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San Francisco/Sonoma recommendations

jnksmomjnksmom member
edited July 2014 in Stay at Home Moms
H and I are going to San Francisco for our anniversary. We will be there for 5 days. We want to drive up to Sonoma one day and then will probably spend the other days in SF. Anyone live there or have visited and have restaurant recommendations or winery recommendations? One of H's co-workers recommended the wine train for dinner? Any experience with that/is it worth it? Any other advice? Thanks ladies.

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Re: San Francisco/Sonoma recommendations

  • trizzietrizzie member
    Honig and Frank Family are two of our favorite wineries to visit!
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  • Aussie45Aussie45 member
    I've never been, but it sounds like a blast! Happy anniversary!! :D
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  • jillyjill1026srjillyjill1026sr member
    You should definitely spend more than a day in Sonoma County! There are tons of great wineries and restaurants. In addition to Gastro's Healdsburg area winery recommendations (which are all great, btw), I would suggest Arista, V.M.L. And Rochioli's. They are all on the same road and super fabulous. Go get lunch at The Jimtown Store. If you stay in Healdsburg for dinner, check out Spoonbar or Dry Creek Kitchen.
    As for Sonoma proper, The Girl and The Fig is a great recommendation for a meal. Wineries to check out: Gloria Ferrer or the Roche Tasting Room (which is right off the downtown square).
    The train you're talking about, I'm assuming, is the Napa Valley Wine Train. I personally have not ridden it, but I know a lot of people (locals and tourists) who have. I've heard it's quite underwhelming. You don't actually get to see any wineries, you just drive past them. Napa is a whole separate beast from Sonoma and would require its own day.
    I don't have much in the way of San Francisco proper, but head north on the 101 to San Rafael for some amazing Puerto Rican food at Sol Food. If you're a coffee drinker, walk over and down one block to 4th Street and pick up some Graffeo's coffee. They don't brew on site, they just sell the beans, so it'll be a nice treat to take home with you.
    I hope you have a fabulous time! I'm born and raised in Sonoma County, so feel free to message me.
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  • jnksmomjnksmom member
    Thank you ladies so much. Very helpful information! I am trying to talk H into more than 1 day in Sonoma. He is not a big wine drinker but I have just started getting him to try new ones so hoping after a day there he will want to go back. ;)
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  • mandymackmandymack member
    What a fun vacay and I second the tip to spend more than one day in Sonoma as wineries are only open 10am-5pm (most anyway!) and it's really hard to fit more than 3-4 in one day. Wow, I sound like a lush... ha! 

    Would you believe we have never ventured over to Sonoma?!? We always wind up in Calistoga/St. Helena in Napa Valley because we have friends who live there and work in the wineries. I'm bookmarking this thread with all the Sonoma winery suggestions!!

    As for SF eateries, one of my FAV places is Boboquivaries steak house. It's amazing though quirky (clowns everywhere!). Anyhow, one of the best steaks and service experiences we've had- we go there regularly! When you know which neighborhood you'll be staying in, it will be easier to recommend places so let us know! :)

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  • superTootssuperToots member
    I second that you skip the wine train. It's not a big deal and just not worth spending your time on.

    In healdsburg: spoonbar is a favorite of mine too! And stop at downtown bakery on the square and pick up some English muffins. They'll legit change your life.

    Korbel is also a fun stop. Who doesn't love a little bubbly :)






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  • jillyjill1026srjillyjill1026sr member
    Does your husband drink beer? We also boast three very good, well-known breweries!
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  • LC122LC122 member
    It's been a few years since we were there, but I concur on The Girl and The Fig.
    Wineries (and I don't remember exactly where they all were; we did a Russian River Valley Wine Road tour and added extra time in Sonoma and one day in Napa.
    Ferrari-Carano was a nice vineyard. Sterling had a fun gondola ride. Korbel was fun too - try the Rouge if they have it (and then please ship me some).
    Other wineries we liked:
    Gundloch Bundshu (spelling)
    Hop Kiln
    Martinelli's
    Roshambo
    Sebastiani
    Cosentino (Napa, I think)

    Honestly, there are roads that are just winery after winery. And there are city centers with Tasting room after tasting room all walking distance.

    You will have a good time, I'm sure.
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  • jillyjill1026srjillyjill1026sr member
    Hop Klin! I totally forgot about their mustards. They are on Westside Road, along with the other three wineries I mentioned in Healdsburg.
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