What’s New in Healdsburg Restaurants, Hotels, Wine & Food 2024

One of the most exciting things about Healdsburg is that it’s constantly evolving. Every year, new restaurants, bars and boutiques pop up in the compact downtown area, infusing the scene with new energy and providing a welcome complement to Healdsburg’s long-established classics. The result is a dynamic mashup of comfort and cutting-edge—and we’re here for all of it.

Here, starting with the most recent, are Healdsburg’s latest openings and evolutions, from restaurants to bars to tasting rooms.

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants, Hotels, Wineries & Bars (Updated July 2024)

Arandas Brings New Tastes of Mexico to Downtown

Mexican cuisine with elevated flair is back in Healdsburg. The void left when Mateo’s Cocina Latina closed in 2021 has finally been filled by Arandas, tucked downstairs in the posh Hotel Les Mars. Executive Chef Adrien Nieto, a Southern Californian with Jalisco roots known for his appearance on Master Chef Season 2, helms the kitchen. Chalkboard’s grand bar and archway design details remain, as well as the focus on shareable plates. Nieto’s vision is modern Mexican cuisine with soul, and the opening menu playfully shows off the chef’s arsenal of influences and creativity. Don’t miss the Ostiones (oysters with borage blossoms), Calabacitas (summer squash tacos) or the Double Trouble Margarita. A happy hour menu and weekend lunch hours just debuted too.

Arandas, 29 North Street, Healdsburg, CA, arandashealdsburg.com

The Power of Pop-ups Continues in Healdsburg

Pop-up restaurants are playing a bigger role in Healdsburg’s vibrant and ever-evolving culinary playground this summer. Harmon Guest House is hosting a pop-up chef series, Elevated Eats, at its open-air restaurant, The Rooftop, overlooking downtown and Fitch Mountain. Each month through September, a guest chef takes over the kitchen for one night, from Food Network competitors, such as Kathy Fang, to beloved local chefs, including Mateo Granados and Ralph Tingle. Maison Wine Bar, a hub for unexpected wines from SingleThread and Barndiva alumni, is keeping curious palates engaged each month with a rotating line-up of pop-ups, from classic Chinese fare most Tuesdays from The Matriarch by Second Staff (former SingleThreaders named one of the 15 Best New Restaurants in Sonoma County 2023 by Sonoma magazine) and gourmet Philly cheesesteaks by the witty Golden Steak Warriors to nearby Guiso Latin Fusion. (Arandas’s chef even did a pop-up here before opening.) Otello Tiano, former mixologist at Lazy Bear in San Francisco—who currently works as a captain at SingleThread—has been taking over the bar at Molti Amici the second Wednesday of every month with his Barsace cocktail pop-up with collaborators, such as Hoja Santa Oaxacan food. (Molti Amici says they are taking a break, but keep an eye out for where Barsace will pop-up next.) The chef from Reeve Wines is popping up every other Thursday with a smash burger bash at the Bloodroot tasting room downtown. Visit websites and Instagram profiles for the latest dates.

Harmon Guest House, 227 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA, harmonguesthouse.com
Maison Healdsburg, 210 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA, maisonwinebar.com
Second Staff, second-staff.com
Golden Steak Warriors, instagram.com/golden_steak_warriors
Barsace, instagram.com/barsace_
Hoja Santa, instagram.com/hojasanta2022

Italian-inspired Overshine Wines: What’s Next for Idlewild, Armida and Belle de Jour Inn

Healdsburg’s speakeasy Sunday School wine studies have an exciting plot twist to pair with your salame and Sagrantino. Fourth-generation local vintner Sam Bilbro has sold Idlewild Wines—Sonoma County’s hub for Italian wine, hospitality and education, to his friend and fellow grapegrower David Drummond. Drummond, a former Google executive smitten with Italian varieties, became close with the Idlewild owner through educational Sunday School wine tastings in 2018 and soon tapped Bilbro to transform 70 acres of Drummond’s Las Cimas Vineyard in Russian River Valley to a vinous playground of more than 40 Italian grape varieties. Last year, Drummond also purchased Healdsburg’s Armida Winery and recently completed renovation of its hospitality outdoor spaces to include a new terrace for tastings, as well as pergolas, cabanas and fire pits on the sprawling lawns. (And yes—Armida’s popular bocce ball courts with a view remain.) Armida Winery, now known as Overshine Winery, and Idlewild both live under a new wine company, Overshine Wines. Those who love Idlewild’s intimate, family-feel hospitality need not cry over a bowl of Bolognese—favorite faces are staying. Bilbro will oversee all vineyards and winemaking production as a managing partner at Overshine, and Thomas DeBiase, long-time director of Idlewild’s hospitality and the brainchild behind their tasting experiences and pop-up events, is also a partner leading sales and operations. The trio has many plans in store for lovers of Italian food, wine and hospitality with Healdsburg’s haute flair. They just launched a third wine label, Comunità, to celebrate the sense of community and collaboration through organically grown, intriguing blends inspired by the wines of Northern Italy. Healdsburg’s Belle De Jour Inn, another Drummond acquisition, is under renovation with plans to reopen as the Comunità bed and breakfast in 2025. Their vision for the 7-acre inn is an Italian-style agriturismo that blends wine, culinary experiences and accommodations. Idlewild’s neighboring Italian wine and provisions shop, Ciao! Bruto, founded by Bilbro and DeBiase in 2022, is not a part of the Overshine Wines deal, and it’s still owned and operated by the duo. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from this new Healdsburg wine company.

Overshine Winery, 2201 Westside Road, Healdsburg, CA, overshinewines.com
Idlewild Wines, 132 Plaza Street, Healdsburg, CA, idlewildwines.com
Ciao! Bruto, 130 Plaza Street, Healdsburg, CA, ciaobruto.com
Comunità Bed & Breakfast, 16276 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA (opening 2025)

Second Story at Little Saint closes

Little Saint’s ambitious restaurant with a vegan prix fixe menu and non-alcohol pairing options has closed—less than one year after opening with Chef Stu Stalker of Noma fame helming the kitchen. Stalker will continue his culinary arts downstairs at the Little Saint Café, as well as Little Saint’s community gatherings and private events. The Second Story space will revert to a private events space and continue hosting Little Saint’s frequent community art events, from films to live performances. The lofty room with a boho-chic vibe and engaging acoustics has become a magnet for buzzworthy musicians around the country.

Little Saint, 25 North Street, Healdsburg, CA, littlesaint.com

Movie nights: Another Alfresco Activity Expanding in Wine Country

Multiple Healdsburg hotels and wineries are rekindling our love affair with outdoor movies, allowing guests to feel the nostalgia of a drive-up theatre without the car. Movies on the Lawn at The Madrona Manor is now an annual summer series with a new showing each month, May through October. Each movie night features lawn-seating style experience, an outdoor tasting lounge with a guest winery pouring, snack essentials, and a limited number of locally designed blankets and poufs. Film lovers are welcome to bring blankets, chairs and well-behaved pets. Farmhouse Inn in the Russian River Valley kicked off its first Cinema in the Courtyard Summer Series this year with alfresco film events twice a month through August. Guests enjoy craft cocktails, wines, eats from the hotel’s casual restaurant, Farmstand, as well as the option to roast s’mores in their charming courtyard garden. All movie nights are open to non-hotel guests. Blankets are welcome at Farmhouse cinema nights, but leave the lawn chairs and pets at home. For those seeking a vintage experience, the Alexander Valley Film Society is hosting Movies Under the Stars on select weekends through October, including two drive-in theatres at the Cloverdale Municipal Airport north of Healdsburg. Visit their websites for the latest event schedule and pricing.

The Madrona, 1001 Westside Road, Healdsburg, CA, themadronahotel.com
Farmhouse Inn, 7871 River Road, Healdsburg, CA, farmhouseinn.com
Alexander Valley Film Society, avfilmpresents.org

A Walking Tour through Harmon Guest House’s Latest Art Installation

As part of its Rotating Art Installation Series, Harmon Guest House collaborated with local artist and winemaker Alice Warnecke Sutro to create Mistress of Memory / Palimpsest Suites. The four-story, boutique hotel’s site-specific installation reveals the nature of a space built for transience, reminding travelers of those who came before and those who will follow. It features life-size, figurative drawings mounted on glass, as well as a mural at The Rooftop and a vivid video in the hotel’s lobby. Through the end of August, hotel guests enjoy the benefit of installations in all six suites, and visitors can experience four pieces of Sutro’s work in different forms, as the shadows move across the common areas throughout the day, from the lobby to the open stairwell and The Rooftop restaurant. Known for her deep connections to Healdsburg, Sutro lives a dual life as both an artist and owner/operator of SUTRO, which makes a Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from her family’s ranch off Chalk Hill Road. Follow Harmon Guest House for future art installation announcements.

Harmon Guest House, 227 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA, harmonguesthouse.com

Other Healdsburg restaurant and winery openings

Tisza Bistro, the former Windsor eatery known for authentic Eastern European cuisine with a Sonoma County twist, has relocated to the old Singletree diner on Healdsburg Avenue; Truett-Hurst Winery is under new ownership (founder Phil Hurst bought it back with partner Ken Wilson of the Wilson wineries and inns empire), and they’ll be opening a tasting room in the former Coursey Graves space just off the Healdsburg roundabout on Mill Street;  32Winds in Healdsburg’s Dry Creek Valley, owned by the Mascarin family since 2012, has launched a second wine label, Mascarin Wines; Acorn Café, Healdsburg’s newest alfresco spot for brunch/lunch, is set to open in August in the old Oakville Grocery space just off Healdsburg Plaza (see last edition for additional details.)

Tiza Bistro, 165 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA, tiszabistro.com
Truett-Hurst, 113 Mill Street, Healdsburg, CA, truetthurstwinery.com
32 Winds, 1010 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA, 32windswine.com
Acorn Café, 124 Matheson Street, Healdsburg, CA, acornhealdsburg.com

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants, Hotels, Wineries & Bars (Updated February 2024)

Jordan Reveals New Art Installation: Flore de Jordan

If you’ve been following Jordan Winery on Instagram, you’ve seen the latest art installation and the unveiling of Flore de Jordan – a meticulously handcrafted sculpture by acclaimed Parisian artist, Alice Riehl. The captivating masterpiece, comprised of over 100 sculpted porcelain blooms, marks the latest addition to the the newly renovated French-inspired chateau lobby. Following an elaborate 11-month development process, from research to installation, Alice Riehl found inspiration within the native and cultivated flora thriving across Jordan’s vast 1,200-acre estate, along with the rich tapestries adorning the walls of the winery chateau. The result is a stunning integration of nature and art, embodying the essence of Jordan. Book a tour & tasting to see this piece for yourself.

Jordan Winery, 1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg, CA, jordanwinery.com

Healdsburg Bubble Bar Bursts Onto the Scene

Sarah Quider, the former senior VP of winemaking at Foley Family Wines, opened a chic, Paris-inspired Champagne bar with her sister Samantha Tilley on Valentine’s Day. What’s not to love? Before joining Foley, Sarah kicked off her career as an enologist at Jordan, so you know we’ll be big supporters of her new venture. Along with French Champagne from classic and under-the-radar producers, Healdsburg Bubble Bar showcases bubbly from around the world, plus caviar, charcuterie and other Champagne-friendly fare. The venue itself is an attraction all its own; the bar is housed in a gorgeously renovated 1906 Queen Anne Victorian, swathed in shades of deep blue and gold. Fancy an overnight stay? The bar’s upstairs apartment is available for rent.

Healdsburg Bubble Bar, 134 North Street, Healdsburg, CA, healdsburgbubblebar.com

Rooftop 106 is Open for Sunday Brunch

The Matheson’s stylish cocktail lounge and open-air restaurant, Rooftop 106, now offers a Sunday brunch that’s well worth waking up for. With chef Dustin Valette at the helm, this isn’t your typical brunch fare. The menu sings with mouthwatering creations like salumetti and gruyere scones; crispy pork belly with eggs; and breakfast pizza from the wood-fired oven topped with smoked salmon or local eggs and piquillo peppers. It wouldn’t be brunch without some spiked libations, and we’re especially partial to the Morning Wake Up Call, mixed with Old Forester rye, coffee and cardamom demerara; and the JonJon’s Bloody Mary, a perky blend of Meyer lemon vodka and house made bloody mix crafted from heirloom tomato water. There’s also a great selection of zero-proof cocktails.

Rooftop 106, 106 Matheson St., Healdsburg, CA, thematheson.com/roof-106

Sushi by Scratch Arrives in Healdsburg

When The Matheson stopped serving sushi, we have to admit we were a little bummed. But our disappointment turned to excitement when we learned that the restaurant was making way for a fabulous new omakase dining experience via Sushi by Scratch. This is the first Bay Area outpost for the acclaimed speakeasy-style sushi concept, founded in Los Angeles by husband-and-wife team Philip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee. (Gwyneth Paltrow, Selena Gomez, and Prince Harry and Megan Markle are just some of the SoCal locations’ A-list fans.) With only 10 seats hidden in a private dining room at the back of The Matheson, Sushi by Scratch is about as intimate as it gets without hiring a private chef. The luxe experience, with three seatings each night, features 17 creative nigiri courses ($185) showcasing seasonal ingredients and uber-fresh seafood flown in from Tokyo’s famous Toyosu Fish Market.

Sushi by Scratch, 106 Matheson St., Healdsburg, CA, sushibyscratchrestaurants.com

Acorn Café to Open in Former Oakville Grocery Space

When Oakville Grocery closed its downtown location at the end of 2023 after 25 years in business, wild speculation ensued. What could possibly replace this local culinary institution? While the details have yet to be revealed, we did learn that Beryl Adler, the general manager at Black Oak Coffee Roasters in Healdsburg, is taking over the space and opening a new venue called Acorn Café. Before lending his talents to Black Oak, Beryl ran the culinary program at the Ritz-Carlton hotels in Half Moon Bay and Grand Cayman. For now, he’s keeping the details of his Healdsburg vision under wraps, so stay tuned for updates.

Acorn Café, 124 Matheson St., Healdsburg, CA, Instagram: @acornhealdsburg

Montagne Russe Opens ‘Vino and Vinyls,’ a Record Store Within a Tasting Room

Kevin Bersofsky, owner and winemaker at Montagne Russe, started collecting vinyl in 2021, soon after opening a tasting room at Healdsburg’s Bacchus Landing. As his record stash grew, tasting room visitors began asking where they could buy Bersofsky’s musical selections, and a novel idea was born. In late January, he opened the Vino and Vinyls record shop inside the Montagne Russe tasting room. Now, along with sampling cool-climate Syrah, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, tasters can peruse and purchase more than 2,000 new and used records. The winery also hosts Vino and Vinyls trivia nights and happy hour events. We sure like the sound of that.

Russe Wines, 14210 Bacchus Landing Way, Suite 101, Healdsburg, CA, russewines.com

The Society: Healdsburg Replaces Banshee

Earlier this year, Banshee Wines moved its downtown tasting room to a new home in Geyserville, making way for The Society: Healdsburg. Similar to its sister location in Santa Barbara, the hip, multi-brand tasting lounge features the full lineup of Foley Family Wines, including Banshee, Chalk Hill Estate, Chalone, Chateau St. Jean, Ferrari-Carano, Firestone, Foley Johnson, Merus, Roth Estate Winery, Silverado Vineyards, Sebastiani, Foley Sonoma, The Four Graces, and Three Rivers. Society also serves up a variety of tasting experiences, including a vintage magnum tasting, caviar pairings, and wine blending workshops.

The Society: Healdsburg, 325 Center St., Healdsburg, CA, foleyfoodandwinesociety.com

Barndiva Pivots to Focus on Casual Suppers and Private Events

Barndiva’s owners stunned the community—us included—with its announcement that, as of Jan. 21, the Michelin-starred restaurant would pivot to become a casual dining venue and private events space. We needn’t have worried, though. Barndiva fans can still enjoy chef Erik Anderson’s inventive cuisine in less fancy form at Studio Barndiva a La Carte each Sunday and Monday, in the adjacent gallery. While this may seem like a major shift, owners Geoff Hales, Jil Hales and Lukka Feldman are calling this a return to their roots. In a blog post, they explained, “We all long to return to tastes that trigger happiness and memory; to be excited by new food experiences, step into a room filled with music and engaging conversation.” As much as we love exquisite tasting-menu experiences, like the ones previously offered at Barndiva, we can’t think of a more beautiful sentiment. Meet us there for supper next Monday?

Barndiva, 231 Center St, Healdsburg, CA, barndiva.com

Dry Creek Kitchen Debuts New Chef and Dining Room Revamp

Dry Creek Kitchen has a new executive chef—and a new look. Shane McAnelly joined DCK as executive chef in November, just in time for the unveiling of the restaurant’s revamped dining room design. Shane is no stranger to Healdsburg; he was the executive chef at Chalkboard and The Brass Rabbit, as well as Bricoleur Vineyards, before heading off for a stint at Horse Shoe Farm resort in North Carolina. We’re thrilled that he’s back in town to bring new excitement to a legacy favorite. Speaking of revivals, DCK’s new dining room design is a study in modern luxury, including a marble bar, a sleek, glass-walled wine cellar and paintings by local artist Bob Nugent.

Dry Creek Kitchen, 317 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, CA, drycreekkitchen.com

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants, Hotels, Wineries & Bars (Updated June 2023)

Chef from the world-famous Noma helms new restaurant, The Second Story

When SingleThread’s Kyle and Katina Connaughton announced that their hospitality company would no longer be managing Little Saint’s restaurant at the end of 2022, we all wondered how the new owners of the former SHED were going to fill those Michelin-star-studded shoes. The answer? By taking their talent search next-level and luring one of the toques behind Denmark’s Noma to Healdsburg.

Chef Stu Stalker spent several years in different positions at Noma and its global pop-up restaurants, during the time when the Copenhagen-based dining mecca earned the “World’s Best Restaurant” title. A native of England, Stalker will lead the kitchen at The Second Story, located above Little Saint’s vegan café. The Second Story will feature a multi-course, set menu ($120)—also keeping with Little Saint’s vegan ethos—highlighting ingredients from Little Saint Farm. Consciously sourced wine, low-alcohol and no-alcohol beverage pairing menus are available ($65), as well as wine and cocktails à la carte.

The second level of Little Saint has always been a bit of an enigma. Is it an event venue? A music hall? A pop-up art gallery? The airy loft’s metamorphosis into a conservatory-style dining room, bathed in natural light and filled with plants, is a welcome move—and an essential one in a tiny town that is constantly making culinary news headlines. Look out, chef. The foodie stalkers will find you even if you’re not on Instagram.

The Second Story at Little Saint, 25 North Street, Healdsburg, CA, littlesainthealdsburg.com

Jordan Reveals New Guest Salon and Retail Boutique

This month, Jordan Winery unveiled a new lobby and retail boutique inside its grand, French-inspired chateau. After seven months of renovations, the former reception area has been transformed from a corridor of mahogany into a grand living room, known as le salon in France, for guests to relax in before or after wine tasting experiences, along with a stunning reception area, retail boutique, gorgeous bathrooms, intriguing French art displays and antique objects. Richly textured fabrics and tapestries with woodland scenes pay homage to the 1,200 acres that surround the chateau. The hand-painted mural in the women’s bathroom, featuring trees and birds of Jordan Estate, took the wallpaper artists at Gracie around 500 hours to complete. There’s also an intriguing collage of antique French art that tells that story of Jordan’s 50-plus year history. Plan to arrive early or stay after your Healdsburg wine tasting because the pretty photo opportunities are endless. See the transformation on Instagram.

Jordan Winery, 1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg, CA, jordanwinery.com

Campo Fina Space Becomes Molti Amici, Thanks to SingleThread Alumni

When Campo Fina announced it was closing at the end of 2022, there was a public outcry. Locals didn’t picket on the Plaza; they hosted a funeral instead. Thankfully, our sobs were heard (and shared) by three SingleThread alumni—Jonny Barr, former general manager of the three Michelin-star destination, and Sean McGaughey and Melissa Yanc, owners of Quail + Condor and Troubadour Bread & Bistro. The friends pulled resources to lease the charming, brick-walled space and keep many of its beloved features in place. Projected to open in July, Molti Amici means “many friends” in Italian, fitting for a casual neighborhood restaurant that plans to fill the void. It will feature fresh Italian fare, like its predecessor, with a focus on pizza and other dishes from the wood-fired oven that anchored Campo Fina’s hidden courtyard. The restaurant’s bocce ball court is also making a comeback, just in time for summer.

Molti Amici, 330 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA, moltiamici.com

Scout Field Bar at Montage Reopens after Major Renovation

The anchor to Montage Healdsburg’s lobby, Scout Field Bar has always been a showstopper with its onyx stone facade, adjoining lounge and hilltop views. Yet, the five-star resort decided to reimagine its popular gathering space last winter and debuted the new Scout in May. The sleek bar was extended into the courtyard, giving it an even more luxurious indoor-outdoor feel, thanks to stylish, floor-to-ceiling windows that take even better advantage of the stunning vineyard and Mount St. Helena vistas. Seating was increased from just nine to 25, so scoring a seat for sunset happy hour just got easier. Executive Chef Jason Pringle and Beverage Director Paul Coker have fine-tuned the menu to focus on local, sharable bites—including several with French flair (pâté en croute, escargot and truffle frites, par exemple)—and a slew of tasty, new cocktails to complement a robust wine list.

Scout Field Bar at Montage, 100 Montage Way, Healdsburg, CA, montagehotels.com

Napa Valley Chef Lands at The Madrona

When chef Jesse Mallgren left The Madrona earlier this spring to helm the kitchen at Jordan Vineyard & Winery  many wondered how the owners of the recently renovated Victorian mansion hotel—which once housed the Michelin-star restaurant Mallgren steered for 25 years—would act. While Little Saint looked to Denmark for its new top toque, The Madrona looked to Napa Valley. Patrick Tafoya, former executive chef at Round Pond Estate, has been hired to lead the next chapter in The Madrona’s culinary history.

The Madrona, 1001 Westside Rd, Healdsburg, CA, themadronahotel.com

The Return of the Wine Bar at Maison Healdsburg

The closing of beloved Bergamot Alley in 2018 left Healdsburg without a classic wine bar—a void in the sea of tasting rooms that Michelin-star alumni have been working to change for two years. The wait is finally over with the opening of Maison Healdsburg in early June, after several construction delays. A wine bar and retail shop focusing on the wines of Sonoma Coast, Burgundy and Champagne, Maison Healdsburg is the dream come true of Evan Hufford, former wine director of SingleThread, his wife Jade Hufford, a hospitality maven who led dining service at SingleThread, Barndiva and Atelier Crenn, and partner Ryan Knowles, who helped open SingleThread after a successful stint as the formager at Madrona Manor. (See a pattern here?) This trio knows Michelin-level quality and exquisite hospitality, so this is definitely a destination to add to your Healdsburg travel itinerary. Maison Healdsburg will offer light snacks to complement the wines, such as cheese and charcuterie, gourmet tins of fish and California caviar. The best part? They plan to stay open well past midnight—much-needed in a downtown that seems to go to bed at 9. Evan’s passion for seeking out bottles of old California wines was one of his hallmarks at SingleThread, so be prepared to be wowed with the kind of bottles rarely seen outside of Winebid or private cellars. In addition, expect classes on rotating topics of interest for beginner and expert alike. Located next to one of our favorite cocktail bars, Lo & Behold.

Maison Wine Bar, 210 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, CA, maisonwinebar.com

Hotel Healdsburg Reopens New PizZando; Plans Fourth Hotel

Sating your pizza craving in Healdsburg just got easier. PizZando, the pizzeria and trattoria on a main corner of the Plaza, reopened in late March after a major renovation that doubled seating indoors, expanded the kitchen and added a much-needed bar to the tiny spot. Fifteen more bar seats now exist right on the Plaza, so be sure to stop by for a pie, and your senses will be rewarded with much more. A new beverage program was created a beverage program to revival the stiff competition around town, featuring Italian-inspired drinks with local ingredients and a wine list filled with local Italian varietals and imports from Italy. The new kitchen allows chefs Thomas Mulligan and Francisco Alveraz of PizZando’s restaurant, Spoonbar, to keep its comforting classics—think Finocchiona pizza, preserved lemon ravioli and beef bolognese—and offer unexpected yet approachable specials, melanze alla parmigina and house-made lasagna. An additional oven allows for two types of pizza, their classic Napolitina style and now a Romana style too. Grab-and-go focaccia has also been added to the menu. Its pandemic parklet got a permanent makeover too, featuring pull down shades, planters filled with olive trees and more seating. PizZando is owned by Hotel Healdsburg and located just outside the luxe hotel’s entrance. Piazza Hospitality, the owners of Hotel Healdsburg, h2hotel and Harmon Guest House, have also presented initial plans to the city for a fourth hotel in downtown Healdsburg next to John and Zeke’s bar, referred to as Healdsburg Residences. Stay tuned for more details on the future of the boutique hotel.

PizZando, 301 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA, pizzandohealdsburg.com
Hotel Healdsburg, 25 Matheson Street, Healdsburg, CA, hotelhealdsburg.com

Other Openings & Tastemaker News

Healdsburg’s food scene is constantly evolving, and there’s diversity beyond fine dining to discover. The brick-walled, former home to Brass Rabbit is reopening this month as a hybrid-casual eatery from a mother-son team: Angela’s Organic Ice Cream and Iggy’s Organic Burger; the popular Sebastopol pop-up Jam Joy’s Bungalow is bringing its Southeast Asian-fusion dishes to Burdock Bar and adjoining Duke’s Spirits Cocktails (offered as take-out);  the owner of Healdsburg Bagel Co., Drew Ross, has transformed the old Wildflower Saloon two blocks off the Plaza into Drewish Deli—a Jewish deli that plays off his name; two new boutiques just opened in the little shopping inlet next to Drewish Deli: a/muse, filled with home goods and other knick-knacks, and an art gallery, Rena Charles; and Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience just wrapped up a fabulous weekend of tasty events and announced dates for 2024, May 17 – 19.

Angela’s Organic Ice Cream, 109 Plaza Street, Healdsburg, CA, angelasicecream.com
Drewish Deli, 417A Foss St., Healdsburg, CA, healdsburgbagelcompany.com/drewish-deli
Jam Joy’s Bungalow at Burdock Bar, 109A Plaza, Healdsburg, CA, burdockbar.com
a/muse, 437 Healdsburg, Healdsburg, CA, instagram.com/amusetheshop
Rena Charles Gallery, 439 Healdsburg, Healdsburg, CA, renacharlesgallery.com
Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience, healdsburgwineandfood.com

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants, Hotels, Wineries & Bars (Updated February 2023)

Le Diner Pop-Up Becomes Permanent at Troubadour + Baking Classes

Executive sous chef Sean McGaughey’s decision to leave SingleThread in 2020 to start a bakery with his wife—downtown Healdsburg’s third bakery—left many perplexed. But one taste of Quail & Condor’s Kouign Amann, and we all knew the powerhouse cooking couple of Melissa Yanc and Chef McGaughey (who worked together at SingleThread, by the way) would take the concept of a California boulangerie next level. After one year of focusing on all things flour, the duo had an itch to scratch and launched Troubadour, a gourmet sandwich shop just down the street. That itch was elevated cooking, and though Troubadour continues to draw rave reviews for its addictive sandos, the chefs continued to scratch until last fall when Troubadour started hosting pop-up, French-inspired dinners. Dubbed Le Dîner, these prix-fixe meals allowed the chef to share his Michelin-star creativity with local ingredients through five delicious courses—all served on beautifully eclectic plates and bowls, in the middle of a bakery with rock music playing and Euro-style wines flowing. Thanks to the fanfare, Le Dîner is here to stay (ici pour rester as the French would say). The space now transforms from morning bakery to café for lunch to an intimate dining room for no more than 20 people five nights a week (Tuesday-Saturday). Advance reservations are required through Tock, and corkage is strongly discouraged. And if you can’t get enough of their baking skills, sign up for one of their new culinary classes at Quail & Condor.  https://www.quailandcondor.com/classes

Troubadour, 381 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA, troubadourhbg.com
Quail and Condor, 149 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA, quailandcondor.com

Campo Fina Space’s Future also Connected to SingleThread

When Campo Fina announced it was closing at the end of 2022, there was a public outcry across town and on the web. I’m surprised locals didn’t picket on the Plaza. Rumor has it that a SingleThread alumnae has secured a lease on the charming, brick-walled space. Stay tuned for more updates.

330 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA 

SingleThread Opens One New Chapter, Closes Another

The artists and investors behind SingleThread, Vertice Hospitality, are expanding their growing empire in Healdsburg to include more luxury lodging. The historic River Belle Inn, a bed and breakfast located on the Russian River’s banks near the Memorial Bridge, was purchased in October 2022. The charming estate includes 12 rooms tucked away in a two-story Victorian mansion, built in 1875 and renovated in 2016. Husband-wife chef-farmer team Kyle and Katina Connaughton of SingleThread co-own the Three Michelin Star restaurant, farm and its five-room inn with Vertice Hospitality and serve on the company’s executive team. At the end of 2022, the Connaughtons and Vertice announced that they will no longer be managing the plant-based restaurant at Little Saint, which opened eight months earlier though their collaboration to open Little Saint lasted almost three years. Little Saint was closed temporarily in January to navigate the transition, which will include changes to the menu (still plant-based) and culinary staff.

River Belle Inn, 68 Front Street, Healdsburg, CA, riverbelleinn.com
Little Saint Healdsburg, 25 North Street, Healdsburg, CA, littlesainthealdsburg.com

Cyrus Restaurant Earns Michelin Star in Record Time

In what seems like Guinness World Records material, Cyrus, which reopened last September after a 10-year hiatus, received its first Michelin star within three months. The lifeforce of chef Douglas Keane, whose first iteration of Cyrus garnered a Two Michelin Star award before closing in 2012 due to a dispute with its new landlord, vintner Bill Foley. Cyrus 2.0 is tucked away in a modern, two-story building in Geyserville, where the chef curates a moveable feast (called the “dining journey”) of 10 courses served in four rooms. For those seeking an evening-long, food-and-wine pairing experience alternative to the French Laundry or SingleThread, Cyrus is banking on you. Prices start at $295 per person, plus wine pairings.

Cyrus, 275 Highway 128, Geyserville, CA, cyrusrestaurant.com

Steakhouse on the Horizon in Healdsburg

The north side of the Healdsburg square is getting back into the restaurant game, thanks to vintner Bill Foley of Foley Family Wines. Goodnight’s is an homage to Foley’s cattle ranching lineage, taking its name from relative Charles Goodnight, a Hall of Great Westerners member who helped establish the foundation of trails to drive cattle across the Western U.S. in the 1860s. A full and thorough renovation of the space, its concept and menu is underway with a projected opening of July 2023, if construction continues smoothly. Previously home to the Ferrari-Carano Seasons of the Vineyard Tasting Room and Gift Shop, Goodnight’s is a welcome addition to the Plaza Street dining scene, which lost its only restaurant, Brass Rabbit, during the pandemic. “We’re excited for the opportunity to share this history with the community that our family and many Foley Family Wines’ employees call home,” says Courtney Foley, second-generation vintner. This is the first steakhouse concept to enter Healdsburg’s haute dining scene since the shuttering of short-lived Shimo Modern Steak in 2011, a high-end Japanese concept by chef Douglas Keane. If the name is a signal to its style, Goodnight’s sounds as if it will have the conviviality to become the kind of beloved outpost Plaza Street lost when Bistro Ralph closed in 2019 (Foley purchased the space and opened Brass Rabbit, by the way).

113 Plaza Street, Healdsburg, CA

Big Renovations to Put on Your Radar

If Healdsburg were a country, I’d nickname it Renovation Nation. There are so many exciting remodels either in progress or recently completed that must be added to your Healdsburg travel itinerary. If you watched Jordan Winery’s latest music parody video you know one of Healdsburg’s best wineries for food lovers is renovating too. Their new guest lobby debuts this June. If you haven’t dined or stayed at The Madrona, interior designer Jay Jeffers’s latest passion project, book your visit today. Just sipping cocktails in the lobby bar is an art lover’s dream. Hotel Healdsburg is closed for improvements through March 1, which also includes a full renovation and expansion of its casual Italian restaurant, Pizzando. Pizzando will reopen in March with a new expanded menu, cocktail program and permanent parklet outside, allowing them to accommodate more guests at indoor tables and a new bar area. The Montage Resort recently began demo on its popular Scout Bar; no details are available yet, but they plan to reopen by mid-April with a new look, a new menu and the same gorgeous views. A few miles away, a very different hotel has emerged from its pandemic renovation with a new look and new name. The Dry Creek Inn Best Western has revamped and rebranded its 60-room Villa Toscana building as the Lodge at Healdsburg, part of the Hilton Tapestry Collection.

Jordan Winery, 1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg, CA,  jordanwinery.com
The Madrona, 1001 Westside Rd, Healdsburg, CA, themadronahotel.com
Hotel Healdsburg, 25 Matheson Street, Healdsburg, CA, hotelhealdsburg.com
Montage, 100 Montage Way, Healdsburg, CA, montagehotels.com
The Lodge at Healdsburg, 1261 Grove Street, Healdsburg, CA, thelah.com

Other Openings & Tastemaker News

Healdsburg is always happening, so there’s more news to share around the town square and beyond. Bollywood Kitchen has opened downtown, bringing affordable Indian food to the plethora of dining options; Fogbelt Brewing Co. has debuted Fogbelt Station, a “beer garden” next to the historic train station serving up brews and tasty bar food; Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience returns for its second year May 18-21; the new Odyssey Wine Academy is offering Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) education classes at Bacchus Landing; the Ciao Bruto! wine shop has opened, featuring only organic and biodynamic wines from northern Italy’s Piedmont region, as well as artisanal Italian pasta, tinned seafood and other culinary treasures; and a theatre by the founder of Alexander Valley Film Society called Plaza Cinema Center is opening in 2023 in the old Bear Republic Brewery, which formerly housed the backstage of the Liberty Theater (torn down in 1965).

Bollywood Kitchen, 1047 Vine Street, Healdsburg, CA, bollywoodkitchenca.com
Fogbelt Brewing Co., 410 Hudson Street, Healdsburg, CA, fogbeltbrewing.com
Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience, Throughout Healdsburg, CA, healdsburgwineandfood.com
Odyssey Wine Academy, 4210 Bacchus Landing Way, Healdsburg, CA, odysseywineacademy.com
Cia Bruto, 130 Plaza Street, Healdsburg, CA, ciabruto.com

We hope this packed edition of What’s New in Healdsburg made you hungry and thirsty.

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants, Hotels, Wineries & Bars (Updated October 2022)

Appellation Healdsburg

The vision of local resident superstar chef Charlie Palmer and co-founder/COO Christopher Hunsberger, Appellation Healdsburg is a 108-key hotel where food comes first, and every aspect of the wine country lifestyle is sharpened. A luxury spa, two pools and event grange are dotted within the sprawling property, which looks out over the rolling hills of Alexander Valley. Set to open in time for Harvest 2024, it will have places to gather and to learn from local makers, whether they be winemaker, farmer or culinarian, offering the best of approachable luxury and culinary intention. It’s located on the north side of town, across from the entrance to Montage Resort and just around the corner from one of the best wineries in Healdsburg, Jordan Winery (though I’m bit biased).

Appellation Healdsburg, 165 Foss Creek Circle, Healdsburg CA, appellationhotels.com

Another Star on the Square: Barndiva

A consistently delicious and elegant place to dine, this family-owned restaurant, bar and studio is centered around fresh produce and ingredients from Sonoma and Mendocino farms, including its own in Philo. With legendary beverage manager Scott Beattie behind the bar, it focuses as much attention on what to drink as what to eat all within a cozy, elevated setting. Brunch is served Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and is an ideal time to enjoy the outdoor garden. Barndiva earned its first Michelin star in 2021 – making it the second restaurant in Healdsburg with a star.

Barndiva, 231 and 237 Center Street, Healdsburg, CA, barndiva.com

Cyrus Returns

After many years of wandering in the desert, Cyrus is finally reopened, this time set within the vineyards of Geyserville. With chef/owner Douglas Keane and maître d’hotel/owner Nick Peyton back at it, expect a heightened experience of multi-course fine dining that flows as a journey through multiple rooms, beginning with the Bubbles Lounge, where Champagne, caviar and martinis flow from carts. The Kitchen Table is next, a bird’s eye view of the chefs working their magic before seats are settled into the dining room and its Alexander Valley views. To conclude is the Chocolate Room, where housemade chocolates are devoured. Reservations must be made two months in advance for this gustatory experience; there are three seatings for up to 12 guests per night.

Cyrus, 275 California Highway 128, Geyserville, CA, cyrusrestaurant.com

Sandwich Trouble at Troubadour Healdsburg

If you’re on the search for a decadent sandwich in downtown Healdsburg, we’ve found it. A second Healdsburg venture for husband-and-wife duo from Quail & Condor, Troubadour Healdsburg is a showstopper of a spot with packed flavors and layered ingredients. Sean McGaughey and Melissa Yanc of Quail & Condor have already made their pastry mark in town but their breads and sandwiches have quickly become a local favorite. A few standout Troubadour sandwiches include the Italian served on a freshly baked Siciliano loaf with local Journeyman salumi, vinegar, oi, arugula and bomba spread and their Olive Oil Poached Tuna served on an Olive Campagne loaf, Dukes mayo and pickled red onion. You can’t miss the showstopper hardboiled egg in between decadent bites of tuna. Troubadour’s sandwiches make the ideal wine country picnic lunch. Grab a loaf, sandwich or salads to-go or dine in their shop the next time you’re walking through downtown for lunch.

Troubadour Healdsburg, 318 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, CA, troubadourhbg.com

Plant-Based Bites at Little Saint

Located in the former 10,000-square-foot space known as Healdsburg SHED, plant-based Little Saint opened its doors in April 2022. SingleThread Farm owners Kyle and Katina Connaughton conceived the casual restaurant, café and wine shop as a creative showcase for Sonoma County’s agricultural riches—and it’s been a must-see for locals and tourists alike. More recently, Little Saint opened its upstairs lounge for live music events throughout the week featuring special and complimentary performances every Thursday. Enjoy craft cocktails, a unique wine shop and coffee and seasonal pastries daily—and visit their website to book brunch, lunch and dinner.

Little Saint, 25 North St, Healdsburg, CA, littlesainthealdsburg.com

The Madrona Reopens as Boutique Hotel and Restaurant

The Madrona, formerly known as Madrona Manor, changed hands in early 2021, and the new owners have given the historic inn and Michelin-starred restaurant a stylish makeover. Chef Jesse Mallgren, who helped Madrona Manor earn its coveted star for 13 consecutive years, has reinvented the menu to meld classic techniques with international influences. Both the setting and menu have taken a casual, approachable turn, featuring all-day dining, new lounge spaces and a greater focus on local ingredients—including produce grown in The Madrona’s onsite gardens. Menu highlights include their Caviar and Onion Dip, the Hamache Crudo with Estate Tomatoes and the Dry Aged Liberty Farms Duck with Farro and Pickled Vegetables. Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Visit their website to book your reservation.

The Madrona, 1001 Westside Rd, Healdsburg, CA, themadronahotel.com

Lo and Behold Officially Opens Downtown

An anticipated addition to the food and cocktail scene in Healdsburg, Lo and Behold has quickly become the go-to spot on Healdsburg Ave. Located in the old Mateo’s spot, Lo and Behold has revamped the space with lounge bar seating, eclectic lighting and a lush garden patio. With some of the best bartenders in town, you can’t go wrong with any cocktails—off or on the menu. Stay tuned on Instagram for special pop-ups like HILO Burgers. Open Thursday through Monday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Bar is open until midnight.

Lo and Behold, 214 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, CA, loandbeholdca.com 

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants, Hotels, Wineries & Bars (Updated November 2021)

The Matheson opens on Healdsburg Plaza (Finally!)

The long-awaited dream project of local chef Dustin Valette and investor Craig Ramsey opened its doors just before Labor Day. Four years in the making, The Matheson is many things—a wine bar, a Michelin-star-destined restaurant, a casual bar and an eatery with rooftop views—and that’s what is so thrilling about this ambitious culinary outpost that was rumored to become luxury condos before Valette and Ramsey came together to save the space. (Valette’s grand-father owned a bakery on this site many decades ago, so keeping it as a food business—and bringing it back to the family—was central to the dream.) Inside the three-story complex, there’s a wine bar on the first floor with a wall of 88 wines available by the splash, taste or glass, as well as a gorgeous theatre-like kitchen that opens to the modern restaurant serving a tasting menu of Sonoma-meets-Japan cuisine, as well as a la carte options—all framed by original exposed stone walls and a vaulted ceiling shaped like a wine barrel. The second level features a secluded private dining area with wine lockers, and the third floor is home to a beehive-inspired, lounge-dining room-bar hybrid with an eclectic menu that is the most exciting indoor-outdoor casual restaurant to open in Sonoma County in my 20 years of living here. The energy throughout the three levels opening week was electric, though the casual restaurant, Rooftop 106, certainly generates a big share of the buzz with its honeycomb-tile bar, wood-fired oven and dining couches overlooking the Healdsburg Plaza. If you’re only in Healdsburg for a few days, plan wisely to get the most out of this sensory playground. The Matheson’s eponymously named fine dining restaurant is open Thursday through Monday for dinner only with reservations available on OpenTable. Rooftop 106 is open for lunch and dinner, but it’s first-come, first-serve. Book a table for dinner at The Matheson for 7 p.m. Arrive around opening time, put your name on the list for Rooftop 106, pick up a wine card and sample your way through wall of bottles hailing from Sonoma, Mendocino, Napa, France and Italy. Head upstairs for cocktails and appetizers, such as marinated olives with crispy bacon, sashimi platters and handrolls, pork belly pizza, tuna tataki and roasted corn on the cob, and save room for dinner back downstairs at The Matheson. Matheson’s menu is very different from Valette, the chef’s first family restaurant located two blocks away. Where Valette wins you over with bold flavors and richness, Matheson appetizers and entrees offer more elegance and a level of sophistication found in Michelin-star dining. (Don’t miss the Tamanishiki rice porridge, corn chorizo soup, the salmon or the pumpkin mole.) The sushi bar helmed by sushi veterans Ken Tominaga and Daisuke Somato of Hana—dubbed Hana in Healdsburg—is also a lovely addition for those who want an entirely different style of cuisine during dinner. Valette poured his culinary soul into this place, and it shows. The entire building is an homage to the legions of tastemakers that make Sonoma County such a special place to grow food and craft wine—from peach farmers, sushi masters and painters to pottery, wine and salumi makers. There’s a story behind every ingredient on your plate, every painting on the wall, every wine in your glass. The Matheson is open Thursday to Monday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Reservations only for The Matheson via OpenTable). The Wine Wall is open daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Roof 106 is open from 12 to 10 p.m. for walk-ins only; no reservations.

The Matheson, 106 Matheson Street, Healdsburg, CA, thematheson.com

Burdock Bar opens next to Duke’s

Since the closing of Scopa in spring of 2017, this long, skinny space on Healdsburg Plaza has struggled to find its groove. But those days are over. The owner of Duke’s Spirited Cocktails next door used the pandemic closure as an opportunity to transform the former Italian eatery into a luxe bar that looks as if it was plucked from a swanky address in New York, New Orleans, Las Vegas or San Francisco. Burdock Bar quietly opened its doors in late June, and the word is slowly spreading of just how cool this little tucked away spot is—you just have to know where to find it—and when to go to snag a couple chairs. The towering exposed concrete wall, eclectic gold accented bar, camel-colored leather arm chairs and rich, blue paint above the seating area give Burdock a vibe that can only be described as city posh meets wine country. Fabulous décor aside, the people at Burdock will win you over just as quickly as the ambiance. Both bartenders hail from cocktail kingdoms—Frank Dice III from New Orleans and Mike Richardson from Las Vegas—and Chef Michael Pihl, who worked in the kitchen at Cyrus, Healdsburg’s first Michelin-starred restaurant. (Cyrus is being resurrected in Geyserville in 2022, so check back for that scoop.) The bartenders are creating mixology art that’s almost too beautiful to drink, such as the Shinjuku, a Japanese whisky infused in-house with sesame, topped off with yuzu and Topo Chico. (Mike opened the famous tiki bar in Vegas, Frankie’s, so tiki lovers can always request an off-menu surprise.) Chef Pihl recently rolled out a few new items on the compact menu, which seems to be constantly changing. Recent favorites include the eggplant poke, Akaushi beef carpaccio with truffled mushrooms and poached egg, hamachi bombs, octopus salad, the fried Jimmy Nardello peppers. Official hours are Thursday-Sunday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., but if the bar is empty, they often close early.

Burdock Bar, 109A Plaza Street, Healdsburg, CA, burdockbar.com

Marine Layer Debuts Stunning Tasting Room on Healdsburg Plaza

Ever wondered why most of the tasting rooms around the Healdsburg Plaza seem a little dusty and dated? That’s because there is a city moratorium on new tasting rooms, which means anyone with an existing tasting room license is sitting on a goldmine. They’ve got prime real estate and few people willing to pay the cost to buy them out of their license. There’s also an ordinance that limits the number of tasting rooms to one per block unless grandfathered in—like the block on the Plaza that has two tasting rooms—one of which just became the new home for Marine Layer Wines. Owner Baron Ziegler, one of the founding partners at Banshee Wines, sold his share a few years back to start Marine Layer. He was lucky enough to acquire one of the only tasting rooms with a reasonably priced license to come on the market due to the misfortunes of the pandemic. But that is Ziegler’s gain—and yours when you step into this space. The former home of Vintage Wine Estate’s Flight Deck is not recognizable. The lofty arched ceilings and gorgeous design details by HommeBoys interior design channel the coastal and oceanic influences found in the wines—from the blue-stained wood panels on the walls to the natural mixed oak tones of the bar and bench seating. Local produce-focused tasting bites by the soon-to-open Little Saint are also served, giving guests the opportunity to sample SingleThread’s new sister restaurant months before its opening. Marine Layer wines are sourced from Ziegler’s favorite and some of the most coveted vineyards throughout the Sonoma Coast region. Winemaker Rob Fischer has created a line-up of chardonnays and pinot noirs that are mostly single vineyards, though they make two blends from their favorite vineyards. Marine Layer also took over the lease on a winemaking facility three blocks away, formerly Ramey Wine Cellars, and they hope to begin offering winery tours in conjunction with tastings someday. Open for walk-ins seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., but reservations are highly recommended.

Marine Layer Wines, 308B Center Street, Healdsburg, CA, marinelayerwines.com

Aperture  Cellars Opens With Photography-Inspired Design

Jesse Katz, the young winemaker who has likely amassed as many winemaking accolades as Clint Eastwood has film awards before he’s even reached age 35, has opened a long-awaited home for his high-scoring Aperture wines. The son of legendary wine photographer Andy Katz, Jesse credits his father with fueling his passion for wine, and Aperture’s modern winery and new tasting room is a temple to the arts of photography and winemaking. Designed by Signum Architecture, the tasting room was built to evoke the feeling of being inside a giant camera aperture. It is sleek, minimalist and reminiscent of an art gallery, yet it’s filled with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook a 32-acre vineyard, planted to cabernet sauvignon and merlot—a nod to Bordeaux’s Pomerol, as the estate is located in the cooler Russian River Valley. Though Katz is known for his Bordeaux varietal wines, his sauvignon and chenin blancs are not to be missed. Katz is a mover, shaker and super-connector. If there’s a cool project in the works in this area, he’s likely involved. He’s also the consulting winemaker for the new Montage Healdsburg and oversees their new vineyard plantings; he already has the contract locked in on the vineyard that surrounds the future site of Cyrus restaurant in Geyserville, Healdsburg’s first Michelin-starred restaurant by Douglas Keane, which makes its comeback in late 2022. His delicious sauvignon blanc is on the Wine Wall and by the glass at the new Matheson. Katz and his financial partner—the owner of the Houston Astros—have also acquired the Farrow Vineyard in Geyserville recently. They’ll certainly be in the news for years to come. Aperture offers two types of tastings by appointment—a soil series and a sites series—with indoor and outdoor seating options.

Aperture Cellars, 12291 Old Redwood Hwy, Healdsburg, CA, aperture-cellars.com

The Drink by Leo Steen and Rootdown Opens with Wine Tastings, Killer Coffee and Seasonal Live Music

Considered the King of Chenin in Northern California, Leo Hansen started his wine career as the sommelier at Dry Creek Kitchen back in 2000. Once he was bit by the winemaking bug in the mid-2000s, chenin became his calling card, and the name Leo Steen his wine brand (“Steen” is the nickname for chenin blanc in South Africa.) Leo has operated a tasting room in the Old Roma Station building a few blocks from downtown Healdsburg since 2017. He shared his tasting room space with another winery before, but during the pandemic, he decided to join forces with friend and fellow low-alcohol winemaking advocate Mike Lucia of Rootdown and create a co-owned tasting experience called The Drink. Lucia, the winemaker who helped put Copain wines on the map before they were purchased by Kendall-Jackson, started Rootdown in 2014, and The Drink is the first home for tasting his wines. Lucia also owns the smallest appellation in the state of California—Cole Ranch in Mendocino County. His wines are organic and naturally made, with a balance of obscure varieties, such as sangiovese and trousseau, and some classics, such as riesling and pinot noir from the old vines planted at Cole Ranch in the 1970s. Leo’s wife, Debbie, added a very special coffee cart out front, which has had a line every time I’ve driven by, featuring a lever-pull coffee machine and a house roast blend that took three months to perfect. The Drink hosts seasonal live music events starting back up in 2022, and keep an eye out for other fun happenings. You can follow along @thedrinkhealdsburg on Instagram or The Drink Healdsburg on Facebook to stay in the know. Tastings are offered by appointment via The Drink website. Walk-ins welcome Friday and Saturday (12-6 p.m.) and Sunday (12-4 p.m.).

The Drink, 53 Front Street, Healdsburg, CA, thedrinkhealdsburg.com

Reeve’s Wood-Fired Pizzas Pandemic Pivot Now Permanent

One of our favorite wineries in Dry Creek Valley, the off-grid Reeve Winery has the wine lover’s trifecta: an enchanting setting, elegant wines and now food pairing. Reeve began serving fresh wood-fired pizzas during the pandemic out of necessity to be allowed to reopen last summer, tapping into the culinary gifts of their friend and former chef from Healdsburg’s Scopa restaurant, Michael Degen. Fortunately for visitors, their popular pandemic pivot became permanent, and now Reeve has decided to keep its delicious pizzas on the menu for the foreseeable future to complement its two tasting experiences: the Wayfare flight ($45) and the Kismet flight ($65). On the patio of a mission-style adobe surrounded by succulents, oak trees and vineyard views, you’ll enjoy Noah Dorrance’s (co-founder and former winemaker of Banshee Wines) beautifully balanced wines, mostly chardonnays and pinot noirs, paired with pizzas that change daily based on what’s fresh and inspiring to Chef Degen. Our recent favorites? Spinach with mushrooms and chili oil and the chopped summer corn, squash and peppers with purple basil. These fresh, thin-crust pizzas make an irresistible pairing with Reeve’s Bosco Sangiovese or single-vineyard pinot noirs from the Sonoma Coast. Book your next tasting on their website and don’t be surprised when a fresh pizza lands on your private table. Order any additional pizzas for $20. The tasting flights with pizza are offered Friday through Sunday by appointment only.

Reeve Wines, 4551 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA, reevewines.com

BloodRoot Wines Tasting Room Now Open in Downtown Healdsburg

Noah and Kelly Dorrance, the owners of Reeve Wines, also launched a new wine label in 2020. Sadly, their new tasting room was set to open right at the beginning of the pandemic. The indoor closures, however, gave them time to remodel the former Roald Wines tasting room—located at the end of a row of shops in Willowcreek Plaza directly across from A Taste of Tea on North Street—giving the space an organic, coastal California vibe and adding a spacious patio outdoors. The owners have plans to add a music festival and a pop-up flower shop next door. The tasting room is open seven days a week, serving tastes of its Sonoma County wines: chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and a Rhône-inspired red blend called Undertow, as well as a delicious rosé. Pours start mid-day, and tastings are offered until 7 p.m., making BloodRoot among the growing number of tasting rooms in downtown Healdsburg that stay open late (Cartograph, Banshee and Marine Layer are the others.)

BloodRoot Wines, 118 North Street, Healdsburg, CA, bloodrootwines.com

SingleThread Dishes on Opening Plans for Little Saint, SingleThread Farm and Mill District

The team behind Three-Michelin Star SingleThread Restaurant, Farm and Inn have added three new projects to their growing family. In addition to Little Saint Restaurant, which is expected to unveil its plant-based menu in the old SHED space in winter 2021-2022, SingleThread has acquired the former Noci edible gardens in Dry Creek Valley. The 24-acre farm is currently under regeneration and reimagination by Katina Connaughton, co-owner of SingleThread with her husband and chef, Kyle. They have moved the SingleThread Farm from the San Lorenzo Estate, owned by Pete Seghesio, to the new location/site. It has become the primary source for their restaurant, their philanthropic food programs in collaboration with Sonoma Family Meal and the soon-to-open Little Saint, which will be run by SingleThread’s new hospitality management company, Vertice. (Montage resort, located next door to Seghesio’s property, will take over SingleThread’s former garden.) In the future, the couple plans to host dinners for up around 24 guests at the farm and add a farmstead-style flower shop. If you can’t wait for the opening of Little Saint to taste the Connaughton’s plant-based menu, book a table at SingleThread or opt for a curated pairing of plant-based bites by Little Saint now served at the new Marine Layer tasting room. Chef Connaughton also announced a partnership with Mill District Healdsburg, a new outdoor-lifestyle community being built on the west side of downtown Healdsburg. Those who purchase one of 39 residences on sale now for prices starting at $900,000, can opt to have the chef and his sommelier guide the design of the home’s kitchen and wine cellar with appliances by Miele.

Little Saint, 25 North Street, Healdsburg, CA, littlesainthealdsburg.com
SingleThread Farms, 2836 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA, singlethreadfarms.com
Mill District, 164 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA, milldistricthealdsburg.com

Five Tasting Rooms in One – Bacchus Landing Opens

Too many years in the making to count, Bacchus Landing has opened just outside of downtown Healdsburg, across the road from DaVero Farms on Westside Road. The three-acre site is home to five tasting rooms, as well as winemaking facilities to support the winemakers, with each winery embracing the creative freedom to build out and decorate its space to its personality. Visitors benefit from the diversity of wines and design throughout the sprawling building, reminiscent of a grand Tuscan villa. The headlining winemaker in residence is Dan Kosta, co-founder of the cult pinot noir producer Kosta Brown, whose second act since selling Kosta Brown, AldenAlli, is a collaboration between Kosta and the Lagasse family restauranteurs. But visitors won’t want to miss Aldina Vineyards, the wine label founded by the creators of Bacchus Landing, Al and Dina along with their children Francisco and Monica Lopez. The Lopez family has been a part of the Sonoma County community since 1998 when they moved up from Los Angeles. Al was a long-time winegrape grower before his children Francisco Lopez and Monica Lopez created Aldina in 2012. 13th & Third, Dot Wine, Montagne Russe, and Smith Story round out the line-up of intriguing vintners. Tasting hours vary per winery, so please contact each to confirm appointments or walk-ins.

Bacchus Landing, 14210 Bacchus Landing Way, Healdsburg, CA, bacchuslanding.com

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants, Hotels, Wineries & Bars (Updated May 2021)

Jordan Winery Reopens this Month with Renovations

The pandemic challenged many businesses this past year, especially those in the hospitality sector, in transformative ways that have not been seen since the Great Depression. A general rule of business is to cut spending when sales are down. But John Jordan, the owner of Jordan Winery, questioned that principle and chose creation over contraction. He doubled down on investments in hospitality spaces in 2020—using the decrease in visitors as an opportunity to renovate gardens, tasting salons and guest suites on Jordan Estate. Jordan officially reopened for tasting experiences on May 1 and overnight stays reopen next month and are available exclusively to Gold and Platinum members of Jordan Estate Rewards. Go inside these renovations on their blog and learn more about Tours & Tastings on their website.

Jordan Winery, 1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg, CA, jordanwinery.com

City of Healdsburg Announces Outdoor Parklets Extension

The city of Healdsburg announced in early April that they have extended the temporary use of public space for outdoor parklets until January 17, 2023–this permit gives downtown businesses, restaurants and tasting rooms the ability to extend their outdoor dining into public spaces such as sidewalks and parking spots. Reserve a table at some of our favorite Healdsburg restaurants with outdoor patios this summer—and be sure to check out some of these new parklet patios downtown including Valette, Lioco, Kinsmoke and Taste of Tea.

Black Oak Coffee Opens Downtown

For all the coffee lovers in Healdsburg, we have some great news for you: Ukiah’s Black Oak Coffee has opened a new location just steps away from the square. While we were sad to see Flying Goat close their doors last year, we’re excited to welcome new roasters to the neighborhood. In addition to their rotation of single-origin, blended roasts and signature lattes, their café menu is perfectly satisfying and impressive. Chef Beryl Adler crafts a menu that includes a Breakfast Burrito with soft scrambled eggs, pickled onion, chorizo mushrooms and aged cheddar cheese and plenty of vegan options that include Carrot-Cake Overnight Oats and Roasted Eggplant Bahn Mi. Place your order ahead on their website.

Black Oak Coffee, 324 Center St., Healdsburg, CA, blackoakcoffee.com

SingleThread to Open New Meatless Restaurant, Little Saint

For locals and visitors alike, it’s big news for Healdsburg that Michelin-Starred SingleThread is opening a new restaurant in the beloved Healdsburg SHED location. After SHED’s seemingly abrupt closure in 2018, we weren’t sure who would step into this unique location but hearing the news about SingleThread’s new venture has us all very excited. Not only will the 10,0000 sqaure-foot-building operate Chef Kyle and Katina Connaughton’s new meatless restaurant, Little Saint but it will also feature a more fast-casual option in addition to a retail space, bottle shop and opportunities for art gatherings inspired by Ken Fulk’s nonprofit Saint Joseph’s Arts Foundation. We hear they’re anticipating a summer opening—stay tuned.

Little Saint, 25 North Street, Healdsburg, CA

Women’s Clothing Store, Gathered Opens in New Location

A beautiful collection of women’s clothing, jewelry and accessories—Gathered Healdsburg has moved their location to the corner of Center and Plaza Street, right next to Black Oak Coffee and across the street from El Farolito. Although the jump from Healdsburg Avenue to Center Street isn’t too far, Gathered’s new space is significantly bigger with ample natural light that allow beautiful window displays. If you’re looking for a gift for a girlfriend or loved one, we highly recommend perousing their collection of summer dresses, accessories and jewelry – a must-go if you’re in need of a new wine country outfit. Check out their Facebook and Instagram pages for the latest updates.

Gathered, 322 Center St., Healdsburg, CA, @gathered

Quail and Condor Bakery Storefront Now Open

Although initially planned to move into the old Wildflower Saloon space, just off Healdsburg Avenue, the Quail and Condor baking couple have opened a small storefront bakery at 149 Healdsburg Ave. They focus primarily on naturally leavened sourdough breads in addition to seasonal pastries, cookies and quick breads. Be sure to follow their latest happenings (and mouthwatering pastries) on Instagram and preorder your favorite pastries on their website.

Quail and Condor, 149 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, CA, quailandcondor.com

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants, Hotels, Wineries & Bars (Winter 2021)

Montage Healdsburg Opens Hotel and Residences in Heart of Wine Country

Healdsburg welcomed the newest luxury resort opening last month in Alexander Valley—just minutes away from the downtown plaza. Montage Healdsburg is located on 258 acres and is the first Montage property in Northern California. Built within the constraints of the natural landscape, the transformative hideaway offers 130 bungalow-style rooms and 40 private Montage Residences settled among oak trees and vine-covered hills with a contemporary aesthetic. The resort features four dining outlets including signature restaurant, Hazel Hill with views of Jordan Winery’s Vista Point; an 11,500-sq. ft. Spa Montage with zero-edge pool overlooking part of the resort’s own 15.5 acres of vineyards and 1.5 acres of hazelnut trees; activity center for yoga in the vineyard, bocce ball, biking and archery. Visit their website for more information.

Montage Healdsburg, 100 Montage Way, Healdsburg, CA, montagehotels.com/healdsburg

Asahi Sushi & Kitchen Opens on Healdsburg Avenue

For the sushi and sake lovers, you’re in luck. Asahi Sushi & Kitchen opened in the previous Barrels, Brews and Bites location in November 2020 and trust us, it’s delicious. Menu highlights include, the Crazy Ninja special roll with spicy tuna topped with hamachi and jalapeno, assorted vegetable udon soup and Japanese-style fried chicken karaage. Place your orders online for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Offering curbside pick-up.

Asahi Sushi & Kitchen, 335 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, CA, asahisushiandkitchen.com

Duke’s Spirited Cocktails Team to Open Burdock, A Haven for Cocktail and Culinary Enthusiasts

Whenever you’re in downtown Healdsburg for happy hour, a Duke’s cocktail is a must. It’s a staple among locals and tourists visiting the area—so when we heard the news that the team is set to open a new bar and restaurant called Burdock right next door, we couldn’t contain our excitement. Burdock will offer an intimate escape where one can bypass the crowds at Duke’s and enjoy a more elevated and curated experience. Inspired by gastronomic traditions around the world, the bar and restaurant will rotate its menu every season to highlight a specific region or period. Rumor has it that the opening theme will center around Cuba with menu items that include, rum-based cocktails, Oysters “Cubano-style” with roasted serrano ham and Ropa Vieja with beef short rib crepinette and Calabrian chili. An opening date has not been announced yet but we’re on the edge of our seats to find out. Follow them on Instagram for the latest happenings.

Burdock Bar, 109 A Plaza Street., Healdsburg, CA, burdockbar.com

The Matheson Announces Spring 2021 Grand Opening

As construction continues for Healdsburg Plaza’s highly anticipated The Matheson, Chef Dustin Valette from Valette restaurant has revealed menu concepts for the two-story, two-concept restaurant and bar. Valette has confirmed a new partnership with sushi master Ken Tominaga of Hana Sushi in Rohnert Park for the ground floor restaurant. Valette’s renowned Hawaiian Ahi Tuna Poke appetizer, a staple on his eponymous menu, is the driving concept for the rest of The Matheson’s cuisine, which will primarily highlight the freshest raw seafood available. And yes, this means Hana makimono, sushi and sashimi favorites will also make an appearance at The Matheson. The rooftop restaurant and bar, dubbed Roof 106, will feature a European-inspired menu cooked in a locally produced Mugnaini wood-fired oven. Chef Valette envisions a vibrant and inviting atmosphere with delicious cocktails and quick bites from the grill. The grand opening is expected in spring 2021. Be sure to scroll down to learn more about The Matheson’s announcement in our 2019 post.

The Matheson, 106 Matheson Street, Healdsburg, CA, thematheson.com

Healdsburg Roundabout Restaurants Announce Closure

Located a block from Healdsburg’s downtown plaza, The Parish Café and Singletree Cafe both announced their closure earlier this month. Known for their addictive beignets and lunchtime po’ boy specials, The Parish Café closed their Healdsburg and Santa Rosa locations due to the limited meal options during COVID-19. Owners Rob and Karla Lippincott may or may not be moving to Nashville, Tennessee to open another restaurant. After 20 years, Singletree Café will officially close its door on February 22, 2021 with plans to open a food truck later this year. Stay tuned for food news on their social media pages and websites.

The Parish Café, 60 Mill Street, Healdsburg, CA, theparishcafe.com

Singletree Café, 165 Heladsburg Ave., Healdsburg, CA, singletreerestaurant.com

New Women’s Clothing Boutique Opens

A beautifully decorated new shop just opened on Healdsburg Ave. that’s filled with Leaven the Brand tees, hoodies and long sleeves for women. In addition to woman-designed Leaven clothing, the boutique carries a wide range of similar brands from jewelry to jackets and handbags. For each Leaven the Brand purchase, 5% of the proceeds will go to a dedicated charity—announced on their website and social media pages.

Leaven, 353 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, CA, shopleaven.com

Quail and Condor Bakery Storefront Now Open

Although initially planned to move into the old Wildflower Saloon space, just off Healdsburg Avenue, the Quail and Condor baking couple have opened a small storefront bakery at 149 Healdsburg Ave. They focus primarily on naturally leavened sourdough breads in addition to seasonal pastries, cookies and quick breads. Be sure to follow their latest happenings (and mouthwatering pastries) on Instagram.

Quail and Condor, 149 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, CA, quailandcondor.com

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants, Hotels, Wineries & Bars

(Posted: Fall 2020)

New Tasting Room Opens Downtown: BloodRoot Wines

Noah and Kelly Dorrance of Reeve Wines have officially released their latest project, BloodRoot Wines–the newest tasting room in downtown Healdsburg. A collaboration project amongst a group of local winemakers, the seasonal tasting menu includes an array of unique and terroir-driven wines featuring a fabulous blanc de gris, a mineral-driven chardonnay and a vibrant carignan paired with spiced nuts from neighbors, SingleThread. They officially opened September 24 and are welcoming reservations on their outdoor patio via Tock. Open Wednesday through Monday until 7pm and closed on Tuesdays, we’re excited to welcome BloodRoot to the neighborhood.

BloodRoot Wines, 118 North Street, Healdsburg, CA, bloodrootwines.com

Fogbelt Brewery Expands to Healdsburg

Founded in February 2014, Sonoma County locals and beer lovers are well-acquainted with Santa Rosa’s taproom, Fogbelt Brewery. Known for their easy-drinking Atlas Blonde Ale, Flagship Del Norte IPA and their creatively-themed beer and bite pairings, the brewery is a must-go when visiting the Sonoma craft beer scene. Healdsburg locals were excited to hear the news on Instagram that the Fogbelt team is expanding its production facility to town. The question is whether the brewing team is also opening a new taproom in Healdsburg. We’re hoping they do! Stay tuned.

Fogbelt Brewery, 1305 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, CA, fogbeltbrewing.com

Flying Goat Coffee Healdsburg Square Location Closes

A downtown Healdsburg staple, Flying Goat Coffee has officially closed its Healdsburg Square yellow doors. While the community is sad to see the new “For Lease” sign posted outside, be assured that you can still get your hot cappuccino, fresh pastries and coffee beans at their express location in the Healdsburg Center Street shopping complex or at their 4th Street location in Santa Rosa. The roastery has also made it easier to place your order with their online shop. Visit their website for more information.

Flying Goat Coffee Express, 419 Center Street, Healdsburg, CA, flyinggoatcoffee.com

Downtown’s Brass Rabbit Restaurant Closes

Local favorite Brass Rabbit, a stylish bistro located on the Healdsburg Square, has closed permanently. Though the restaurant helped push the City of Healdsburg for expanded street closures to allow local restaurants to expand their outdoor seating onto sidewalks and into the street, the expansion was not enough to keep their doors open.

Brass Rabbit, 109 Plaza St, Healdsburg, CA

Bacchus Landing Collective Opening in 2021

Founded by the Lopez family of Aldina Vineyards, Bacchus Landing is scheduled to open in the spring of 2021 as an easily accessible destination with five tasting rooms, an outdoor piazza for dining and a bocce court for family and friend gatherings. Located just minutes from Healdsburg Plaza (near biodynamic wine and olive oil maker DaVero Farms), Bacchus Landing’s 52,000-square-foot project is one we can’t wait to welcome into the community. Sign up for their mailing list for the latest updates.

Bacchus Landing, 14210 Bacchus Landing Way, Healdsburg, CA, bacchuslanding.com

Duke’s Expands Pop-Up Brunch

With the seemingly never-ending need to revise food and drink offerings during this pandemic, Duke’s Spirited Cocktails has found success with their new pop-up brunch. Now offered every Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., their brunch menu features five delicious dishes, including pork chorizo chilaquiles, a 6-minute egg breakfast sandwich served on a brioche bun and their spin on the Hawaiian-inspired Loco Moco called the “Soco Moco” featuring housemade kimchi. Don’t forget cocktails. We recommend the Passion Fruit-Orange Mimosa, the Duke’s Bloody Mary and Fresh Peach Bellini to accompany your morning dish. Order online, by phone or in-person at their takeout window. Enjoy brunch on their new picnic tables on Plaza Street or relax on a picnic blanket in Healdsburg Plaza.

Duke’s Spirited Cocktails, 111 Plaza St, Healdsburg, CA, (707) 431-1060, drinkatdukes.com

SingleThread Rooftop Garden Wine Bar Debuts

Through the end of September, take advantage of a special opportunity to experience SingleThread in a more casual setting — without needing a reservation. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Healdsburg Square from SingleThread’s rooftop garden while sipping on a glass of wine from the curated list of local wines and Old World selections, and savoring plates from a small menu of items from the kitchen. Open Wednesday through Sunday with longer hours on weekends. According to their website, wine bar reservations can be booked via Tock under a separate location called SingleThread Rooftop Wine Bar, but the app says reservations are unavailable; until then, walk-ins are encouraged. Also, rumor has it that the 3-Michelin star restaurant recently purchased–by way of public auction–Dry Creek Valley’s charmingly mysterious Noci, a 24-acre “edible adventure” garden filled with fruits, vegetables and flowers. Stay tuned for more information.

SingleThread Farm-Restaurant-Inn, 131 North St, Healdsburg, CA,(707) 723-4646, singlethreadfarms.com

Previous Healdsburg SHED Location Opening as Little Saint

The long-awaited transformation of the empty Healdsburg SHED location is finally happening. After sitting vacant for two years, the property will evolve into Little Saint, a place for food, retail, music and art. The sale of the building was announced by Saint Joseph’s Art Foundation, a non-profit arts incubator located in San Francisco, and local realtors on behalf of a Bay Area couple. It is slated to open this fall. According to Sonoma Magazine, a cafe will be open to the public, but other parts of the award-winning, multi-use building will be for members only.

105A W North St, Healdsburg, CA, saintjosephsartssociety.com

Scout Closing Healdsburg Storefront

Following the closure of Scout West County’s store at The Barlow in June, Oliver and Grace Estrada announced the closing of their Healdsburg store beginning on September 9. The store, located on Healdsburg Ave., featured womenswear, menswear, accessories and home goods. Grace and Oliver announced on Instagram on September 14 that they are working on future independent projects and welcome collaboration opportunities.

Scout Healdsburg, 418 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, CA, @scoutwestcounty

Honor Mansion Hotel & Inn Acquired by Mayacama

Honor Mansion, a luxury inn located in Healdsburg, has been purchased by the owners of Mayacama. The wine country resort is closed for remodel with a tentative reopening in March 2021.

Honor Mansion, 891 Grove St, Healdsburg, CA, (707) 433-4277.

Raven Film Center Closes Permanently

Healdsburg’s only movie theater, the Raven Film Center, permanently closed its doors on September 3 due to the economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Santa Rosa Entertainment Group, owners of the theater for the past 14 years, opted not to renew the building’s lease. The theater has served as a gathering place over the years for meetings, film festivals and private screenings, such as Jordan Winery’s 2020 viewing of André – The Voice of Wine. The performing arts theater will remain open.

The Raven Film Center, 415 Center St, Healdsburg, CA 95448,

Healdsburg Restaurants Reopen with Alfresco Dining

With summer quickly approaching and shelter-in-place restrictions loosening, the Healdsburg hospitality scene is ready to welcome guests back after months of curbside pick-ups, deliveries and closures. Although a small town, we’ve got a lot of heart here in wine country–which is why we’re quickly adapting and opening up where and how we can. Here’s where you can wine, dine and lunch at some of the best Healdsburg restaurants with patios located in Sonoma County wine country.

Healdsburg Wineries Serving Meals Outdoors Reopen

The reopening of Napa and Sonoma wineries for tastings has been a hotly debated topic in Wine Country. Though both counties have differing rules and regulations, Sonoma County’s Health Officer announced on May 23 that wineries that serve sit-down meals can reopen to guests, as long as the food and wine is served outdoors. We’ve updated our list of the best Healdsburg wineries with patios to include our favorites that have reopened.

Wildhaven Glamping Campgrounds Open in Alexander Valley

Wildhaven Sonoma is Sonoma County’s newest glamping and RV destination, located on the Russian River in the heart of wine country. Wildhaven’s glamping experience is designed to provide guests with comfort, warmth and cleanliness while still maintaining a close connection to Sonoma County’s stunning natural beauty. Extra-large, safari-style and socially distant tent cabins feature comfortable beds with linens and all the furnishings you need for a memorable night outdoors. Visit their website for reservations and more information.

Jordan Winery Adds New Outdoor Lunch, Expands Vineyard Hikes

Jordan Vineyard & Winery will officially reopen for seated food and wine pairing experiences on Thursday, June 11. The French-inspired Healdsburg winery will resume Vineyard Hikes and Chateau Block Vineyard Tastings but will now offer these experiences four and five days a week. A new Paris on the Terrace bistro-style dining experience debuts on June 18 with two seatings five days a week, and seven Picnic Lunches and three outdoor dinners will be offered this summer. Reservations for all experiences will be available for booking on June 1.

Bricoleur Vineyards Debuts in Russian River Valley

Originally slated to open to the public on May 2, this new Russian River Valley estate had to change its plans due to COVID-19. Currently, guests can purchase wine and food packages that are now available and range from $45-$90 per person and enjoy outside with sweeping vineyard views. Executive Chef Shane McAnelly, formerly of Brass Rabbit and Chalkboard in Healdsburg, leads the winery’s culinary program, and he has plans to create a custom seven-course wine and food pairing showcasing Bricoleur wines and fresh ingredients sourced sustainably and locally, some of it from their own garden. Bricoleur is located north of the town of Windsor, just south of Healdsburg. Book a reservation on their website.

Dry Creek Kitchen’s Maker of the Month: Jordan Winery

Jordan Winery has been selected as Charlie Palmer’s Maker of the Month for the month of June at downtown Healdsburg’s Dry Creek Kitchen. Sip on Jordan’s 2017 Chardonnay with Dry Creek Kitchen’s recommended food pairing of ahi tartare or savor a rare library vintage of the Cabernet Sauvignon with a charred filet mignon. Book your dinner reservation any time in June to enjoy these special selections. Winemaker Maggie Kruse will be welcoming guests on the outdoor terrace on Thursday, June 25.

Other Closings, Delays and COVID-19 Workarounds

Many other changes are afoot with businesses in Healdsburg due to the COVID-19 closures. Discussions have been underway for several weeks to use the town square sidewalk and/or parking spaces for seating for restaurants, bars and tasting rooms that do not have outdoor spaces–currently a requirement to reopen. San Jose and other cities around the country have implemented similar workarounds to keep diners safe outside and put businesses back to work. Closing the Healdsburg square to car traffic is still a proposal at this point, and is on the agenda for the June 1 Healdsburg City Council meeting. To be a fly on the wall at that meeting… In the restaurant world, the Road House opened its new patio, Pizzando expanded its outdoor seating area, and while Quail and Condor had to delay the reopening of its bakery cafe in the old Wildflower Saloon (see below), the husband-wife team now have a pop-up for pastries and breads at the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market. In tasting room news, the Flight Deck Tasting Lounge has closed, and a new winery is coming soon. There’s a rumor that Reeve is opening in the Roald Wine Company space, a funky tasting room located off the parking lot across from Valette and SingleThread. Gustafson Vineyards is not re-opening their tasting room in downtown Healdsburg, but their winery in the Rockpile appellation high above Lake Sonoma is open by appointment.

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants, Hotels, Wineries & Bars (Winter 2020)

Husband + Wife Bakers to Open Cafe this Spring or Summer

If you frequent Sonoma County farmer’s markets, you’ve probably had the opportunity to taste Quail and Condor’s sourdough breads or pastries. Or if you’re an avid Food Network viewer, you may have seen co-owner Melissa Yanc win Season 6 of the Holiday Baking Championship over the holidays. Luckily those visiting Healdsburg no longer have to hunt down Yanc’s creations at street markets. Her Kickstarter campaign with husband Sean McGaughey raised more than $20,000 to help the co-working couple make their pastry business dreams come true. This spring or summer, they plan to open Quail and Condor’s bakery in the old Wildflower Saloon space, just off Healdsburg Avenue. They focus primarily on naturally leavened sourdough breads in addition to seasonal pastries, cookies and quick breads. Quail and Condor has also partnered with Black Oak Coffee Roasters of Ukiah, who will serve fresh coffee alongside their baked goods. The café will also offer a breakfast and lunch menu with beer and wine available and plans to be open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. We can’t wait for their opening. Be sure to follow their latest happenings on Instagram @quailandcondor.

Idlewild Goes to Sunday School

Every member of the Idlewild Wines team is determined to always be a student of wine, and we couldn’t agree more with their philosophy. This year, they have reimagined their classroom-style format for their seated wine tastings and food events, making it even more inviting for “students.” Since 2018, Idlewild has been hosting a monthly wine tasting (usually the first Sunday of each month) from 5 to 7 p.m. in their Healdsburg tasting room right off the town square. The Idlewild team picks a region and/or specific theme and features between 8-10 wines from within that theme, as well as purvey the DOP/AOC/PDO food products from that region. You leave after a couple of hours having tried 8-10 indigenous grape varietals and some of the protected food products that grow alongside of them. Sounds like our type of Sunday School. On January 26, however, Idlewild is venturing outside of Italy and heading to Corsica, so attendees can expect to taste a wine from each of the 9 AOCs in Corsica, as well as brocciu toasts (the French island version of Sicily’s ricotta; super rich and creamy) and prosciutto (a dried Corsican ham cured solely with sea salt). It’ll be fun to drink some joyous island wines in the depths of rainy winter here in Sonoma County. Learn more about Idlewild’s Sunday School wine tastings and special wine dinners.

Limited-Edition Jordan Wine Salumi Available at Journeyman Meat Co.

Last year, Journeyman Meat Co. founder Pete Seghesio and Jordan Winery chef Todd Knoll partnered to create three salami to be served exclusively at Jordan Winery. Seghesio used several of the chef’s favorite ingredients for cabernet food pairing, including cocoa powder, fennel, juniper and anise, which resulted in the berry-hued Jordan Salami Buio infused with Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon—which is now available for the public to buy for a limited time at Journeyman’s shop in downtown Healdsburg. A coppa made with Jordan Chardonnay, turmeric and white pepper, featured alongside the Salami Buio at Jordan’s Sonoma vineyard tasting, will also be available to purchase at Journeyman in limited quantities this summer. Until then, become a Jordan Estate Rewards Silver member and book one of the Healdsburg winery’s private charcuterie experiences.

Cartograph Wines Now Accepting Tasting Reservations

Great news for tasting room hoppers: Cartograph Wines has announced that they are now accepting reservations in one of their four seating areas. Situated next to Valette and Russian River Tea Company, the Cartograph tasting room has always been a favorite for locals in the mood for dry gewürztraminer or riesling. You can now choose the reserve room (for up to 10 people), the couch (for up to six people), the armchairs (for parties of four) or the window (for parties of two). The sleek Healdsburg tasting room is also opening one hour earlier in 2020. Enjoy walk-in tastings from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (previously 12-6 p.m.), or book your seated tasting reservations (at least 24 hours in advance required) between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Learn more about making your next visit to Cartograph wines by visiting their website.

Noble Folk Introduces Vegan Ice Cream and New Mud Pie Flavor

Ask any local in Sonoma County: Noble Folk Ice Cream and Pie is one of the most popular spots when you’re craving a sweet treat. Created by Christian Sullberg and Ozzy Jimenez of Moustache Baked Goods in 2014, Noble Folk recently debuted even more options for those looking for non-dairy ice cream or pie. Due to its popularity, the Passionfruit ice cream flavor has now been added to the year-round menu. You can also find a rotating vegan flavor of the month including a Key Lime + Coconut, Strawberry Carob Chip, and Almond Butter + Chia. All vegan ice creams are made with coconut and cashew milk, and their sorbets, made from 100 percent fruit juice, are vegan as well. Additionally, the Noble Folk team has added a new pie flavor to its menu this month: Strawberry Mississippi Mud Pie. Trust us: Your sweet tooth will thank you later.

Jimtown Store Hosts Final Popup this January

While the local Sonoma County community is saddened to have seen the historic Jimtown Store close its doors last month after 28 years, there is one more chance to visit owner Carrie Brown and the Jimtown team. On January 24 and 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Jimtown will host a popup event where fans can purchase Jimtown’s eclectic vintage signs, props and furnishings from their barns. Be sure to preorder quarts of Jimtown’s famous Chain Gang Chili on their website below for pickup at the popup. They will also be serving freshly brewed coffee, espresso drinks and Tosha Bakes pastries. If you can’t make their final popup, you still have the chance to load up on your Jimtown merch. Mugs, shirts, hats and more are still available on their website.

Meet CraftWork: Healdsburg’s First Coworking Space

Being a digital nomad in Healdsburg wine country just got a bit easier. If you’re looking for a creative and comfortable space to work while in Healdsburg, you’re in luck. Meet Healdsburg’s first coworking space, CraftWork. On January 7, CraftWork opened its 4,500 square feet of shared workspace, private offices, and event space in the former Healdsburg Furniture store on Center Street.

CraftWork’s vision is to help diversify and strengthen the local Healdsburg economy by offering high-performance workspace to entrepreneurs, ‘gig’ workers, small businesses, local non-profits and even seasoned professionals who are ‘not-ready-to-retire.’ CraftWork can be accessed by the day via a day pass or on a monthly basis as a member. CraftWork membership options include hot desks, a community table, work bar, private desks and private offices. Included in the monthly membership fee is high speed and dedicated fiber internet, a lounge with fireplace and comfortable seating, printing and copying, and three meeting rooms which can be reserved by CraftWork members and the community at large. Craftwork provides a change of scenery from the traditional coffee shop and affords its members an easily accessible place to check email, do some work or have a casual conversation with the growing list of members.

New Fitness Studio Opens in Downtown Healdsburg

Looking to squeeze in a few workouts during your trip to wine country? Now you can. Meet The Dailey Method, a new barre and spin studio that opened its Healdsburg doors this past October. The Dailey Method was founded by Jill Dailey more than 20 years ago in Northern California and combines the best of pilates, yoga and ballet barre training. Healdsburg’s studio owner, Catherine Ziegler, has been a dedicated student of The Dailey Method for eight years, and a teacher for two years at other nearby Dailey Method studios. Having resided in Healdsburg for seven years, Catherine saw the need and desire in the Healdsburg community for a wellness space that would bring together the community in a positive and uplifting way. The fitness studio is open every day and offers barre and spin classes that are deeply focused on alignment, musicality and fun. Exercise enthusiasts will also find a retail space supporting local artisans, such as Pade Vavra, Jessica Dunegan, Bounty and Bloom, La Rue Apothecary, Treko Woof, Valley Botanicals, Dino Apparel, Olivo and more. Learn more about booking your next Dailey Method class on their website below.

Soda Rock Winery Opens Healdsburg Tasting Room off the Plaza

Even though tragedy hit Alexander Valley’s Soda Rock Winery during the Kincade Fire in October 2019, owner Ken Wilson and his team quickly made a powerful comeback. In December, Soda Rock opened a new tasting room (previously La Follette Winery, see below) on Healdsburg Avenue, between Willi’s Seafood and Raw Bar and Costeaux French Bakery. (Within days of the fire, they also transformed their winery barn into a tasting room, which is open daily in Alexander Valley.) The Soda Rock Tasting Room is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is pouring the same wines as the Alexander Valley barn location. While the Soda Rock barn remains open, its hours have shifted to 11 a.m-4 p.m. When sunsets transition to later in the evening, the barn plans to extend its wine tasting hours.

La Follette Now Pouring at Sister Winery, Quivira Vineyards

La Follette Wines has moved from its downtown Healdsburg location to its sister winery, Quivira Vineyards, in Dry Creek Valley, 10 minutes from downtown Healdsburg. There, wine country visitors will enjoy pinot noirs and chardonnays paired with views of Quivira’s biodynamically farmed vineyards and gardens. Tastings include five wines: three from La Follette and two by Quivira.

Walt | Baca opens Healdsburg Tasting Room Just Outside City Limits

Napa vintners Craig and Kathryn Walt Hall have opened their first new tasting room in Healdsburg for their Walt and Baca wine labels. The modern space features walls of windows and a covered terrace with lounge seating, all overlooking the vineyards. Walt | Baca sit at the crossroads of Russian River Valley and Dry Creek Valley—a fitting location for tasting Walt Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and Baca Zinfandel.

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants, Hotels, Wineries & Bars

(Posted: Summer 2019)

Noci Sonoma opens for garden tours by appointment (finally!)

The main road through Dry Creek Valley is one of my favorite wine trails for an afternoon drive, and for the last three years, I’ve been driving past the matte black, modern Noci Sonoma sign, marveling at the 24-acre property’s slow, yet purposeful transformation. Like many, I’ve asked myself–and friends in the know–a dozen times, “When is Noci going to open to the public? What is it going to be?” Well, the wait is finally over. In July, owners Chris and Aria Adjani began accepting reservations for garden tours and picnics of the property, dubbed a “modern farmstead” and “edible garden adventure club.” Both culinary-focused and design-focused tours are available to the public on weekends (book online with Tock). You can even add a basket of fresh fruit or flowers to your reservation for $15-$25. Picnic reservation options (known as the Private Tour & Picnic Exclusive Experience) will be added to the website shortly for $65 per person and $20 for kids, featuring three menus prepared in partnership with nearby Jimtown Store: a picnic sandwich box, charcuterie and cheese box or a vegetarian mezze box. I booked a garden tour ($25 per person) the first week they were offered, and it’s really remarkable what this once-bicoastal couple have envisioned for their little slice of farm heaven in zinfandel country. Combining Chris’s design background with Aria’s love of cooking, Noci Sonoma (noci means “walnut” in Italian) features an open-air farm stand with flowers, popsicles, Noci nuts and other provisions up front, a football-field-long water garden (opening in 2020), 900 fruit trees–all planted by the Adjanis, rows of flowers, strawberries, thorn-less blackberries and seemingly endless paths through the organic gardens. Private member areas for picnics and harvesting are located at the back of the property. There are even hammocks for member snoozes after a berry and lacinato kale-induced food coma. Membership levels give foodies access to private areas for picnicking, gatherings and complimentary harvesting several pounds of produce and buckets of flowers per month. The owners have no plans to make wine or plant a vineyard–Chris says they wanted to “do something new in this valley of wine,” so be sure to bring a bottle of your favorite wine for your picnic reservation.

Jordan Winery debuts new hilltop tasting featuring Journeyman Meat Co. salumi and Jordan cabernet

The planting of a new vineyard next to Jordan Winery’s iconic chateau inspired John Jordan and his hospitality staff to create a new Sonoma wine and food pairing experience. Jordan’s Chateau Block Vineyard Tasting, which debuted in late June, takes guests on a 10-minute uphill hike to an oak-shaded area with vista views of the Alexander Valley floor, Mayacamas Mountains and Jordan’s young cabernet sauvignon vines. Several vintages of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon are served at picnic tables alongside cured olives, nuts and platters of Journeyman Meat Co. salumi, including two recipes that were created in collaboration with Jordan’s chef. This outdoor Healdsburg wine tasting ($75) is only offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June through October.

The Matheson by Chef Dustin Valette begins construction on Healdsburg Plaza

After two years of planning, The Matheson—a two-restaurant concept with a rooftop bar and a few guest rooms from the team behind Valette restaurant—has been approved on Healdsburg Plaza and will begin construction this summer. Named after Colonel Roderick Matheson, a Civil War hero from Healdsburg, The Matheson is a historic building of special significance to Chef Dustin Valette and his family. Nearly 100 years ago, his great-grandfather opened Snowflake Bakery in this exact location, which most recently housed the Copperfield’s Bookstore. (Don’t worry, bookworms—the store hasn’t left the building.) The soon-to-be reimagined Matheson structure, which technically houses three storefronts, will continue to be home to Healdsburg’s beloved bookstore and a gourmet home goods shop, Plaza Gourmet. The Matheson restaurant on the ground floor—which promises to be both affordable and family friendly—will seat about 100 guests, while the Roof 106 rooftop bar and restaurant will seat about 50, serving quick bites and European-inspired cuisine cooked in a Mugnaini wood-fired oven. Both will offer local ingredient-focused fare, as patrons have come to expect from Valette, which happens to be located in another historic building where the chef’s great-grandfather opened his second bakery nearly a century ago.

Barndiva Gallery Bistro restaurant now open on Monday night; new format

The very short list of Healdsburg restaurants open on Monday night just expanded with the welcomed addition of Barndiva’s sister restaurant, the Gallery Bistro. Located next door to the hip barn that opened in 2004 one block off the Healdsburg Plaza, the Gallery Bistro now also features a new, shortened menu and order-at-counter service for a more casual experience. The owners have rearranged the seating and moved out a few tables, making the eclectic space even more lounge-like than before. Even though the menu is compact, the wine list and by the glass offerings are extensive.

Former Chez Panisse chef makes French specialties for the meat case at Journeyman Meat Co.

Famous French chef Jean-Pierre Moullé, who worked several long stints at Chez Panisse from 1975 until his retirement in 2012, is now making specialty items for the Seghesios at Journeyman Meat Co. in Healdsburg. The chef and his wife, who run immersive cooking workshops in Healdsburg and Bordeaux under the name Two Bordelais, have split their time between the two cities for decades. Moullé works his magic at Journeyman when the shop is closed early in the week, preparing French delights for the meat case, such as chicken tournedos and paupiettes. The items are offered in the shop Wednesdays through Sundays, though supplies rarely last to the weekend.

Idlewild Wines launches Maison Porcella pork pop-ups on Fridays

For the last two years, Idlewild has hosted culinary pop-ups in its Healdsburg tasting room, featuring everything from dumplings to crudo. French charcuterie is the focus this time around, as Maison Porcella presents pork pop-ups the last Friday of each month throughout the summer and into the fall, from 3 to 7 p.m. Maison Porcella Chef Marc-Henri Jean-Baptiste creates mouthwatering Parisian-style ham, pork rillettes and an assortment of patés (don’t miss the chicken pistachio), which are available to enjoy in Idlewild’s lounge and bar seats, or for take-out orders. Reservations are highly recommended for those who want to dine in, as the pop-ups fill up fast. Prices range from $12 for silky chicken liver mousse to $17 for rich rillettes of slow-cooked pork.

Duke’s Common closes for a remodel and gets a new chef

Duke’s Common is closed for a remodel, and former collaborator Scott Romano of Dry Creek Kitchen is no longer involved with the business. Not to worry: Food is still available next door at Duke’s Spirited Cocktails during the remodel, and the team has hired a new chef, Sean Kelly, to do the honors. Kelly has worked at some of Sonoma County’s best restaurants, including Bistro Ralph, Underwood Bar and Bistro, Willowside Cafe and Gerard’s Paella. Plans for the renovations are being kept under wraps, as the Duke’s team is still working to get everything squared away with the local building and health departments. The re-opening date has yet to be determined. In the meantime, Kelly has revamped the menu, “raising the bar” on family meals, according to co-founder Tara Heffernon, and bringing some unexpected additions: croque monsieur and shrimp lettuce wraps. Find the latter on the Best Appetizers at Healdsburg Restaurants list.

Colores Artisan Ice Cream opens across from Bravas

In late May, the owners of Colores Ice Cream & Cake in Santa Rosa opened an ice cream shop across the street from Bravas. Along with fruit juices, Colores Artisan Ice Cream whips up a colorful array of Michoacan-style frozen treats, including ice cream and paletas (popsicles) studded with chunks of fresh fruit. They even have a pico de gallo popsicle made with fruit and spicy chili peppers, which they make on weekends, so be sure to stop by earlier in the week. Pico de gallo popsicles were already sold out by Wednesday on my last visit.

Houtskool Dumplings pop up in a trio of Healdsburg tasting rooms

We can’t resist a plump, delicious dumpling, especially when it’s hand made by the masters at Houtskool Dumplings. This summer they’re bringing their artisan dumplings—filled with savory combinations such as cauliflower and broccolini, and pork and shrimp—to pop-up events at three downtown tasting rooms. On Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. they’ll be at Young & Yonder Spirits, across from Healdsburg City Hall, served alongside craft spirits flights and specialty cocktails. Medlock Ames, producer of sustainably farmed Alexander Valley wines, hosts Houtskool on Sundays from 12 to 4 pm. On Fridays in July, the dumplings pop up at Comstock Wines, a newer winery with a beautiful view of the Dry Creek Valley located just outside of town. Their schedule is constantly changing–dumplings were found on Tuesdays at Lioco Wines tasting room on Tuesdays in June–so it’s best to visit the Houtskool Dumplings website “Where to Catch Us” section.

New JAM JAR boutique showcases local jewelry and art

A lovely new shop just opened downtown, across from Cartograph Wines. JAM JAR evolved out a working studio shared to two Sonoma County artists: Molly Perez, a mixed media maven who specializes in painting and collage, and her business partner Jaime Jean, a jewelry designer who works primarily with precious and semi-precious stones. For years, the duo hosted events in Santa Rosa’s Arts district, featuring their own work as well as curating locally made, handmade pieces by other artists. They recently relocated their shop to Healdsburg, where they now offer a little bit of everything—from art to jewelry to vintage finds.

Coursey Graves opens a tasting room

Coursey Graves winery opened its doors in late May, moving into the former Valdez Family Winery tasting room near the downtown roundabout. The winery is a collaboration between John Graves, who worked in tech for years before getting into the wine business, and Cabell Coursey, former winemaker at Kosta Browne and Alder Springs, among others. Along with growing its own grapes—mainly Bordeaux varieties—at the winery’s Bennett Mountain location, Coursey Graves seeks out fruit from exceptional, lesser-known vineyards. The tasting room space looks like a stylish living room, complete with a record player for spinning vinyl. Walk-ins ($25) are welcome, or reserve a seated tasting ($35) that includes an artisan cheese board.

Dry Creek General Store bar set to return

Great news: The taps and bottles at the Dry Creek General Store bar are expected to flow again before harvest, officially ending one of the greatest injustices in Healdsburg history. The bar has been shuttered since 2017, when it lost its liquor license due to an unfortunate set of circumstances, but bottles and brews should be back soon, and Owner Gina Gallo of E&J Winery promised to make sure the bar won’t stop serving again. (They got their liquor license back in December 2018 but haven’t set an official date for the bar opening yet. According to one employee, they expect to reopen before the end of summer.) The bar itself is a local icon, dating back to 1881. The place survived Prohibition by running a bootleg operation out of its cellar. Today the bar is filled with vintage memorabilia and taxidermy kitsch; prior to the license snafu, it was known as the place where deals in the Dry Creek Valley get done.

Scout opens second shop in downtown Healdsburg

One of the best Sonoma County boutiques for home decor and artsy gifts is tucked behind a brewery in The Barlow, and stylish shoppers who don’t want to make the drive to Sebastopol can now find a second outpost of Scout in Healdsburg, just across the street from Costeaux French Bakery. Scout Healdsburg is smaller than the original location with an emphasis on clothing, but there are still some eclectic home decor pieces from independent designers. It’s well worth the short walk off the square. (A word of caution: If you google Scout Healdsburg, you’ll find yelp closed links and other articles about a short-lived bar named Scout, now home to Duke’s Spirits Cocktails. The new Scout is very much open, but sorry–it doesn’t serve martinis.)

La Follette opens a Healdsburg tasting room

Earlier this spring, La Follette winery opened a tasting room in the former Toad Hollow space next to Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar on Healdsburg Avenue. The space is much brighter now and evokes a contemporary Western vibe (think Jackson Hole). Tastings feature La Follette’s site-driven Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, created to showcase the terroir of the winery’s locally sourced grapes.

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants, Hotels, Wineries & Bars

(Posted: Spring 2019)

Healdsburg SHED closed

Healdsburg locals were shocked in December at word that SHED, the beloved community gathering place and self-proclaimed modern grange, would close its doors Dec. 31. Owners Cindy Daniel and Doug Lipton blamed a drop in business after the October 2017 wildfires, but some local news reports speculated that the loss of Michelin-starred Chef Perry Hoffman also may have contributed to the move. As of mid-December, there was no news about potential buyers of the space, though sources indicated the Gallo wine company had made a strong offer. (Barbara Banke of Jackson Family Wines was also spotted walking into the building recently.) Whatever happens to the physical space, Daniel and Lipton have promised to continue SHED as an online-only retail business.

Jordan Winery dining room renovation

The exquisite dining room in the chateau at Jordan Winery is about to get even more spectacular, thanks to a full-scale remodel taking place through early February. The job is a complete redesign led by Geoffrey de Sousa of San Francisco. In addition to the dining room itself, improvements will comprise an indoor/outdoor butler’s pantry between the dining room and kitchen; this pantry will be a focal point for culinary events. It also will give Winery Tour guests a window into the inner workings of the Jordan kitchen. Attendees of the Valentine’s Dinner at Jordan (sold out in three hours of tickets on sale) will be the first members of the general public to experience the new dining room in February.

Harmon Guest House Rooftop Lounge now open for happy hour and dinner in Healdsburg

Healdsburg’s newest hotel, Harmon Guest House has a fabulous rooftop lounge, called the Harmon House Rooftop Lounge, which opened in October with lunch and early dinner service. The rooftop’s hours have since changed to 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday with an emphasis on the happy hour menu (offered from 3 to 6 p.m.), but the best part is the food. The kitchen is currently led by Ryan Fancher, formerly of Barndiva and The French Laundry. Don’t miss the blinis and caviar or the pork belly. Arrive early to snag a table outdoors.

Plank Coffee opens in north Healdsburg

Move over, Flying Goat. Look out, Downtown Creamery. Soon there’ll be a new coffee shop in town, and the new Healdsburg location of Plank Coffee likely is going to become a fan favorite within weeks. The coffee shop has taken over the old Wild Sage Deli space on the corner of Grove and Dry Creek Avenue, and it was expected to open by the end of 2018. The Healdsburg shop would be the second location for Plank; it has operated a successful shop up in Cloverdale since 2012. Details on the new store are nebulous at this time, but sources say it will comprise two stories and feature a limited menu.

Idlewild Wines sharpens food menu

When Sam Bilbro opened the Idlewild Wines tasting room in Healdsburg in 2017, he wanted to create a place where guests could taste his Italian-inspired wines and enjoy snacks, such as cheese, charcuterie and nuts. Bilbro has achieved that vision and much, much more. In recent months, he has been working on expanding offerings, hosting pop-up dinners on Friday nights 2-3 times a month. Some nights the guest chefs would serve dumplings; other nights they’d serve fresh Hawaiian poke. “Sunday School” educational wine tastings that enlighten locals about Italian wines are also a recent addition. The Idlewild Table, a curated tasting of cheeses and salumis paired with a flight of five wines, is offered everyday of the week several times a day. The programs have done wonders for Idlewild’s business; the line for pop-ups and educational events is often quite literally out the door. Moving into 2019, Bilbro suggests guests make reservations.

Coyote Howl taproom opens in Healdsburg

The new tenant for the former Sonoma Cider space on the south side of Healdsburg is a familiar face: Wilson Artisan Wines. The brand, which most recently opened the Rockpile tasting room on the northeast side of the roundabout, bought the former cider house, renamed it Coyote in honor of their new wine brand Coyote Sonoma, and reorganized the taproom to feature beer and wine. Food service is in the works, but no set date for when it will begin as of mid-January. Live music, however, has already started on Friday nights. Perhaps most important, Wilson built a big stage with reclaimed wood from a high-school basketball court, and it retained all the games that had become fan favorites at Sonoma Cider. This means you can chase your beers at Coyote with games of Pop-A-Shot, foosball, or Giant Jenga. No website yet, and hours will probably change once food service begins.

Healdsburg Roundabout finally open

After two years of construction and five years of planning, the roundabout at the south end of Healdsburg Avenue opened November 29 with speeches, fanfare, and a tremendous sigh of relief. The project spent months as a target of locals’ ire, and it was scapegoated for sagging business for restaurants and shops south of Matheson Street.  Now, however, the rotary has beautified the southern end of downtown, improved access, and kept traffic moving. The new traffic circle celebrated the holidays with a giant light-up present and ornament into which passersby could climb and snap Instagram pix. Judging from the number of locals who shared photos from inside, locals already are willing to forgive and forget in the name of smooth travel.

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants & Healdsburg Bars

(Posted: Fall 2018)

The newest in Healdsburg hotels, Harmon Guest House debuts

Hotel Healdsburg and the H2hotel welcomed a new sibling into the boutique hotel family in September with the opening of the Harmon Guest House. Named after Healdsburg’s founder Harmon Heald, the ultra-modern property, which took three years to complete, has a similar look and feel to neighboring H2 but steps out of the family mold with a sweeping glass entrance, three-story exposed staircase and a discreet, convenient parking garage entry at street level. This boutique Healdsburg hotel features 39 rooms with bar carts, window seats and Bluetooth-enabled sound systems. Downstairs, a Creekside path behind the hotel will connect the HGH to the H2; upstairs, a rooftop lounge with firepit will open soon; there are still rumors over whether it will be open to the public or reserved exclusively for guests. The hotel is aiming for LEED gold certification for its environmentally friendly design and also has a solar-heated pool and cruiser bicycles for guest use.

Robert Young Estate Winery Scion House opening delayed

One of the oldest and most historic Alexander Valley wineries, Robert Young Estate Winery has faced a few setbacks in the opening of its much-anticipated Scion House hospitality center, located on a gorgeous hilltop above the original winery and its tiny tasting room. The July opening was pushed to September and now October. Guests will be welcomed by appointment only for seated wine tastings and other experiences, including a picnic with 360-degree views of Alexander Valley. Designed to feel more like a home than a tasting room, Robert Young Scion House is not to be missed during your next visit to Healdsburg. (Geyserville is only a few miles north of downtown.) Read all about this ambitious new tasting room and the Young family on our recent blog, Seek Out These New Alexander Valley Wineries & Tasting Rooms.

Lioco Wine Company opens tasting room off Healdsburg Plaza

Known for its acid-driven, lower-alcohol wines of balance, Lioco has been a darling of the sommelier community for about a decade. (It was started in 2005 by a respected restaurant wine director and a wine sales colleague, Matt Licklider.) Today, husband/wife team Matt and Sara Licklider now have a more permanent home for sharing their chardonnay, pinot noir and Rhone varietal wines with consumers, thanks to a new Healdsburg tasting room space right off square across from Oakville Grocery, which opened in August. Formerly a clothing store, the Liocco tasting room is hip and bright with plenty of seating and a killer vinyl record selection. Lioco features sit-down tastings that can be booked on their website, as well as a walk-in tasting bar. The wines are made at a cooperative in Santa Rosa, though we’d love to have this dynamic duo crushing their beautiful fruit in HBG.

Healdsburg’s biggest hotel opens north of town

In a city short of hotel rooms, wineries, restaurants and shop owners have been eagerly awaiting the opening of Hotel Trio for two years. The largest modern hotel in Healdsburg, Hotel Trio features 122 all-suite rooms, each equipped with a full kitchen and a spacious living room. The Marriott group hotel had its soft opening in mid-July and is already hosting guests, though a handful of rooms are still under construction. Stays include complimentary hot breakfast served in the lobby, and regular shuttle service is provided to take guests to downtown Healdsburg. Prices begin at $199 per night weekdays and $289 on weekends. Learn more about this Healdsburg hotel in our 2018 Healdsburg Lodging Guide.

New small bites bar opens in Healdsburg

A tiny storefront right off the square is the Rodney Dangerfield of Healdsburg restaurants, and we hope it will finally get some respect with its latest incarnation. The former Charcuterie became Persimmon in early 2016, an Asian-fusion restaurant owned by restaurateur Octavio Diaz, who also owns three other Mexican restaurants, including Agave in Healdsburg. When that concept floundered, he transformed the space into Kitchen 335 in 2017, a nod to the street address, and served up farm-focused, hip cuisine sourced from an educational children’s farm in Sonoma County. But in a town already filled with farm-centric eateries, Kitchen 335 never gained traction. This summer, the curse of 335 will hopefully end with the opening of Barrels, Brews & Bites (B Cubed) in June, a craft beer and “hidden gem” wine bar serving casual fare in tapas format, such as hummus and veggies, Mexican corn elotes skewers and deviled eggs with bacon jam (pictured above). Healdsburg is a haven for small bites restaurants, so add this new stop on your Healdsburg Grub Crawl itinerary. Under new ownership, led by the former general manager of Eel River Brewing Company.

JCB Tasting Salon returns to Healdsburg Square

Locals have noticed a familiar logo on the windows of a tasting room that anchors the corner of Plaza and Center streets on the east side of the Healdsburg square. Frenchman Jean-Charles Boisset is back in town. The bon-vivant wine businessman first took over the tasting room occupied by his wife Gina Gallo’s family tasting room, Gallo of Sonoma, in 2010, transforming the space into a lounge that looked more like a tiny Vegas club replete with Baccarat chandeliers and plush velvet furnishings. Known as Boisset Taste of Terroir for three years, the space became the home of C. Donatiello wines in 2013, but when vintner Chris Donatiello closed the tasting room in May 2018, the owners of the building invited Boisset back. The new JCB Tasting Salon-Healdsburg is larger than its former incarnations, and the interior design is flamboyant, opulent and full of color—just like JCB’s other wine tasting salons in Yountville and San Francisco. There are even resident (albeit taxidermy) peacocks. JCB Healdsburg takes walk-ins and appointments for private tastings with a variety of seating options in two rooms. They will be offering food and wine pairings in the future.

Locals hangout in Healdsburg closes, becoming a coffee cafe with serious food

Wildflower Saloon said goodbye to drinkers and diners in May. The restaurant and bar, located two blocks off the square in a strip mall, was a local favorite with a rustic vibe, full bar and affordable prices. The new tenants are the founders of Black Oak Coffee in Mendocino, which is busy transforming the space into Black Oak Cafe–their first location in Sonoma (the other is in Ukiah). They plan to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in addition to their award-winning coffees. Chef Jack New of Sydney, Australia, is developing a menu that combines his Scandinavian, Australian and Japanese influences. Opening in late summer 2018.

Silver Oak’s new Healdsburg winery and tasting room opens

The sleepy stretch of Highway 128 in the southeast corner of Alexander Valley is going to see a lot more traffic with the opening of Silver Oak Cellars new Healdsburg winery, which features a walk-in tasting room, and tastings by appointment, including an impressive food and wine pairing lunch. Learn more about the other Alexander Valley wineries that opened in the last year.

Cafe Lucia restaurant closes

The second outpost from the Portuguese restaurant family behind LaSalette and Tasca Tasca in Sonoma, Cafe Lucia closed in May, after years of struggling to gain traffic at a location off the town square tucked behind a tasting room. Co-owners, Manuel Azevedo and his sister Lucia Azevedo Fincher, blamed their decision on both the ongoing construction of the Healdsburg roundabout and the building of the Harmon House hotel next door. The October wildfires only worsened the situation, deepening the housing crisis for restaurant workers.

Otoro Sushi opens in Healdsburg

Just when we locals think the Healdsburg food scene can’t support another restaurant, we are forced to eat our words. Healdsburg’s second sushi restaurant arrived in 2018, Otoro Sushi, and the owners decision to tailor its business to locals was a smart one, as its no-frills location in a quad building far north of downtown Healdsburg makes it less attractive to tourists. The basic decor offers a stark contrast to the colorful, flavor-packed menu, which boasts two pages of maki rolls alone. You’ll have to Yelp to see the full menu; their website has been down since opening. Don’t miss the Bodega Bay Roll with shrimp tempura (pictured above), soft shell crab, avocado and cucumber, or the Jalapeño Bombs. The wine list is lacking, but the corkage fee is only $5. You can’t beat Otoro’s prices for great sushi. Downtown Healdsburg’s flagship sushi restaurant, O’Sake, has some stiff competition.

Journeyman Meat Co. unveils its first salumi club

Last winter, Sonoma County’s top salumeria, Journeyman Meat Co., launch its Meat Guild, a salumi club for carnivores. Members receive quarterly shipments of two artisan salumis, made by owner Pete Seghesio, a complimentary charcuterie board gift certificate, tickets to Journeyman’s annual Meat Guild party dubbed CARNival, tickets to a sausage-making class and first access to other classes. Journeyman is located in downtown Healdsburg–in the same building that houses SingleThread Restaurant & Inn–and select Journeyman events are hosted on the SingleThread rooftop terrace (like the first member event, Meat & Mingle).

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants & Healdsburg Bars

(Posted: February 2018)

Duke’s Common to bridge Duke’s and Brass Rabbit on Healdsburg Square

When beloved restaurant Scopa closed its doors in April 2017, rumors flew about what would take its place. Finally, in February 2018, Healdsburg got its answer: a fast-casual joint called Duke’s Common. Helmed by Brass Rabbit Chef Shane McAnelly, the new eatery will specialize in “casual global street food,” including items such as pizza by the slice, shrimp skewers, falafel burritos, sandwiches and “Disco Fries,” a new take on poutine. McAnelly promises no items will be more than $10, making the Common one of the most affordable restaurants on Healdsburg Plaza. The best part? The kitchen will serve food late—until 9 p.m. on site, and until 11 p.m. on weeknights and midnight on weekends at Duke’s.

Makeover at Giorgio’s Restaurant

Giorgio’s family-style pizzeria is one of the best-kept secrets in Healdsburg, especially if you like restaurants with old-school charm and saucy servers. For years, one of the eatery’s claims to fame was the ceiling in the main dining room—it was almost completely covered in plastic (and, um, dusty) ivy. Earlier this year, sometime in January, to be exact, the team at Giorgio’s decided it was time for a makeover and removed the ivy completely. The new dining room feels completely different. For starters, it’s brighter, as there’s no faux greenery blocking the light. It also just feels cleaner. Of course the pizza is as good as always.

New Healdsburg bar brings pub life to town

The newest addition to the Healdsburg bar scene, Elephant in the Room, is one-part pub and one-part live music venue. Occupying the old For Locals Only space south of Matheson near the Parish Café and the Sonoma Cider Taproom. The “Elephant,” as locals have taken to calling it, offers about a dozen beers on tap, craft brews by bottle, and a seemingly endless string of football and soccer on the bar televisions. On weekend nights, the place hosts live music sessions from local artists. The patio, which spans Foss Creek south of town, is just as welcoming as always, especially on those warm nights. Plans for spring and summer include food trucks on certain days. Once the Healdsburg round-about and sidewalk construction is finished, the Elephant will be an easy walk from the Plaza.

New Healdsburg shopping boutique offers ‘Twisst’ on leisure wear

The folks at Healdsburg’s newest clothing store have coined a phrase to describe the type of apparel they sell: “Athleisure.” As the word implies, this means the clothes double as athletic wear and leisure wear, and can work at the gym, the yoga studio, the office, or dinner at a fancy restaurant. Featured brands include Nux, Varley, Glyder, Allfenix and Goldsheep, to name a few. The shop also boasts a tasting bar—not for wine, but for fresh-pressed juice from Sonoma County Juice Company, which uses only organic products from local farms and donates a portion of all sales to funds that help victims of the October 2017 wildfires. Healdsburg already has some of the best shopping in wine country, and it just keeps getting better.

All aboard for wine tastings at The Flight Deck tasting room

With the new year came a new approach at the Vintage Wine Estates tasting room on the Healdsburg Plaza. Dubbed The Flight Deck, Vintage 2.0 is all about wine tasting flights—exploratory experiences featuring wines from prestigious wine regions including the Russian River Valley, Oakville, North Coast, Carneros, Dry Creek, and the Sonoma and Napa valleys. Visitors can choose from curated flights by varietal or appellation, or they can piece together a flight that includes wines from brands including Girard Winery, Middle Sister, Windsor Vineyards, Viansa Sonoma and Clos Pegase. The Flight Deck also pours wines by the glass, and offers regular events including Wednesday night gatherings that pair bubbles and popcorn.

The Latest News on Healdsburg Restaurants & Healdsburg Bars

(Posted: August 2017)

Scopa becoming a Duke’s private lounge

When the beloved Italian Healdsburg restaurant Scopa closed its doors in April 2017, locals heard rumors that owners would keep the space to host private events and large parties for their neighboring restaurant, Campo Fina. No longer. A new ownership notice has gone up in the window of Scopa. A local official initially told us that mega vintner Bill Foley—owner of Les Mars hotel, Chalkboard and the new Brass Rabbit in downtown Healdsburg—had snatched up the skinny, rustic spot to turn it into a lounge for Brass Rabbit with cocktail service provided by next-door neighbor, Duke’s Spirited Cocktails. It’s actually the other way around, according to Shane McAnelly, executive chef of Chalkboard and Brass Rabbit. Duke’s has acquired Scopa restaurant for private events and access to Scopa’s kitchen with plans to add a food menu at Duke’s. McAnelly and his staff at Brass Rabbit are developing cool bar food recipes now and will handle the cooking. No official announcements yet on when Duke’s new space will be ready or when food service will begin, so stay tuned. (If you’re curious why Scopa closed and when Brass Rabbit restaurant opened, scroll down for our April 2017 Healdsburg restaurants news report.)

Kitchen 335 opening at Persimmon

When I walked by Persimmon on a Thursday night at 8 p.m. two weeks ago, I was surprised to see the Healdsburg restaurant closed with no notes posted on the door. Big changes were already in the works. Owner and veteran local restaurateur Octavio Diaz was already deep into a 3o-day revamp to transform what was one of the plaza’s newer eateries into Kitchen 335, a farm-to-table restaurant named for its street address. The Healdsburg restaurant sources all ingredients from nearby farms, with an emphasis on What’s Up Farms, a privately-owned Sonoma County farm that works with schools in Santa Rosa to teach children about farming. Chef Rodrigo Mendoza, who left Willi’s Seafood less than a year ago to head the kitchen at Persimmon, will remain executive chef; he also supplies the kitchen with herbs and vegetables from his home garden. Kitchen 335 opened on August 1, and the menu looks tasty. Grand opening will be later this month once the liquor license is secured. (Read below to learn about the recent changes at Willi’s and Persimmon.)

Journeyman opens off Healdsburg square

Pete Seghesio, a fourth-generation member of the Seghesio wine family, has fulfilled a life-long dream to make his own prosciutto, just like his grandfather once did. After he and his relatives decided to sell Seghesio winery in 2011, Pete traveled to Florence, Italy, every winter for five years to apprentice with a top charcuterie maker. The culmination of his passion project is Journeyman Meat Co., Sonoma County’s first small-batch, custom-crafted meat shop and salumeria. Located in the same building as Single Thread Farm Restaurant & Inn just off the Healdsburg square (which Pete owns), Journeyman is more than a place for Pete and his wife, Cathy, to sell their cured meats. It’s an intimate tasting bar for wine and charcuterie, featuring their new Journeyman wines, as well as a retail space and most importantly, a salumificcio and butcher shop. Pete makes his charcuterie in Cloverdale at Journeyman’s new, USDA-approved salumificcio, fully equipped with authentic Italian fermentation and aging equipment, including four small-batch fermentation rooms and two individual aging rooms for aging whole muscle meat and salumi. Journeyman is one of the few charcuterie makers that practices single fermentations for each of his meats. He also has a smoking chamber for slow-smoking sausage, curing bacon and more and will offer butcher services.

Jordan and Relish Culinary team up for winery lunch cooking class in Healdsburg

Jordan Winery has launched a new series of Healdsburg events in September and October with Relish Culinary Adventures called Farm-To-Table Interactive Cooking Luncheons. The experience begins with a garden tour and continental breakfast in the Jordan Estate garden, featuring the Jordan Cuvée Champagne by AR Lenoble, homemade pastries, harvesting activities and more before provisions shopping at SHED and the Healdsburg Farmers’ Market near the Relish Healdsburg demonstration kitchen. At Relish, guests enjoy a reception with Jordan chardonnay and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a hands-on cooking class with the Relish chefs, before a three-course winery lunch paired with Jordan wines and other surprises. Tickets are $200 per person and can be purchased on Jordan Winery’s website.

Tiki parties at Duke’s bar on Healdsburg square

Duke’s is doubling down on the tiki craze. Two Polynesian-themed tiki pop-up parties have been hosted so far this summer—the first replete with Star Wars tiki mugs and a second with complimentary ahi poke and pork sliders, passed by bar co-owner, Laura Sanfilippo, wearing a traditional Hawaiian dress. Justin D’olie, formerly of San Francisco’s newest tiki bar, Pagan Idol, has relocated to Sonoma County and joined the Duke’s team. Justin grew up in Hawaii, and you can always recognize him by the ever-present smile and tropical shirt. (He also hosted Duke’s first Tiki Cocktail Class last weekend.) Be sure to like the Duke’s Facebook page for future event announcements.

More News about Healdsburg Restaurants, Healdsburg Tasting Rooms & Healdsburg Bars

(Posted: April 2017)

 Bistro Ralph becomes The Brass Rabbit

A fixture in the wine country restaurant scene for more than two decades, Bistro Ralph’s reinvention as Ralph’s Martini House in 2015 was sadly short-lived. Now, vintner Bill Foley, owner of Healdsburg’s well-loved Chalkboard, is opening a new concept chez Ralph dubbed The Brass Rabbit. Chalkboard Chef Shane McAnelly and the team have kept quiet on details, but Tasting Table reports that the new restaurant will open in May and offer a “seasonal supper club menu” with French influences.

Willi’s Seafood in Healdsburg gets makeover, new chef

A pillar of the Healdsburg dining scene since 2002, Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar closed for a week in late March for a mini makeover, including new lighting and paint throughout. Chef AJ McCloud, formerly of Houston’s in Southern California, now oversees the kitchen, replacing Rodrigo Mendoza (see Persimmon news below).

Healdsburg’s beloved Scopa is closing

Hard to believe it, but one of Healdsburg’s best and most beloved restaurants is shutting its doors after eight years. Scopa, the narrow-but-delicious upscale Italian restaurant on the Plaza, will close April 8 so owners Dawnelise Regnery and Ari Rosen (who is also the chef) can focus on spending more time as a family. The duo has become a fixture in the local community, opening Campo Fina, the more casual restaurant around the corner, and starting Corazon Healdsburg, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting equality. Regnery, who is pregnant with the couple’s second child, said Campo Fina will remain open, and noted that the end of Scopa was bittersweet. “It’s been a really difficult decision, but one of moving our family and lives towards simplification and space for the new,” she said. We wish them luck, and thank them for all that great food.

Idlewild opening tasting room in Healdsburg

Downtown Healdsburg’s newest tasting experience: Idlewild, which opened early March in the old Sanglier space on Plaza Street. The salumi and wine bar is the brainchild of Sam Bilbro, who makes wine for a label that also bears the Idlewild name. All of Bilbro’s varietals are of Piedmont origin but grown locally—think Dolcetto, Barbera, and a variety of clean, bright whites and pinks. Inside the space, the experience is intimate but not over-the-top; bar seats and window bench seats are the options, and servers only share the origin of the meats if you ask. The result: an environment that allows the products to speak for themselves. Bilbro himself comes from good rootstock; his two brothers, Jake and Scot, and their father, Chris, are in the business as well, crafting the Limerick Lane and Marietta labels.

Highly anticipated Single Thread Farms opens

For more than a year, Healdsburgers (and foodies across the country) have been eagerly awaiting the opening of Single Thread Farms Restaurant & Inn by husband-wife team, Kyle and Katina Connaughton (pictured). As we reported last spring, the restaurant experience includes personal tours of the restaurant’s rooftop garden and greenhouse, an 11-course meal, California-focused wine pairings and the option to stay in one of five suites on-site. The menu, heavily influenced by the chef’s work with French chef Michel Bras in Japan, revolves around fresh produce Katina and her team grow at the couple’s property nearby. Their thoughtful, farm-focused cuisine highlights not just the four seasons–but 72 micro-seasons of ancient Japan (each lasting five days). A soft opening occurred in December 2016, and Single Thread has already been nominated for James Beard Awards’ Best New Restaurant.

K-J Partake becomes Siduri Wine Lounge

The Kendall-Jackson family of brands has a new home in downtown Healdsburg: Siduri Wine Lounge, which opened late last year in the space formerly occupied by K-J Partake. Today, this spot offers regionally inspired, eclectic bites designed to go with wines by the glass or bottle, including more than twenty Pinot Noirs. The place has a distinctly hipster vibe, with an old-growth redwood tasting bar, a retro turntable (with vinyl ready to play) and even draft beer. What to order? For starters, be sure to dig in to the candy cap mushroom kettle corn and buttermilk fried chicken (pictured). Later, try a plate of braised and fried alligator dunked in remoulade with grilled lemons.

Persimmon 2.0 (**Closed July 2017**)

It’s only been a year since Asian-fusion eatery Persimmon took over the tiny Charcuterie bistro on the square, and owner and local restaurateur Octavio Diaz is already making big changes to keep up with Healdsburg’s ever-changing food scene. Not content with traffic after the restaurant’s first summer season, Diaz refreshed the concept, bringing in a new chef, Rodrigo Mendoza (pictured), formerly of Willi’s Seafood & Raw Bar, and a new manager, Healdsburg-raised Ryan Costa, who just returned from the New York restaurant scene. Today the menu is more, well…Asian, featuring a variety of clay-pot, broth-based dishes (don’t miss the Dungeness crab in coconut milk during season), somen noodles, crispy duck and baby back ribs. Ingredients are sourced primarily from local farms. Mendoza, who is from Bolivia, has added South American spice to some of the dishes as well. Persimmon’s wine list has been reinvented, too, focusing almost 90 percent on Sonoma County wines.

Sonoma Cider Taproom debuts

For the last few years, the only way to sample Healdsburg-made Sonoma Cider was to find it at local bars or buy it at Big John’s. In October, however, the company opened a taproom and restaurant one block south of the Healdsburg plaza, in the same shopping center as FLO behind the Parish Café. The taproom boasts 25 taps in all, and will pour micro-releases, experimental batches and exclusive flavors from Sonoma Cider, as well as additional artisanal ciders from around the world. A menu of approachable fare in the form of small snacks and shareable plates also is available. Open since October 2016.

New chef at Dry Creek Kitchen

A new executive chef took the reins at Hotel Healdsburg’s Dry Creek Kitchen restaurant last summer, and he’s a familiar face to owner (and celebrity chef) Charlie Palmer. Chef Scott Romano (pictured) started his career in New York at Aureole, Palmer’s flagship restaurant, back in 1997, and the two have been friends ever since. Romano was most recently executive chef at Charlie Palmer at the Joule in Dallas. To celebrate their long connection, Romano and Palmer have collaborated on a special menu of “Reflective Cooking” that comprises dishes to remind them of years and times past. Highlights include seared quail with corn and sweetbread pudding, and veal chop with sautéed foie gras, orange-cooked carrots and potato-parsnip puree. (Last month, DCK also hired a new sommelier, Jeff Creamer. He most recently served as wine director at Brix Restaurant in Yountville, where he managed a 4,000-bottle cellar.)

Cellars of Sonoma moves to Healdsburg

For eight years, Cellars of Sonoma owner Scott Jordan (no relation to the Jordans at Jordan Winery) has been championing small Sonoma County producers at his tasting room in Railroad Square in downtown Santa Rosa, and he’s bringing the same focus and level of hospitality to a new tasting room space just off the Healdsburg square behind Healdsburg Bar & Grill. Open since July 2016, Cellars of Sonoma pours wines from eight Sonoma County vintners; many produce small lots of wine with only a few hundred cases per varietal and are not available in national distribution. Jordan closed his Railroad Square tasting room on New Year’s Eve to focus entirely on his new space in Healdsburg.

Barndiva adds Bistro and Somm’s Table

For years, the Studio Barndiva space—just north of Barndiva restaurant on Center Street—has been an art gallery by day and private event venue by night. Last June, Barndiva owners decided to bring daily dining service to the eclectic space and renamed it The Gallery Bar + Bistro. Think of the new iteration as an informal version of the restaurant next door, a nod to the environment of a public house with artisanal cocktails and a classic French bistro menu by Barndiva Chef Ryan Fancher’s cuisine, a French Laundry alumn. The funky patio seating, cocktails and vintage cigarette card collection were already worthy of a visit, but now the cuisine is drawing epicures. Mainstays here include steak frites, macaroni au gratin and the “Gallery Board,” from which you can make your own duck leg carnitas tacos. The Gallery serves fabulous “Sunday Supper” three-course prix fixe dinners every weekend and continues to add features to the bistro’s hospitality. Be sure to ask about the new Somm’s Table. It’s a curated wine shop by day, and in the evenings, when not being used for winemaker dinners, the artistic dining space can be booked for up to ten diners for an intriguing wine pairing chef’s table.

Duke’s Spirited Cocktails debuts on Healdsburg Square

Artisan craft cocktails are more popular than ever, and Duke’s, which opened last summer in the old John & Zeke’s space on the Healdsburg plaza, is the most popular place to sip for locals and tourists alike. The bar is helmed by three Spoonbar! alums (Laura Sanfilippo, Tara Heffernon, and Steve Maduro), and the menu is chock-full of cocktails made with garden ingredients grown by Sanfilippo and Heffernon. Perhaps the biggest attraction is cocktails on draught, which have a touch of spritz and seasonal ingredients. The only downside to Duke’s: On weekend nights, it can be difficult to get in (seriously). Part of the Healdsburg Cocktail Triangle.

Geyserville Gun Club opens

Devotees of Diavola, Geyserville’s famous pizza place, always complained about not having enough to do while they waited for tables. They now have an entire playroom in the Geyserville Gun Club, which opened last March. The eclectic bar, owned by Diavola chef Dino Buciga, sits just three doors north, and boasts a swanky city-meets-country vibe that draws as many farmers as it does tourists. Gun Club specializes in craft cocktails made from boutique spirits and even has Negronis on tap. Not surprisingly, “GGC” has great food, too, including lumpia and, of course, cold pizza—all made by Buciga and served through a window between the two kitchens. The best part? If you go when you’re waiting for a table at Diavola, the hostess will call the bar when your name is up. Also part of the Healdsburg Cocktail Triangle.