Healdsburg

Healdsburg’s farmers market draws some of the area’s best farms—and the most incredible produce is grown here in Sonoma. See Dry Creek Peach for organic peaches and peach jam, Front Porch Farm for flowers, and a bunch of crafts vendors for pretty pottery and handmade leather purses.

The laid-back, eclectic café Little Saint is 100 percent plant-based—a rarity in otherwise meat-and-cheese-heavy Sonoma. They’re here to prove climate justice, regenerative farming, and animal welfare can play hand-in-hand with deliciousness and celebration. And they make good on that promise: This is one of the best meals you’ll have in Sonoma, whether you’re vegan or not. Enjoy bountiful produce from their low-till, pollinator-friendly farm (just a couple miles down the road), coffee from local and small-batch roasters, and wine from Sonoma vineyards making moves towards sustainability. Just note it’s a seat-yourself situation, so it’s best for smaller groups if you’re planning to go at peak hours—or you can grab one of their picnic baskets to go. They have a stage area for shows, too; mostly local bands, although Boygenius played here once.

Chef Dustin Valette’s second Sonoma restaurant is quintessential Healdsburg. Valette, a born-and-raised Healdsburger, bought and renovated the historic building to save it from a teardown. Expect farm-to-table fine dining with a cross-cultural menu, knowledgeable servers and sommeliers, and a wine-tasting wall where you can order rare varietals by the glass or just a sip at a time. There’s a more-casual cocktail bar on the roof, too, if you want to drop by for pre-dinner drinks.

Never mind that grounds are airy and lush, with cute corners to tuck into for private chats. The wine itself (mostly pinot noir and chardonnay) is complex and flavorful—a result of grapes grown at high elevations along the Sonoma coast. Best of both worlds: You get the minerality of the ocean and the earthiness of the mountains.

Originally built in 1881, this boutique hotel, newly remodeled by San Francisco-based designer and co-owner Jay Jeffers, blends contemporary elements and charms of the past with remarkable attention to detail. There are 24 completely unique rooms distributed between the main house, the carriage house, and free-standing bungalows. (Indulge in crisp linens and heated tile floors.) On the expansive eight-acre property, guests can luxuriate in the on-site orange grove, take a dip in the saltwater pool, enjoy the restaurant (helmed by Michelin-starred chef Jesse Mallgren), and ogle over exquisitely patterned wallpapers, original architectural features, and antique furnishings, like a set of particularly charming bunny-eared chairs. Our favorite part? Savoring our morning coffee from the wraparound porch, enjoying views of Napa’s rolling vineyards.

Buried deep in wine country, “a retreat for the modern age” is an apt descriptor for the new-ish Montage. Less than two hours from San Francisco, the property is as much a wellness destination as it is a wine-centric one. The spa is next level, with a roster of both traditional and more cutting-edge treatments available. Meanwhile, yoga happens outside amongst the vineyards. At its core, the Montage Healdsburg is a classic California resort: Understated, aesthetically respectful of the natural surroundings, and resolutely upmarket. Given the property sits on 250 acres, you are saturated in vines, oak trees, and native flowers at every turn—the level of space and isolation is total bliss. And the hotel has every amenity you can think of (with great activities for kiddos). The concierge crew are whizzes at arranging private tastings, tours, and bespoke dining experiences throughout the Sonoma Valley. Images courtesy of Christian Horan.

A guesthouse and a major foodie destination, SingleThread Farm is located on a stretch of five acres between the Russian River and San Lorenzo Ranch.

Located on the west side of Healdsburg, this hotel puts you within walking distance of all the downtown wineries and restaurants. (You can also borrow one of the hotel's PUBLIC bikes to explore.)

The team farms the vineyards organically, avoiding the use of insecticides, herbicides, or chemical toxins, and solar power provides the energy to keep the 330-plus acre spread running (80 percent of which they keep wild to allow for the natural growth of local trees and other botanicals).

You’ll be stunned by the wide-open space replete with floor-to-ceiling windows and a grand patio that offers some of the best views in the valley.