Photo courtesy of Songbird Parlour
Small but packed with flavor, Glen Ellen is where Sonoma Valley slows down. This one-road town tucked between Kenwood and Sonoma feels both elegant and grounded, known for its Michelin-recognized dining, neighborhood cafés, and chefs who treat local farms as family. Whether you’re here after a day of wine tasting or for a weekend escape, these are the Glen Ellen restaurants locals actually recommend.
A beloved spot in Glen Ellen’s Jack London Village, Songbird Parlour brings together farm-to-table ingredients from the best of Wine Country’s producers and a Victorian ambiance. You’ll take a little journey of Sonoma’s terroir with local standouts like Journeyman guanciale, Oak Hill cabbage, Strauss yogurt, and Grazin’ Girl gorgonzola—just to name a few. To sample the best of local seasonal fare, opt for the Chef’s Menu. The entire table will need to participate, but it’s worth it for signature dishes straight from the mind of Chef Miller McRae.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Hand-rolled Ricotta and Lemon Gnudi with brown butter and pine nut gremolata.
Visit: 14301 Arnold Drive #3, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Contact: (707) 343-1308
Price Range: $$$
Website: songbirdparlour.com
Photos courtesy of Glen Ellen Star
Dinner at Glen Ellen Star hums with warmth, the wood oven glowing and the air scented with rosemary and citrus. The kitchen moves in a quiet rhythm that feels practiced but never rehearsed. It’s the spot locals recommend when you ask where chefs eat on their day off. If that isn’t enticing enough, it’s also received a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation for over ten years.
Favorite Local’s Dish: The Chili-Glazed Brick Chicken has crisp skin, tender meat, and the kind of comfort that sneaks up on you.
Visit: 13648 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, California 95442
Contact: (707) 343-1384
Price Range: $$$
Website: glenellenstar.com
Morning in Glen Ellen starts at Les Pascals: croissants still warm, espresso pulled slow, and the faint sweetness of butter drifting into the street. Pascal and Pascale Merle run the café with the calm efficiency of people who love what they do. It’s as close as Sonoma gets to a Paris corner bakery.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Croque Madame, a crispy ham and cheese sandwich topped with a fried egg.
Visit: 13758 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, California 95442
Contact: (707) 934-8378
Price Range: $–$$
Website: lespascalspatisserie.com
Every meal at The Mill at Glen Ellen should start with their Della Fattoria bread, served warm with butter. Sinking your teeth into a fresh-baked slice is like a warm hug, which is exactly how you’ll feel inside this historic building. Constructed in 1839, the restaurant itself is almost two centuries old, a vestige of some of Wine Country’s first settlers, but its menu is anything but old-fashioned. Dig into classics like clam chowder, Caesar salad, and ribeye, or opt for one of their Asian-inspired dishes like the Malaysian laksa or masala potato patties.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Charred Brussel Sprouts with bacon, balsamic glaze, and shaved parmesan.
Visit: 14301 Arnold Drive, Suite 32, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Contact: (707) 721-1818
Price Range: $$-$$$
Website: themillatglenellen.com
Tandoor smoke and cardamom drift out the door of Yeti Restaurant long before you step inside. Chef Narayan Somname brings Nepalese and Indian flavors to Wine Country without watering anything down. The tandoor chicken hits the table still sizzling, curries come layered with spice instead of heat, and the naan has that blistered, buttery edge people drive across the valley for. Regulars call it their reset meal—bold, honest, and deeply comforting after a day of tasting wine.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Chicken Tikka Masala with house-baked naan.
Visit: 14301 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, California 95442
Contact: (707) 996-9930
Price Range: $$
Website: yetirestaurant.com
There’s nothing polished about Garden Court, and that’s the appeal. The patio fills early with winemakers, cyclists, and regulars. The kitchen sends out generous scrambles, biscuits with peppery gravy, and piping hot buttermilk pancakes. Service is quick, friendly, and completely unpretentious—the way mornings should be in Sonoma Valley.
Favorite Local’s Dish: Eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon and hashbrowns.
Visit: 13647 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, California 95442
Contact: (707) 935-1565
Price Range: $–$$
Website: gardencourtcafesonoma.com
Stay a little longer—Glen Ellen rewards time. Wake up among the olive trees at Olea Hotel, where hillside rooms come with vineyard views and one of the best breakfasts in Sonoma Valley. Or check into Gaige House, a serene boutique retreat with Japanese-inspired design and a quiet creekside setting. Both sit within minutes of the town’s restaurants and tasting rooms, making it easy to settle into the rhythm of Glen Ellen for a few days.
Glen Ellen isn’t showy about its food, and that’s what makes it special. Dinner might mean wood-fired chicken at a table near the oven, or a croissant on a quiet patio before the day begins. Every place here feels connected—to the farms, to the seasons, to the people cooking. It’s not the kind of town that chases trends, just one that quietly gets everything right.
