Photos courtesy of Willi's Wine Bar
Santa Rosa sits at the crossroads of Wine Country—a city big enough to have range, but small enough to still feel local. From family-run breakfast spots to sleek downtown kitchens, the food scene here is a snapshot of everything Sonoma does well: fresh produce, serious flavor, and easygoing hospitality. Whether you’re on a tasting trip or staying a few days, these Santa Rosa restaurants deliver the goods.
It’s lively, stylish, and the kind of place where half the room knows each other. Bird & The Bottle mixes Asian street food energy with deli nostalgia and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Cocktails are sharp, the service hums, and there’s always something smoky coming off the grill.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Crispy Fried Miso Black Cod with dill pickle salt—a cult favorite.
Tip: Ask if the kitchen’s running the off-menu pastrami tacos—they pop up without warning and disappear fast.
Visit: 1055 4th Street, Santa Rosa, California 95404
Contact: (707) 568-4000
Price Range: $$–$$$
Website: birdandthebottle.com
In the SOFA arts district, Spinster Sisters delivers creative California cooking in a converted warehouse. Chef Liza Hinman leans on local farms and producers to keep the menu bright and surprising.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Ricotta Cavatelli with chanterelle mushrooms and leeks.
Tip: Don’t skip dessert—Spinster Sisters has an on-site pastry chef that whips up delicious sweets like their Roasted Pear Crumb Cake.
Visit: 401 South A Street, Santa Rosa, California 95401
Contact: (707) 528-7100
Price Range: $$–$$$
Website: thespinstersisters.com
Old-school steakhouse, new-school crowd. Stark’s Steak & Seafood draws everyone from winemakers in dusty boots to couples out celebrating. Come for the dry-aged cuts and fresh oysters, stay for the killer martinis.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Bone-in Ribeye with house steak sauce.
Tip: Skip dessert and head to the bar for the after-dinner cocktail list—it’s where the bartenders flex their creativity.
Visit: 521 Adams Street, Santa Rosa, California 95401
Contact: (707) 546-5100
Price Range: $$$
Website: starkssteakhouse.com
A Santa Rosa institution. Breakfast at Dierk’s Parkside isn’t a meal, it’s a ritual. Servers know your order by heart, kids grow up on the pancakes, and out-of-towners are easy to spot because they’re the ones taking photos of the huge portions. Expect comfort classics done right: fluffy omelets, cornflake-crusted French toast, and biscuits that never miss.
Favorite Local’s Dish: The “Country Benedict” with bacon gravy.
Tip: Go on a weekday if you can—weekends mean lines out the door.
Visit: 404 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, California 95404
Contact: (707) 573-5955
Price Range: $–$$
Website: dierksparkside.com
After rebuilding from the 2017 fires, Willi’s Wine Bar is back and better than ever. Small plates, global flavors, and a wine list that covers every corner of Sonoma.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Moroccan Lamb Chops with mint yogurt.
Tip: Let the staff pick your pairings. They’re trained to match dishes to small Sonoma producers you probably haven’t heard of.
Visit: 1415 Town and Country Drive, Santa Rosa, California 95404
Contact: (707) 526-3096
Price Range: $$–$$$
Website: williswinebar.net
Whether you’re with the whole family or are on a romantic getaway for two, Santa Rosa offers something for everyone. From museums to wineries and outdoor fun, we’re sharing the best activities and sights in and around this bustling city. Start Exploring
Chef Tony Ounpamornchai has spent years fine-tuning SEA Thai’s reputation for balance—spice, heat, texture, presentation—every plate feels deliberate. It’s a place where the plating is artful but never precious, and where regulars know to trust whatever the chef’s special happens to be that night.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Lobster Pad Thai Noodle.
Tip: Order family-style; portions are generous and dishes are meant to share.
Visit: 2350 Midway Drive, Santa Rosa, California 95405
Contact: (707) 528-8333
Price Range: $$–$$$
Website: seathaibistrobar.com
Hidden in a small strip mall, Sazón is one of Santa Rosa’s best-kept secrets. The ceviche is bright and balanced, the lomo saltado full of smoky wok flavor.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Classic Peruvian Ceviche with sweet potato and cancha corn.
Tip: Don’t skip the pisco cocktails—they’re spot-on.
Visit: 1129 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa, California 95407
Contact: (707) 523-4346
Price Range: $$
Website: sazonsr.com
Photos courtesy of Ca’Bianca Ristorante Italiano
Set inside a restored Victorian home, Ca’Bianca serves elegant Northern Italian fare in a timeless setting. Perfect for date nights or anyone craving old-school hospitality.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce.
Tip: The kitchen’s risotto rotation changes often; go for whatever seafood dishes they’re featuring—it’s usually stellar.
Visit: 835 2nd Street, Santa Rosa, California 95404
Contact: (707) 542-5800
Price Range: $$–$$$
Website: cabianca.com
Before “farm-to-table” was a movement, John Ash & Co. was already cooking that way. Decades later, it still feels timeless—a place where the food, the view, and the wine list work together with quiet confidence.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Duck Confit with Dry Creek peach mostarda.
Tip: Time your reservation for sunset—the vineyard views from the patio are a delight.
Visit: 4330 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, California 95403
Contact: (707) 527-7687
Price Range: $$$–$$$$
Website: vintnersresort.com/john-ash
Downtown energy, wood-fired cooking, and a menu that nails the line between comfort and craft. Jackson’s Bar & Oven offers great burgers, pizza, and cocktails in an always-busy space.
Favorite Local’s Dish: The Burger with garlic aioli and Kennebec fries.
Tip: Order the fries “Jackson style”—crisped twice and tossed with truffle salt, a quiet staff favorite.
Visit: 135 4th Street, Santa Rosa, California 95401
Contact: (707) 545-6900
Price Range: $$
Website: jacksonsbarandoven.com
Sonoma County may be known for its wine, but it’s also become a hit for craft beer aficionados. Discover the region’s best breweries, from Santa Rosa to Sebastopol and beyond, in our guide to Sonoma’s craft beer scene.
A fresh face in Railroad Square, The Goose & Fern is part café, part restaurant, and completely obsessed with local ingredients. The menu changes often, but the comfort factor stays high.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Ploughman’s Platter with local cheeses.
Tip: Go classically British by ordering the Scotch Egg or Sausage Roll.
Visit: 116 5th Street, Santa Rosa, California 95401
Contact: (707) 843-4235
Price Range: $$
Website: thegooseandfern.com
A modern Jewish deli with a California accent, Grossman’s brings a little East Coast attitude to Santa Rosa. Bagels, brisket, smoked fish, and strong cocktails—all done right.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Pastrami Reuben with housemade sauerkraut.
Tip: Order a half-dozen bagels to go. They freeze beautifully, and locals swear they’re the closest thing to New York in Sonoma County.
Visit: 308 Wilson Street, Santa Rosa, California 95401
Contact: (707) 595-7707
Price Range: $$
Website: grossmanssr.com
Santa Rosa is the heartbeat of Sonoma’s dining scene—casual, creative, and unpretentious, with real range. Whether you’re grabbing breakfast before a tasting, chasing happy hour downtown, or sitting down for a full Wine Country dinner, these restaurants show exactly why locals rarely have to leave town to eat well.
