. The winery is out in Russian River, but it’s worth the drive. The Sauvignon Blanc is also award winning. Worth scheduling an appointment.
39 personas locales recomiendan
Merry Edwards Winery
2959 Gravenstein Hwy NIf you are very picky about your Pinot Noirs, and like them a bit more earthy and less fruity/jammy, give Merry Edwards a try. The winery is out in Russian River, but it’s worth the drive. The Sauvignon Blanc is also award winning. Worth scheduling an appointment.
Certainly more on the commercial side but worth the visit. They have good wines but we also go there for the food. Grab a glass (or bottle) of wine and order a wood fired pizza or panini. Then stop in at the chocolate and gelato shop for dessert.
70 personas locales recomiendan
VJB Cellars
60 Shaw AveCertainly more on the commercial side but worth the visit. They have good wines but we also go there for the food. Grab a glass (or bottle) of wine and order a wood fired pizza or panini. Then stop in at the chocolate and gelato shop for dessert.