Chloe & Francesco
Things To Do
Animo
This is the best new restaurant in Sonoma. The chef, Joshua Smookler, and his wife Heidy personally serve dry-aged meats and fish with a Basque-Korean flair, in a non-fussy environment that feels like home. Reservations required and plan ahead. $$$
Acre Pizza
This is the best pizza around. We go here weekly. Pro tip: go to nearby wine bar Region and have this delivered to your table. $
Region.
Self-serve wine bar where you can have nearby Acre Pizza delivered to. Need we say more? $$
The Donum Estate
This is hands-down our favorite winery. In addition to some of the best pinot noirs around, the estate has an art collection you can walk around and explore that includes Yayoi Kusama, Jeffrey Koons, Ai Weiwei, and more. Reservations go extremely fast so plan ahead. $$$
Santa Rosa Community Farmers' Market
The farmer's market is open on Saturdays from 8:30 AM-noon. We love this one because Red Bird Bakery has some of the best croissants and pastries around, and the produce/flowers are fabulous. Stock up on goodies to picnic for our Sunday concert! $
SingleThread Farm - Restaurant - Inn
This one's for the foodies coming from out of town who want to splurge. Sonoma County's only three-star Michelin restaurant is up the 101 in Healdsburg. Japanese, multi-course farm-to-table fare with an unmatched wine program. Reservations are released for July on June 1st. $$$$
RYME Tasting Room
Ryme has some really interesting Italian varietals that you can't find most other places in Sonoma or Napa, and they serve tastings in a relaxed, off the beaten path environment. $$
Riviera Ristorante
Classic California-Italian food served in a warm and friendly environment in the heart of Santa Rosa. Great tented outdoor dining area. Fun fact: our rental house we first moved to when we came here was walking distance! $$
Willi's Wine Bar
We go here a lot! Really great small plates that fit a variety of dietary needs. $$
Hanzell Vineyards
This is one of the first vineyards we visited in Sonoma and it's still a favorite. The tasting and tour is remarkably personal - you get chauffeured around the estate! $$$
Monti's
We love coming here! Great food, especially the spaetzle, yum! $$
Bodega Bay
The drive out here is stunningly beautiful, with rolling hills, cattle, and quaint roadside farm stands. Check out the Pinnacle Gulch trail for a hilly hike down the gulch to the beach, or drive right up to Doran Beach and enjoy a beautiful spot to relax and watch surfers, and maybe even see some starfish. It's generally a good 20 degrees cooler in Bodega Bay, so it's not necessarily always going to be hot. The nearby town of Bodega Bay offers a lot of fun and interesting things to explore! Fun fact: we got married here.
Valette
This is a great fancy dinner spot in Healdsburg with a chef's tasting menu option. Really great local meat on the menu, too. $$$
The Matheson
Owned by the chef over at nearby Valette, the Matheson offers three levels of dining options, including sushi, pizza, and small plates. The rooftop bar area is amazing and has some of the best cocktails around. $$
Quivira Vineyards
This is one of Chloe's personal winery favorites. Known for their sauvignon blanc, Quivira takes on a sustainable approach to producing wine, and you can take a stroll around their beautiful vegetable and flower gardens. Great to pair with a trip to Passalacqua, which is right up the street. $$
Passalacqua Winery
This is a great, family-owned winery known for their zinfandels. Francesco has a soft spot for their Fiano, a dry Italian white wine that can't be found many other places. Tastings are incredibly personalized and you often get to meet the owner. Great to pair with a trip to Quivira, which is next door.