The Best Farm-to-Table Brunches in Sonoma

  • Food
  • by DAISY BARRINGER
  • on MARCH 23, 2023
  • 18680
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Food

The Best Farm-to-Table Brunches in Sonoma

By Daisy Barringer March 23, 2023

There’s no denying that brunch is one of the best meals of the week. Not only does it give you the option of breakfast or lunch food, but there’s the added benefit of adult beverages at breakfast (which, when in Sonoma County can but does not have to be wine) served alongside a well-made (and usually much-needed) coffee drink.

The only thing that can make standard brunch fare even better is when it’s served at a restaurant that offers fresh, local produce, and meat from nearby farms, and that cares deeply about the farmers and purveyors in its community. Luckily, you’ll find all the above at every spot on this list. Here are the best farm-to-table brunches in Sonoma County.

Farmhouse Inn
Photo courtesy of Farmhouse Inn

Farmhouse Inn is well known for its fine dining experience at Farmhouse Restaurant, but when it comes to a more casual affair (and brunch), its all-day restaurant, FARMSTAND, is the place to be in Sonoma County. The menu is focused on fresh, farm-driven cuisine (there’s also a garden on the property) and woodfire cooking with most of the dishes designed to be shared. Breakfast is available seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. featuring coffee from local favorite Taylor Lane and dishes like brioche french toast and a Dungeness crab omelet. If you like your brunch with more of a lunch vibe, you’ll want to go in the late morning or early afternoon when you can feast on one of the delicious wood-fired pizzas (the fungi with stinging nettles, wild mushrooms, and goat cheese is a favorite).

Insider Tip: FARMSTAND has indoor and outdoor dining, but if the weather is cooperating (as it does frequently in this part of California), definitely sit on the patio where you can enjoy views of the gardens and pool.

7871 River Road, Forestville, CA 95436, (707) 887-3300

Barndiva
Photo courtesy of Barndiva

Barndiva’s patio is the perfect spot for a special occasion brunch in Sonoma County. The rustic, barn-inspired setting feels like a true escape from real life and the “modern country cuisine,” made with ingredients and produce from nearby Sonoma farms and gardens, is both pretty to look at and delicious to eat. Even at brunch, notoriously a more casual meal, it’s easy to see why this Healdsburg favorite recently earned a Michelin star.

Insider Tip: Barndiva’s weekend brunch includes Fridays, and you can make reservations to avoid a wait.

231 Center Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448, (707) 431-0100

the girl & the fig
Photo courtesy of the girl & the fig

Locally-grown California ingredients meet inventive French cooking at this Wine Country institution. The restaurant, situated on the historic Sonoma Plaza, has a charming outdoor patio — the ideal spot to enjoy a breakfast consisting of a perfectly concocted Bloody Mary (or locally-made Graffeo coffee) and any of the menu’s egg dishes (the Croque Madame made with a local cheddar cheese is consistently delicious and satisfying).

Insider Tip: You can get several of the brunch dishes, including the omelet du jour, quiche lorraine, and Croque Monsieur (add an egg) at lunch and dinner as well.

110 W Spain Street, Sonoma, CA 95476, (707) 938-3634

Americana Restaurant
Photo courtesy of Americana Restaurant

If there’s anywhere you’re going to be able to find classic diner breakfast food, but made with local and fresh, seasonal ingredients, it’s in Sonoma County, and that’s exactly the fare you’ll enjoy at Santa Rosa’s Americana, where brunch is served seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m and the ingredients are local, organic, and sourced from a dozen local farmers and food purveyors. The kitchen puts out a robust menu that truly has something for whatever mood you’re in, including several omelets made with local cheese, benedicts, burgers, and sandwiches, as well as a slew of brunch cocktails.

Insider Tip: The fried chicken with country gravy, two eggs, seasonal greens, toast, and hash browns or home fries will cure whatever ails you (and maybe send you straight home for a nap).

205 5th Street Suite A, Santa Rosa, CA 95405, (707) 755-1548

Blue Ridge Kitchen
Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Kitchen

When a hankering for fried chicken with biscuits and gravy hits at brunch time, head directly to this farmhouse-style wood grill and cocktail bar where you can feast on exactly that (plus crispy bacon and sunny side up eggs which are what make this a breakfast and lunch, aka brunch situation). The food is Southern-inspired but with an emphasis on local ingredients, including some that are grown in the restaurant’s garden. And you likely won’t have a long wait, as there’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating in the giant industrial warehouse space inside the Barlow, an outdoor market featuring goods from California artisans – perfect for exploring after an indulgent meal.

Insider Tip: Make plans to go immediately, but also in the summer when the fried green tomatoes are on the menu.

6770 McKinley Street, Ste 150, Sebastopol, CA 95472, (707) 222-5040

Jeffrey’s Hillside Cafe
Photo courtesy of Facebook: Jeffrey’s Hillside Cafe

Breakfast and lunch are served everyday at Jeffrey’s Hillside Cafe, a cozy spot tucked inside an inn in Santa Rosa. Here, longtime Sonoma chef Jeffrey Madura finds inspiration from the many farms and local purveyors in and around Sonoma County for his no frills Santa Rosa restaurant, where the menu highlights breakfast favorites like omelets, scrambles, and pancakes, as well as some more lunch-appropriate options like burgers and salads. Wash it all down with a locally-made coffee and you’ll be ready to start your day.

Insider Tip: If you’re fond of a hash dish at brunch, you’ll love the many options at Jeffrey’s, including corned duck, corned beef, seasonal vegetable, and bacon and brussel sprout hashes.

Boon Fly Cafe Donuts
Don't miss the incredible donuts at Boon Fly Cafe located in Carneros.

Okay, so technically Boon Fly Café is in Napa, but it’s just miles from the Sonoma County border, and it’s a favorite breakfast spot of both tourists and the local community, so it would be a shame to leave it off of this list. You can’t miss the impressive red barn that appears rustic on the outside but houses a sleek, industrial kitchen and restaurant inside. The daily brunch menu menu features “modern rustic cuisine based on the agricultural heritage of the region” and has food that will appeal to every craving, including a breakfast flatbread that is a perfect “appetizer” for the table. Boon Fly doesn’t take reservations for brunch so you can expect a wait, especially on the weekends, but there is plenty of seating while you do, including a couple of highly-coveted porch swings.

Insider Tip: No matter what, you must get the donuts. And since that’s not really a secret, here’s another piece of advice: Don’t skip the spicy Bloody Mary (it comes with a slice of crispy bacon and is oh-so-satisfying).

4048 Sonoma Highway, Napa, CA 94559, (707) 299-4870

FolkTable Restaurant

FolkTable | Erika Cole
Photo courtesy of FolkTable | Erika Cole

This Michelin Bib Gourmand farm-to-table restaurant from Top Chef contestant and fan favorite Chef Casey Thompson is known for its creative takes on classic dishes, “down-to-earth” prices, and sourcing its ingredients from a neighboring farm known for its ethical practices. And, as an added bonus, you can make a whole day out of your brunch experience as FolkTable is located inside of Cornerstone Sonoma, a Wine Country marketplace featuring gardens, shops, winery tasting rooms, and all of the things that make Northern California such an amazing place to eat, drink, and shop.

Insider Tip: Your pup can join you for outdoor dining (there’s even a grilled chicken option on the menu just for dogs), or you can get your food to-go (packaged nicely and ready to be picked up at the front kiosk) to enjoy in the gardens.

23584 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476, (707) 356-3567